A foot injury has likely put an end to Albert Pujols’s 2013 season, the worst of his career. The Angels better hope their star first baseman returns to form in 2014: They owe him $212 million over the next eight seasons, including $30 million in 2021, when he will be 41.
He’s not the only big contract the Angels have to worry about: Outfielder Josh Hamilton has been a disaster in the first of his five-year, $125 million deal. The Angels, though, aren’t the only team worrying about players with big long-term contracts whose performance is declining. A look at some of them:
Angels
Albert Pujols (age 33)
Owed: 8 years, $212m
On the field: Has put up career worsts in OPS, OBP, and slugging in his two seasons in Anaheim.
Josh Hamilton (32)
Owed: 4 years, $98m
On the field: Forty-three homers and 128 RBIs in 2012, 15 and 43 so far in 2013.
Dodgers
1B Adrian Gonzalez (31)
Owed: 5 years, $106m
On the field: After six straight seasons of .500-plus slugging, .463 in 2012, .472 this season.
OF Carl Crawford (31)
Owed: 4 years, $82.5m
On the field: Barely. Played 31 games in 2012, 67 so far in 2013.
OF Andre Ethier (31)
Owed: 4 years, $67.5m
On the field: Career 162-game averages: 20 HRs, 84 RBIs, .288 BA, .469 slugging.
Yankees
3B Alex Rodriguez (38)
Owed: 4 years, $86m
On the field: Significant declines in all offensive categories last five seasons.
P CC Sabathia (33)
Owed: 3 years, $71m
On the field: Looking at career worsts in ERA, ERA+, WHIP, and hits and HRs per 9 innings.
1B Mark Texeira (33)
Owed: 3 years, $67.5m
On the field: 2009 was last season he topped .500 slugging and .900 OPS.
Phillies
P Cole Hamels (29)
Owed: 5 years, $112.5m
On the field: First year of 6-year deal: 4-13, 4.09 ERA, 1.248 WHIP.
1B Ryan Howard (33)
Owed: 3 years, $75m
On the field: Achilles’ and knee injuries have sapped power, playing time last two seasons.
Nationals
3B Ryan Zimmerman (28)
Owed: 6 years, $100m
On the field: Has played more than 145 games only three times in his nine seasons.
OF Jayson Werth (34)
Owed: 4 years, $83m
On the field: Four seasons in Philly -- .282/.380/.506/.885; three in Washington -- .267/.355/.430/.785.
Source: Contract information from Baseball Prospectus.