Today we return to our coverage of the multitudes of new contracts that players have signed in the last week and a half. This article includes commentary on deals signed by arbitration-eligible pitchers worth more than $3.5 million dollars and the signing of free agent Rick Helling.

Jeff Weaver signed a new four-year deal on Tuesday, voiding the one-year, $2.35M contract he agreed to on Friday. Under the new contract, which is worth a total of $22M Weaver will receive $2.4M in 2002, $4.1M in 2003, $6.25M in 2004, and $9.25M in 2005. He should be very happy with the agreement, as it provides him with financial and job security and keeps him on a team where he can achieve ace status whereas he would be at best a #2 starter on most baseball clubs. Weaver also seems to be of the mistaken belief that the Tigers are an up-and-coming organization.

This long-term contract was not a good idea for Detroit, and I certainly hope that they have insurance on it. Weaver has pitched a tremendous number of innings in the last few years, jumping from 163.2 IP in 1999 to 200 IP in 2000 and 229.1 IP in 2001. Ignoring the rapid increase in innings from one year to the next, the numbers are frightening if you look at his pitches per outing. In his final start last season, Weaver stayed in for 128 pitches. He had more than 100 pitches in all but five of his 33 appearances. Furthermore while his workload alone makes him a prime candidate for arm problems, we've also heard reports that Weaver utilizes very bad mechanics that could also contribute to an injury.

There's no reason to suspect that his workload will decrease, considering that the rest of the Tigers' rotation and pen will not significantly improve. Detroit does secure him for an extra year past the date when he would normally become a free agent, but given the price tag on the final year of the contract and the fact that he'll probably spend at least one year of the deal on the DL, I don't feel that benefit merits this kind of commitment. Weaver appears to be yet another testimonial to the advantages of having Scott Boras as your agent.

Jeff Zimmerman also signed a long-term contract on Wednesday. Zimmerman signed a three-year, $10M deal with the Rangers and avoided salary arbitration. He will receive $2M in 2002, $3.2M in 2003 and $4.3M in 2004.

I think this is a very good signing by Texas. Zimmerman really evolved into their closer last season, and although they have several other candidates for the role this year, he will likely hold on to it. If they had waited to sign him to a multi-year contract until after this season, his price would have probably risen considerably. Three years is a good length for the contract of a reliever as there are always questions as to whether or not the pitcher in question will be able to maintain their dominance through the end of the deal. The reasonable salary is an asset in two ways as it not only holds down their costs, but also makes Zimmerman very attractive trade bait, if the club decides to use another pitcher as their primary closer in a year or two.

Last Friday Ugueth Urbina agreed to a one-year $6.7M contract with the Boston Red Sox. Despite his potential to re-emerge as one of the better closers in baseball, this price seems a little high for a pitcher only a year removed from arm surgery. This is his last year before free agency, and I would have recommended that the Red Sox consider signing him for an extra year or two if they could have gotten a post-injury discount, but at this price I think sticking with a one-year deal was smart.

Robert Person signed a one-year, $6.25M contract on Friday. This appears to be a fairly reasonable price for their ace. The contract includes opportunities for Person to earn additional funds through performance bonuses. He will also be a free agent next season, but with the pitchers arriving from their minor leagues, I think Philadelphia can afford to let him go. If given the opportunity, they should look to trade Person for a cheaper innings' eater when the team falls substantially behind the Braves and Mets.

Javier Vazquez also signed on Friday, agreeing to a one-year, $4.725M contract with the Expos to avoid salary arbitration. Vazquez was having one of the best seasons in baseball last year before a Ryan Dempster pitch cracked his eye-socket. He should be ready for Spring Training and should not suffer any lingering physical effects. The only cause for concern would be if he becomes a little ball-shy after such a frightening injury. However, I expect him to again pitch extremely well in 2002. An intelligent team would have made signing him to a long-term deal this off-season a top priority, as he'll be a free agent at the end of 2003. I suspect the fact that the Expos aren't assured of having a long-term themselves affected that decision. Vazquez is signed at a good price this season, and Montreal should have some chance of locking him into a multi-year contract next year, although it will likely take more cash to get it done.

Free agent Rick Helling signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. He will receive $500,000 this season with a $2.5M signing bonus. The contract also includes a mutual option worth $6.25M for 2003 with Helling receiving a $1.5M buyout if the Diamondbacks decline to pick up the option.

I like this signing a lot. The team needed to pick up another veteran pitcher after losing Albie Lopez, and I even think Helling is probably a better acquisition than David Wells, who backed out of his deal with Arizona to sign with the Yankees. Wells has more upside but has a much higher risk of becoming injured mid-season, leaving the team to deal more prospects for a replacement. The price is also very nice, as even if they decline the option they'll only be paying him a total of $4.5 million for the season.

The Brewers avoided arbitration with Jamey Wright, signing the pitcher to a one-year, $4.25M contract a week ago today. While they needed to hold onto Wright as the only pitcher left on their staff who looks capable of eating a few innings, he's not an overly talented pitcher, so this salary seems a bit high. They likely would have been better off non-tendering him and picking up a free agent like Helling or trying for another pitcher in trade.

Wright did undergo surgery to remove a bone-spur from his elbow this off-season but should still be one of the healthiest pitchers in Milwaukee this year and is expected to be ready by Spring Training. He should be a free agent after the season, and I see no reason for the Brewers to re-sign him, as enough of their young pitchers should be healthy and able fill the rotation in 2003. If they run into delays with their prospects, they should definitely search out other alternatives.

Kevin Millwood signed a one-year, $3.9M contract with the Braves on Friday. Before last season, I would have expected the club to try to sign him to a multi-year contract, and I still might have recommended they do so despite his injury troubles last year. However, the team probably wants to see how well he rebounds from the shoulder problems that hindered him last season. I don't believe he will become a free agent before the end of 2003, so Atlanta should still be able to work out a long-term contract after this season, though likely at an increased cost if he proves himself healthy. The pending free agency of Maddux and Glavine will likely determine whether Millwood returns for 2003, as with Smoltz already earning $10 million a season in the bullpen, Atlanta's pitching funds may be too limited to allow them to keep all three veterans.

On Friday, Freddy Garcia signed a one-year, $3.8M contract with the Mariners. This is a very good price for a pitcher who finished fourth in the AL Cy Young balloting last season and who likely deserved to finish higher. Given this is Garcia's first year of arbitration-eligibility, I'll excuse Seattle for not signing him to a long-term deal quite yet, though they should definitely focus on locking him up for a few years next off-season. I fully expect him to continue pitching at this level for many years to come as long as he can avoid the burnout normally accompanying this level of overwork.

Kerry Wood and the Chicago Cubs also agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.625 million on Friday. I think this deal makes a lot of sense for both sides. Wood still needs to show that he can stay healthy while returning to the level of excellence he displayed prior to Tommy John surgery. By waiting another year before signing him to a multi-year contract, Chicago can insure that he will be worth the investment. The arrangement also works well for Wood, who will merit a much larger contract if he can prove himself this season.

Last on our list is Danny Graves, who signed a one-year contract worth $3.525 million on Tuesday of last week. This is probably a good price for Graves, as he actually pitched fairly well last season. However, I do think that the Reds should seriously consider trading him before the deadline. Since he won't be a free agent until after the 2003 season, he should bring a good price and Cincinnati has a number of alternatives ready to step in and take over as closer.