Part 8/10:
Another issue plaguing the free agency process is the age at which players typically enter the market. With rookie contracts lasting three years, followed by another three years of arbitration, players are often nearing their late twenties by the time they hit free agency. As scouts and analysts note, by the time these athletes execute major contracts often extending for a decade, they may already be past their prime, which raises concerns about return on investment.
Many recent and notable contracts, such as those for Mike Trout and Jacob deGrom, have not panned out as hoped due to injuries or declining performance. This reality understandably terrifies lower-market teams from committing to lengthy contracts when they could backfire, ultimately impacting their financial stability.