Really? A $126 million, seven-year deal for a guy that has had two of the game’s best hitters, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, protect him in the lineup? A guy that has never driven over 100 runs in or batted above .300, and someone who got his first chance at 30 years old?
I understand what Werth meant to the Philles these past couple of years, but I am not buying this contract.
Sure, he’s had his fair share of heroics before, but come on, there’s no way he should be getting that much money.
But then again, does Ryan Howard really deserve that $125 million extension?
The difference between Howard and Werth is that Howard has been a huge contributor with the bat ever since he earned playing time with the Phils in 2005.
He’s eclipsed 100 RBI’s in every season since 2006 and has finished with home run totals of 58 in 2006, 47 in 2007, 48 in 2008, 45 in 2009, and 31 in 2010. Even with his strikeout vulnerability, Howard still holds the biggest bat in a talented lineup from top-to-bottom.
If you take Werth out of the picture, Howard’s numbers would remain constant for the most part. However, if you take Howard out of the lineup, Werth’s numbers would most likely drop.
There’s no way to prove that theory, but Howard strikes more fear in pitchers than Werth does, and without Howard batting clean-up, who knows how Werth’s numbers would look.
That leaves the question: Can Werth be “the man” in Washington?
Without Adam Dunn, who signed with the Chicago White Sox this offseason, driving in 100-plus runs in the four hole for the Nationals, the vacant spot in the order will now belong to Werth.
Instead of having Jimmy Rollins (.272 career average), Chase Utley (.293), Placido Polanco (.303), and Ryan Howard (.279) in front him, Werth will now live a life with Nyjer Morgan (.283), Ian Desmond (.270), and Ryan Zimmerman (.288) as the one-two-three hitters in the Nats’ lineup.
Batting behind Werth in Washington’s lineup will most likely be Roger Bernadina (.241), considering that Josh Willingham (.265) is likely to get traded this offseason.
Of course, not many people can turn down a $126 million contract.
The MLB is a business, and Werth made a business decision when he accepted that extravagant deal. Now he will be forced to spend the next seven years battling it out with the New York Mets for fourth place in the NL East, while the Phillies, Braves, and Marlins duke it for the division crown.
Werth has his World Series ring, and it appears that he is now content with playing out his career in a city that cares more about politics than it does about baseball, but he will still be making $18 million per season while doing so.
No he’s not worth it. But take the money! He’s already won a world series and been to another. Take the money man! The Nationals have to overpay to get people watching and to take them serious. Oh well, good for Werth.