Trout to Kiermaier: The richest signing of all 30 MLB teams
By Bill Felber
28. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates were at the bottom of this ranking until wedging their pockets open far enough this past spring to sign promising third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to an eight-year, $70 million extension.
The $70 million figure broke the franchise record previously set by the 2012 signing of Andrew McCutchen for six years at $51.5 million.
McCutchen made it through most of that contract before becoming a financial drag on the Pirates. So prior to the start of the 2018 season, the Pirates traded McCutchen and the option they still held on him to the Giants for a couple of prospects, one of whom developed into Bryan Reynolds.
The financial commitment to Hayes will be noteworthy if Pirates management can construct enough of a supporting cast to make it meaningful, and also if Hayes can produce at a higher level than his .244 average and 87 OPS+ of 2022. But he’s only 25 with plenty of room for growth, so hope remains in order.
Looking strictly at AAV, both the Hayes and McCutchen deals take a back seat to one given to pitcher Francisco Liriano. The Pirates resigned him prior to the 2015 season for three years at $39 million, a $13 million AAV.
Among franchise record AAVs, by the way, that’s the record low. Hayes’ only works out to about $8.75 million per year, McCutchen’s to about $8.58 million.