On Wednesday’s episode of “Nothing Personal with David Samson,” David Samson discussed Wander Franco’s new deal. “Let me introduce you to the mighty Wander Franco,” Samson begins, adding that he was the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball two years in a row.
Franco has played 70 games for the Tampa Bay Rays, not even half a season, but reportedly landed a record-setting deal. According to those reports, he and the Rays are closing in on an 12 year, $225 million contract.
The Rays have never signed a player for over $100 million, but things could be changing in a major way.
Samson discusses Franco’s 2021 season, saying he “sets the world on fire,” after reaching base in 43 straight games and becoming the youngest player to do so.
If you’re the scout that is evaluating Franco, you are grading him as an A and then are willing to give him a long-term contract, you better be right. Samson continues to emphasize the risks involved in signing a young player for that much money and that long of a time.
Samson said:
“Talk to me about risk reward. Talk to me about cost certainty … if you don’t know the player and you have made that 20-year-old player or 21-year-old player rich for generations, do you know well enough that his motivation will stay strong? Do you know for certain that his health will stay perfect?”
If Franco wins MVP, wins a World Series and helps get stadiums built then that’s good for him and the team, but Samson questions, what if he doesn’t do all that?
This is definitely one to wait and see.
