The recent post about a highly-paid baseball player recently being suspended for the entire next season after being caught using forbidden PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) inspired a fascinating comment by Ryan Harkins that examined an entirely separate aspect of the incident than any I had considered.
There is another angle on the case that I missed too. I had focused on how foolish it was for a player who had already achieved a guaranteed contract to risk it by cheating; so far, offender Jurickson Profar has forfeited over $20 million. But in today’s Athletic, Brittany Ghiroli observes that even though he has been revealed to be a cheat and that the one outstanding season he had that caused the Atlanta Braves to sign him to a three-year, $42 million guaranteed contract was likely the result of “juicing,” Profar still will receive all of his salary for the final year of his contract, $15 million. She writes in part, regarding why players risk taking steroids in the first place, what she has been told by other players:
“Guys didn’t take performance-enhancing drugs thinking they were risking their careers. Many of them did it so they could have careers — so they could elevate their stats, sign a big multiyear deal and set themselves and their families up for life. Sure, there was a risk of getting caught and forfeiting some pay. But baseball contracts are guaranteed. So as long as they didn’t get caught three times, teams were on the hook to pay them. Big risk, big reward. And until that reward goes away, the risk will always be worth it to certain players.”
Her solution, which she says the players union will never allow, is to make a rule that being caught using steroids allows a team to cancel the rest of a players’ contract.
Ryan’s focus is on human nature’s trap that may have snagged Profar after he had won his rich contract. Here is his Comment of the Day on the post, “Ethics and Human Nature Observations on Ethics Mega-Dunce Jurickson Profar”:
***
Ethics Alarms 
Jack, thanks for the CotD. But great sacred bovine, that analysis by Brittany Ghiroli is chilling. It almost makes me wonder if MLB is silently encouraging players to dope by allowing such incentives to persist. After all, if most dopers pass without getting caught, that means more exciting games, more hits, more home runs, more stolen bases, and maybe thus more fan involvement and more money flowing into the program.
It also reinforces my conviction that players like ARod, Bonds and Manny Ramirez were especially heinous and indefensible. They were already stars and cheated anyway.
“It almost makes me wonder if MLB is silently encouraging players to dope by allowing such incentives to persist.”
Wonder what the MLBPA thinks…
PWS
Sure. Think about it. The Steroid Cheats liked and like that they become superstars with supertalent. It makes sense. It is allure of fame and fortune and the Fountain of Youth. It is in line with plastic surgery to remove crows’ feet and sagging skin and other perceived maladies that accompany the inevitability of aging. Narcissism? Maybe.
But, the other side is the effect of aging: José Padilla (I made up the name) was an up-and-coming third baseman for the Nashville Songsters. He has been in the majors for two years after languishing in the minors for 6 seasons. Is three year $7 million contract is up for renewal this year. He bats .293, is OBP is .325, and he has 58 career HRs. He had his best season last year. Now, he is 31 years old but sfffers from chronic ACL issues, missing 30 games last season. He has an ex-wife and child support.
There is a 21 year old hotshot out of Oklahoma, hitting .325, has 50 HRs in college, and is expected to go No. 1 in this year’s draft, probably commanding $40 million a year in guaranteed salary plus options and bonuses. He is also an outstanding 3rd baseman and the Songsters are hot to get their mits on him.
Where does that leave José? José is facing non-renewal and has to compete with an unmitigated challenger to his place on the roster. If he doesn’t perform and is continually hurt the Songsters are not going to renew him. He is not strong enough to interest other teams. He is effectively done. His choice is to work out to improve his game in the off season. Or, he can get some chemical assistance to help him get to the next level.
jvb
If memory serves, I recall reading that the wehrmacht routinely issued amphetamines to the troops on at least the Eastern Front, I think because the pace of combat operations was so fierce and grueling.
I think I’ve also read about them being freely available in either NFL or MLB clubhouses, don’t recall which (if not both).
Enhancements of many types can be addictive or perceived as essential. Without makeup, for example, I look like something the cat barfed up. But I’m not breaking any laws or rules.