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Dont forget, Doc -- a *LARGE* part of the MLB pay structure is based on "time served". Sabathia's $23 million seasons begin with his 10th season in the Majors. Felix is about to begin his 6th. Time of service figures heavily into the arbitration rules, and it figures into the FA contracts, too. Even AROD didn't break the bank until his 8th season.
That's the main reason for buying out the arb years -- to move the artificial deflation from the early years to artificial deflation of later years. It would certainly be simpler if it was only about performance - but it's not.