And if you are not over Arenado, are you awed over Arenado’s cost to Arizona?
You might have written off Arenado because of his huge, EFL-unfriendly contract. Back in 2019 be signed an 8 year deal with Colorado (through 2026) for a total of $260,000,000. That’s an average annual salary of $32,500,000: impossible for an EFL team to swallow.
In 2021 he was traded to St. Louis, at which time a ninth year was added (2027) for an additional $15,000,000. Had that trade made him an EFL free agent (it did not because Colorado got back a major leaguer: Austin Gomber) the contract we would have had to beat (2021 – 2027) was avout $30,570,000 a year for 7 years.
The trade to Arizona just the other day DOES make Arenado an EFL Free Agent (only one very minor minor leagure went to St. Louis). At this point his contract is for two years and $42,000,000, or $21,000,000 per year. That’s very steep in EFL terms for a player who’s faded as badly as Arenado…
… although if you are willing to bid for 5 years, you could conceivably have him as cheap as $15,000,000.
But here’s the thing: St. Louis is paying Arizona $31,000,000 as part of the deal. So Arizona’s cost is $11,000,000, or $5,500,000 per year. That’s not so bad, especially if you think he might have a rebound left in him. He was worth only 0.9 fWAR last year, but was as 3.2 fWAR in 2024. And he’s “only” 35. And if you bid five years on him, you might get him for as little as $4,250,000 per year.
Paying $1.5 million per WAR will win you a pennant in the EFL.
Should we change our rules so we can have the same access MLB teams have to get subsidized players?
I am skeptical. I was surprised how easy it was to work out the terms of Arenado’s contract. My impression is that many of these deals are impenetrably complex.
Also — if we start accepting windfalls, won’t we also have to start paying them? I fear our system cannot handle that kind of complexity.
But for a moment the shadow of a cheap Arenado made me consider…
If you don’t share my fears and would like to consider changing our rules concerning cash-subsidized deals, bring the matter up during the second phase (after the presentation of the 2025 trophy, and before the Rule 5 Draft) of our Winter Meeting next Tuesday evening.
This also applies to any other rule changes we should consider.
As a matter of courtesy and respect for everyone’s time, please bring your proposed new rules to the league’s attention before the meeting — this weekend, say.
