Attention, Shoppers!
Taking stock of baseball's record-breaking free-agent spending spree
Posted: Thursday December 03, 1998 04:04 PM
By Tom Verducci
 Across the land, shoppers spent
Thanksgiving weekend chasing madly after a long-haired critter with a
language all his own. The pursuit of free-agent pitcher Randy Johnson
was downright Furby-like in the way people were willing to overpay for
something in short supply -- in this case, an ace pitcher. The Arizona
Diamondbacks took home the package by giving Johnson, 35, a four-year
contract (with a club option for a fifth) that guarantees him approximately
$53 million. With that, Arizona, which lost 97 games in '98, immediately
became a contender ... to play .500 ball.
That's the problem with spending $13 million a year for a player, as four
teams recently lined up to do. These expensive toys don't come with
guarantees. As a consumer service, we rank, in terms of wisdom, the holiday
purchases that rewrote baseball's highest-paid list.
1. Mo
Vaughn, Anaheim
Angels ($13.3 million per year for six years). Think G.I. Joe, an
action figure with leadership ability and a proven track record. Now
Anaheim can trade centerfielder Jim Edmonds for
pitching help and face September, its annual Waterloo, with confidence.
Vaughn and the Angels are the only free-agent fit thus far that can turn a
contender into a winner.
2. Bernie
Williams, New York
Yankees ($12.5 million, seven years). Williams doesn't make or
break New York; like a Beanie Baby, he's part of a collection. But after
the 1998 Florida
Marlins' markdown sale, keeping the 125-win Yanks intact is good for
the game.
3. Johnson. The problem with being this year's Furby is you're
next year's Cabbage Patch Kid. The short term looks great. Arizona gets a
premier attraction -- a guy with a 62-17 record over the last four seasons&
-- and can now trade either Brian
Anderson or Omar Daal for a
hitter. The long-term outlook isn't nearly so appealing. Burdened with
stadium cost overruns, Arizona has backloaded several salaries and is
deferring, with interest, nearly half of Johnson's money. In a few years,
when the Diamondbacks should be ready to win, they will be stuck with
players past their prime.
4. Albert
Belle, Baltimore
Orioles ($13 million, five years). Wind him up, and he'll hit 50
homers and drive in 130 runs. Caution: extremely dangerous when wound too
tight. Already-suspect manager Ray Miller would be overwhelmed trying to
cope with Belle and a fading Cal Ripken when
what the Orioles really need are youth and athleticism. Tempting though he
may be, Belle underscores the first rule of holiday shopping: Buyer beware.
Issue date: December 7, 1998
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