“Walking Away from $12 Million With No Regret”

Maybe you saw that article in this week’s New York Times, about baseball player Gil Meche, pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. When he went to contract in 2007 for $55 million over five years, it was the richest contract in the team’s history.

He did well for the team at first, fulfilling all the hopes and promises, until several injuries impacted his performance and the team offered to put him in the bullpen to pitch in relief. That’s when Meche called the team’s general manager to say, “You signed me as a starter, and I can’t fulfill that obligation. I’m not going to take that money as a relief pitcher.” Meche went into retirement and left $12 million on the table.

The Times reported on a recent interview with Meche. When asked about the financial impact of his decision, Meche, who had already earned $50 million by the time he retired, said, “You kind of get to a point in your life when you realize: Did I really need this or was that something I purchased just to make me feel good? And they did! I had a great time with some of the things I’ve owned. But they’re just not needed. The older I get, I want to simplify my life more and more… I think it is more important if you can have inner peace and not look to other things to fulfill happiness… Those are just things you think might fill a void in your life, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t.”

I suppose it is at least a little easier to walk away from $12 million having already earned $50 million. I wouldn’t know for sure. But there is a lesson in Gil Meche’s reflection on a decision he made over a decade ago, one well worth considering.

Rabbi Dennis Ross