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MLB Contracts: The worst contract on every team

By Bill Felber

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 29: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after striking out looking for the third out of the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 29, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 29: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after striking out looking for the third out of the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 29, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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MLB contracts
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 18: Houston Astros’ Josh Redddick catches a fly ball hit by Red Sox player Mookie Betts in the ninth inning. The Houston Astros host the Boston Red Sox in Game Four of the ALCS at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX on Oct. 17, 2018. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

29. Houston Astros

Josh Reddick, 4 years, $52 million, 2017-20. ACES

Reddick’s contract is bad only because it’s needless. Coming from Los Angeles following the 2016 season, Reddick batted .314 for the World Series champs before retreating to .242 this year. His OPS+ for the first half of the deal is about 115, making him entirely usable if not a star.

Here’s the problem. At $13 million, Reddick was Houston’s fourth highest paid player in 2018, trailing only Justin Verlander, Brian McCann and Dallas Keuchel. The Astros just lost McCann – no big whoop – but they are also likely to lose Keuchel, and that would be a big deal. Beyond that, a bunch of entirely useful spare parts – Evan Gattis, Charley Morton, Marwin Gonzalez, Tony Sipp  — are also free agents.

With Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer all controllable at least for the next few seasons, the Astros have plenty of offense, making Reddick’s prime contribution somewhat redundant. Couldn’t they better use the $13 million they’ll pay him next year to fight the good fight to retain Keuchel, Gonzalez, Sipp or Morton?

Consider that question in the context of Reddick’s receding slash line. It was .314/.363/.484 in 2017. But those were all career bests or close to them.  His 2018 season represented a solid reversion, to .242/.318/.400.

There’s no reason for the Astros to expect more than that in 2019 or 2010…certainly less reason than there is to expect them to pay Reddick another $26 million. Unless they move him, they will certainly pony up that cash.

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