Some players in the game are forever viewed through the lens of their contract. As they are signed, the debate begins about whether they are worth the money, a conversation that continues throughout the duration of their multiyear contract and even beyond.
If you separate the player from the money, however, and judge him only on what he provides as a player -- because after all, once the contract is signed, the money is gone -- you might get an entirely different view. There are a number of well-paid players -- players who might even be overpaid -- who serve their team very well.
Consider the following nine examples:
Todd Helton, Rockies: Is his contract an albatross for a small-market team like Colorado? Sure. The Rockies' payroll last year was $54.4 million, and Helton accounted for approximate 30 percent of that, with his $16.6 million salary. This is why the Rockies nearly traded Helton to the Red Sox before last season.
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Buster Olney
