2022 Diamondbacks: Little pay, big production
Value galore! These 3 Diamondbacks players did way more than earn their paycheck in 2022…
Jake McCarthy 2022 earnings: $702,400
Jake McCarthy is soon going to be a name most MLB fans know well. In 99 games a season ago, Jake hit 8 HRs, 43 RBIs, stole 23 bases, and slashed .283/.342/.427 for an OPS of .769…
With those numbers, the Diamondbacks are getting a steal for how much they pay Jake. Let me compare his production and how much similar players got paid in 2022. In the 22’ season, the legendary Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. recorded a .764 OPS, he got paid $15,000,000. Both star outfielder George Springer and star catcher J.T. Realmuto recorded the same OBP as McCarthy (.342), Springer got paid $28,000,000, and Realmuto got paid $23,875,000. Don’t get me wrong, I think all of these players are better than McCarthy, but value galore, McCarthy did more than earn his paycheck in 2022…
Joe Mantiply 2022 earnings: $717,000
Joe Manitply enjoyed a great season in 2022. In 60 innings he struck out 61 batters and posted a 2.85 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP. These impressive numbers booked him a trip to Dodger Stadium for his first-ever all-star appearance…
As I did with McCarthy, I want to compare Joe’s production and how much similar players got paid in 2022. Star White Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks (oddly enough, I ran into him at a Red Wings game and we had a good conversation; super nice guy by the way) posted a 2.81 ERA over the course of 57.2 innings; his earnings in 2022, $18,000,000. Current Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen pitched 64 innings with the Braves a season ago and posted a 3.38 ERA; his 2022 earnings, $16,000,000. The Diamondbacks have some current contracts that the front office must be drooling over…
Zac Gallen 2022 earnings: $745,600
Not much to be said here. Zac Gallen might have been the most valuable player in the league based on how much his pay suggested he should be performing. Gallen, thankfully, got a very much-deserved raise in the offseason. For the 2023 season, Gallen will be making $5,600,000…
Yes, it is a raise, but when you look at what other top pitchers in the league are making, Gallen’s contract is still a steal for the Arizona front office. In the 2022 season, here is where Gallen ranked among NL pitchers; 4th in ERA (2.54), 1st in WHIP (0.91), 1st in batting average against (.186), 8th in strikeouts (192), and 8th in BB/9 (2.09). Comparing his wealth to others, Gerrit Cole who posted a 3.50 ERA in 2022, earned $36,000,000 a season ago. Justin Verlander who posted a 3.00 ERA a season ago, earned $25,000,000 in 22’...
GM Mike Hazen sure knows how to find valuable players for cheap. Billy Beane would be proud…