There have been 74 contracts in baseball history that have been $50 million or more. Pat Burrell has one of them and he is one of just four $50 million position players to never have made an all-star team.
J.D. Drew, Adrian Beltre and Eric Chavez are the others.
Burrell, who makes $13 million this season, is on pace to finish 2007 with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs. That's $684,210 for every home run hits. That's $203,215 for every run he knocks in. He also makes $80,246 for every game, whether he plays or not. That's some pretty serious coin for some pretty poor numbers.
So, what to do?
Stick with him and hope he plays out of it?
Trade him?
Release him?
Send him to the minors to work on his swing?
First, Burrell can't be sent to the minors because of the service time he has accrued. So that's out. Burrell also is next to impossible to trade. (The Phillies have been trying since Pat Gillick arrived.) I know a lot of people say, "Well, just eat his contract and trade him." But what team is going to take Burrell, even if they're only responsible for $3 million of his $14 million contract next season? It might be a short list, and Burrell has complete veto power of any trade. Release him? That seems unlikely because I'm sure the Phillies would trade him before they release him.
I think the Phillies are stuck with Burrell and have to hope he plays out of it. I'm sure they hope Burrell, who has put up very productive seasons in 2002 and 2005, will be productive next season in his free agent year.
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Here is a comprehensive list of the 74 players with $50 million or more contracts.
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The latest Philliescast is up.
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According to Baseball Reference, Burrell's career numbers are most similar to Glenn Davis, Cliff Johnson and Glenallen Hill, if Burrell stopped playing baseball today. But his career will continue on, so here's something even more interesting (and perhaps puzzling): Baseball Reference says Burrell's numbers through age 29 are most similar to Gil Hodges.
Hey, that's what it says.
But from what I see, Burrell looks much more comparable at his age to Willie Horton or Pete Incaviglia than Hodges. Or maybe I'm just reading the chart wrong.
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The pitching matchups for this weekend's series against the Rockies. I guess the Phillies have to hope the Rockies hitters are tired from beating the tar out of the Mets this week, right?
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The Phillies' record while I was away: 2-5.
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The ability to post Comments has been temporarily disabled. It seems spam is making life hell for our servers or something ... and all this time I thought it was Phillies fans sending me e-mails and comments about real estate opportunities, royalty that will send me millions for a $10,000 fee and male enhancement drugs. (Update: It looks like Comments are back.)
Comments (5)
Welcome back, we missed ya! Somehow, I can't picture you as the smiling "Bob" in those TV spots. But then again, maybe Wes Helms started taking them.
The only answer for Burrell is just what Charlie is doing, an occassional spot start or maybe some pinch hitting for pitchers. If he can be dumped in the offseason fine, but don't let him steal too many at bats the rest of the year.
I want to see if Bourne is the player everyone thinks he can be, so let's find out. Werth and Dobbs, while capable pickups, aren't the future. Is Bourne for real or Lonnie Smith? If he can hit consistantly, Victorino, Rowand and Bourne make a nice outfield.
Posted by jimmymack | July 6, 2007 5:12 PM
Posted on July 6, 2007 17:12
I second the welcome back. No more unannounced trips, Todd - especially during a Mets series.
I, for one, actually like Pat. He's like that hot, crazy girlfriend (or boyfriend) who you know is totally wrong for you, who makes you nuts, who all your friends tell you is only going to make you miserable, and yet you keep coming back for more. He just drove in 2 runs, for chrissakes!
My beef (pun?) as it's been all year is with Howard. In his last 9 games, he's 9 for 38 with 18 strikeouts. 4 homers, but really - I could care less about five-hundred foot dingers. I'd think, with the sixty-five foot dip in his average this year, plus all the screwed-up mechanics in his swing, Baby Shaq has got the Phils a tad worried about massive long-term deals. He's no Pat the Bat, but still. Not a great idea for him to start a conditioning progran 2 months into the season. He's looking like Hollis Thomas out there.
Oh well, he just drove in a run.
Posted by John in LA | July 6, 2007 9:44 PM
Posted on July 6, 2007 21:44
DO not F with the Black Bull! Also, your take on Pat the Bat is basically a complete Bill Simmons rip off.
Posted by That Dude | July 6, 2007 11:01 PM
Posted on July 6, 2007 23:01
Uh, okay. Don't read Bill Simmons, but if you want to show me the piece. I'm sure he was the first person to ever make the comparison. Cool name, by the way...
Posted by John in LA | July 7, 2007 12:14 AM
Posted on July 7, 2007 00:14
Glad to see that you're back. Do you think it could be Burrell's eye sight that is the problem? I remember in Spring Training, he had an eye exam, tried out contact lenses, apparently had a good batting practice, but ended up scraping the contacts. Who knows.
Posted by JD | July 7, 2007 10:00 AM
Posted on July 7, 2007 10:00