Jeremy Affeldt admits it: In 2010, he literally was an overpaid relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle took the time to read the book Affeldt had published last month. In it, Schulman found a story about a two-year, $10 million contract extension Affeldt signed before the 2010 season. Affeldt's previous deal called for him to make $4 million in '10. But when the extension was drawn up, the Giants made a clerical error that noted he was to get $4.5 million. Both he and the team signed it without noticing.
Affeldt got three opinions saying the contract was ironclad and he could keep the extra $500,000, from the Players Association, agent Michael Moye and even Giants assistant general manager Bobby Evans.
Affeldt recalled Moye telling him, "You know what? As your agent I've got to tell you that legally you can keep it. As a man who represents integrity, I'm saying you should give it back."
And that's what Affeldt said he did, redoing the contract with the $500,000 excised.
This past offseason, Affeldt and the Giants agreed to a three-year, $18 million deal. Affeldt believes he got that contract in part because he had been straight with the team three years ago. See! Honesty does pay!
Photo credit: Associated Press