WTF happened: Three top players get paid, then they go south

[rink23]

Not sure if anyone is monitoring this board with the new edition being released, but just looking for some thoughts with handling my franchise.
My team, the St. Louis River Walkers of the Midwest Baseball League, has been having some issues in its fourth season.

This is a league created in 2018, from a draft of MLB players of that season/.
In 2010, the Walkers dominated the league, won the title. In 2019, they won 96 games, won their division but lost in the championship series. In 2020, they won 93 games and missed the playoffs by 2.5 games
So far in 2021, in late May, the team is sitting 17-20 and 6.5 games out of first.
My big issue has been the performance of three players, who received contract extensions in the offseason.
No. 1 -- Tucker Barnhart -- With my teams,. catcher is a position I put a lot of value on defense and whatever offense he creates is a bonus.
For three seasons, Barnhart was among the top three defensive catchers in the league and hit in the range of .265 with 14-18 homers and 55-75 RBIs.
So I gave him his pay day, three years at $9.5M, third year my option.
This season, he plays three games and takes game four off, he is batting .149 with three homers and 12 RBIs.

Plus, without looking at the numbers, the passed balls and wild pitches seems to be up and other areas where catcher's ability should be a factor have spiked.
No. 2 -- Aaron Nola -- Probably been one of the top pitchers in the league for the past three seasons with no injury issues. His combined record was 43-20 with ERAs of 3.47, 3.35 and 3.28.
This season, after eight starts he is 0-5 with a 4.91 ERA. His HRs per nine has also jumped from 0.9 to 1.8.
He also got a big pay raise in the offseason, a four-year deal worth $25M per, but he's 27 and has no history of injury.
No. 3 -- Andrew Benintendi -- In the three, now four year, since I drafted and formed this league, Benintendi has been among the best players.
In 2018, he batted .343 with 27 homers and 91 RBIs.
In 2019, he batted .340 with 42 homers and 123 RBIs (NL MVP)
In 2020, he batted .298 with 38 homers and 123 RBIs
In 2021, after 37 games, he is batting .276, 4 homers and 19 RBIs.
After the 2020 season, I signed Benintendi to an six-year extension worth $25M. But with him being just 26 in 2021 I figured it would be worth it.

I usually give my team two full months to see how it is going to come together.
Right now, my gut tells me Barnhart is an issue. I don't know why or how. I just don't like how he is playing, especially if it might be a factor with my pitching staff.
I think Nola, if he isn't injured will come around, the same with Benintendi.
Any suggestions as to how I can get these players, performing the way they should.

[pgjocki]

Do you have league evolution on? In particular the "more/less offense" option enabled?

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