The Major League landscape is changing for home run hitters they are getting rich and moving to the American League to lengthen their careers. The teams in the National League are losing the advantage in the war to sign the big time free agents. This year we have seen two of the biggest contacts in history going to the American League teams
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and
Detroit Tigers. The two contracts where for ten and nine years respectively, adding to why the AL is winning the war in landing the bid fish free agents. The designated hitter allows the team to control the player into the declining fielding years and have the ability to keep there still alive bat in the lineup. The NL does not have a way to find answers to keep the best free agents from leaving unless the pay more for each year (
Ryan Howard) or over pay (
Jayson Werth). Some deals can be made to keep them home at discounted values if the player loves his place in the NL. The overall history of the MLB has shown the players go where the money is because their life expectancy as a player is very short. Will we see more of the
David Ortiz,
Vladimir Guerrero and
Jim Thome type players stay with teams for the main purpose to be a designated hitter and keep the namesake in the line up to help the owners reap the benefits of having the superstars stay as part of the team for publicity and sell tickets? Would
Paul Konerko,
Mark Reynolds or
Troy Tulowitzki be future candidate for a all time DH role?
Let's take a look at the Top 5 home run hitters in the National League in 2011 and their contracts.
1. Dodgers -
Matt Kemp - 8 years, 160 Million - 39 home runs
2. Brewers -
Prince Fielder - 9 years, 214 Million (Just signed with AL Tigers) - 38 home runs
3. Cardinals -
Albert Pujols - 10 years, 240 Million (Just signed with AL Angels) - 37 home runs
4. Braves -
Dan Uggla - 5 years, 62 Million - 36 home runs
5. Marlins -
Mike Stanton - 1 year, 416,000 - 34 home runs
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| Pujols |
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| Fielder |
So we see that two out of the top five home run hitters in the National League will be switching leagues. The trend is starting to flow towards the DH league! Could Mike Stanton be the next to follow? How bout
Joey Votto, the Cincinnati Red's star, could he be headed to the American League?
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| Stanton |
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Votto
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Could this be the start to the two leagues becoming one with a designated hitter in both leagues?Baseball Commissioner
Bud Selig may be the man that might answer that question.
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