Getting Paid Too Much vs. Getting Paid What You Deserve
Sep 9th, 2011 by Carlos
Albert Pujols is probably the best player in baseball right now. He’s been the most consistent, impactful player since he came up to the big leagues ten years ago.
But right now he’s making $16 million, which makes him the 35th highest paid player in the game. Vernon Wells, Carlos Lee, and Barry Zito all make more money than he does, and they’re terrible.
Forget about the fact that athletes are overpaid and shouldn’t complain because they make millions of dollars playing a game people like you and me actually pay to play.
If he’s so great, shouldn’t Pujols make more money than the 34 other guys in front of him?
That’s the discussion the Cardinals are having with his agent as he enters his free agent year next year. It’s one of the biggest stories in sports right now because he may wind up being one of the greatest sluggers who ever lived. Not only that, he’s come to mean so much to the Cardinals.
As teammate Yadier Molina put it: ”When you hear the name, St. Louis Cardinals, the first thing you think of is Albert Pujols. He means everything to us.”
Pujols has opted not to talk about it this season so as not to distract from the team’s pursuit of the playoffs, but now that the Cardinals look to be safely out of the race, some numbers are starting to creep out.
A Look at the Numbers
The Cardinals supposedly offered him a nine year, $195 million deal last winter. The average annual value of that deal is $21.6 million. And here’s where Pujols’ supposed argument to turn all that money down gets interesting: he wants the annual value of any deal to beat the deal Joe Mauer got (~$23 million/year). And since he wants at least a 10-year deal, that brings the number to around $230 million.
Is this a good argument? Sure, if you’re Pujols it is. But if I were him and his agent, I’d stay away from the Joe Mauer comparisons. You see, Mauer got that deal the year after having one of the most amazing seasons a catcher has ever had. In 2009, he hit .365 and hit 28 homeruns. He was 26 and one of the best catchers in baseball.
The year after he hit only nine homeruns.
This season has been beset by injuries and he’s hit only one.
Two years into the deal and the Twins are getting a little nervous.
How Would You Feel?
Say you were widely considered the best [insert job title here] in the world. And I mean everyone knew it—your company knew it, your competition knew it, your friends knew it, etc.
Would you feel slighted that lesser [job title here, but plural] make more money than you? Shouldn’t your salary reflect how good you are at your job compared to other people that do that same job? After all, isn’t money the one universal language we all speak?
Would you feel compelled to leave your company—even if it were the greatest place to work in the world—in order to seek the salary you that legitimizes you as the best [one more time] in the world?
When is it Enough Money?
Here’s the bigger question that I think most fans focus on when these discussions are going on. Isn’t $195 million enough? Why not just take it if you’re happy where you are and you mean “everything” to the city you play in?
You’re considered a God there and finishing your career out in this one city will make you even more unique. Who cares about a pesky $28 million over ten years? It’s chump change compared to the untold millions you’ll be getting.
Right?
Wrong. Think about this for a second. Really stop and think about how you would feel if you were in Pujols’ shoes: you work your tail off to be the best you can be and it just so happens that it makes you one of the best ever.
Ever.
That’s special. And if you feel like other teams are willing to say as much with their wallets and your current team isn’t, then that’s going to irk you.
How many times have you heard someone in the office complain: “I can’t believe he/she got the promotion/raise/back-pat instead of me, he/she sucks and I’m way better at my job!”
This is essentially a petty version of what could be going on in Pujols’ (and any athlete’s) head. They’re still human and they still want to feel special.
It just happens to be really, really expensive to make these guys feel as special as they want feel.
Next time you hear people complaining about athletes turning down big money in favor of bigger money, keep this in mind: it’s not about the money. Trust me, another $2.8 million dollars doesn’t matter much when you’re making $20 million.
Athletes feel the same way you and I do, and that’s exactly why they want more money. It isn’t about the money, it’s about not wanting to feel like your bosses are ripping you off.
And we should all be able to relate to that.
Image by todonitido
So St Louis is the metropolitan equivalent of the “greatest place to work in the world.” Got it.
As a Cardinals (and St Louis) fan, it will be heartbreaking if he leaves. He’s our new Stan Musial. At least that’s what he is SUPPOSED to be.
And he is also widely considered to be a consummate “nice guy.” Look at the blow-back LeBron got for leaving his beloved Cleveland – do you think similar sentiment would plague Albert?
Carlos,
I recently watched a 60 Minutes special on Pujols and he truly is an exceptional person and athlete. Although he makes millions, he and his wife have established multiple charities, travel to the Domincan Republic to work with the poor, and hold a yearly prom for children with Downs Syndrome.(His stepdaughter has the condition)
He came from very poor beginnings and has worked hard to get where he is, yet he gives of his time and money to help others without broadcasting his good deeds, because they come from the heart. In contrast, how many famous athletes squander their money on lavish lifestyles and make headlines because of bad behavior?
The management profits from his talent, ability to draw a crowd, and marketing of products, so why shouldn’t he have comparable compensation for what he produces? He should do what is best for him and his family because professional sports is a business just like any other. Oh, and I’m not really a baseball fan, but after seeing his story on t.v. I couldn’t help but be impressed!
This post really struck a chord with me. I had a job that I absolutely loved, working as a newspaper reporter in a beautiful city. My editor was great. My colleagues were great. I could ride my bike to the newsroom.
BUT — and this is a big BUT — my pay was awful. Even by entry-level reporter standards, it was awful.
I knew the other reporters at the paper were earning similar salaries, so I was okay with the awful pay. But then I learned that our advertising sales people — who are also entry-level hires, 22-year-olds straight out of college — earned a BASE salary higher than what the reporters earned. A base salary. Excluding commissions.
That irked me. That was when I started feeling dissatisfied with the job. I understand if their commissions are higher. But to earn a base that’s higher than a reporter? That’s when I felt unappreciated at the job.
It wasn’t the money. It was what the money indicated about my level of respect.
I know how you feel Paula…that’s why I think knowing your coworkers’ salaries is a bad idea…see this Wisebread post for more on that