Contract Year Players

Let’s examine the players who are entering a contract year. Motivation doesn’t work for everybody, but the amount of money to be made on the open market is enough for a lifetime. In this economy, these players want to reach pay dirt and make as much as possible. Last year, we saw huge years out of Ted Lilly, Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth and Paul Konerko to name a few. This year, we have a new set of players to analyze. All things being equal, drafting a player in a contract year an equal player not in a contract year is a risk worth taking.                         Prince Fielder will likely be the biggest name to hit the open market in 2012. That is, assuming that Boston doesn’t lock up Adrian Gonzalez in April and that the Cardinals don’t bring back Albert Pujols. Fielder had a down year in 2010 and is being drafted somewhere in the second round. I have a problem drafting players who have just come off of their career year, like Robinson Cano. I like Cano, but wouldn’t draft him ahead of Fielder. Fielder is going to be a nice value if you get him in the second round this year and, if you own the 12th pick in your draft, taking him with one of your two back-to-back picks is a risk worth taking. He could hit 40+ again this year. Rickie Weeks was one year too early. Then again, maybe he repeats or exceeds last year’s total. Weeks has shown he can provide owners with a 100-30-80-10 line, of course with some variance. At a generally weak position, Weeks has moved up into the top three rounds because of his 2010 season, his long-awaited potential and his position scarcity. Now, the Brewers may resign him mid-season, which is something they won’t be doing with Fielder, but if they don’t, Weeks could....