Comments on: David Ortiz’s contract includes incentives based on his Achilles injury

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 02:46:46 +0000

“Incentives” have worked both ways.

In Papi’s case I think its more apropos to label them ‘productivity triggers’.

Achilles injuries can happen to anyone. It may or may not happen more frequently with older players, but those injuries can happen to anyone. If the repercussions of the injury seem to affect him well into next season then I’d be concerned. In the meantime . . .

It’s important to note that from 2009-2011 Ortiz played in an average of 147 Games (150, 145, 146). And without verifying further I’m confident that most of the missed games were simply lineup decisions made during that godforsaken thing called “Interleague”. He played injured in 2009 and had a sizeable decline in percentages.

However his combined percentages over 2010, 2011 and 2012 is:

.296/.391/.558/.950 with a 151 OPS+

In other words, he’s well worth the risk over the next two seasons.

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:50:32 +0000

A month or so ago I said that Papi would re-sign with the Red Sox for 2 (with a possible 3rd-year mutual option) years for a total of $30M-$32M – with incentives – and was roundly criticized for estimate because Cherington would be ‘overpaying’ Ortiz.

Ultimately, no option, but I consider myself vindicated.

By: willclarkgameface

willclarkgameface — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:43:57 +0000

I think there should have been an incentive built into the contract for him stop bitching about things especially during a contract year. 2013 will not yield massive amounts of bitching, but 2014 he will lead the league just like in 2012.

This was Larry Lucchino’s warm and fuzzy pick of the off-season. It’s for you pink hat nation. Time to sing Sweet Caroline while drinking expensive shitty beer and texting your girlfriends at the same time about how hot Jacoby is when he plays quarterback.

You saw that right. THAT is what going to a game at Fenway is like.

By: tfbuckfutter

tfbuckfutter — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 02:11:38 +0000

It actually is probably language specific to that injury. I think it was Magglio Ordonez who signed a contract which protected the team in case of injury to one of his specific knees….and he promptly blew out the other one.

But again, that contract said “You make $x unless you injure your right knee, then you make $x-y”

Which may be how this contract is actually written, but the write up of it sounds bizarre. And reporting it as a $26 million deal makes it sound like that is the assumed base, and the “incentive” that pushes it to $30 million isn’t actually an incentive.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 02:06:58 +0000

I’m sure the language just says: “Plays in X number of games.” Similar to how pitchers may have options that vest for pitching a fixed amount of innings. I doubt that they specifically mention injuries, I could be wrong though.

By: tfbuckfutter

tfbuckfutter — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:57:21 +0000

Umm….I don’t think I’ve heard of “incentives” working like that before. Usually the money is protected against the injury in the interest of the team….

It’s like his base pay assumes the problem will be a persistent one.