Scott Baker Signs Contract
By Wally Fish
Today the Twins announced that they signed Scott Baker to a four-year $15.25 million contract, with a club option for a 5th year (2013) at $9.25 million.
Baker was drafted by the Twins in the 2nd round of the 2003 amateur draft out of Oklahoma State University. He made his Major League debut just two years later in 2005. He struggled in his 2nd season with the Twins, but since then he has been steadily improving. 2009 will be his 5th season while still only 27 years old, so there is plenty of room to continue his improvement.
Age
GS
IP
SO/BB
SO/9
ERA
ERA+
WHIP
2005
23
9
53.7
2.29
5.37
3.35
133
1.155
2006
24
16
83.3
3.88
6.70
6.37
70
1.560
2007
25
23
143.7
3.52
6.39
4.26
102
1.329
2008
26
28
172.3
3.36
7.36
3.45
118
1.178
Baker sports a SO/BB ratio well above 3:1 and SO/9 of 6.70 for his career, and is currently considered the ace of the staff. At worst he is a #3 starter in most Major League rotations today, and seems to be ideally suited to the role of a #2 starter. Assuming he is the Twins number two starter after this season, the Twins have him signed to an excellent contract that should end up being well below market value.
2009 Projections:
GS
IP
SO/BB
SO/9
ERA
WHIP
Baseball Prospectus
25
153
2.90
6.65
4.28
1.327
Bill James
29
181
3.46
7.06
3.93
1.282
Wally Fish Shot in the Dark
30
194
3.52
7.40
3.65
1.224
Baker’s contract is the 1st of what should be several significant contracts handed out over the next 12 months as the Twins prepare to move into Target Field in 2010. With Morneau already locked up with the 6 year $80 million contract he signed in 2008, the next big target is obviously Joe Mauer who has completed 2 years of his 4 year $33 million contract he signed in February of 2007. I am extremely confident that Mauer will remain a member of the Twins through at least one more 4-6 year deal if he can stay relatively healthy.