Under $1 Million All-Stars
Stars on the Cheap
Young stars <a href="http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/03/03/somebody-tell-these-guys-to-shut-up/">complaining about salary</a> is as much a part of Spring Training as infield drills. The latest round of whining, led by Prince Fielder, left and Jonathan Papelbon, got us thinking about the cheapest star-studded lineup money can buy. Click through to see our six-figure superstars. Total pricetag: $5,335,000
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Brian McCann, C
2008 Salary: $800,000
Just 24, McCann is already one of the best catchers around. He hit .333 in 2006, but, with 47 career homers, he also has prodigious power. Jason Kendall, who has 48 homers since 1999 will make five times as much as McCann this year.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Prince Fielder, 1B
2008 Salary: $670,000
Fielder, who hit 50 home runs last year, is the youngest player in major league history to accomplish the feat. Jason Giambi who has gone deep 51 times in the last <i>two</i> seasons will make roughly 31 times as much as him in 2008.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Howie Kendrick, 2B
2008 Salary: Just Over $400,000
Kendrick is a pure hitter with a .306 career average over parts of two seasons in the majors. Ray Durham, who had eight fewer hits than Kendrick last year despite playing in an additional 50 games, will make $7.5 million this year.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
R. Zimmerman, 3B
2008 Salary: Just Over $500,000
Zimmerman is set to become Washington's first true superstar after driving in 200 runs over the last two seasons. Eric Chavez, who had 34 fewer extra-base hits than Zimmerman last year, will make more than $10 million more than him in 2008.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Hanley Ramirez, SS
2008 Salary: $439,000
Ramirez fell one homer short of becoming the third player in baseball history to post a 30-HR, 50-SB season. Derek Jeter, who has never had a 30-homer or 50-steal season in his career, will make more than 45 times as much as him this year.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Hunter Pence, RF
2008 Salary: $396,000
Pence burst onto the scene last year, hitting .322 with 17 home runs in 108 games. J.D. Drew, who played more games and had fewer homers and extra-base hits than Pence in 2008, will make 35 times as much as him in 2008.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Chris Young, CF
2008 Salary: Just Over $400,000
Young fell three stolen bases short of becoming the first rookie to ever post a 30-30 season. Andruw Jones, who somehow managed to hit 16 points below Young's .238 average last year, will make $14.1 million this year.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Ryan Braun, LF
2008 Salary: $455,000
The reigning NL Rookie of the Year hit 34 homers and drove in 97 in his 113-game debut last year. Garret Anderson who has gone deep 33 times in the last two years, will make 26 times as much as Braun in 2008.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Cole Hamels, SP
2008 Salary: $500,000
Hamels won 15 games and struck out 177 hitters in 183 1/3 innings last year to finish sixth in the Cy Young voting. Fellow southpaw Barry Zito, who lost 13 games in 2007, will make 29 times as much as Hamels this year.
Under $1 Million All-Stars
Jon Papelbon, RP
2008 Salary: $775,000
Papelbon has 72 career saves, a 1.62 liftetime ERA and was a key cog in Boston's 2007 World Series title. Toronto closer B.J. Ryan, who had Tommy John surgery and missed most of last season, will make almost 13 times as much as Papelbon in 2008.
