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We've coated tales about athletes taking a wager on themselves sooner than on Celebrity Net Worth, nonetheless these types of tales are sometimes blissful ones, identical to the Bulls' Jimmy Butler, who turned down a $40 million extension, then signed a five-year, $95 million deal remaining summer season.

Of course, like taking part in at a on line on line casino, you don't win every time. And for shortstop Ian Desmond, he found that the onerous strategy.

First, let's rewind to 2013. Desmond had merely come off good back-to-back seasons for the Washington Nationals, amassing a minimum of 20 residence runs and 20 stolen bases in every 2012 and 2013. The Nationals wished to take care of him spherical, naturally – particularly since he was solely 28 years outdated – and they also equipped him a deal: seven years, $107 million.

Desmond said no.

It wasn't a completely ridiculous rejection, each. Desmond rightfully observed himself as a relentless 20-20 threat, one among many better-hitting shortstops inside the league. And he moreover had merely seen the Texas Rangers sign Elvis Andrus, who had additional stolen bases, nonetheless inferior widespread and power numbers, to an eight-year, $120 million deal.

At the time, Desmond felt he was worth an identical amount, if not barely additional. He said no to the massive extension, as a substitute signing a two-year deal for $17.5 million. His hope was that he'd nonetheless be a steady participant at age 30 and can command an infinite wage.

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In 2014, Desmond put up sturdy numbers however as soon as extra, turning into the one participant to hit 20 residence runs and steal 20 bases in each of the three seasons from 2012 to 2014. For his occupation, Desmond acquired quite a lot of Silver Slugger awards and even made an All-Star workforce. Things have been making an attempt good coming into the second yr of his deal.

But Desmond would possibly like a do-over for the 2015 season.

Desmond had always struggled with errors, nonetheless he gave new which means to the time interval "struggled" to start out out the yr, committing eight errors in 15 video video games. He accomplished with 27 for the season. Couple that with 187 strikeouts (in all probability essentially the most he's ever had in a season), a batting widespread of .233 (his worst in a season), and an OPS of .643 (his lowest in 4 seasons), and any goodwill Desmond had constructed up over the sooner three seasons had disappeared.

After this earlier yr, Desmond turned down a two-year, $16 million qualifying provide from the Nationals, assuming he could web a large payday in free firm. After months of prepared, that payday in no way acquired right here, and Desmond merely signed a one-year, $8 million with the Rangers, the workforce that employs the shortstop Desmond felt had a lower worth than he did. Even worse, the Rangers are putting Desmond in left self-discipline. He's shifting from an awesome power-hitting shortstop to a so-so hitting outfielder.

Maybe Desmond can bounce once more in Texas. But as his numbers have dwindled over the earlier 4 seasons – even when he was having fun with successfully, most of his stats barely declined year-over-year – it's possibly not a wager worth taking. And now, Desmond is conscious of that every one too successfully.