The Pittsburgh Pirates should look to exploit an emerging market inefficiency: the three-year opt-out.
In 1978 Pittsburgh Pirates’ right fielder, Dave Parker became the first player in Major League Baseball history to have a $1 million contract. An amount that was considered completely ludicrous at the time. Since that time, baseball has gotten more popular and TV deals have caused player contracts to grow to 200 times more valuable. Baseball, unlike the other sports has guaranteed money. When David Price signs for seven years and $217 million, he is guaranteed that money. However, a relatively recent trend has come into play and that is early contract player opt outs.