Should Ichiro be paid the highest contract in pro Baseball?

Question

Ichiro probably has the largest fan club in all of professional sports. His star power generates a huge audience and has created television deals for the Mariners in Japan and other lucrative deals that range in the hundreds of millions. He has generated alone millions of extra tickets sold for the Mariners from Japanese coming to Seattle . He usually breaks all records in all star ballots and seems to be the most fun player to watch in all of baseball do to his ability to out run infield hits and throwing people out in the outfield. His position on the team as a leadoff hitter doesn't always generate as many wins as a Barry Bonds and his position in the outfield might not be as important as an infielders job when generating wins, but shouldn't the player that generates the highest profits for the team all year be given the highest contract? If the Rockets generate hundreds of millions from Asian countries on Mou Ying, should they pay him the most based on generating more profits.

Answer 1

No. He may be a good player, but there are better regardless of his fan base. Paying a player in regards to fans is not the way the game works.

Answer 2

i definately think he brings a HUGE effect to the game that is 1) underrated 2) dependent on how the rest of his team does.

1. ichiro's presence in a game affects how opposing players set up, run the basepaths, pitch, etc. the guy gets on base, can steal at will, tires out opposing pitchers in an at bat, and can gun down a guy at the plate from deep right field. i can't believe there are people out there who still claim that ichiro has a weak arm.
unfortunately, chicks and gms still dig the long ball.

2.remember in 2001 how the mariners won all those games? ichiro was a huge part of that, but the rest of the team was having productive or career years. i remember the motto: "2 outs? so what?" ichiro doesnt have the talent to support what he does. even if he gets in base with a single, steals his way to second and then takes third on a bad throw, it's not like beltre or sexon are gonna get him home any time soon. bret boone must have been on steroids in 2001.

this IS a contract year for ichiro. if ichiro puts up super blazing george sisler record breaking numbers, 50+ steals, and guns down guys with a laser cannon arm all season long, he should get scott boras on the phone. watch what happens when ichiro gets put on a good, productive team. he will be worth the money.

Answer 3

This is a super question! I am a Mariners fan and your points are very true. Ichiro brings in Asian fans and also just people in Washington to see him. He is very exciting and a good guy. But should he be the highest paid player in all of pro baseball? I don't think so, I understand where you're coming from, but Ichiro really isn't a completely complete player. You could also argue that there's other players that generate more money than Ichiro such as a Derek Jeter or Albert Pujols or players like that? This is a super question and maybe Ichiro should be paid more according to your point but probably not the highest contract in pro baseball.

Answer 4

No, but with qualifications. For Ichiro to receive the highest dollar value on his next contract, it would have to come from the Yankees, Mets or Red Sox. Boston and New York (AL) already have their token Japanese crowd pleaser, and Ichiro, while contributing to that, wouldn't contribute enough to justify a $25 million annual salary.

On the other hand, in terms of production, Ichiro is an exciting player that has the rare combination of a batter's eye with first-rate defense. But the tools that Ichiro contributes are significantly under-rated in the Major Leagues. 40+ stolen bases with a .375+ on-base percentage are valuable things, but unfortunately, the residual effect of the steroid-era is that fans (and GMs) are enamored with the long ball. My cynicism leads me to think that Adam Dunn (a lousy defensive outfielder with unfathomable strikeout numbers) will get a contract similar to Ichiro. Part of this is his age, as he a few years younger than Ichiro, but the biggest factor in that will be his power potential.

But, again, you asked 'should he?' and not 'will he?' ... There are very few players in professional baseball that effect the game as much as he does. He changes the way pitchers approach the Mariners lineup. He changes the way baserunners attack the basepaths. He changes the way managers shift their defense. As you astutely observed, he also draws a fanbase unlike any other in baseball. It will be interesting to see how the Daisuke Matsuzaka signing effects the distribution of coverage of Japanese players in the US. Of course Hideki Matsui will be healthy to start the year, and Kazuo Matsui showed signs last year of being ready to start his resurgence. This, along with the fact that Ichiro's productivity is on a downward trend the last couple years, and the Mariners are going to struggle to win games in the AL West, will contribute to a dwindling interest in the 'Ichiro' brand. So, more specifically to your question, my answer is again 'No', Ichiro should not be the highest paid player in baseball. He should, however, be among the highest paid outfielders, and I think the Mariners are smart enough to recognize that. Despite his pouty moods over the last couple seasons over the Mariners unspectacular product, I think Ichiro, too, will recognize that this is a great, if imperfect, marriage that should and will continue over the length of his next contract.

Answer 5

He generates a lot of revenue, but his offensive impact on the games themselves do not warrant the highest salary in the MLB, and this is taking into account that I am Asian American and a big Ichiro fan, but the stats do not lie. Unless he hits .340 and above, his OBP is not good enough to be a great leadoff hitter. However, that year he had 262 hits and a .372 batting average was pure magic.

Answer 6

A player is not paid based on revenue produced, but rather an amount that both he and the team think is fair. no one is willing to pay Ichiro more than A-Rod, so it will not happen, but the M's would be stupid not to re-sign him. He is their only real source of income and wins (since the rest of the team is pretty bad).

Answer 7

i think he should be close to the top of the pay scale,i think a lot of people overlook the importance of a good lead-off hitter,especially one that can bat over .300 year after year and get you 30+ steals,and with the ability to hit the occasional long ball.yeah he got a a big payday coming up.i doubt the M's will pony up the money to keep him around with the big money being thrown around by team owners nowdays(J.D Drew got 70 mil. from the red sox).i think he'll look good in pinstipes.

Answer 8

No, Ichiro should not be paid the highest in pro baseball. He is an exciting player, but lacks power. If he were to add more strength and power to his game, then we can address this question.

Answer 9

I certainly have had plenty. I performed with 2 adult adult males in HS soccer who went professional, Andre Davis (WR) and Anthony Weaver (DE). And in baseball John Lannan replace into on my college baseball group college then have been given drafted to the Nationals. lots of alternative pals went to massive D1 colleges and or had very short stints in professional activities, yet those 3 have been the main cutting-edge. additionally had a new child from my HS win a gold medal interior the Olympics for wrestling.

Answer 10

If you go by the number of win shares, he's about 43rd in the league. There is no way that he is anywhere as good as Albert Pujols, Joe Maurer, Manny Rameriz, or Derek Jdter. Those are some players who deserve more money.