Biggest Free-Agent Busts Of All-Time?

[HomeRunHomer]

With Zito falling to 0-7 and hearing all the talk about how he may be possibly the worst free-agent signing of all-time,

that got me wondering:

who do you consider the biggest free-agent busts in history?

BTW, I am looking for players who signed big contracts and could not play worth a damn.

(A-Rod in Texas won't count, BTW- he DID hit well)

[SamtheBravesFan]

Whether by injury or not?

If it's injury, the thing that comes to my mind (no, not Mike Hampton) is Nick Esasky. He signed a three year contract that paid him $5,600,000. He only played in nine games total with Atlanta, all in 1990, because of a serious bout with vertigo that ended his career.

In some pictures of celebrating in the Braves' 1991 season, you can see Esasky joining in the fun. He may as well have; it's basically the only thing he could do.

[Chickazoola]

Esasky was the first guy that came to mind.

Steve Kemp was a big bust with the Yankees.

Carl Pavano is a major bust too.

[BenHertz]

Richie Sexson-Mariners. Not the biggest bust....but...c'mon...

[Steve Jeltz]

Lance Parrish was a gigantic bust with the Phillies.

How about Ed Whitson with the Yankees? It got so bad for Whitson that he could not pitch in Yankee Stadium.

Bobby Bonilla with the Mets. I remember he tried to wear earplugs for a game at Shea to block out the boos.

[dgarza]

What did the Expos pay for Pete Rose?

The Royals Mark Davis signing after his CY year was pretty awful and a big crash.

[whoisonit]

Wayne Garland signed a monster (for the time) contract with Cleveland -10 yrs / 2 mil then promptly tore his rotator cuff and was through.

The Yankees seem to have a rediculous amount of money every year tied up in disasterous signings. Currently - Kyle Farnsworth, Pavano, Kie Igowa(?),Jason Giambi. Plus ones they've been lucky enough to trade like Jose Contreres.

[digglahhh]

Wayne Garland signed a monster (for the time) contract with Cleveland -10 yrs / 2 mil then promptly tore his rotator cuff and was through.

The Yankees seem to have a rediculous amount of money every year tied up in disasterous signings. Currently - Kyle Farnsworth, Pavano, Kie Igowa(?),Jason Giambi. Plus ones they've been lucky enough to trade like Jose Contreres.

Don't forget Steve Karsay.

I think guys who couldn't because of injuries should be treated differently though.

[machinehead11]

Chan Ho Park with the Rangers

[EdTarbusz]

Wayne Garland signed a monster (for the time) contract with Cleveland -10 yrs / 2 mil then promptly tore his rotator cuff and was through.

.

Garland's deal was 10 years/1 million dollars. I read in interview of his in the Plain Dealer a few years ago, and he said signing that contract was a big mistake, and that he was probably happier than the Indians when the contract finally expired. It sounded like he had a lot of trouble with the IRS because of the contract.

[Steve Jeltz]

Gregg Jefferies with the Phillies in 1995.

Bruce Sutter was the major free agent signing of the 1984-85 offseason by the Braves. Injuries and ineffectiveness plagued his stint with Atlanta.

The Royals signed Storm Davis after his 19 win season with Oakland in 1989. He would go 7-10 in 1990 and would be traded after 1991.

[Captain Cold Nose]

[QUOTE=Steve Jeltz;1184524]Gregg Jefferies with the Phillies in 1995.

Bruce Sutter was the major free agent signing of the 1984-85 offseason by the Braves. Injuries and ineffectiveness plagued his stint with Atlanta.

The Royals signed Storm Davis after his 19 win season with Oakland in 1989. He would go 7-10 in 1990 and would be traded after 1991.[/QUOTE]

It was around that time the Royals also signed CYA winner Mark Davis from the Padres. That also backfired.

Didn't Sutter make an all-star team as a Brave, with Whitey Herzog as manager? Still, though, he was nowhere near what he was before.

[BlueBlood]

Darren Dreifort signed a five-year, $55 million contract with the Dodgers in 2001. Ended up having an injury plagued '01, missed all of '02, hurt through '03 and a mediocre reliever in '04.

Schmidt received a three year $47 million deal. He started six games last season where he performed horribly with shoulder problems. He has not pitched in a game this season.

And then there's Andruw Jones. $18 million for each of the next two years. Right now, he's hitting .170 with an OPS+ of 42.

[Chickazoola]

[QUOTE=Captain Cold Nose;1184548]

Gregg Jefferies with the Phillies in 1995.

Bruce Sutter was the major free agent signing of the 1984-85 offseason by the Braves. Injuries and ineffectiveness plagued his stint with Atlanta.

The Royals signed Storm Davis after his 19 win season with Oakland in 1989. He would go 7-10 in 1990 and would be traded after 1991.[/QUOTE]

It was around that time the Royals also signed CYA winner Mark Davis from the Padres. That also backfired.

Didn't Sutter make an all-star team as a Brave, with Whitey Herzog as manager? Still, though, he was nowhere near what he was before.

Both Davises were signed for the 1990 season by the Royals. The GM was John Schuerholz, and those signings led to his being fired, and ending up with the Braves.

I am pretty Sutter is still being paid by the Braves, as a bunch of the money was deferred.

[Otis Nixon's Bodyguard]

Mo Vaughn was a pretty big bust after he signed a six-year $88 million deal with the Angels in the winter of '98. He had three seasons that were mediocre by his standards and then was done. He was one of the highest paid players in baseball in 2004, even though he would never play another Major League game.