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Rocket Re-Ups
2006-05-31 22:04
by Mike Carminati

Roger Clemens re-signed with the Houston Astros today. He begins a tour of the Astros' minor-league system starting with a reunion with his son Koby in Class-A Lexington.

If all goes according to plan, he will be ready to pitch June 22 at Houston against the Twins. He'll be the highest paid player in the majors according to the USA Today at $22 M. He wears number 22. The guy really likes 22, you see.

It just seems a bit much for a .500 team. I know Clemens is a great pitcher, but that much money for something between a half to two-thirds of a season?

Let's say that Clemens pitches great upon returning and wins 11 games. They would still be paying him $2 M per win. Does that make sense?

That made me wonder what was the most any team paid a starting pitcher per win. But when I looked it up, there were so many that never won a game, that it made Clemens' deal seem frugal by comparison. I then went back and looked at just those pitchers who were paid more than the league average.

Here are the ones that never won game one sorted by salary:

NameYr Tot$ W $ per W Avg Salary
Todd Stottlemyre2002 $ 8,000,000 0 INF $2,392,526.62
Juan Guzman2000 $ 6,000,000 0 INF $1,992,984.57
Jaime Navarro2000 $ 5,000,000 0 INF $1,992,984.57
Pat Hentgen2002 $ 4,246,877 0 INF $2,392,526.62
Erik Hanson1997 $ 3,533,333 0 INF $1,219,887.86
Erik Hanson1998 $ 3,533,333 0 INF $1,280,844.56
Kevin Ritz1998 $ 3,500,000 0 INF $1,280,844.56
Bruce Hurst1993 $ 3,000,000 0 INF $ 976,966.56
Hideki Irabu2001 $ 2,500,000 0 INF $2,279,841.06
Jimmy Haynes2004 $ 2,500,000 0 INF $2,491,776.10
Brian Moehler2001 $ 2,416,667 0 INF $2,279,841.06
Mike Witt1991 $ 2,416,667 0 INF $ 891,883.65
Mike Scott1991 $ 2,412,500 0 INF $ 891,883.65
Mark Portugal1997 $ 2,350,000 0 INF $1,219,887.86
Matt Young1992 $ 2,266,667 0 INF $1,047,520.58
Tommy Greene1995 $ 2,000,000 0 INF $ 964,979.07
Rick Sutcliffe1990 $ 1,925,000 0 INF $ 511,800.68
Mark Gubicza1997 $ 1,600,000 0 INF $1,219,887.86
Butch Henry1998 $ 1,367,500 0 INF $1,280,844.56
Rick Reuschel1991 $ 1,350,000 0 INF $ 891,883.65
John Tudor1989 $ 1,300,000 0 INF $ 505,462.32
Tim Crews1992 $ 1,175,000 0 INF $1,047,520.58
Jack Armstrong1994 $ 1,150,000 0 INF $1,049,588.56
Scott McGregor1988 $ 1,066,171 0 INF $ 453,020.25
Scott Bankhead1990 $ 755,000 0 INF $ 511,800.68
Bob Shirley1986 $ 750,000 0 INF $ 417,192.21
John Montefusco1985 $ 637,500 0 INF $ 476,142.42
Jim Beattie1986 $ 575,000 0 INF $ 417,192.21
Richard Dotson1990 $ 550,000 0 INF $ 511,800.68
Dave Stewart1985 $ 505,000 0 INF $ 476,142.42

As for the ones that at least won a ballgame, here were the most overpaid per win:

NameYr Tot$ W $ per W Avg Salary
Chan Ho Park2003 $ 13,000,000 1 $13,000,000.00 $2,573,472.95
Steve Trachsel2005 $ 6,782,500 1 $ 6,782,500.00 $2,633,830.80
Sterling Hitchcock2000 $ 6,100,000 1 $ 6,100,000.00 $1,992,984.57
Charles Nagy2002 $ 6,000,000 1 $ 6,000,000.00 $2,392,526.62
Eric Milton2003 $ 6,000,000 1 $ 6,000,000.00 $2,573,472.95
Dustin Hermanson2002 $ 5,833,333 1 $ 5,833,333.00 $2,392,526.62
Kevin Brown2002 $ 15,714,286 3 $ 5,238,095.33 $2,392,526.62
Donovan Osborne1999 $ 5,080,000 1 $ 5,080,000.00 $1,485,316.85
Bret Saberhagen2001 $ 5,000,000 1 $ 5,000,000.00 $2,279,841.06
Sterling Hitchcock2002 $ 4,936,719 1 $ 4,936,719.00 $2,392,526.62
Jimmy Key1995 $ 4,873,700 1 $ 4,873,700.00 $ 964,979.07
Kevin Appier1998 $ 4,800,000 1 $ 4,800,000.00 $1,280,844.56
Bill Swift1996 $ 4,608,333 1 $ 4,608,333.00 $1,026,923.87
Denny Neagle2003 $ 9,000,000 2 $ 4,500,000.00 $2,573,472.95
Greg Swindell1996 $ 4,450,000 1 $ 4,450,000.00 $1,026,923.87
Frank Viola1994 $ 4,333,334 1 $ 4,333,334.00 $1,049,588.56
Glendon Rusch2003 $ 4,250,000 1 $ 4,250,000.00 $2,573,472.95
Danny Jackson1996 $ 4,100,000 1 $ 4,100,000.00 $1,026,923.87
Albie Lopez2002 $ 4,000,000 1 $ 4,000,000.00 $2,392,526.62
Wilson Alvarez2002 $ 8,000,000 2 $ 4,000,000.00 $2,392,526.62
Kevin Brown2005 $ 15,714,286 4 $ 3,928,571.50 $2,633,830.80

Two million dollars per win would put Clemens in a tie for 91st place with Elmer Dessens in 2004, Mark Langston in 1997, and Orel Hershiser in 2000.Then again, if he wins only five or so, that puts him in Kevin Brown territory.

I guess the bottom line for the Astros is to stir up the locals so he's already paid dividends. Now I can't wait for Koby's September callup/photo op.

Comments
2006-05-31 22:23:13
1.   das411
It can't be a coincidence that 3 of the top 4 on your first list all pitched for those '92-93 Jays...right??
2006-06-01 11:39:00
2.   rbj
It's a pro-rated $22 mil, meaning it's $12+ mil. (plus his minor league pay.) If he gets 13 wins at $13 mil, it isn't too shabby. Even 11 wins would be ok, because as you said, he'll be making the team money.
2006-06-14 22:38:49
3.   StolenMonkey86
Wait, Darren Dreifort didn't make the list?

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