Actually Hardy will make more money by switching to 3B. Reason number 1 he moves from an over crowded elite SS area defensively into a very small list of great defensive 3B. Hardy would probably be in the top 3 defensive 3B in the NL if he moves over to 3B. Wright, Hardy, Zimmerman would be your top 3 defensive 3B in the NL. When looking at the NL SS position Hardy will be near the middle of the pack defensively in the NL for SS. Top 3 NL SS are Tulowitzki, Reyes, Rollins with Ramirez at a close 4th best behind those 3 and don't forget about Yunel Escobar either he is becoming a top SS in the NL also. Hardy has no shot at a gold glove at 3B ,Wright will win them now until the end of his career. And of course of the shortstops you listed only Tulo is really a top notch defender. And you ignore the fact that Hardy's bat just isn't exceptional at 3B and that the Yankees will be looking SS, not 3B in 2 years. Hardy will gain money because he will be a contender year after year at 3B compared to his chances of winning that at SS. Awards like the Gold Glove award go a long ways in determining a players worth to a team. This is why Hardy could get more money as a 3B than as a SS.