A.J. Pollock included in ESPN.com’s 10 players who deserve contract extensions

A.J. Pollock was not only the best outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, but he was also one of the best outfielders in all of baseball.

The 28-year-old earned an accolade from ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden, who picked the ten players who deserve contract extensions and players who “their teams should — and perhaps will — attempt to extend them between now and Opening Day this year.”

Pollock made the list alongside some of the best young players in baseball, including Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa.

Bowden had high praise for Pollock:

Pollock is a complete player on both sides of the ball, and at 28, he has good years left. It’s worth noting that the Diamondbacks inquired about a long-term contract with Pollock but tabled negotiations after hearing the asking price from his representatives.

Projected cost: 6 years for $98 million (AAV: $16.3M). He’s the third-best center fielder in baseball, behind only Trout and Andrew McCutchen, and he’s going to get paid.

Pollock is definitely going to get paid.

He exploded in 2015, hitting .315 with 20 home runs and 76 RBI. He was second in the National League in hits, fourth in doubles, second in runs scored and fourth in wins above replacement (WAR).

With Paul Goldschmidt making only an average salary of $6.4 million for the next five years the D-backs are going to have some extra room that most teams normally wouldn’t have in their situation. That’s already been the case when they signed Zack Greinke to a contract worth over $200 million.

That extension for Pollock won’t come anytime soon, though, according to reports.

Extension talks are on hold with A.J. Pollock, but #Dbacks GM Dave Stewart said they could be reopened later. https://t.co/dOdq0iawf0

— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) January 20, 2016

 

 

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