Justin Masterson Guided By Character, Not Almighty Dollar

Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Masterson Hopes To Help Less Fortunate With New Deal

Cleveland Indians right hander Justin Masterson will be one of the top free agent pitchers available if he hits the open market following the 2014 season.

When Homer Bailey of the Cincinnati Reds signed his contract extension worth $105M over six seasons it was assumed that Masterson would get the same type of deal — or more — on the open market.

Much to the surprise of many pundits and  maybe even the Cleveland Indians front office Masterson alerted the Tribe that he would be willing to sign a short term deal in order to stay with the team.

While on MLB Network Radio he explained some of the reasons for his decision. “I love being with Tito [Terry Francona],” Masterson said. “When they brought him in it was like a great friend coming back that I had missed ever so greatly.”

He mentions many of the intangibles about playing for the Tribe from the travelling secratary to how the team treats the players.

When asked about how he could turn down money that could impact future generations he says, “If I go to the free market I’m not thinking about how I can help the grand kids and all that. I’m looking at how can I help the people over in Africa who are living at less than a dollar a day.”

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