16. Application of Time Value of Money Skills Gavin Goldenarm has been playing baseball since he was five years old and has always dreamed of playing in the big leagues. Last season, he was a starting pitcher for a double-A (AA)-level baseball team, the Dodge City Cowboys; last year, he was the first runner-up for the Minor League Player of the Year award. Using his 96 mph fastball, an impeccable curve ball and slider, and a reliable changeup pitch, he achieved a 16-3 win-loss record, an earned run average (ERA) of 2.98, and 146 strikeouts in 117.0 innings pitched. He is also your best friend. Two weeks ago, on his three-year anniversary with the team, Gavin received the following email from his agent, George Get-d'Bucks, indicating that he is being called up to the Wichita Wizards, the Cowboys's corresponding Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Moreover, Gavin's contract is being revised to reflect his new status. The email describes the general terms and conditions of Gavin's revised contract. From: George Get-d'Bucks To: Gavin Goldenarm Subject: New Team, New Contract Proposal Gavin, Congratulations! You've been called up to the Wichita Wizards. Below are the offered terms and conditions of your new contract. After you review them and think about the offer, call me and we'll discuss your options. Congrats again! Salary and Incentives: Gavin Goldenarm hereafter referred to as the "Player," is offered a four-year contract with an annual salary of $414,000 per year, to be paid at the end of each month in the contract term. Under the league's collective bargaining agreement, the Player will receive a 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to his annual salary at the beginning of every other year. This means that the Player's annual salary will increase at the beginning of year 2 and year 4, as applicable. In addition, the Player will receive a one-time $10,000 time-in-league bonus after six months of participation with an MLB team. This bonus will be paid immediately on completion of the six-month period. The Player is offered a performance-based bonus, as well as a milestone bonus. Both are intended to encourage outstanding performance. The Player is offered the following award-based performance incentive: a 15% bonus if he is selected for consideration of a major award-such as the Cy Young Award (for outstanding pitching). The Player is also offered the following milestone bonus: a $150,000 bonus if he ties Nolan Ryan's 1973 single-season strikeout record (383 strikeouts). The Player is eligible for each potential bonus each year that the contract is in effect and, if expressed as a percentage, will be based on the value of the Player's base annual salary for the corresponding year. If earned, the performance and milestone bonuses will be distributed in a single payment at the beginning of the next contract year. Although this proposal describes only one milestone, the actual contract contains several progressive milestones. Exceeding one milestone creates the opportunity to exceed another.