The Most Questionable Free Agent Signings for the 2007 Season

Unlike the bad free-agent signings, all of these players have talent. The questions involve what kind of a return the teams that signed these players will ultimately get for the money invested, due mainly to age and injuries. All of these signings could work out just fine because the players have talent, but all could end up being busts due to the question marks.

Barry Bonds (Giants) - 1 yr, $16 million. Can we all agree that he's used performance enhancing drugs? And that, at age 42 this year, if he is not still using them he probably will not be any good? That makes him a huge risk and a huge headache for baseball. On the one hand, he has a good year so we all think he is still cheating, and on the other, he's no longer cheating and has a bad year making him a bust. Neither scenario is really good for the game. From the Giants perspective, the signing makes sense. Bonds will help sell tickets. Even if he stinks, they'll still sell more tickets than if he went elsewhere. When and if he breaks the HR record, Giant fans will pay attention. The Giants were really the only team who was going to give him such a huge payday, because nobody else's fans care anymore whether he breaks the record or not.

J. D. Drew (Red Sox) - 5 yrs, $70 million, pending. If he's healthy, he's worth the money. Career .393 OBP and .512 SLG players are hard to find. Probably played all last year with the shoulder injury, ignoring the problem as much as possible for a big payday. Could probably keep playing with the problem, but the question is, will he want to once he has the guaranteed contract? Given all the missed playing time in his career, who knows?

Nomar Garciaparra (Dodgers) - 2 yrs, $18.5 million. If he reproduces what he did last year he's worth the money, but even then he missed playing time. Wouldn't be surprised if the Dodgers got a nice payoff for this contract, but also wouldn't be surprised if he pulls something in spring training and is out for the year.

Carlos Lee (Astros) - 6 yrs, $100 million. He's a quality hitter, but this contract is paying him an average of $16.7 million a year. Does anybody think Carlos Lee will be the MVP in the National League this year? Shouldn't someone making that kind of money be considered an MVP type player? Lee is unlikely to be a bust, and is going to earn the money, it's just questionable if he's really worth $100 million.

Vincent Padilla (Rangers) - 3 yrs, $33.75 million. In his career he has pitched to 94% of the league ERA. He's not a bad pitcher, but over $11 million per year for an OK pitcher with a lifetime ERA over 4.00 is highly questionable. Has enough talent to fully earn the money, but doubt he ever will.

Juan Pierre (Dodgers) - 5 yrs, $44 million. Has scored over 100 runs three times, but last year scored only 87 runs in 699 AB's. Could score 100 runs or more this year and earn his money, but could just as easily score 87 runs again. I promise you there are players in the minors today who can score 87 runs a year in the Majors in 699 AB's.

Alfonso Soriano (Cubs) - 8 yrs, $136 million. His contract makes him the 5th highest paid hitter in baseball. While he's a good hitter, he is not the 5th best hitter in baseball by a wide margin.