Tanaka, Choo, Zimmermann, Cespedes Lead Biggest MLB Contracts Ending In 2020

Though there will be larger names entering free agency this coming winter, several players on huge contracts signed in the early to mid 2010s will see their deals expire in 2020.

Those players include Ian Kennedy, Justin Turner, Mark Melancon, Yadier Molina, Andrelton Simmons and Josh Reddick. But with the 2020 season currently on hold because of COVID-19, it’s unclear how much of players’ salaries this season will actually be paid out. That was sacrificed in favor of service time, which will be awarded on a pro-rated basis. 

To avoid that confusion, the players with the most bloated contracts ending in 2020 will have what they would make this year in a normal season.

Masahiro Tanaka, SP, New York Yankees

Total Contract: $155 million

2020 Salary*: $23 million

Has he been the bona fide ace the Yankees were looking for when they signed the Japanese import to a seven-year, $155 million contract after the 2013 season? No, but they ended up with a durable starter who’s gone 75-43 with a 3.75 ERA during his six seasons in the Bronx. The 31-year-old righty has also been a tremendous postseason pitcher, going 5-3 with a 1.76 ERA in 46 playoff innings. New York didn’t get huge bang for its buck, his 4.45 regular season ERA left much to be desired in 2019, but it could’ve been far worse, as you’ll see.

Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Texas Rangers

Total Contract: $130 million

2020 Salary*: $21 million

Choo also hasn’t set the world on fire since signing a seven-year deal in that same 2013 offseason. But he’s been a solid leadoff hitter who gets on base, scores runs and plays below average to bad defense. In his age 36 season, he still gave the Rangers 24 homers, 15 steals and a .371 on base percentage. That’s not bad at all.

Jordan Zimmermann, SP, Detroit Tigers

Total Contract: $110 million

2020 Salary*: $25 million

This is easily the biggest train wreck of the bunch. Zimmermann came off of some really good years with Washington, including two All-Star selections, before the Tigers signed him after the 2015 season. It’s been clunker after clunker since, with ERAs of 4.87, 6.08 and a respectable 4.52 before last year’s 1-13 record with a 6.91 ERA. He’s one of the worst signings any team has had in several years. Luckily for Detroit, the 33-year-old won’t be their problem anymore after the season.

Yoenis Cespedes, OF, New York Mets

Total Contract: $110 million, kinda

2020 Salary*: $6-11 million, kinda

Cespedes’ contract is infamously complex. What we know is that the Mets acquired him in 2015 and helped New York make the World Series. A year later, the Mets signed him to a four-year, $110 million contract to take him through the 2020 season. After playing in just 81 games in 2017, Cespedes played in 38 in 2018 before missing the rest of the season recovering from surgeries on both his heels. He hasn’t played since, in part thanks to a bizarre accident at his Florida ranch that led to a broken right ankle. New York was able to negotiate down his 2020 deal from what would have been $29.5 million, but the damage has already been done to an odd and frustrating tenure in Flushing.

Jeff Samardzija, SP, San Francisco Giants

Total Contract: $90 million

2020 Salary*: $19.8 million

The Giants probably would have wanted more than roughly league average for a pitcher with a league average ERA over his four years on the team to date, but that’s what Samardzija has given them. He’s gone 33-43 over 106 starts during that span and bounced back with a 3.52 ERA over 181 1/3 innings last season. If the 2020 season gets off the ground, the 35-year-old righty can end his San Francisco contract on a high note.

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