Ervin Santana and his representatives are obviously trying to capitalize on the fact that the free-agent market is pretty bare when it comes to quality starting pitching, but come on.
According to a report via Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Santana is looking to secure a lucrative deal following a very productive season for the Kansas City Royals.
Free-agent right-hander Ervin Santana is seeking more than $100 million on a five-year deal, and righty Ricky Nolasco $80 million over the same term, according to major league sources.
Santana has a career 4.19 ERA in 1,686 2/3 career innings – a half-run per nine innings greater than Sanchez had in 869 innings when he became a free agent last offseason. Yet Santana produced a career-best 3.24 mark with the Royals last season and has averaged 32 starts, 210 innings and a 3.87 ERA the past four seasons.
Only elite pitcher deserve to have contracts that cross the $100 million threshold, and while Santana has proven to be productive for the better part of his career, he’s not in that category.
But you never know the desperation for starting pitching may force a few GMs to blink first.