Worst Free Agent Signings

There is one thing that all baseball fans found out this winter. That is that the sport is doing well, almost too well. If the league was struggling then the owners are doing a horrible job showing the public that it is. This off season has proved that an average college pitcher, like myself, is worth roughly $72,000 a year. All kidding a side; owners had money to spend this year, but did they spend wisely? Here are the 10 worst signings of the off season.

10. Luis Gonzalez of - Dodgers- 1 yr 7.50 million I like "LuGo" as much as the next guy. I think he is a great team player and a great ambassador for the game. He always plays the game the right way and you never see his name in scandals (his 2001 57 hr is still questioned though). But the veteran outfielder batted .271 with 15 home runs and 71 rbis. He did have 52 doubles, but since when do owners pay for doubles? Gonzalez lacks serious pop and he does not hit for a high average, basically the Dodgers just paid for Mark Grace without the Gold Glove at first.

9. Julio Lugo - Red Sox - 4 yr 36 million - Let me get this striaght Johnny Damon was not worth 10 million a year but Julio Lugo is worth 9? This does not make any sense. Johnny Damon was a god in Boston and not only did the Sox not re-sign him, they let him go to the Yanks. That is ok, Boston loves getting new shortstops. Nomar, Cabrera (he was not worth re-signing, he only spark plugged the offense on the way to the first championship in 84 years), Renteria (worked out well), Alex Gonzalez (only played a gold glove short), and now Lugo. Lugo hit .278 last year, bringing his career average to .277. Yes, he does not deserve the money, but the only bright spot is that Sox fans will not have to hear trade rumors this year about attaining Lugo.

8. Kenny Lofton - Rangers - 1 year 6 million - For some reason Kenny Lofton never dissappears. I think he is trying to play on every team in the major leagues by the time he retires. He actually had a decent year last year. He batted .301 and stole 32 sbs. He is 39 years old, has zero pop, does not play the field like he used to, and his arm is getting to resemble Bernie Williams'. I guess it does not matter because if the Rangers are not in it by the trade deadline Lofton will be shipped to a contender looking for some veteran presence in their lineup. Personally I would rather have Rickey Henderson, he always provides better quotes.

7. Gary Matthews Jr. - Angels- 5 years 50 million - Do you remember the catch he made last year? Yes it was one, if not the greatest, catches I have ever seen. Matthews Jr. was good enough to receive an all star vote in 2006. Hell, he even received 1 point last year for the AL MVP. Of course he deserves a lengthy and lucrative contract. I guess the Angels not only forgot what their name should be this year, but also forgot that Matthews has never stole more than 15 bases in a season, never hit more than 19 home runs, never drove in 80 rbi, and is a career .262 hitter. Hey but I guess they plaid 10 million a year to say they have the player who made "that catch in 2006".

6. Octavio Dotel - Royals - 1 year 5 million - What do you get when you pitch 10 innings in a season, give up 12 earned runs while allowing 12 bbs and striking out 7? A 5 million dollar contract from the Royals. Those stingy Royals. They never have any money to spend, but they can spend 5 million on a player who has only pitched 25 innings in the past two seasons. The Royals want him to be their closer, not a bad option considering the most he has ever saved in a season is 22 games.

5. J.D. Drew- Red Sox- 5 year 70 million - The same thing has been said about J.D.Drew since he has shown up in the bigs. He has potential. Last year you he proved that he could play more than 145 games in a season, with 146 games played. He also proved that he could knock in 100 rbi, exactly 100 rbi. J.D. Drew when healthy and when hot, is a very dangerous bat. He is a career .286 hitter, and has never been an All-Star. So why pay him so much? Because he has the potential to be one. The Sox are just hoping that Drew has decided to tap into that potential over the next 5 years, he is overdue.

4. Chicago Cubs pair signing- Jason Marquis 3 year 21 million & Ted Lilly 4 year 40 million - Marquis 56-52 lifetime and Lilly is 59-58. This is just insane. Marquis had an era over 6 last year. He has one 15 games exactly once, the same with Lilly. He has struck out over 100, once. Marquis did get a ring for being a member of the Cardinals last year, except he was so bad during the year that he was left off the post season roster. That deserves 7 million a year right? Lilly is an average pitcher. He was an all star in 2004 when he finished 12-10. Lilly has never had an era under 4 in a season and has never even pitched 200 innings in a season.

3. Adam Eaton- Phillies- 3 year 24.5 million- This is the contract that supposedly screwed up the whole free agent market. He has won 18 games in the past two seasons. He had an era of 5.12 last season. He has never pitched 200 innings in a season. In 7 seasons he has thrown over 130 innings three times. This could be the biggest Philly-flop in Phillies history.

2. Miguel Batista - Mariners - 3 year 25 million- Miguel Batista has never had a season where his record was better than 11-8. Which he did post in 2006. He saved 30 games in 2006 which would be great if the Mariners brought him in to be a closer, but Putz already has locked up that position. What is the best we can expect from Batista? He is has a career record of 68 -79! You would think the Mariners would learn after all the money they threw at it Beltre, at least he was coming off an All-Star season.

1. Gil Meche - Royals- 5 year 55 million - His career ERA in 4.65, last year it was 4.45. He won 15 games once, that was in 2003. He is another pitcher on the list who has never topped 200 innings, yet he is being paid to be the Ace of the Royals. You know that team that has to play by the small market rules. 11 million for a pitcher who has never been in the top 50 for ERA ? What an absolute joke. The Royals will be horrible this season, and next season, and every year that Meche is on the team. 11 million a season for a guy who might not even make other rotations in the league.

We learned that this off season pitching is key and a 7 year 125 million dollar contract to Barry Zito wont even make this list, that is how bad the owners spent their money this year.