Joshua Whitaker of California writes: “Wil Myers would have more name recognition if he played for a higher-profile team, but he set himself up well in San Diego with a six-year contract.”
Wil Myers is a rising star. He ended the 2016 season with 676 plate appearances and 28 home runs–double his best previous HR year.
Courtesy: Fox 5 San Diego
He also went to the All-Star game for the first time in his career. He made the most of it, too. Myers was the first Padre All-Star to get an extra-base hit since Ken Caminiti did it in 1996.
Myers success translated into signing an $83 million dollar, six-year contract–the most rewarding contract in Padre history.
If you’re a Padres fan, like me, then you’re happy Myers will remain in San Diego where he has a chance to become the face of the team. The Padres are rebuilding and fans are getting restless for success. Myers gives fans a picture of what success looks like.
There’s another factor, too, associated with Myers’ long-term deal. San Diego fans are used to having the team sign a great player only to have the club trade him away, sometimes in exchange for no-name players. Myers’ extension tells Padres fans that this time is different.
It takes time to rebuild a team, but I think the Padres are on the right track.
The good news is that he’s a Padre. And even though the Padres have started out slowly this season, fans seem to be engaged. I think it’s because of Myers’ presence, the power on this team, and a roster that includes a number of promising young players.
Yes, Myers would be a bigger name if he played for a higher-caliber team, but he set himself up well at 26 years old and a six-year contract. He’s the key to getting San Diego back in the playoffs–something the Padres haven’t seen since 2006.
For Myers, staying in San Diego was a wise decision.
Great article and right on.
I’m a fan of the Padres and a huge fan of Wil Myers and I couldn’t agree more! Love this Article!