A few reasons, just from the last few years, why it might not be a good idea to give a pitcher over the age of 30 a big contract:
1. Jordan Zimmerman (5/$110MM)
2. James Shields (4/$75MM)
3. Matt Cain (5/$112MM)
4. Wei-Yin Chen (5/$80MM)
5. Adam Wainwright (5/$97.5MM)
6. Homer Bailey (6/$105MM)
7. Jeff Samardzija (5/$90MM)
8. Ian Kennedy (5/$70MM)
9. David Price, possibly (7/$217MM)
…and last, but certainly not least:
10. Ubaldo Jimenez (4/$50MM)
On the good side – Max Scherzer’s, Verlander’s, and Hamels’ deals look solid.
Felix Hernandez, Zach Greinke, and Jon Lester have performed well at the beginning of their contracts – but the end of their contracts looks bleak.
