Is David Wright Worth $100 Million?
There has been a lot of speculation whether David Wright will remain a New York Met. While the club still has a $16 million option on the 29-year-old third baseman for next season, Wright has been mentioned as a contract-extension candidate.
Whether he stays with the Mets — or he’s dealt to another team — it seems likely Wright would be locked up before hitting the free-agent market. Assuming that’s the case, he should be in for a large payday. Wright, however, could be looking for an extension in the $100 million range. And though Wright has been stellar throughout his career, $100 million is far from a guarantee.
So whose career could we compare to Wright’s? When we sort by similar third basemen, he’s in pretty elite company:
| Name | PA | HR | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG | wOBA | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Rodriguez | 4257 | 281 | 12.20% | 18.10% | 0.306 | 0.400 | 0.596 | 0.421 | 52.7 |
| Miguel Cabrera | 4816 | 236 | 11.60% | 16.40% | 0.323 | 0.403 | 0.567 | 0.407 | 40.3 |
| David Wright | 4549 | 171 | 11.60% | 19.00% | 0.302 | 0.384 | 0.507 | 0.385 | 37.7 |
| Scott Rolen | 3111 | 144 | 11.30% | 16.80% | 0.290 | 0.379 | 0.534 | 0.388 | 33.8 |
| Adrian Beltre | 4997 | 200 | 6.60% | 15.80% | 0.271 | 0.322 | 0.465 | 0.336 | 32.6 |
| Eric Chavez | 4706 | 214 | 10.60% | 17.10% | 0.270 | 0.348 | 0.491 | 0.357 | 31.8 |
The above chart shows the top six WAR-earning third basemen, since 2000, and their production between their age-22 and age-29 season. Wright just entered his age-29 season, so his WAR total should increase — barring an injury or complete loss of skills. While this chart gives us a great idea of how awesome Wright has been during his career, it’s not especially helpful when determining what type of contract extension he should receive.
There’s absolutely no way Wright — or anyone else, for that matter — will receive the $275 million extension that Alex Rodriguez signed in 2008. Miguel Cabrera’s eight-year, $152 million extension isn’t much better, either, since Cabrera signed that deal as a 25-year-old. Scott Rolen may have signed his $90 million extension around the same age as Wright, but that deal was made in 2003. In fact, the market has changed so much since 2003 that it’s nearly impossible to compare it to deals handed out on the current market. Eric Chavez’s $66 million contract falls into the same category. And Adrian Beltre has only gotten free-agent deals, which makes him a poor comparison.
To determine a more accurate comparison for Wright, we can look at recent deals that third basemen have signed. Earlier this year, both Ryan Zimmerman and Pablo Sandoval agreed to contract extensions. Sandoval is a poor comparison, though, since his extension just bought out his arbitration years. And while Zimmerman’s deal with the Washington Nationals isn’t perfect, it’s probably the best option we have.
This February, Zimmerman signed an eight-year, $126 million extension. Zimmerman was coming off his age-26 season, meaning the length and money for that deal might not completely translate to Wright — especially considering how much Wright has struggled the last two years.
After averaging 6.19 WAR in his first five season, Wright has averaged just 2.95 WAR the past two years. Much of that drop in production can be attributed to a back injury, which limited Wright to just 102 games last season. If Wright hopes to make $100 million, he’s going to have to show that he’s over his injury. Another season of simply adequate production would substantially drive down Wright’s price.
When we look at how each player compares to each other through their age-26 seasons, Wright emerges as the better player.
| Name | PA | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG | wOBA | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Wright | 3383 | 11.80% | 17.70% | 0.310 | 0.394 | 0.518 | 0.393 | 30.9 |
| Ryan Zimmerman | 2925 | 9.40% | 16.60% | 0.286 | 0.354 | 0.479 | 0.359 | 24.9 |
What’s interesting about Zimmerman’s contract extension is that it actually won’t kick-in until Zimmerman begins his age-29 season. Zimmerman was already under contract with the Nationals through 2013, so the extension was tacked on to his current deal. So when Zimmerman turns 29, he’ll make $14 million; Wright, by comparison, will make $15.2 million this year.
Following his age-29 season, Zimmerman will be paid $86 million during the next five years. That’s probably about what Wright should expect if he stays healthy, but struggles to produce great numbers. Teams will probably shy away from offering him big money since he would be two full seasons removed from his last strong year. If Wright is able to churn out a bounce-back season, he’ll be in good shape entering extension talks. And since Wright was better than Zimmerman early in his career, there’s a good chance Wright will ask for more money and potentially an additional year.
Provided that Wright is able to rebound, asking for a six-year, $100 million contract extension wouldn’t be out of the question. Based on how much value Wright produces this year, it’s possible that the number could rise to about $120 million. But if Wright struggles — or his back issues return — there’s no chance his extension will reach $100 million.
I think we all know that if wright hits 30 home runs this year and the next, which he is more than capable of doing, he will have a serious shot at $160 million in free agency. The mets won’t be able to sign him for less than zimmerman, though they maybe could have this offseason.
…you’re joking, right?
I think the biggest question is: Are the Mets willing to pay him?
They probably should simply because they don’t have many good bats on the farm and third base is a nototiously scarce position that is difficult to fill.
Zach Lutz is one of their best bats in the farm and he plays 3B. Was just called up today/yesterday in fact. While it’s doubtful he could replace Wright’s production (and his health is a concern), the point you raise isn’t that much of a concern for the Mets. They could even slide Daniel Murphy over to 3B, that’s where he’s best suited.
Yes, the same 26 year old Zach Lutz who has played 143 games between the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons.
Guy, if you’re not a top-25 prospect in an average farm system, you’re not worthy of being the reason a team doesn’t sign Wright.
And we all know that because, … Wright hasn’t hit 30 home runs since 2008?
Jose Bautista was coming off of a season in which he hit 54 home runs and posted an fWAR of 6.8. That season was an anomaly for him, but it was his age-29 season. And he signed for $65M over 5 years.
$160M is absolute crazy-talk. I don’t have anything against Wright, but his “good” 2010 season was only 4.0 WAR. Any team signing him right now is signing a 29-year old who isn’t the hitter or defender he was when he was 24.
His wOBAs from 2004 – 2011: .367, .393, .385, .420. .397, .368, .364, .342.
I hope he’s having himself a nice little career resurgence, but the idea that he’s going to work himself back up to being worth $20M/year for more than, say, five or six years, is extremely optimistic.
From 2009 – 2011, the only 3B to “top” Wright’s negative-31.1 fielding runs is Mark Reynolds (-37.8).
Any team signing Wright to big, long-term deal would be pretty crazy unless he puts together a 3- or 4-month stretch where he demonstrates more power and/or better defense. And BABIPing .421 doesn’t count.
Bautista is a very poor comp. Not only was did his level of play increase dramatically out of nowhere as you alluded to, he was still under team control due to a lack of service time. That said $160 mil is crazy. I could see someone like the Dodgers offering something like 6 for $120 M.
I wasn’t really looking for a fantastic comp as much as the fact that hitting 30 home runs doesn’t guarantee a big contract. After hitting 54 HRs with (also) not great defense, Bautista’s power floor seemed established at something like 30-35 HRs.
Mets fans can look forward to David Wright Day when he comes back as a member of the Dodgers.
Keep dreaming.
I agree. If you gave me odds, I’d be willing to wager he’s traded there on July 30th.
He won’t be a Met this time next year. 100 million is crazy talk.
The Mets had one of the biggest multi year choking collapses in professional sports history with David Wright their best player.
Out with the old, in with the new. He’s not worth 100 million to anyone…let alone the Mets.
“Provided that Wright is able to rebound…”
That’s a gigantic, mountainous “if” that calls the rest of the column into question. Isn’t this “if” the central question surrounding David Wright? Is it even relevant to consider what he did five or six years ago while ignoring his recent history? Perhaps future projections would be in order here.
If the Tigers don’t win the World Series this year, Illitch maybe so desperate to win one before he dies he’ll give him a 100MM contract and move Cabrera again to a different position.
Cabrera to SS?
Mets hold a 16 mil option on Wright for next year, so no. Alderson has also mentioned on radio recently that he doesn’t see Wright playing for another team
The difference between Wright and Zimmerman through age 26 isn’t that big when you take into account PA’s. Assume the same “WAR/PA rate” and Zimmerman comes in at roughly 28.8, so two wins rather than six. Remember, Zimmerman is a much better defender than Wright. Plus, Wright’s defense has been quite bad since 2008 and isn’t showing signs of a rebound. We know defense ages faster than hitting, so in all likelihood he’s a below-average defender at best going forward.
The biggest thing going for him is the relative lack of offensive talent at the hot corner right now. The early signs are that he’s healthy and fixed some of the approach/swing problems of the past few seasons, so if he gets back to form offensively he should be in line for a pretty good pay day.
David Wright has a positive UZR so far this season. He said last year that his defense has slipped while he’s put on extra muscle mass to compensate for the larger dimensions of Citi Field. He has since lost said muscle mass with the more reasonable dimensions.
Zimmerman took a hometown discount, too. Wright has no reason to follow suit considering the Mets don’t appear to be a team on the rise and he’s not from the area.
On the other hand, the Mets would be crazy to sign a guy to a huge deal almost 2 years from free agency (when he’ll be 30) after 2 years of decline. $100 million seems insane. Say he does well the next two years, but not age 24-26 David Wright. How much would he get as a 4-5 WAR 30-year-old third baseman? I’d say 6/120 tops. There’s no upside for the Mets making this deal now. On the other hand, Wright won’t sign for less than Zim. So either the Mets make a mistake or this doesn’t happen this year.
David Wright grew up a Mets fan watching the former AAA affiliate in Norfolk when he grew up.
5 year 80 million tops
I have a friend who thinks Andre Ethier’s next contract will surpass 100 mill. It’s safe to say he is not a fangraphs reader.
39.6 of that 40.3 WAR of Cabrera’s was not earned at 3B. Why you included him… is beyond me.
yeah that seemed like a strange decision
Aramis Ramirez, who re-signed with the Cubs for 5 years/$73M after the 2006 season (his age 28 season), is also a decent comp for Wright:
4499 PA, 216 HR, 6.6% BB, 12.9% K, .287/.340/.512, .360ish wOBA, 23.9 fWAR
Ramirez would be an even better comp for Wright if the Mets had been forced to trade him in a salary dump when they started to have debt problems, the same way MLB forced the Pirates to trade Ramirez in 2003:
http://m.si.com/news/archive/archive/detail/2816666
But even though Bud Selig didn’t follow precedent and require the Mets to dump Wright’s salary, at least he didn’t give Fred Wilpon secret loans, or anything shady like that. :thu:
Wright’s numbers fail to take into account the taint associated with his team’s end of seasonal failures. The Mets are Wright’s team and they have been involved in historic collapses. He is not worth 100 million especially if the Mets deemed Reyes was not worth that money. Reyes is a more talented player coming off a better hitting and fielding year and Reyes plays a more important position.
“Wright’s numbers fail to take into account the taint associated with his team’s end of seasonal failures. The Mets are Wright’s team and they have been involved in historic collapses”
Sense this makes: none.
Referencing the collapses is pretty silly. Wright performed great down the stretch those seasons. If you want to talk Reyes…he was the one who was brutal down the stretch both years. But that in itself would be a pretty silly reason to let him go.
As for the Reyes/Wright comparisons in terms of performance..Reyes does play the more premium position, but last year was the only year he was significantly better than Wright.
It will be interesting to see what Wright does in the remodeled Citi. The fact that they didn’t sign Reyes shouldn’t in any way lead them not to sign Reyes. The money situation is also a bit better now than it was a year ago so it should be easier to sign Wright.
If the Mets are smart, they trade him. They moved the fences in so his power numbers should be bigger than in previous years. Trade him to a despirate team at the deadline, get an A grade prospect and 2 raw guys.
The problem with signing Wright is the same as with Pujols, although not nearly as complicated. You first have to figure out which Wright you’re getting before you overpay for either one.
When Pujols signed, they assumed 2011 was an aberration, and therefore his contract was only an overpay of maybe $75M. If Pujols is truly more like 2011, then it is probably an overpay of $125M. Since 2009, Wright’s OPS is .833. At that level, a better comp, in an odd sort of way, might be Youkilis.
Personally, I think Beltre is a better all-around 3B, and a better athlete, and I think he was an overpay as well.
ironically, something like the bay contract may be a good idea for the mets to give wright. i don’t think he would get much more that than in FA, because he’s more important to the mets than he is to anyone else.
of course, someone gave a $200 million contract to prince fielder, so who the hell knows.
Wright will surpass $100M easily if he puts up a healthy decent year this year.
He’s a great producer at a scarce position, with no off-field issues, who is charismatic and tough.
The question isn’t what he’s worth — it’s what the party who wants him most is willing to pay him.
People are constantly surprised, over and over again, at the size of free agent deals. It’s time to stop being surprised. Someone will overpay Wright, and it’ll probably be 6/120. He won’t earn it, but he’ll get it. Some things are not that academic.
He’s a pretty shit defender at that scarce position though. As he ages, how long can you trot him out to third?
Yup, there needs to be two threads. One asking if he’ll get it, and one asking if he’s worth it. MLB owners have given out a lot worse contracts just last year, and it still doesn’t deter them.
Bingo! Just last year we were debating how much Reyes would get, and he had similar knocks against him (poor 2010, declining defense, injury concerns) and the early season predictions criminally undervalued him (couldn’t find the exact chat, but IIRC someone here had him at 5/75 max).
For those questioning his comeback this year (early as it is), I think it’s worth noting that Wright’s career BABIP is .341. Last year it was .302. It’s way more likely that his BABIP this year will be closer to his career average than 2011.
But the real question is if David Wright is worth $100 million, how much is Peter Bourjos worth?