Serious injuries are never good things for baseball players, but the extent to which health problems affect someone’s career depends a lot on the situation.
For example, a young player who still has time to recover before he enters his prime is likely to bounce back, and a guy in the middle of a long-term contract doesn’t have to worry about finding a new job right away.
But for talented stars entering free agency or to a lesser extent, their arbitration years, getting seriously hurt could end up costing them several million dollars. And for older players whose ability to maintain their current levels of performance, a bad injury could mean a forced retirement.
In this slideshow are the 10 MLB players who would have the most to lose if they were struck by serious injuries.