Best And Worst Baseball Free Agent Signings Ever..?

[Mitchell]

With baseball free agent signing season in full swing.. I thought I would start a thread discussing what the best and worst baseball free agent signings in history have been.

When I say "history". I'm thinking,.. modern history.. last 30 years.

To me.. a few come to mind.

Best: Greg Maddux, Braves, December 1992. Signed to a five year, 29 mil dollar deal that year. Over an eleven year career with the Braves... finished his eleven year Braves career with a 194-88 record, and three Cy Youngs. Cemented his likely HOF credentials during this period with the Braves.

Worst that I can think of..

Bruce Sutter-Braves 1984. Signed to a five year, 10 million dollar deal, that was actually $40 million, 30 million of which was deferred at 1 million a year which they are still paying currently. For this money, they got 40 Saves, and an injured pitcher.

Johan Santana, Mets. Signed to a six year, 137 million dollar deal that just expired. For this money, the Mets got 46 wins out of Santana in six years, several DL stints, and not much of anything.

Another that comes to mind--

Darryl Strawberry-Dodgers 1990. Signed to a five year big money deal from the Mets in the fall of 1990. After a decent first year in LA in 1991, fell apart there, and ended up going to the Giants, before having a couple of decent homer years in his later career with the Yankees.

Other thoughts?

 

[Barbershopman]

Not sure this counts as a free agency signing, but I have a hard time believing that after all the A-Rod debacle and drama that even the Yankees aren't stupid enough to even be considering to signing Cano for 10 years at 300 million! If they are, then put that at the top of the list in bold, capitalized and italics of "worst free agent signings".

Barbershopman

 

[Mitchell]

Barbershopman, I see your point.. but.. my credentials was not only money for this thread, but also.. production.

When Greg Maddux was signed to the second five year contract.. during his 11 year tenure with the Braves.. he was the highest paid pitcher at that time, signing a five year.. 57 million dollar contract. In those five years of the second five year contract.. he won 89 games.. or an average of almost 18 games a year, so they got incredible return for their $57 million dollars at that time.

I personally think that Greg Maddux might have been one of the best free agent signings ever. He went 194-88 in 11 years. Even though he made a lot of money for that time, the Braves never missed the playoffs when he was with them, they won a World Series, and three NL Championships, not to mention 10 straight division titles.

 

[tklbd]

If we want to talk JUST production...then at this moment, it has to be The Angels signings of Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton!!! Hall of Fame credentials, before going to Anaheim...and now, over the last year and a half...INJURY after INJURY after INJURY!!! And they are supposed to be in their "primes"??!!
Keep putting up your numbers and "carrying" the team..Mike Trout!! Too bad the sports writers never give you enough props for MVP...because the "big guns" of your team..can't help you put your team, in a better place in the standings!!! Or is it just another case of "West Coast biased"?? Haven't seen a West Coast MVP (that I can remember)...that didn't lead the league in all the "important" stats...but was truly "Most Valuable"..since Kirk Gibson in '88!!
Anyway..that's my 2 cents!!

 

[Mitchell]

I haven't been to this thread in a while, but I see your point about Pujols and Hamilton. Both have been disappointments with the Angels. In Pujols case, they have to pay him for another eight years. Sad.

 

[MoJoe2014]

Lousy Free Agent Signings

Roberto Alomar Mets-2002

Jason Bay Mets-2010