Question about the 1st Pujols deal
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Question about the 1st Pujols deal
I had wondered about this and maybe did a little research but not enough to answer for sure.
Was the pre-2004 Pujols extension the 1st of its type? It came before any of the massive, long-term pre-arb extensions we commonly see today.
Is there an example before Pujols of a player with 3 years of service time (or earlier) receiving an extension of 7 years or more?
That extension might have been the single best move of Jocketty's GM tenure.
Was the pre-2004 Pujols extension the 1st of its type? It came before any of the massive, long-term pre-arb extensions we commonly see today.
Is there an example before Pujols of a player with 3 years of service time (or earlier) receiving an extension of 7 years or more?
That extension might have been the single best move of Jocketty's GM tenure.
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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
First ever multi-year might have been Babe Ruth in 1930. 2 years for $160,000.
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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
Putting this here again to clarify my question. Not looking for an entire history of mlb contracts.imadangman wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:03 pm Is there an example before Pujols of a player with 3 years of service time (or earlier) receiving an extension of 7 years or more?
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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
Good information though that's very interestingScotchMIrish wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:25 pm First ever multi-year might have been Babe Ruth in 1930. 2 years for $160,000.
Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
During the 1990’s Cleveland extended some of their young players early.
Not sure of any specifics though.
Not sure of any specifics though.
Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
Imagine how much a prime Bambino would pull in today.ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:25 pm First ever multi-year might have been Babe Ruth in 1930. 2 years for $160,000.
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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
Would he pull in more (hot dogs) than Burleson?Sheepdawg wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 15:24 pmImagine how much a prime Bambino would pull in today.ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:25 pm First ever multi-year might have been Babe Ruth in 1930. 2 years for $160,000.
Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
It was the largest of its kind at the time. I doubt if it was the first.imadangman wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:03 pm I had wondered about this and maybe did a little research but not enough to answer for sure.
Was the pre-2004 Pujols extension the 1st of its type? It came before any of the massive, long-term pre-arb extensions we commonly see today.
Is there an example before Pujols of a player with 3 years of service time (or earlier) receiving an extension of 7 years or more?
That extension might have been the single best move of Jocketty's GM tenure.
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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
Correct. The total dollar amount was the largest deal at that years of service time. Brock is likely right it wasn't the first, but it was definitely not the norm at the time. What a bargain that ended up being. Too bad it wasn't 2-3 years longer.brock118 wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 15:40 pmIt was the largest of its kind at the time. I doubt if it was the first.imadangman wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:03 pm I had wondered about this and maybe did a little research but not enough to answer for sure.
Was the pre-2004 Pujols extension the 1st of its type? It came before any of the massive, long-term pre-arb extensions we commonly see today.
Is there an example before Pujols of a player with 3 years of service time (or earlier) receiving an extension of 7 years or more?
That extension might have been the single best move of Jocketty's GM tenure.
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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
Yea, and give DeDe the opt-out clauseWaltsSuccessor wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 16:03 pmCorrect. The total dollar amount was the largest deal at that years of service time. Brock is likely right it wasn't the first, but it was definitely not the norm at the time. What a bargain that ended up being. Too bad it wasn't 2-3 years longer.brock118 wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 15:40 pmIt was the largest of its kind at the time. I doubt if it was the first.imadangman wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:03 pm I had wondered about this and maybe did a little research but not enough to answer for sure.
Was the pre-2004 Pujols extension the 1st of its type? It came before any of the massive, long-term pre-arb extensions we commonly see today.
Is there an example before Pujols of a player with 3 years of service time (or earlier) receiving an extension of 7 years or more?
That extension might have been the single best move of Jocketty's GM tenure.
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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
He had a better year than the President.ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:25 pm First ever multi-year might have been Babe Ruth in 1930. 2 years for $160,000.

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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
hugeCardfan wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 17:08 pmHe had a better year than the President.ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:25 pm First ever multi-year might have been Babe Ruth in 1930. 2 years for $160,000.![]()

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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
Pete Rose said the Babe was the best because of the quality of baseballs at that time. Rose said the Babe was hitting rocks.Sheepdawg wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 15:24 pmImagine how much a prime Bambino would pull in today.ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:25 pm First ever multi-year might have been Babe Ruth in 1930. 2 years for $160,000.
Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
And right one cue this forum was calling that contract a disaster when he was batting .260 with single digit homers in May
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Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
Very interesting.ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 19:58 pmPete Rose said the Babe was the best because of the quality of baseballs at that time. Rose said the Babe was hitting rocks.Sheepdawg wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 15:24 pmImagine how much a prime Bambino would pull in today.ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑25 Sep 2025 14:25 pm First ever multi-year might have been Babe Ruth in 1930. 2 years for $160,000.
Re: Question about the 1st Pujols deal
I believe Torii Hunter was the first to do a big contract in pre-arbitration, but there may have been others. There are many examples though like Pedro Martinez, Bagwell, etc where players avoided arbitration in the 90s with large contracts. Pujols was a big deal due to the $100M price tag.