Felix Hernandez extension: Mariners make the right move

The Mariners extended Felix Hernandez to a 7-year contract today. Let's look at what people are saying about the deal.

Felix Hernandez, Mariners Reportedly Agree To Sextension - Lookout Landing

That's "sextension" instead of "extension" because I would like to have sex with this news. This is not the only such way to play with the word "extension".

The Mariners, Felix Hernandez, and a risky contract extension - Baseball Nation
There's risk in the extension, but there might have been just as much risk in the Mariners not extending Felix Hernandez.

For the old-school grumblers: Can you believe someone is getting that much money to play a game? Do you know how much Tom Seaver made in his career? Just under $6 million. And Hernandez is getting how much? Grumble grumble grumble.

Felix Hernandez Prospect Retrospective and Career Path - Minor League Ball
How Felix Hernandez developed as a prospect, with his current career in context

As you have probably heard by now, Felix Hernandez has signed a seven-year extension, worth a reported $175,000,000. For full coverage and opinion, check out Lookout Landing.

Here's a look at King Felix's minor league career and where he stands currently in historical context.

Felix Hernandez contract: Clayton Kershaw just got richer - True Blue LA
The record $175 million contract signed by the Mariners' ace will certainly affect the Dodgers' ace. But will Kershaw be the first to top $200 million?

Mariners ace Felix Hernandez looks to remain in Seattle for a long time, and his blockbuster seven-year, $175 million contract extension, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, has ramifications for a pair of Dodgers, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw.

Mariners, Felix Hernandez Agree To Seven-Year Contract - Over the Monster
If he hasn't bought a throne yet, King Felix will now easily be able to afford a whole bunch of them

It's official: You can stop your commenting, radio show phone calls, emails to Cafardo's mailbag, and whitehouse.gov petitions requesting the Red Sox trade for Felix Hernandez. The Seattle Mariners and their still-youthful ace are close to finalizing a seven-year, $175 million contract that will make him the highest-paid pitcher in the history of such a thing existing, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

King Felix Gets Mega-Deal. What Does That Mean For The Cubs? - Bleed Cubbie Blue
The Cubs won't get King Felix. But could they lock up their young stars for far less than the Mariners righthander will be getting?

You can forget about Felix Hernandez signing with the Cubs, or anyone else outside of Seattle, because he's about to agree to a megadeal with the Mariners, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today

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My take on this move is that Seattle did what they had to, which was extending the face of the franchise and the best player on their team. Hernandez is just 26 years old and will be 33 at the end of this deal, so it should not go too far past his peak ages if it does at all. He has a track record of health and success, which makes it even more likely that this deal pans out.

As much as there is to like about this deal, there is a tremendous amount of risk in giving any pitcher any extension, particularly a 7-year $175 million one. While it appears as though the Mariners won't regret this in a few years, there is always the outside chance that an elbow pops (as there is with any pitcher).