[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by EddieMilner

Yesterday, at lunch, I was speaking with a few co-workers about Mark Prior and his latest year ending report. Someone made the comment that these baseball players would be healthy a lot more often if their contract were not guaranteed (much like the NFL). What are your guys opinions? Do you think that a player is more likely to go on the DL if he knows his job isn't in jeporady? I think its a fair, valid, and interesting argument.

Unfortunately the ONLY opinion that matters is Donald Fehr and I am quite sure he isnt going to let MLB scrap guaranteed contracts.

To answer your question no doubt fewer players would go on the DL if they werent signed to a guaranteed contract. But in the long term a pitcher for example would jeopardize his future if he refused to go on the DL because of a certain twinge in his shoulder. He may try to pitch thru the pain because he doesnt want anything to jeopardize his contract for the next year but he may be sacrificing his long term future because he has to pitch thru the pain and ultimately damage his arm beyond repair.