Putting Food on Junior's Table

Here's a familiar scenario:

Player outperforms his career stats in a contract year and is rewarded with a contract commensurate with someone who would put up similar or better numbers over the duration of that contract.

This time the player is 7 year veteran Gary Matthews Jr., who in 2006 put up career high numbers in batting average, slugging, OPS, runs, hits, HRs, and RBI. Rather than look at the six years in which Matthews was a very average hitter with a superior glove, teams decided to highlight 2006 and get in on a bidding war for his services. The result is a 5 year, $50 million contract with the Anaheim Angels.

So far this year, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Juan Pierre, and now Gary Matthews Jr have signed contracts that just make me shake my head. These "franchise" players all come from teams that finished a combined 52 games under .500 (I won't double count the Cubs who finished 30 games under.) But somehow, these guys are the missing pieces for another team's championship? Um, ok.

As pointed out elsewhere, the teams don't really have to worry about the extra expense, as they'll just pass the cost on to us fans.

My $7 dollar beer is going to taste really bitter next season.