Ranking the 12 most team-friendly MLB contracts ahead of 2022 season

Initial Deal: Two Years/$10 Million
Amount Remaining: Two Years/$10 Million

Miller is a boom or bust player, but he booms enough that his approach of trying to hit a home run every time he steps to the plate works for him. In 2021 -- his second stint with the Philadelphia Phillies -- Miller homered 20 times, drove in 49 runs and walked 45 times. He provides some defensive flexibility and will benefit from being able to DH as well. His two-year deal with the Rangers should age well.

Initial Deal: 11 Years/$182 Million With $25 Million Club Option For 2033
Amount Remaining: 11 Years/$182 Million With $25 Million Club Option For 2033

It may surprise some to see Franco on this list, but he played so well in his rookie season that he finished third in American League Rookie of the Year Award voting despite appearing in only 70 games. While most deals 10 years or longer force teams to accept that there will be some lean years at the end of a contract -- that's probably the case for Mookie Betts, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper -- Franco is so young that even with an 11-year deal, he's only under contract with the Rays through his age-31 season.

Initial Deal: Two Years/$17.5 Million With $8 Million Club Option For 2023
Amount Remaining: One Year/$6 Million With $8 Million Club Option For 2023

The Dodgers allowed Kenley Jansen -- the franchise's all-time leader in saves -- to depart this offseason for a one-year/$16 million deal with the Atlanta Braves. One of the reasons Andrew Friedman and company were comfortable doing that is because they have arguably a better reliever in Treinen on a much cheaper deal. Utilizing one of the nastiest pitch repertoires in the league, Treinen posted a 1.99 ERA and 2.88 FIP in 72 games a season ago.

Initial Deal: Two Years/$14 Million
Amount Remaining: One Year/$8 Million

Hernández struggled in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, so the Los Angeles Dodgers allowed him to walk in free agency for a two-year pact with the Red Sox. A year later, the Dodgers -- and a whole host of other teams -- probably wish they made more serious pushes for the super-utility star. Hernández posted 16 defensive runs saved between center field and shortstop in 2021.

Initial Deal: Two Years/$38 Million With $18 Million Club Option For 2024
Amount Remaining: Two Years/$38 Million With $18 Million Club Option For 2024

Since the start of the 2019 season, Lynn is fifth among all pitchers in innings pitched (449 1/3) and fourth in fWAR (12.3). Given that he'll turn 35 in May, there's always a risk that Lynn hits a wall soon. But when you consider how he's pitched recently, the two-year/$38 million extension that the White Sox inked him to last summer feels very team-friendly.

Initial Deal: Five Years/$118 Million
Amount Remaining: Three Years/$74 Million

While some were critical when the Phillies gave Wheeler a five-year/$118 million deal ahead of the 2020 season, they did what fans and analysts often say teams should do: they paid for future production, rather than past accomplishments. Their gamble has paid off, as Wheeler finished a close second in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2021. The Wheeler deal looks especially smart for the Phillies when you remember that he was a free agent the same offseason that Stephen Strasburg landed a seven-year/$175 million deal from the Washington Nationals and Madison Bumgarner signed a five-year/$85 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Initial Deal: Four Years/$16.25 Million With $6.5 Million Club Option For 2023
Amount Remaining: One Year/$2.75 Million With $6.5 Million Club Option For 2023

Merrifield is so often mentioned as a trade candidate not only because he provides a team with tremendous positional flexibility, but because he's in the final year of one of the most one-sided contracts in recent memory. Merrifield, a two-time All-Star, will make just 2.75 million in the last guaranteed year of his deal. With that said, whatever team employs him at the conclusion of the 2022 season -- be it the Royals or someone else -- will certainly pick up his $6.5 million club option for 2023.

Initial Deal: Six Years/$84 Million With $13 Million Club Option For 2028
Amount Remaining: Six Years/$84 Million With $13 Million Club Option For 2028

As he neared the end of one team-friendly deal, Marte recently agreed to a five-year/$76 million extension with the Diamondbacks, which will start after he's paid $8 million in 2022. Availability has been an issue for Marte, but if he's able to play 130 games a season over the lifetime of this deal -- which includes a $13 million club option for 2028 -- it will be highway robbery for the D-Backs.

Initial Deal: Five Years/$56 Million With $21 Million Club Option For 2027
Amount Remaining: Five Years/$56 Million With $21 Million Club Option For 2027

There's something to be said for getting paid a first time, even if you take less than you would earn on the open market. But when you consider that we ranked Alcantara as one of the 15 best starters in baseball ahead of the 2022 season, his new five-year/$56 million contract feels like it's extremely lopsided in favor of the Marlins.

Initial Deal: Seven Years/$35 Million With $7 Million Club Options For 2026 and 2027
Amount Remaining: Four Years/$26 Million With $7 Million Club Options For 2026 and 2027

Albies' seven-year/$35 million deal with the Braves is not only one of the five most team-friendly contracts in baseball right now, but it may go down as one of the five most team-friendly deals in MLB history. Albies is already a two-time All-Star with a World Series title, and if the Braves pick up his more-than-affordable club options for 2026 and 2027, they'll control him through his age-30 season.

Initial Deal: Four Years/$26 Million With $12 Million Club Option For 2022 and $14 Million Club Option For 2023
Amount Remaining: $12 Million With $14 Million Club Option For 2023

Rather quietly, Ramírez is putting together a career that could draw Cooperstown consideration when he retires. Still just 29, Ramírez has finished third or better in American League MVP voting on three occasions, and is perhaps the best third basemen in the sport currently. The Guardians will pay Ramírez $12 million in 2022, and certainly they will pick up his $14 million club option for 2023. After that, though, Ramírez deserves to be one of the highest-paid players in baseball.

Initial Deal: Eight Years/$100 Million With $17 Million Club Options For 2027 and 2028
Amount Remaining: Five Years/$83 Million With $17 Million Club Options For 2027 and 2028

While the torn ACL that Acuña Jr. suffered last July is an argument for taking life-changing money the second it's offered to you, he could have done that without signing away at least three -- and probably five -- potential free agent years. If he had played out the arbitration system, Acuña would have made a boatload of money and had the chance to become a free agent ahead of his age-26 season. If the Braves exercise his club options for 2027 and 2028, Acuña won't become a free agent until before his age-31 season.