One of the trends we've seen in baseball economics is the inclusion of performance bonuses in contract negotiations. Everybody wins with a lower base salary and certain additional financial rewards for actually playing well. If the player thinks they still have stuff left in the tank, they'll be happy to agree. It may actually be so fair that I'm sure Don Fehr and Gene Orza are working on a way to get rid of it. That said, I'm always curious about what kind of bonuses the Astros have on the books for 2009, as it will affect the overall payroll.
Miggs: $50,000 for All-Star selection
Berkman: $500,000 for MVP, $350,000 for 2nd place in MVP, $250,000 for 3rd place; $50,000 for World Series MVP and/or LCS MVP; $25,000 for Silver Slugger, Gold Glove and All Star selection
Backe: $50,000 for 160IP, $100,000 for 170IP, $150,000 for 180IP, $175,000 for 190, 200, 220IPs. Additional $250,000 in performance bonuses as a reliever (interesting).
Pudge: $200,000 each for 350, 375, 400, 425, 450 plate appearances; $150,000 each for 90 games, 100 games; $200,000 for 100 games played
Blum: $50,000 each for 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, 500 plate appearances
Jason Michaels: $25,000 for 200 PAs; $50,000 for 225 PAs; $75,000 for 250 PAs; $125,000 each for 275, 300, 325, 375 PAs; $100,000 for 400 PAs
LaHawk: $600,000 in unspecified performance bonuses
Brocail/Erstad/Moehler: Unspecified performance bonuses
Hampton: $2m in unspecified performance bonuses
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
