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Free agency blunders: 10 guys teams regret

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Tracy Ringolsby

Tracy Ringolsby is a Hall of Fame baseball writer. He is in his 36th year covering Major League Baseball, is a co-founder of Baseball America, and is in his third year as pregame and postgame analyst for Colorado Rockies games on Root Sports.

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Updated Nov 23, 2009 5:28 PM ET
     
 
Bidders beware. History is an excellent teacher. And so as the free agent negotiations begin in baseball's off-season, it's best to remember that the diamonds of an off-season can quickly turn into regular-season coal. Ten current contracts that provide lessons for those who think that by simply writing checks they can buy success: Gary Matthews, CF, Angels. Signed a five-year, $50 million contract prior to 2007. Matthews said he wants to be traded because he's not happy with his playing time. The Angels would probably be glad to let him out of his contract, but he's not looking to avoid the $23 million he is guaranteed in the final two years of his deal. The first three years have seen Matthews play only 370 games, hitting .248 with 30 home runs, 166 RBI, 271 strikeouts and 16 errors. Milton Bradley, RF, Cubs. Signed a three-year, $30 million contract prior to 2009, and is guaranteed $20 million in 2010-11. Bradley had been with five teams in five years prior to getting the security with the Cubs. Shouldn't that have been a warning about making a long-term overture? Cubs are frantically looking to get rid of Bradley, but they are going to have to eat the bulk of the contract and can't expect much more than the removal of a lot of locker room stress if they do find a team willing to take him. Manny Ramirez, LF, Dodgers. Signed to a one-year, $25 million deal prior to 2009 which included a player option at $20 million for 2010. Ultimate statement on this deal is Ramirez is a Scott Boras client, and nobody can control a bidding market like Boras, which means Boras knows there's nowhere close to that amount available for Ramirez as a free agent. Face it, his numbers were adequate offensively last year, but with his bumbling defense, adequate (.290, 19 HR, 63 RBI) doesn't cut it. And the Dodgers are a better team with Juan Pierre, who signed a 5-year, $44 million deal before the 2007 season, in left field. Dontrelle Willis, LHP, Tigers. Signed to a three-year, $29 million deal prior to 2008 after being acquired from Florida, even though he was coming off a 10-15, 5.17 2007 season and had worked more than 195 innings each of the previous four seasons even though he was only 25. Scouts warned his multi-faceted delivery was out of whack and there was a fear the arm was worn down. Nothing has happened to dispel that fear. He's 1-6 with an 8.27 ERA in 15 games, 14 starts, for the Tigers in two years. What's more, the fastball command is missing. He has walked 63 and struck out 35 in 57 2/3 innings. Carlos Silva, RHP, Mariners. Signed to a four-year, $48 million contract prior to 2008. The Mariners have unloaded the lingering Billy Bavasi created-deals for Jarrod Washburn, Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre and Jose Bautista. Silva, however, remains and he's not going anywhere. There is no market for a pitcher who is coming off a shoulder injury in 2009 and has gone 4-18 with a 6.81 ERA the last two years, giving up 254 hits, including 25 home runs, in 183 2/3 innings. He still has $23 million guaranteed during the next two seasons. Carlos Lee, OF, Astros. Signed to six-year, $100 million contract prior to 2007. On a team that is trying to cut costs -- and has done it at the expense of scouting and player development -- Lee is an expensive hood ornament. He's a one-dimensional player -- a run producer, and he has 305 RBI in three years with Houston -- but the total package is a negative. Not only is he defensive deficient, but he is a poster boy for a lack of hustle, and he's hauling in $55.5 million the next three years, Lee, combined with Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt, account for $48 million of whatever payroll the Astros have in 2010. Barry Zito, LHP, Giants. Signed to a seven-year, $126 million contract prior to 2007. Give Zito credit. He takes his turn every fifth day and does eat up innings. But his contract was the richest ever given a pitcher at the time he signed it, and he has four years remaining at $76 million. In three years he is only 31-43 with a 4.56 ERA despite pitching at AT&T Park, where he is 14-23 with a 4.65 ERA in 50 career starts. Jorge Posada, C, Yankees. Signed to four-year, $52.4 million contract prior to 2008. The Yankees don't like saying goodbye but when a catcher is on the backside of 30, caution is advised. There's only so much wear and tear the body can take. In two years since signing the deal, he has started 130 games behind the plate. Posada can still produce offensively, but because of his limited catching time he has to get some time at DH, which is why it's hard for the Yankees to try and re-sign both Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. Eric Byrnes, OF, Diamondbacks. Signed to a three-year, $30 million contract prior to 2008 season. Not only did this cost the Diamondbacks money, but it prompted the trade of Carlos Quentin to the White Sox. A fan favorite in 2007 because of his all-out style of play, front office felt it needed to retain Byrnes, despite his sporadic results in previous years. Injuries have limited him to 136 games and a .218 average the last two years and have the Diamondbacks looking for someone to take him. Derek Lowe, RHP, Braves. Signed to a four-year, $60 million contract prior to 2009 season. Yes, he won 15 games and made an NL-best 34 starts, but he is being shopped this fall, which underscores the fact he didn't fit. And with $15 million coming in each of the next three years, the Braves are going to have to eat part of that salary to move him.
Tagged: Jose Bautista, Roy Oswalt, Diamondbacks, Adrian Beltre, Lance Berkman, Angels, White Sox, Blue Jays, Braves, Tigers, Cubs, Carlos Quentin, Astros, Dodgers, Yankees, Juan Pierre, Johnny Damon, Mariners

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