High-Priced First Baseman.

[Villain]

You have to put one of these guys on your books, right now. You're on the hook for the 100% of the money remaining, he's not going to retire early, and you won't be able to trade him. You can move him to DH eventually if you're an AL fan.

Who do you take?

Spoiler

No, you can't have Goldy or Freeman.

Bonus points if you rank them in your post.

FG Leaderboard (2015). (You can adjust the sample years to your heart's content)

Source for contract info.

 

[Clayton]

Whoops. Need to look at all of the candiates before I vote

1. Cabrera
2. Posey
3. Adrian Gonzalez 50% because money coming off the books
4. Votto
5. Ryan Howard 100% because his money is coming off the books
6. Drink Heavily
7. Prince Fielder
8. Mauer
9. Pujols

 

[Villain]

5. Ryan Howard 100% because his money is coming off the books

That's why I didn't include Teixeira. With Howard you actually have to have Howard on you team. Lots of teams can stomach Tex for one season.

 

[Villain]

Ranked by age:

Posey, 28
Votto, 31
Fielder, 31
Cabrera, 32
Mauer, 32
Gonzalez, 33
Pujols, 35
Howard, 35

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

Joe freaking Mauer

 

[obxyankeefan]

1 Miggy
2 Votto
3 A Gone
4 Fielder
5 Pujols
6 Posey
7 Mauer
8 Howard

 

[calsnowskier]

1) Posey. He is still an ELITE player who plays an ELITE position. He will not have to play 1B regularly for another year or two. How anyone would take anyone else is a bit baffling. I actually dont see why he is included on this list.

A HUGE gap...

2) A Gone. He is near-elite with the bat, near-elite with the glove, and is "only" around for 3 more years.

3) Howard. Only 1 more year. Worst-case, he is a power bat off the bench. Mainly, though, only 1 more year.

4) Miggy. I fear the drop off. But right now, he is still elite.

5) Votto. He had a great turn-around season, but he has been very questionable the last couple years.

6) Mauer. "Only" 3 years left.

7) Fielder. Only 5 years left, and he will NOT age well.

8) Pujols. Only 6 years left. He is already starting his nose-dive.

 

[navamind]

Votto had a 177 OPS+ in 2012 (albeit in 111 games) and 156 OPS+ in 2013. The only year that was questionable was his injury-plagued 2014 (and even that year, he had a 128 OPS+). Votto isn't just having a great "bounceback" year, he's having probably the best season of his career.

 

[obxyankeefan]

Why did I put Posey where I put him? As a catcher he is worth the money, as a 1b it is a different story. As a catcher he is one of the best if not best in all of baseball. As a 1b he is likely Mauer all over again.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Well Mauer has a 41 or 42 game on base streak at least he's got that going for him.

 

[calsnowskier]

Why did I put Posey where I put him? As a catcher he is worth the money, as a 1b it is a different story. As a catcher he is one of the best if not best in all of baseball. As a 1b he is likely Mauer all over again.

Sure. But he is not a regular 1B yet. And will not be until 2017 at the absolute earliest. There is also a chance he could go to 3B instead (not likely, granted).

 

[obxyankeefan]

Sure. But he is not a regular 1B yet. And will not be until 2017 at the absolute earliest. There is also a chance he could go to 3B instead (not likely, granted).

I understand that. If he is still a catcher going forward he should not be on this list, but if he becomes a 1b than I have no issue with where I put him.

I looked at him as if he is switching to 1b for the reminder of his contract. If he stays at catcher I would bump him to second behind Miggy.

 

[Clayton]

Sure. But he is not a regular 1B yet. And will not be until 2017 at the absolute earliest. There is also a chance he could go to 3B instead (not likely, granted).

If I could get a couple of years of catcher out of him then I'd take him #1 just due to age and position easily.

I put him #2 just because Id roll the dice and Cabrera being one of the best players in baseball for a couple more seasons and I figured Posey at 1B loses a lot of what makes him crazy valuable. Even still, Posey might be the right answer again just because of age.

I think Miggy at 4 is more nuts than putting Posey at 2

 

[calsnowskier]

If I could get a couple of years of catcher out of him then I'd take him #1 just due to age and position easily.

I put him #2 just because Id roll the dice and Cabrera being one of the best players in baseball for a couple more seasons and I figured Posey at 1B loses a lot of what makes him crazy valuable. Even still, Posey might be the right answer again just because of age.

I think Miggy at 4 is more nuts than putting Posey at 2

I put him at 4 because he is owed a ridiculous amount of money to cover a release-valve position. Being in the AL relieves a bit of that pressure, though, admittedly. But he has an 8/248. That is a 31M aav.

By comparison, Posey has 6/127 remaining (21M aav). Shorter contract (ignoring the 22M team option for '22) and 10M saved per year.

A Gone has 3/64. I would much rather have near elite now at 10M less per year than grossly overpay the walking dead for 4 years.

Howard is clearly high on my list JUST because he goes away after 1 year.

I could move Miggy up to #3, but that is the highest I would put him. As it is, though, that contract is oppressive. I like him better at 4.

 

[Clayton]

At some point money is just money in baseball. Sweating about contracts matters a lot but to basically say any and all contracts to players over a certain age aren't worth it (which is what the Howard line represents) seems a bit questionable.

You're basically just taking the young player in his prime, the guy you can get rid of soon, the guy you can get rid of really soon 1, 2 and 3.

 

[calsnowskier]

At some point money is just money in baseball. Sweating about contracts matters a lot but to basically say any and all contracts to players over a certain age aren't worth it (which is what the Howard line represents) seems a bit questionable.

You're basically just taking the young player in his prime, the guy you can get rid of soon, the guy you can get rid of really soon 1, 2 and 3.

31M a year for 8 years. That isn't just a few dollars.

There are only MAYBE 10 teams in baseball that can withstand that kind of contract on a solid player, let alone a walking corpse. But even the $$ teams would have trouble with these albatross'.

Taking a player with a better contract allows you more money to fill holes elsewhere. So yes, I will skimp a bit at 1B to be able to afford talent elsewhere.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I was really hoping the Jays would try hard for Votto last offseason. If there's any way they can get him for next spring, I hope they do it.

 

[Villain]

1) Posey. He is still an ELITE player who plays an ELITE position. He will not have to play 1B regularly for another year or two. How anyone would take anyone else is a bit baffling. I actually dont see why he is included on this list.

He'll play most of his contract at first. It goes until 2021.

 

[Clayton]

Whats the history on length of primes for catchers who can really hit? It can't be all that pretty.

 

[calsnowskier]

He'll play most of his contract at first.

He is still cheaper than all the other names on this list and still has not made that transition.

If forced to pretend these players could ONLY play 1B or DH, I would reevaluate. As it is, though, 1B is only a potential scenario for him at some point in the future. He is currently a 75% catcher.