Carlos Correa and the History of Baseball’s 10-Year Contracts

Throughout the nearly 50 years of free agency in Major League Baseball, the high-end money available to players has expanded exponentially.

The emotions, though, remain remarkably similar at the start of long-term megadeals: Gratitude, wonder, and, at times, disbelief at a player’s own good fortune.

Xander Bogaerts last week made no secret of how he would have reacted earlier this off-season had his agent informed him that signing an 11-year deal was possible, let alone one that carried a guarantee of $280 million.

“I would have kissed him,” Bogaerts said at a news conference at Petco Park in San Diego last week, glancing at his agent, Scott Boras. “I would have. I haven’t yet, but I might do that.”

Back in 1976, when the pitcher Wayne Garland became the first player to sign a free-agent contract of at least 10 years — for $2.3 million, with Cleveland — he called his mother.

“I didn’t get the million dollars,” Garland, who was seeking that sum over five years, told his mom.

“You’re not worth it,” she responded.

“I got two million dollars and 10 years,” he answered. She repeated the sentiment.

“She spoke the truth,” Garland, 72, said over the phone from his home in Nashville on Wednesday. “She put it plain and simple.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/16/sports/baseball/carlos-correa-giants-contract.html