When the Dodgers signed Noah Syndergaard to a one-year contract on Wednesday, it was reported as being for $13 million with $1.5 million in possible incentives. On Friday morning, we got the details on those incentives. As expected, they’re all based on innings pitched.
Contract incentives are often based on playing time (innings pitched for pitchers, plate appearances for hitters) because the rules prohibit bonuses based on statistical achievement. So you can’t get a bonus for winning 20 game or for hitting 40 homers or for batting .300, but you can get a bonus for how much you played or for getting votes for postseason awards.