Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols are about to start the first season of their new massive contracts, and they will presumably remain star-level players in 2012. Even if they struggle, however, they'll still have their names written into the lineup, because of how much has been invested in them by the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels, respectively.
Other veterans, however, are close to the "or else" ledge -- that time when their employer must have production, or else change is imminent.
Vernon Wells, Los Angeles Angels: He had the lowest batting average of the 145 qualified players in the big leagues last year, hitting just .218, with a .248 on-base percentage. The Angels still have a staggering amount of money tied up with Wells, who will be paid $63 million over the next three seasons. But the fact that Jerry Dipoto was just hired as general manager will help to facilitate change, if needed, because the acquisition of Wells was not his idea. The Angels are loaded with alternatives, too. Peter Bourjos and Torii Hunter will open the season in center field and right, respectively, and with Pujols slated to be the first baseman, the Angels also have Kendrys Morales, Bobby Abreu and Mark Trumbo as DH candidates -- with Mike Trout, Keith Law's No. 1 prospect, waiting for an opportunity.
The Angels will have a Plan B, a Plan C, etc., if needed -- if Wells gives more of the same.
To read about other players who need to perform in 2012 to save their jobs, such as Travis Hafner, Alfonso Soriano and Adam Dunn, become an ESPN Insider.
Buster Olney
ESPN Insider- Senior writer ESPN Magazine/ESPN.com
- Reporter for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball
- Author of "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty"
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Buster Olney
Buster Olney is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. He began covering baseball in 1989, as the Nashville Banner's beat reporter assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Later, he covered the San Diego Padres (1993-94), the Baltimore Orioles ('95-96), the New York Mets ('97) and the Yankees ('98-2001). Olney joined ESPN The Magazine in 2003, after six years at The New York Times, and he's the author of two books. "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty," is a Times best-seller, and "How Lucky You Can Be", about basketball coaching legend Don Meyer, was released in 2011.
He grew up in central Vermont collecting baseball cards and listening to Red Sox, Expos, Phillies and Pirates radio broadcasts, and was a rabid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He graduated from Vanderbilt University the same year as hoops legend Will Perdue, and ranks among the all-time leading scorers in pickup basketball at Memorial Gym. He claims to have witnessed the Commodores' winning football season in 1982 (although anthropologists have not yet confirmed this).
Olney also contributes to ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS, "SportsCenter" and "Baseball Tonight."
Follow Buster on Twitter: @Buster_ESPN
You must be signed in to post a comment