You've got to pay what the market dictates. If I'd had my druthers, I would have waited until they had more history behind their major-league careers, but the system dictates it. Even though they finished an average of 13.7 games out of first place in the past two seasons, the Brewers' core players showed enough promise that Garner feared the club would be unable to keep the team intact. That scenario, which seems to play out annually in Montreal, was averted. Using the anticipated windfall of a new stadium and extra money from revenue sharing and expansion fees, Bando was able to sign his core players to multi-year deals.
Players often talk about wanting the security afforded by multi-year contracts.
Long-term contracts offer lifetime financial security, but they also bring added pressure. Facing Randy Johnson with a runner on third base in the bottom of the eighth inning is not an easy task. Once you sign that multiyear deal, the pressure is to play, produce and win. When players don't have a big contract, they are playing for their lives to get it. You don't see the downside.