Jayson Werth: Missing the Phillies Winning Ways

If you’ve been watching baseball news lately, you’ve no doubt heard about Jayson Werth’s complaints concerning the Nationals.  In his words, “things need to change.”  I think Jayson is the only player that thought this was going to happen, especially in his first year there.  He has become so accustomed to winning in Philadelphia, it seems as if being on a losing team is really getting to him.  Am I the only one that saw this coming?  

The Phillies have won four consecutive NL East titles.  They won the World Series in 2008, won the National League pennant in 2009 and lost in the NLCS in 2010.  They are returning all of their stars with the exception of Werth, while adding top caliber players like Halladay, Lee and Oswalt.

The Nationals finished last in the division the last three years in a row.  Their top pitching prospect already had surgery, and their top hitting prospect is still trolling the minors.

The Nationals made good moves in signing Werth and LaRoche, but these moves were offset with the exits of Josh Willingham and Adam Dunn.  Simply put, this team is not built to win, and it’s not surprising to anyone but Jayson.  

He went for the money.  He took the seven-year, $126,000,000 contract knowing full well what he was getting into.  Sadly, I don’t think he actually took a good look at what he was giving up.  He gave up being a part of what could be a historically great team. 

Think about this way.  Cliff Lee turned down being a part of two pretty good teams and more money when he chose to come back to Philly.  His decision was between a perennial AL East powerhouse, the reigning AL Champions, or the Phillies.  He chose the Phillies because of their winning ways and the fact that he loved Philadelphia.

Werth’s decision wouldn’t have seemed to be as difficult.  He could have come back to the Phillies and stayed a powerhouse hitter in our lineup.  He would have gotten paid by the Phillies.

Where the issue comes in is that Jayson wasn’t going to be happy with just being paid.  He wanted to be overpaid.  He wanted years.  No winner was going to sign him to a contract until he’s 39.  He knew it, and he chose to sacrifice winning in lieu of getting paid.  Now he wants to whine about how things need to change?  

Did he, or did anyone for that matter, really think the Nationals were a right fielder away from climbing out of the cellar?  Of course not.  He has to come to grips with the fact that even though he will be in the MLB for at least another six years, he will never win anything.  The Nationals don’t have the money to overpay him, and then go out and get other stars.  

This was the price he paid in listening to his agent, and sacrificing the winning ways and love of the Philadelphia fan base when he signed with the Nationals.  He just has to accept being a winner on a losing team.

Jayson, take a good look at Todd Helton.  That’s your future.  You will always be regarded as a great player, but you’ll never again hoist that hardware like you did 2008.  

Was it worth it?

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com