Player A and Player B
 

Last year, in what most considered a great year for him, Player A hit .274/.388/.569 with 41 HR, 118 RBI, and 18 SB. He was touted as one of the best all-around offensive players in the game and made $13,571,428 for his services.

This year, Player B is on pace to hit .270/.359/.569 with 45 HR, 108 RBI, and 14 SB. He makes $ 10,500,000 this year and is due $13,500,000 in 2008. He has been routinely criticized for his strikeouts, lack of effort, and underachieving.

My question is this: If Player B continues at his current level of offensive production, wouldn't he be well worth the salary he is due next year?

Discuss.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

I have no idea who Player B is. Has he ever been discussed here before?

Re: Player A and Player B
 

Player B doesn't have enough sacrifice fly's to warrant $13 million. ;)

Re: Player A and Player B
 

You forgot to mention that Player A was a GG CF and Player B was an iron glove LF.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

In all seriousness, I absolutely believe Player B would be well worth that salary.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

True dat. However, he's also older and more injury prone than Player B.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

I absolutely agree.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

This is an utterly hypothetical situation. Any resemblence to real-life players is unintentional.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

Player A's 2007 salary = 11.7% of his team's overall salary

Player B's 2007 salary = 15.1% of his team's overall salary

I bring this up because it's my way of saying "it depends."

Is Player B worth ~$13M on the open market as a free agent? Easily... Is he worth that to a team that is 20th in MLB in salary? Dunno.

If the other corresponding pieces were in place for a playoff run, then certainly it would be worth it, and thus, Player B's salary would be closer to the 11% than the 15% range.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

Andruw Jones could be compared to both player A and B.. And I know he is going to get a huge contract even though he has had a down year.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

Man, I loved Player A on my fantasy team last year.

This year, not so much.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

He's playing on a bad quad, or so he says. He's getting some media/talk show criticism for being a 'soft' player. But it's tempered by the fact that his team is in first place.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

Positions are very key for those stats though. Player A was easily the best hitter at his position last year and probably one of the top defenders there as well. Player B was not the best hitter at his position and is at the bottom of the defensive ladder at his position. Player A plays a very important defensive position. Player B does not.

Huge difference.

Re: Player A and Player B
 

I think Jones' year is more than "down" - it's full blown depression and may require counseling!

Re: Player A and Player B
 

I would probably support a trade of player B for a good return. But I agree that if he keeps up this rate he will be worth his 2008 salary. He is having a great offensive year.

But -- player B is prone to slumps and it is far from certain he will keep up this pace.

And even if you pay player B for next year, then what? He is a pending FA then, with trade restrictions. Unless Reds keep him just for next year's World Series run.