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Chuck Booth (MLB Reports Majority Owner/Lead  Analyst)

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Stephen Strasburg shocked he baseball world the other day – by inking a 7 year extension worth from $175 – $180 MIL.  It ties him for 17th All – Time with Felix Hernandez to start with, but he can earn an additional $7 MIL with $1 MIL per year bonuses for reaching 180 IP.

The deal pays him $15 MIL annually from 2016 – 2023, and then the deferrals kick in from 2023 – 2030, in 7 installments of $10 MIL each.

Some will say his deal is worth more like $162 MIL in present day dollars, however we do not operate our top 50 contracts list like that.  The deal is guaranteed at $175 MIL for now, and we will change it if bonuses are hit.

With this contract, the Nats have 4 current players that are on this ALL – Time List with Scherzer (10th), Strasburg (T 17th), Zimmerman (37th) and Werth (Tied 44th).

This signing is a great move to open a 3 year window for Washington, as they also have Bryce Harper under team control until after the 2018 season, however it also may seal the fate the of the young reigning NL MVP to move elsewhere for 2019.

Werth’s contract does end at the end of the 2017 year. but Zimmerman is still on the books until at least 2020.

It will be tough to come up with the dough necessary to drop a 11 – 13 years contract worth $35 – 40 MIL per annum when it comes to Harper.

Even with Scherzer’s and Strasburg’s deals both containing a ton of deferred money- all of them will still run simultaneously to Harper’s deal – even if they are not on the roster each after the 2023 season.

I think you couldn’t risk trying to outbid everyone for Harper’s services, yet to pay Strasburg market value makes sense.

This club could even save some payroll by trading Gio Gonzalez, as they have Joe Ross and Tanner Roark starting in the rotation for depth, and Lucas Giolito has not started his time service clock.

The highest contracts in MLB history (Maroon means Active Contract, Red Bold means signed this past winter of 2015 – through regular season 2016 aad active beginning this year)

 *1. Giancarlo Stanton, $325, 000, 000 (2015 – 2027)

*2. Alex Rodriguez, $275,000,000 (2008-17)

*** With A-Rod’s suspension in 2014, he forfeited $22.13 MIL bucks, so it will end up 10 YRs/$252.87 MIL for the duration of his deal.  Arod also has the 23rd highest contract in history too.

*3. Miguel Cabrera $248,000, 000 (2016 – 2023)

Go see #30 as well.  He has the 3rd and 30th top contracts of ALL – Time.

*4. Albert Pujols, $242,000,000 (2012-21)

*5. Robinson Cano, $240,000,000 (2014 – 2023)

*6. Joey Votto, $225,000,000 (2014-23)

*7.  David Price, $217,000,000 (2016 – 2022)

*8.  Clayton Kershaw $215,000,000 (2014 – 2020)

*9. Prince Fielder, $214,000,000 (2012-20)

*10.  Max Scherzer, $210,000,000 (2015 – 2021)

*11. Zack Greinke, $206,500,000 (2016 – 2022)

12. Derek Jeter, $189,000,000 (2001-10)

*T13. Joe Mauer, $184,000,000 (2011-18)

*T13. Jason Heyward, $184,000,000 (2016 – 2023)

*T15. Mark Teixeira, $180,000,000 (2009-16)

*T15. Justin Verlander, $180,000,000 (2013-19)

*T17. Felix Hernandez, $175,000,000 (2013-19)

*T17. Stephen Strasburg, $175, 000, 000 (2017 – 2023)

*19. Buster Posey, $167,000,000 (2013-21)

*T20. Chris Davis, $161,000,000 (2016 – 2022)

*T20. CC Sabathia, $161,000,000 (2009-15)

T-22. Manny Ramirez, $160,000,000 (2001-08)

*T-22. Matt Kemp, $160,000,000 (2012-19)

24. Alex Rodriguez, $158,400,000 (2001-2007)

*25. Troy Tulowitzki, $157,750,000 (2011-20)

T*26  Masahiro Tanaka, $155,000,000 (2014 – 20) (Doesn’t include his $20 MIL posting fee)

T*26.  Jon Lester, $155,000,000 (2015 – 2021)

*28. Adrian Gonzalez, $154,000,000 (2012-18)

*29. Jacoby Ellsbury , $153,000,000 (2014-2020)

30. Miguel Cabrera, $152,300,000 (2008-15)

*31.  Mike Trout, $144, 500, 000 (2015 – 2020)

*32. Cole Hamels, $144,000,000 (2013-18) 

*33. Carl Crawford, $142,000,000 (2011-17)

34. Todd Helton, $141,500,000 (2003-11)

*35. David Wright, $138,000,000 (2013-20)

36. Johan Santana, $137,500,000 (2008-13)

*37.  Ryan Zimmerman, $137, 000. 000 (2009 – 2020)

38. Alfonso Soriano, $136,000,000 (2007-14)

*39.  Freddie Freeman, $135,000,000 (2014-21)

*40.  Justin Upton,  $132, 750, 000 (2016 – 2021)

*T41.  Shin-Soo Choo, $130,000,000 (2014-20)

T41.  Johnny Cueto, $130, 000, 000 (2016 – 2021)

*43. Matt Cain, $127,500,000 (2012-17)

T 44. Vernon Wells, $126,000,000 (2008-14)

T-44. Barry Zito, $126,000,000 (2007-13)

*T44. Jayson Werth, $126,000,000 (2011-17)

*T-47. Ryan Howard, $125,000,000 (2012-16)

*T-47: Josh Hamilton, $125,000,000 (2013-17)

49. Mike Hampton, $121,000,000 (2001-08)

T-50. Jason Giambi, $120,000,000 (2002-08)

*T-50. Matt Holliday, $120,000,000 (2010-16)

*T-50: Elvis Andrus, $120,000,000(2015-22)

 T-50:  Cliff Lee, $120,000,000 (2011-15)

Just Outside the BAR

54. Carlos Beltran, $119,000,000 (2005-11)

55 .Ken Griffey Jr., $116,500,000 (2000-08)

*T56. Jordan Zimmermann, $110,000,000 (2016 – 2020)

*T56.  Dustin Pedroia, $110,0000, 000 (2014 – 2021)

USATSI

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

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