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He got a fresh start when he came to San Diego. Middlebrooks' issue is he swings too much out of the zone and can't spell ball four. Changing scenery again isn't going to help.
As for opt out clauses, I think teams are more than happy to sign off one on them. The Sabathia deal has highlighted the risk in signing big names on the wrong side of 30.
For instance, James Shields has an opt out clause after this year. If he bounces back like I think he will, he could be the premier free agent pitcher in a dumpster fire of a free agent market.
That works for the Padres as they won't have to pay him $21 million a year into his mid 30s and Shields may get a longer an extra year or two out of the new contract.
I don't see it coming to a point of one and done. Though I had an idea of how a one and done could work for arbitration.
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