Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Contract Reviews: Happ and Morton

A couple of similar pitchers signed similar deals with a couple of AL East teams

J.A. Happ to the Yankees for 2 years and $34 million (with a vesting option for a 3rd year).
Charlie Morton to the Rays for 2 years and $30 million (with a team option for a 3rd year with the salary dependent upon how many days Morton spends on the DL during the first 2 seasons).

Happ is a year older and has been healthier - making 119 starts in the last 4 seasons to Morton's 82.  In fact, Morton considered retiring after his contract expired, but decided $30 million was enough to work a couple more years.



Morton has been better with and ERA and ERA estimators a quarter to half a run better than Happ's over the last 2 seasons.



Happ's projected, by Steamer, for 187 innings while giving up 3.82 runs per 9.  That works out to about 3.2 WAR

Morton's projection, by Steamer, is for 165 innings of 3.50 runs per 9 performance.  That's also 3.2 WAR.



Both guys are expected to produce about 6 WAR over the first 2 seasons, the market value of that WAR is $60 million.  About twice what they are earning.

The 3rd year is for 2.2 WAR and an additional $24 million.

These look like pretty team friendly deals, for two somewhat under the radar productive pitchers.


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