Too Much?
I threw the Rivera comparison up there, so why not do it again?
The most cash the sport’s all-time saves leader made in a single season was $15 million while Chapman will earn $17.2 million over the next five seasons.
Chapman’s deal also destroys Mark Melancon’s record of $62 million given to a relief pitcher by $24 million.
Is it worth it? Well, Melancon actually had a higher win probability added in 2016 and since 2013, Melancon has maintained a 1.80 ERA compared to Chapman’s 1.93 while giving up three fewer home runs, 59 fewer walks and a higher strikeout to walk ratio in 48 more innings of work.
They are also committing five years to a player who, at this point, is a luxury and not a necessity for an in-between team, but we’ll get into that in the next slide.
Spotrac estimated his market value to be able to wheel in a four-year, $56 million. He has surpassed that by one year and a staggering $30 million.
Overpaid? One could surely assert that at this moment.
