Dodgers News: A.J. Pollock Has An Opt-Out Clause Within Contract Details
Everyone knows that A.J. Pollock was officially signed to a contract by the Los Angeles Dodgers a week ago. Moreover, it was a four-year, $55 million dollar contract.
However, not everyone who clicks this article will know that Pollock has an interesting opt-out clause built into the deal. Within this post, we are going to lay it out for you.
A.J. Pollock’s Opt-Out Clause
The fine print part of the deal is covered well by the Associated Press. Before we get into all specifics of the contract, let’s look at that opt-out clause we teased in the title.
If Pollock has 1,000 plate appearances in 2020 and ’21, or 1,450 from 2019-21, he would gain the right to opt out of the contract after the 2021 season and still would receive the buyout if he does.
This is interesting – and while it’s no guarantee that Pollock would want to leave Los Angeles if he accumulates those PA’s – he’s given incentive if he stays on the field. Moreover, health has been a nagging issues of varying degrees for Pollock in several recent seasons. Now, the Dodgers have said if you can stay on the field for us, you’re giving yourself options (literally).
Still, there are more contract details to lay out for you.
Pollock’s deal includes a $10 million option for 2023 or a $5 million buyout. His 2023 salary can escalate by $5 million based on plate appearances in 2022: $1 million each for 400, 450, 500, 550 and 600. His 2023 salary also could escalate up to $5 million based on MVP finishes from 2019-22, structured on a point system with each point worth $1 million: five points for first, three points for second through fifth, and one for sixth through 10th.
If Pollock performs similarly to that 2015 season, he’s going to fatten his wallet. Again, incentives are littered throughout that reward the player for staying on the field, and performing at an elite level.
Analysis
By this same token, the Dodgers signed a player who has shown the ability to be elite when healthy. It’s a win-win deal for Los Angeles because if he proves to be that player, they simply pay him a little more. If not, he’s signed to a deal that was considered fair market value within baseball.
Someday, we hopefully reference this post and say that Pollock had the ability to opt-out but decided not to after several high-octane seasons in Los Angeles.
Dodgers 2019 ZiPS Projections
Thank you for the information, I knew they would not sign Harper as this ownership and management team has shown they are not giving 7-10 year contracts worth 100’s of millions of dollars. Pollack is a great fit if he stays healthy and they have given him incentives to do so. I thought even without Pollock the Farm Guys would bring enough to let the Dodgers compete.
Pitching is the most important aspect of the game and with that a great defense gives the pitcher confidence to pitch to contact and keep his pitch numbers in the game low. With Pollock, Verdugo, Toles, Pedersen, Hernandez and Taylor rotating in the OF they have a very good defense outfield with speed. I also like Barnes defensively at catcher as Kershaw and others need to throw those sliders etc in the dirt and Grandal had issues with balls in the dirt.
Baseball is a game of iff’s in the Spring. If Pollock stays healthy, if Barnes can fix the hole in his swing, if Bellinger can adjust, if Taylor and Hernandez can cut down on Strikeouts. If Ryu and Kershaw can stay healthy.
IF they can we win it all….
Tom, as you point out here about that OF mix, sounds to me like more excessive platooning and THAT was exposed in the just completed 2018 WS. Pitching IS vital AND being better able to keep the baseball in in the yard instead of the HR’s Dodger pitching served up last year and the year before would help tremendously! Remember, they say Dodger Stadium is still pitcher friendly, yet 8 other NL team’s pitching staffs allowed fewer HR’s by year’s end.