Do players actually perform better in contract years?

In 2022, Aaron Judge dominated baseball in a way that hadn't been seen since Barry Bonds was playing. A few months later, he set a new standard for how players could be compensated, signing a nine-year, 360-million-dollar deal with the Yankees in December. It seemed to be a classic case of the "contract year" phenomenon, but does the data actually support that being a thing?
PATREON: www.patreon.com/student_ofthegame
Video courtesy of:
MLB Network
Fox Sports
Bally Sports
YES Network

[@macktheknifee9301]

I don't even watch baseball. But the video was so well made and the subject so interesting that i couldn't resist

[@tobybaker7021]

the fact that i just watched this entire video thinking you were a huge mlb niche type youtuber truly shows how much talent you have. great video dude

[@studentofthegame]

I am entirely too ADHD to focus on one sport

[@EL_XO]

Please keep making videos I love your channel. It's on par - quality-wise - with a channel like Baseball Doesn't Exist or Foolish Baseball.

[@EL_XO]

For all sports though, and not just baseball.

[@studentofthegame]

thank you! FB is one of my absolute favorites so that means a lot.

[@Chris-no8yb]

Great vid 👍

[@studentofthegame]

thank you!

[@jordanclayton4593]

hey bro? is it not a confirmation bias in your data that those who are on the highest paid contracts are on them cos they did have good contract years?

[@studentofthegame]

it certainly could be, but I tried to account for that by having a big enough sample size. like the further you go back, the more the data should be representative of the section of the league that have enough service time to be eligible for a big contract in the first place

[@owentarasewicz9867]

Awesome vid your time is coming.

[@hunthoot]

Just leaving a quick comment here before this channel takes off

[@studentofthegame]

still on the runway lol