The BIG Contracts

A list of all players signed to contracts of $8.5 million or more annually.  Note that this does NOT include any signing bonuses.  Any owners who "signed and quit" are also noted.  Links to all player cards have been included.  Feel free to leave your comments.

AL NORTH 

Chicago DoubleMints (nymatt0728)

• NONE

Columbus Cyclones (bnote19)

• Rico Villa (5 yr, $50 million, seasons 18-22).  Acquired via trade.  Thus far, worth every penny. Signed by congresstart, who is no longer in Sandlot. 
• Einar Zurbaran (3 yr, $25.5 million, seasons 19-21).  Zurbaran, the former Cy Young winner, has been solid, but certainly not the same pitcher he once was. 

Fargo Pop (lovemlb)

• Al Lira (5 yr, $67.6 million, seasons 20-24).  In the bonanza that was the free-spending offseason of last year, Lira's signing raised quite a few eyebrows.  More surprising was the absolute lack of use throughout the season.
• Harry Ozuna (5 yr, $52.2 million, seasons 18-22).  Good power numbers from rightfielder, who may have posted his best numbers to date this past season.

Montreal Souterraine (jamesmcole)

• NONE

AL EAST

Charlotte Showers (rms1200)

• Yusmeiro Escobar (5 yr, $43.9 million, seasons 20-24).  Has failed to duplicate his numbers from season 18, but with his upside and at the tender age of 26, it's hard to argue the decision to lock him up for the long haul.  Signed by tlow who has since departed.

Cleveland Cattle Prods (FUT2004)

• Joaquin Benavente (5 yr, $100 million, seasons 20-24).  The season 18 Cy Young winner helped guide the Prods to their first division title in what many argue is the most talented division in all of Sandlot.  Will still only be 33 in the final year of his deal.

Hartford Colt 45's (therunner24)

• NONE

New York Bears (yanksfan2213)

• NONE

AL SOUTH

Durham Nukes (sweetsalve)

• NONE

Nashville Titans (sportsguy93)

• Terry Charleston (5 yr, $95 million, seasons 20-24).  An impressive debut in Nashville in season 20.  Pencil him in for 16 wins and a 3.25 ERA annually.

Santa Fe Desert Eagles (hatchetman)

• NONE

Tampa Bay St. Pete Manta Rays (dahos)

• NONE

AL WEST

Arizona Sun Devils  (sundevil1008)

• Bob Ashley (5 yr, $47.5 million, seasons 17-21).  Season 18 marked the last time Ashley made an impact.  Signed by pt109, who is "no longer with the firm."

Colorado Knockers  (pizza_steve)

• Mike Wight (5 yr, $100 million, seasons 19-23).  Consecutive All-Star appearances in the first two seasons of his contract.  Scary to think just how good this guy could've been had he not spent his entire career in Hartford and Colorado, two of the worst parks to call home for any pitcher.  Led Colorado to a World Series appearance this past season.

Las Vegas Vagabonds  (mudcatbb)

• NONE

San Francisco Gibblers  (RubeRant)

• Domingo Pena (5 yr, $60 million, seasons 19-23).  After a sub-par season 19, Pena bounced back with an All-Star appearance and Gold Glove in season 20.  Signed by gotigers, who is no longer in Sandlot.

NL NORTH

Augusta Moose (joev188)

• Juan Castro (5 yr, $76.3 million, seasons 17-21). Acquired via trade with Cleveland.  Showing no signs of age, posting huge numbers last season. Signed by FUT2004.
• Javier Ortiz (5 yr, $45.6 million, seasons 21-25).  NEW SIGNING

Minnesota Bricklayers (itomcny)

• NONE

Philadelphia Liberty Balls (norsk44)

• NONE

Tacoma Vampyre (nosferatu)

• Tatsuya Woo (5 yr, $44 million, seasons 18-22).  All-Star appearances in seasons 18 and 20.  If not for a guy named Bunch, Woo may have won the Cy Young last season.

NL EAST

Baltimore Badgers (jp_chips)

• NONE

Boston Bulldogs (richelle)

• Jamie Corcoran (5 yrs, $60 million, seasons 21-25).  NEW SIGNING

Cincinnati Reds (badmoon006)

• NONE

Jacksonville Five (cwiddoes)

• Julio Prieto (5 yrs, $45 million, seasons 18-22).  Acquired via trade from Montreal.  Consecutive seasons of 20 homers, 93 runs batted in, and a .328+ AVG.  Helped lead the Five to their first World Series title.

NL SOUTH

Charleston Jitterbugs (defendo)

• NONE

Florida Beaches (crazydoc)

• NONE

Louisville Twin Spires (kwcpanthers)

• NONE

Wichita Cats (gnocc)

• Andres Ortiz (5 yrs, $75 million, seasons 19-23).  The two-time Cy Young winner had a sub-par season 20 after posting a 1.99 ERA the prior season.  Will be 36 at the end of his contract.
• Juan Fernandez (5 yrs, $50 million, seasons 20-24).  The two-time MVP and Hall of Fame lock is still good for 30-plus homers per season with a .300+ AVG.  Will be 35 at the conclusion of his contract.
• Matt Buckley (4 yrs, $41.3 million, seasons 21-24).  NEW SIGNING 

NL WEST

Colorado Springs Gold Rush  (Reps)

• NONE

Los Angeles Stars  (jrcpga)

• NONE

San Diego Surfers  (tentozen)

• NONE

Seattle Grinders  (jpccr)

• Benji Pimentel (5 yrs, $83 million, seasons 20-24).  Posted career lows in HR, RBI, and AVG in his inaugural season in Seattle.  His numbers will likely never be what they once were, as Seatlle is amongst the toughest ballparks in which to hit.
• Louie Fuentes (3 yrs, $38 million, seasons 20-22).  Fuentes provided some power for the Grinders, belting 30 homers in cavernous SafeCo.

A-Rod, Chipper Jones, Phil Nevin, or Brien Taylor?

The overall number one pick.  We all wish we had it, and some will sacrifice season after season and their corresponding entry fee to get it.  Some owners tank it - others just operate franchises that flat out suck.  Here are the rewards for finishing in the basement.  Whether they were an all-time great in the mold of A-Rod, a franchise player like Chipper, a star player in their own right like a Phil Nevin, or a total bust like Brien Taylor is a completely different story!  Below is the list of the first fifteen seasons of number one selections...

1. Ned Gold (beesore) - Multiple Silver Sluggers, a few Gold Gloves, an MVP, and a sure-fire Hall of Famer.  Vic Rincon went second, Erick Venafro tenth.  Chipper
2. Robert Jackson (orangeman7) - Ten All-Star appearances, eight Silver Sluggers, a THREE TIME All-Star game MVP, a few gold gloves, and still active!  Bey Wilson went second.  Grant Atchley went twenty second.  Chipper
3. Josh Bell (jaddison) - He'll hit his 500th home run this coming season.  He should also record his 2,000th strikeout.  Multiple 60 error seasons.  Rob Piper went fourth.  All-time homer king Eddie Stewart went at thirteen.  Nevin
4. Khoury Hernandez (jana23) - A few All-Star games, a few Silver Sluggers.  Just joined the 400 home run club.  Better than solid, less than spectacular.  Stevie Walton went third.  Eugene Crawford went tenth.  Nevin
5. George Ransom (startgame) - Currently selling Indian trinkets on the Grand Canyon rim.  Never played a game.  F.P. McMillan was selected thirteenth. Taylor
6. Bubbles Hendrickson (dschwa55266) - No explanation needed.  Mike Wight went second.  Dennis Douglas went twenty second.  A-Rod
7. Ray Hafner (bagpipes28) - Two time All-Star who never came close to meeting his potential.  Dewey Hardy went at number twenty two.  Lewis Mattingly went twenty ninth.  Nevin
8. Willie Romero (RubeRant) - Several All-Star appearances, but a career .250 hitter with 15-20 home run production does not match what the expectation once was.  Joe Durham was taken twentieth.  TWENTIETH! Nevin
9. Benji Pimentel (dspahlinger) - A Rookie of the Year and perennial Silver Slugger and All-Star.  And only 27 years old.  The real deal.  Mitchell Ramsey went fifth.  A-Rod
10. Alex Bunch (defendo) - The most dominant pitcher since Billy Cannon.  Enough said.  Hughie Cummings went third.  Damaso Martinez went thirty first. A-Rod
11. Julio Prieto (shawnnj) - Just came off a fantastic season, helping the Jacksonville Five to a World Series win.  Appears to be in his prime, having collected 413 hits over the past two seasons.  Scot Darr went fourth, Darryl Rivers went fourteenth.  Chipper
12. Kennie Seaton (tlow1108) - Has averaged 49 home runs and a .303 batting average for his ML career.  Not much else to explain on this one.  Keith Flaherty went third.  Dingo Ellis went fourth.  A-Rod
13. Fritz Wyatt (piratestros) - Tied with Alex Bunch for tops in career WHIP.  Amongst the top five in career ERA.  Kris Parnell went twelfth.  A-Rod
14. Rudy Smoak (tlow1108) - Just came off his "breakthrough" season, going 18-7 with a 2.50 ERA for the Cool Pops.  Ron Randall went fifth.  Jury still out, but looks good
15. Aubrey Cummings (tlow1108) - At only 24 years old, Cummings looks like the real deal after posting a 3.35 ERA in his first two seasons.  B.C. Cedeno went second, and Del Johnson went ninth.  Jury still out, but looks good