November 13, Part 2

Free Agent Busts


I think it's safe to say that most of the bad free agent contracts have been offered to pitchers. In part because of one deal in particular that has inflated the market value of mediocre starting pitchers, and in other cases it was injuries after the fact that made the deal look bad. In either case here are six of the worst free agent contracts of the last ten years in no peticular order.


Juan Gonzalez, Rangers, Two years, $24 million

The Detroit Tigers offered Juan Gonzalez an eight year $140 million contract to stay in Tigertown in 2000. Gonzalez decided to sign a one year deal with central division rival Cleveland instead, and then went back to Texas in 2002 for
$24 million. After 152 games in two years in the lone star state, that was it for Gonzalez, who dropped off the baseball radar and by not signing with Detroit lost out on about $100 million.


Albert Belle, Orioles, Five Years $65 million

You could definitely say that Albert Belle was not only one of the most feared hitters of the 90's at the plate, but also out of the batters box as well as off the field. Who can forget that famed incident with the trick or treater at his door, or the forearm check he delivered on the base path in Milwaukee. Belle was a big part of Cleveland's central division title run and World Series appearance in '95, and left Chief Waho for some White Sox's in '97. After two losing years in Chicago, the O's offered him $65 million over five years. It's safe to say that Baltimore knew what it was getting, but maybe didn't expect him refusing to take batting practice with the team, and the arguing with manager Ray Miller and others was just typical Belle. If not for a career ending hip injury two years into his O's career, he might have been someone else's headache for a few years.


Darren Dreifort, Dodgers, Five Years, $55 million

Despite a 39-45 career record and 4.28 ERA, Los Angeles decided to reward it's 29 year old righty in 2000 with a $55 million contract. The Dodgers did get one full season from him, as a reliever in 2004. Dreifort was plagued with several injury's, but GM's have been paying the price since. If a career sub .500 pitcher can get $55 million, then all hurlers around .500 deserve the same. While it is a cheap shot, your almost better off being a Kyle Loshe then Johan Santana type pitcher. Granted both will get almost double digit millions a seasons, but getting paid $8-11 million a season to lose half your starts isn't bad for the bank account.


Kevin Brown, Dodgers, Seven years, $105 million

Among the A-Rod of pitching contracts was the one signed by Kevin Brown in 1998. I had to do a little checking but it was Brown, a pitcher, that signed the games first nine figure deal. After leading San Diego into the World Series in '98, and winning it with Florida the year before, Brown had arguably some of the best stuff in the game, and his first two seasons in Dodger blue went well, but he was injured in 2001 & '02, came back for an ok '03, but the tank was pretty much empty when Brown was traded to the Yankees in '04 and after 13 starts in '05 was done. While he did play the seven years, and pitched in a couple of post-season's after signing the nine figure contract and unlike with A-Rod, Brown had already held the "Holy Grail" which got him the contract in the first place.


Alex Rodriguez, Rangers, Ten Years, $250 million

In 2001 Alex Rodriguez was primed for a big pay day, there was some speculation that he might stay in the Emerald City, but with a shortstop putting up the numbers he did you almost had the feeling that A-Rod could basically take whatever the biggest deal was that he could get, and that was just the case. The Texas Rangers came calling and offered $250 million over ten years. Not in the history of the game, or professional sports, was that much offered for the services of one player. With two straight 50+ homer 135+ RBI seasons, or about $500 thousand for each homer and $185 thousand for every RBI, the Rangers were definitely getting a good return for stats, but not not where it counts in victories. After three losing seasons, 156 homers & 395 RBI's, and one MVP in the lone star state, Pay-Rod wanted out. During the Alex Rodriguez era the Rangers didn't qualify for the playoffs, and in fact were never close to doing so. The Yankees, who traded for A-Rod, were already a playoff team and he wasn't able to help them return to the World Series where they had been the season before. I would consider the Rangers signing of Rodgiguez a bust in that not only the three losing seasons, but they basically had to pay him to leave town.


Mike Hampton, Rockies, Eight years, $121 million

Most pitchers haven't faired well in the in the thin air of the Rockies, and it was no different with Mike Hampton in Colorado. In his previous five season with Houston and the Mets, Hampton was 73-41 with a 3.45 ERA and 705 K's, including an impressive 1999 campaign with the Astros in which he was 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA. Eight years and $121 million almost seemed like a steal in some ways in 2001, but the confines of Coors Field were not kind to Hampton who in two seasons went 21-28 with a 5.75 ERA and the Rockies paid Florida, then Atlanta, to take him. The Braves still owe him $15 million for 2008, and he hasn't pitched an inning since the '05 season.


Armstrong out

After a disappointing start, the Dallas Stars fired General Manager Doug Armstrong on Tuesday. The Stars were 7-7-3, and coming off a 5-4 loss to the Kings in which they led 4-0 heading into the third period. Team owner Tom Hicks said he though his club needed a change in direction, and wanted the Dallas Stars to return to being one of the elite teams in the league. Hicks also did not state who would take over the job on an interim basis. Armstrong was in his sixth season as GM and 17th overall with the organization.

You can bet that the Founding Father of the Stitch, a former Dallas Stars employee, will be sounding off on the firing, and look for that in the next few days on www.thestitch.us