In sports, many sportsmen are overrated and many big talents get underrated. With all the fine print out of the way, let's get to the top 5 underpaid players of 2022.
Max
Burnes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, is projected by Matt Swartz's model to make $4 million next season in his first arbitration-eligible year. Woodruff, who has a long track record, is projected to make $7 million in his first year of arbitration. The Brewers, then, could be paying $11 million total to a pair of pitchers who combined for nearly 12 Wins Above Replacement last season.
Albies has one of the worst contracts in baseball: a seven-year pact that guaranteed him only $35 million. In parts of five big-league seasons, he's posted a 107 OPS+ and 14 WAR, including at least three in each of his full seasons. Even so, Albies' contract demands he'll make only $5 million in 2022.
Tatis Jr. has a lucrative long-term contract, the $340 million whoppers he signed with the Padres last year, but that doesn't mean he's making serious bank right away. Rather, Tatis will make less than $6 million next season heck, he won't make more than $20 million per year until 2025.
Jose Ramirez
Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani's earning potential has been hampered by MLB's legislature throughout his big-league career. The Angels would likely agree that paying him the sum of those years, $8.5 million, in one year would be a swell deal considering he's the reigning AL MVP.