There isn't really anyone out there claiming the Texas Rangers were fleeced by signing Ian Desmond to a one-year, $8 million contract to be their everyday left fielder, even though he has never played left field in the pros and only has two games of experience in the outfield at the big-league level — both in right field.
It's a bit of a risk, but it can't be said that it isn't a bargain.
For Desmond, on the other hand, it's a huge, cold slap in the face.
Former Nationals and Reds general manager Jim Bowden, who is now a talking head for ESPN and SiriusXM, called the deal the worst he's ever seen for a player.
"I’m in a state of shock," Bowden said on his SiriusXM MLB Network Radio program. "$8 million dollars? You talk about the worst negotiated contract that we’ve seen in the last five years. Is there a worse deal that we have ever seen, EVER? I have never seen a worse contract, ever. Ever, for a player. You can’t tell me you can’t even get $10 million on a one-year deal?"
Wow.
What Bowden says holds some water, though, especially when you consider the money Desmond has left on the table the last couple of years. For one, he turned down a qualifying offer in November from the Nationals for $15.8 million — $7.8 million more than what the Rangers will pay him.
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But just two years ago, Desmond turned down a $107 million over seven years to see how much better he could do down the road. Of course, since then his numbers have declined every year.
