Playing the Field: Exploring the ‘Fat Clause’

Introducing the ‘Fat Clause.’ Teams have often slipped weird clauses in the contracts of players, especially highly-compensated ones. Mostly they center on quirky no-trade clauses, with players submitting a select list of teams they would be willing to go to if traded.

But sometimes they include non-work activities, like riding motorcycles (Ben Roethlisberger?), playing pick-up basketball (Aaron Boone?) or bowling (Andrew Bynum?) but how about eating?

Yes, eating. As far as we can find CC Sabathia doesn’t have one, but Curt Schilling agreed to awkward weigh-ins when he cashed in with the Red Sox in 2007. Now the Phillies are bringing the old ‘Fat Clause’ — and doing so on a nominal player.

Delmon Young, a player who admitted to eating whatever he wanted while serving as DH, will have to get on a scale on six occasions to be chosen at random by the Phillies, according to The Associated Press. If he makes weight, he can earn $600,000 in addition to the $750,000 he is due on his one-year deal. For the record, Young is listed at 240 pounds.

Here are some teams that might want to re-do contracts …

Yankees: CC Sabathia agreed on a five-year extension in 2011. Sabathia weighed in at a career-slim 290 lbs. in 2011, then hit the cheesecake circuit. He’s still listed at 290, but we have eyes.

Magic: Glen Davis inked a four-deal in 2011, with no indication of a Fat Clause. Davis had a weight incentive in his Celtics contract, then blew up anyway. Buyer beware, Orlando!

Thunder: We’re going the opposite way here. Everyone knows that Kevin Durant is the best pure scorer in basketball, but if he packed some bulk on that skinny frame — listed at 6-foot-9, 235 lbs. — there is a good chance he’d steal LeBron’s crown.

The next big thing is here

Texas A&M had been doing a masterful job hiding star quarterback Johnny Manziel from the media during the regular season. They didn’t even let him hold a press conference until he became a Heisman candidate. After he won the award, he’s been living on caviar and dreams.

Let’s review: Manziel is dating a model; a Texas judge mocked him for a speeding ticket; he was seen popping bottles at a Dallas club; and he showed up on David Letterman …

Now, he is making it rain with Playing the Field favorite Rick Ross. Manziel and Ross recently were spotted together with the MMG rapper, via The Big Lead.

Kudos to Manziel. He’s young and he’s gettin’ it. Diced pineapples, baby.

Metro Philadelphia

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