I was reading Joel Sherman’s Hardball regarding Seattle Mariner’s starting pitcher Felix Hernandez.  Hernandez was floated around as a potential trade last July, but was never dealt.  He’s the Mariner’s property through the 2011 season, so any trade including Hernandez would include top-tier prospects (and many of them).  Sherman’s blog indicates that the Mariner’s have no interest in trading Hernandez.  In the meantime, you could expect the management of the Mariners trying to persuade Hernandez to sign an early deal by front loading the contract now and giving him the security that anybody would want.  C.C. Sabathia signed a contract in 2002 for 4 years, $9.5 million which is a steal compared to what he’s getting today.  In Hernandez’s case, he has the Yankee effect to count on.

Using last year’s Yankee shopping spree as a comparison baseline, there would be no reason for Hernandez to sign early.  He could easily be worth $200+ million on the open market.  I’m sure every budding athlete goes through this dilemma of signing early with the guarantee or wait it out, hopefully avoid injury and strike it big.  I wonder if there are insurance plans that you hear many NCAA football players get just prior to them entering the draft.  I recall that Willis McGahee signed one before he blew out his knee in the National Championship Game, and Tim Teabow has a contingency plan in case something happens between now and the NFL Draft 2010.