They overpaid horrifically. That was quite frankly the most terrible contract I've seen since I've started following baseball.

I don't know, the Blue Jays have had some pretty nasty contracts.

Are we talking Hampton/Zitoesque bad?

Barry Zito?

Zito accounts for (I think) nearly a quarter of the Giants payroll, yet he wasn't even on the playoff roster.

Since I've starting following baseball. Basically only goes back to 2009.

Even still, with Zito the contract length runs out when he's 36. Werth's contract runs out when he's 39, and they're being paid the same amount. Werth had two good seasons (one All-Star) before this deal; Zito had three All-Star seasons and a Cy Young award. I think it's on par with, if not worse than, the Barry Zito contract.

Barry Zito ended up being a bad contract. Big difference.

Zito's contract was more massive particularly considering that it was signed several years ago when the average market value was lower.

Still, Werth's contract gets out when he's 39. If his injury issues pop up again that will make this deal even worse. The fact that contracts are ballooning in general this offseason doesn't mean Werth's deal is that much more acceptable than Zito's.


You can only sign a contract with what you know at the time. It was a terrible contract at the time because he'd had only one good season and then became one of the best players in the game, but he still probably had more credentials going into it than Werth.

Phillies signed Cliff Lee: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/sport ... ml?_r=1&hp

god dammit

dear god the phillies rotation is scary

I just wish they had Jayson Werth still. But I guess I can't get greedy and the Nats paid a lot more than he's worth (But he's a really good player).

I'm still not used to the Phillies spending money. It's sort of an odd position to be in and runs counter to all my expectations. It was little over a decade ago when the Phillies GM told fans not to expect too much because the Phillies can't compete with the big market teams.

I'm actually a little worried about their offense next year without Werth.

With 2 of the top 5, three of the top 10, and four of the top 25-30 pitchers in the game I don't think it will matter all that much assuming they don't run into injury trouble. It certainly will make them nigh unbeatable come playoff time.