Schmidt Comments on Stanton Mega-Deal

Jun 14, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Former Philadelphia Phillies all time hit leader Mike Schmidt carries the bat to Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (11) (not pictured) after he breaking the record in the fifth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Phillies fans would agree, Mike Schmidt knows a thing or two about being the best in baseball.

Recently Schmidt shared his thoughts in a column about the player now presumed to be the best, Giancarlo Stanton who just signed a record $325 million deal with the Miami Marlins.

Schmidt has a unique take on the situation. He was once regarded as the best player in baseball in his day and he’s certainly one of the greatest third baseman of all time. Now Stanton, like once was the case for Schmidt, is the highest paid player in the game.

Make no mistake, Schmidt has respect for Stanton’s abilities, but he warns that with the huge contract comes huge expectations.

Schmidt writes:

“Now he’ll get to experience batting slumps as the highest-paid player, a totally different feeling. He’ll be at home plate with the bases loaded and strike out to a chorus of boos. He’ll miss a ball in right field and want to crawl in a hole because of what he hears. Work as hard as you want behind the scenes, it doesn’t matter, now you are expected not to fail.”

In his entire career Schmidt made around $17 million, quite a lot of money for anyone in the 1970’s and 80’s. But $17 million is merely a fraction of what Stanton will make.

At one point in his piece Schmidt acknowledges that he does not feel pitchers can be MVPs, naming Clayton Kershaw who was of course just named NL MVP. He felt Stanton was the MVP.

The entire column written by Schmidt can be read here.