In the age of nine-figure contracts and billion-dollar TV deals, it’s becoming harder and harder to find bargain deals. These five players are just a few examples of some of the biggest bargains in baseball.
Last winter, some of the biggest free agents signed deals for over $200 million(David Price, Zack Greinke), while others opted for shorter deals with average annual values of over $25 million. In recent years, however, some teams have made some savvy free agent signings and contract extensions that look great in hindsight.
These hidden gems can make a huge difference in the fortunes of a team. In signing what, in retrospect, turns out to be a team friendly extension, they have helped their teams be able to get additional pieces in an attempt to either rebuild or contend. Of course, it helps that these players are greatly outproducing their contracts.
This list will consist of a variety of player types, but they all have one thing in common: a great contract. Players who are making the Major League minimum that haven’t yet reached arbitration aren’t included in this, since there are so many valuable players in that category. This list isn’t a complete collection of every team-friendly contract in baseball, but these are five players with high production for little cost.
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