The Top Ten Worst Baseball Free Agent Signings

The winter months are here for baseball fans and that means one thing, free agency. Though some teams strike gold, several find themselves being held up by the players who fail to produce.

Here are the ten worst baseball free agent signings in the history of America's past time.

2002 Chan Ho Park

During the 2001 season, Park had a superb season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, compiling a 15-11 record with a 3.50 ERA that led to a hefty contract from the Texas Rangers worth $65 million over 5 years. After he received his grossly over paid contract, Park went on to compile a 10-11 record in the first two years before being shipped him off to San Diego in 2005.

1998 Kevin Brown

The Los Angeles Dodgers decided to offer the thirty three year old Brown a lucrative contract worth $105 million over 7 years after a recording a 18-7 record. While Brown may have found success during the first year with the Dodgers, he failed to live up to the expectations he set when he arrived. Especially with he missed significant playing time in 2001 and 2002 before being traded to the New York Yankees.

1998 Albert Belle

When it came to feared hitters from the 1990's, Belle was one of them and the Baltimore Orioles wanted him. They signed him to a huge contract worth $55 million over five years. While he put up decent numbers his first year there, in his second season Belle became an average hitter at best when he hit .281 with 23 homeruns and 103 RBI's. Belle retired from the game of baseball during the off=season as a result of a hip injury.

2006 Gary Matthews Jr.

After his career year with the Texas Rangers where he hit .313 with 19 homeruns, 42 doubles, and 79 RBI's Matthews was awarded a contract by the Los Angeles Angels worth $50 million over 5 years. Bad news for the Angels, Matthews reverted back to his true form of a .247 batting average with 13 homeruns, 58 RBI's, and 22 doubles. The Angels would replace Matthews two years later with Tori Hunter.

2002 Jason Giambi

After three consecutive seasons with 30 plus homeruns and 100 plus RBI's, the New York Yankees lured the Giambi from the bay with a hefty seven year contract worth $120 million. While he did produce during his first two seasons, he was not able to lead them to a title. After 2004, things fell apart for Giambi who dealt with injury filled seasons and the growing steroid problem that soon over took baseball. He did have one nice season with the Yankees in 2007, but his overall career in pinstripes was sorely lacking.

2001 Mike Hampton

The Colorado Rockies decided to spend some serious money in 2001 when they brought in Mike Hampton with a contract worth $121 million over 8 years. Hampton reached mediocrity in his first season with the Rockies, compiling a 14-13 record with a 5.12 ERA. Hampton followed that up with a 7-15 record with a lofty 6.15 ERA. Hampton was shipped out the following season to the Florida Marlins.

2001 Danny Neagle

The Colorado Rockies were not done spending in 2001 and gave a contract worth $51 million for five years to Danny Neagle. He followed the same path of other Colorado free agent pitchers by going 17-19 over the next two seasons with an ERA just about five. After two injury filled seasons and legal issues involving a hooker and alcohol, Neagle was eventually released by the Rockies.

2007 Juan Pierre

The Los Angeles Dodgers thought they had found their future center fielder in Juan Pierre and signed him to a five year contract worth $44 million. While Pierre hit a respectable .293 and stole 64 bases, all he did was hit singles for the team. To help compound their mistake, the Los Angeles Dodgers brought in an even larger contract to make up for the lack of Pierre's offense.

2008 Andruw Jones

When it came to hitting the long ball, Andruw Jones hit 92 homeruns from 2005 to 2006. As a result the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him to a two year contract worth $36.2 million. Instead of the power hitting outfielder, the Dodgers got a .158 batting average with 3 homeruns during 75 games in the 2008 season.

2007 Barry Zito

During his first full seasons with the Athletics, Zito pitched a combined 1340 innings with a 95-59 record and a 3.55 ERA. It was this performance that enticed the San Francisco Giants to sign him to a seven year contract worth $125 million. Since joining the Giants, he has earned a 31-43 record with a 4.56 ERA, well short of the expectations for the money being paid to Zito.

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