After writing about the best free agents for each franchise in each league, Marbleheader decided he would torture himself, and us, by taking a trip down memory lane and write about the ten worst free agent contracts in Red Sox history.
The Worst Free Agents In Red Sox History
- Thread starter Darnell's Son
- Start date
Nice list, all the usual suspects, bur I don't get David Wells as a dishonorable mention. 1.5 years of league average starts at a moderate price, and he netted us a decent prospect in George Kotteras. This one is in the plus column for me.
Good stuff. I'd like to see Jeremy Giambi added to the Honorable Mentions, just because by getting rid of him there was more room for Mr. Ortiz.
Fun topic.
The one I'd disagree with is Jack Clark who was a two and half win player in his first year, so probably was at least a wash if not a net positive. And it helped that his negative impact wasn't as bad since he was a part timer in his final year. Gorman had a bad wrap for signing past their prime players, but at least most of them were relatively short term. Matt Young was never past his prime, because he never had a prime. That was just a whiff, period.
If you go with a short term contract that didn't work out, I'd mention Willie McGee as a dishonorable mention with his noodle bat wRC+ of 79. I think Gorman deserves a pass on the "Where would we play Willie McGee?" line. The guy really wasn't that great a player after his one 7 win season way back at the start of his career. From 92 - 99 he averaged less than 1 WAR per season.
I also didn't realize that he was drafted by the Yankees.
I was going to mention Frank Viola as a major flop too since his contract was considered expensive back then, but he wasn't terrible until year 3, though he needed Tommy John.
I have a soft spot for Steve Avery since I saw him on Fort Myers beach once, and he threw an errant football back to me. I probably hurt his arm beyond repair.
The one I'd disagree with is Jack Clark who was a two and half win player in his first year, so probably was at least a wash if not a net positive. And it helped that his negative impact wasn't as bad since he was a part timer in his final year. Gorman had a bad wrap for signing past their prime players, but at least most of them were relatively short term. Matt Young was never past his prime, because he never had a prime. That was just a whiff, period.
If you go with a short term contract that didn't work out, I'd mention Willie McGee as a dishonorable mention with his noodle bat wRC+ of 79. I think Gorman deserves a pass on the "Where would we play Willie McGee?" line. The guy really wasn't that great a player after his one 7 win season way back at the start of his career. From 92 - 99 he averaged less than 1 WAR per season.
I also didn't realize that he was drafted by the Yankees.
I was going to mention Frank Viola as a major flop too since his contract was considered expensive back then, but he wasn't terrible until year 3, though he needed Tommy John.
I have a soft spot for Steve Avery since I saw him on Fort Myers beach once, and he threw an errant football back to me. I probably hurt his arm beyond repair.
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Good read with most of the slots well-deserved. I don't see how a 1-year contract (Smoltz) could ever get in this kind of top 10, and Hanley doesn't even garner an honorable mention despite a historically bad 2015?
Matt Young deserves to be higher as that signing turned out just about as poorly as everyone not named Lou Gorman expected.
As for Clement, the myth that he was pitching really well until he got clocked in the head really needs to die. His season was already sliding steeply when that happened.
Matt Young deserves to be higher as that signing turned out just about as poorly as everyone not named Lou Gorman expected.
As for Clement, the myth that he was pitching really well until he got clocked in the head really needs to die. His season was already sliding steeply when that happened.
Offerman's 1999 wasn't too far off of Vaughn's (and he did out-OBP Mo). But then he aged in dog years.
Skip Lockwood was an interesting guy with an interesting career arc, but a pretty bad FA signing.
http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/1c20f787
Skip Lockwood was an interesting guy with an interesting career arc, but a pretty bad FA signing.
http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/1c20f787
I think he's a top 5 to this point personally. The free pass he's getting this year because he's smiling and not terrible at 1st (not clear that he's above average even) ought to go away once we have a losing streak and look at his crappy 1B .718 OPS (with a .351 BABIP as well). We need him to be a monster bat to be worth the contract, and there isn't much recent evidence aside from a ridiculous month and a half season in 2013 out of the past 5 years, that he can do that.
If it's health, then he could be at that point in his career where the breakdowns are going to hamper his production and that's another misfire given his track record with injuries.
Even if he worked out in left, the bat wouldn't have played very well anyhow.
A couple of mild quibbles: Smoltz was awful, but he was signed as a flyer during a time when there was no luxury tax implications. And he only earned $5.5M with the Sox, as I don't believe he reached those incentives. Both the Jack Clark and Andre Dawson signings were worse, IMO.
You forgot to mention that Matt Young and Jack Clark were signed in the same offseason that the Sox brought in Danny Darwin. Unlike Smoltz, Darwin's contract was 4 years long. He had one good year, but was otherwise a disappointment. Just not nearly as bad as the other two. At least he could throw to first base: Matt Young could not.
Matt Young's ball is in the Hall of Fame; I've seen it. MLB changed the rules the following season, I believe.
A couple of other dishonorable mentions:
Mike Torrez: Everyone was hoping they would get the guy who excelled for Montreal, Baltimore and Oakland. Or the guy that beat the Dodgers twice for the Yankees in the 1977 Series. And all seemed well when he jumped out to a 11-3 start in 1978. Then, in September, in the first game of a 4 game series at Fenway, with the Sox clinging to a 4 game lead against the surging Yankees, Torrez can't get out of the second inning as the Yankees jump to a 5-0 lead en route to a 15-3 thmping that starts the infamous 4 game series sweep in which the Sox are outscored 42-9. Torrez would face the Yankees 2 more times that season, and lose both, including the infamous Bucky Dent playoff. In the rest of his 5 years with Boston, he was exceedingly average in all aspects but one: walks, where he would lead the league with 121 base on balls in 1979.
Bruce Kison: I'll mention him because he was brought in to bolster the young starting pitching staff the Sox had in 1985 (Clemens, Boyd, Nipper, Hurst were the other starters). He got hurt in his first start. And then was involved in a notorious incident in Toronto when he was karate kicked in the midsection by George Bell after Bell was hit by a pitch. Kison had a reputation of being a head hunter, and Bell was no stranger to dust ups either. Bell would be suspended for 2 games. Kison would give up a grand slam later in the game, an 8-1 Sox loss. Kison would be moved to the bullpen, starting one more game but for the most part relegated to mop up duty, albeit with 1 save to his credit. There is one other reason this signing makes the list: in 1999, in a mostly meaningless game in Baltimore, Nomar Garciapara was hit on the wrist by Al Reyes; that was the only batter that Reyes would face that game. Nomar would eventually need surgery on that same wrist, surgery that would mark the decline of Nomar's career. Guess who was on the Orioles' coaching staff? Bruce Kison.
Frank Viola: He was nowhere near the worst FA signing. But few were more overhyped than Viola after he signed a 3 year, $15M contract with the Sox in 1992. Brought in to be the #2 starter behind Clemens, Boston fans had written in Viola for an easy 15 wins that season, if not 20. This was back in the day when everyone went ga-ga over wins. Viola wasn't terrible in his first 2 years; in fact, he was above average. But his declining K rate prevented Viola from recapturing the dominance he displayed in Minnesota and with the New York Mets. Then he blew out his elbow early in his final season with Boston. He would end up going 25-21 his 3 seasons. Of course, the Sox finished last Viola's first season with Boston. After Clemens and Viola, the starting pitching was awful, and the lineup was dreadful. Then there was manager Butch Hobson, but that's another thread.
Otis Nixon: Signed to a 2 year, $6M contract prior to 1994, the Sox were looking to add some speed to their traditionally plodding lineup. Nixon was not terrible; in fact, he had his typical year: 0.677 OPS, zero home runs, 42 stolen bases (3rd in the AL), 10 times caught (6th). Despite being 42nd in the league in OBP, he batted leadoff. One consolation, if you call it that, is that the 1994 season did not matter anyway as the players walked out in August. There are 3 things that make this worthy of a mention: the salary was fairly high given his production; the Sox had to give up a draft pick to sign him, whereas if they waited a day they could have had him for free; and he was eventually traded to Texas for Jose Canseco. 'Nuff said.
Tony Perez: In the season prior to Perez's arrival in 1980, the Sox started the year with George Scott as their regular first baseman. Scott, however, was well into his decline year, with his memorable 'taters a now rare event. The Sox then managed to pull off a theft and pry Bob Watson from Houston for a pair of minor leaguers, including 1978 hero Bobby Sprowl. In his half season with Boston, Watson put up a 0.949 OPS and quickly became a fan favorite. Of course, he was in the final year of his contract, and he would sign a $1.5M contract with the hated Yankees. So the Red Sox made a free agent coup of their own, bringing in the hero of the 1975 World Series. Again, hardly the worst signing given the circumstances; after all, Perez had all those RBI's!!. More seriously, it was thought that Perez would thrive in Fenway's comfy confines. Perez actually lived up to his billing his first season, putting up a 0.786 OPS while belting 25 HR's. And of course those 105 RBI!!! Unfortunately, the Sox pitching was terrible that year: Mike Torrez was still around, and Dennis Eckersley started his decline while battling addiction problems. The following offseason would see the departures of Fisk, Lynn, and Burleson. Perez would enter his decline phase, putting up 15 more HR's over the next 2 seasons, and be eventually released by Boston after an injury filled 1982. Perez would somehow manage to hang on as part time player, finishing his career back with the Reds. If there was any consolation, it was that Perez would outlast Bob Watson by 2 seasons, as Watson would be traded by the Yankees to the Braves for a minor leaguer after 2 mostly disappointing seasons.
Tony Pena: The catching situation had been a disaster for the Red Sox since the end of the 1986 World Series. Promising Rich Gedman had apparently lost the ability to swing a bat, and had spent the following 3 seasons hovering near the Mendoza line. Turns out he was injured much of that time and was in pain everytime he swung a bat (as were the Fenway fans). 1987 promising wunderkid John Marzano was also slow to develop. So, by 1989 the lion's share of the catching duties were performed by clubhouse cancer Rick Cerone, another candidate for dishonorable mentions among free agent signings. The Sox, one year removed from an appearance in the ALCS and stung by the loss of Nick Esasky via free agency to the Braves, and dealing with the fallout of the bitter departure/retirement of Jim Rice, decided to make a splash and sign one of the top free agents available, catcher Tony Pena. Pena was never a great hitter (0.673 OPS), but he was considered a better than average defensive catcher and added a flair in the way he called the game with his pitching staff. He performed as expected his first season (0.670 OPS), and he performed about as expected defensively. Looking deeper, he was only 24th in caught stealing percentage, but some of that could be attributed to the pitching staff as well. And the Sox would return to the ALCS. But that would be the high water mark, as Pena's OPS over the next 3 seasons would decline to 0.612, 0.589, and an unsightly 0.502. Despite being 20 points behind the Mendoza line, he would still appear in 126 games in 1993 to ensure at least one automatic out every 9 batters in the lineup. Of course, the other options were Bob Melvin and a 25 year old John Flaherty, the latter of whom was almost below the Mendoza Line in on-base percentage that same season. Yikes!
You forgot to mention that Matt Young and Jack Clark were signed in the same offseason that the Sox brought in Danny Darwin. Unlike Smoltz, Darwin's contract was 4 years long. He had one good year, but was otherwise a disappointment. Just not nearly as bad as the other two. At least he could throw to first base: Matt Young could not.
Matt Young's ball is in the Hall of Fame; I've seen it. MLB changed the rules the following season, I believe.
A couple of other dishonorable mentions:
Mike Torrez: Everyone was hoping they would get the guy who excelled for Montreal, Baltimore and Oakland. Or the guy that beat the Dodgers twice for the Yankees in the 1977 Series. And all seemed well when he jumped out to a 11-3 start in 1978. Then, in September, in the first game of a 4 game series at Fenway, with the Sox clinging to a 4 game lead against the surging Yankees, Torrez can't get out of the second inning as the Yankees jump to a 5-0 lead en route to a 15-3 thmping that starts the infamous 4 game series sweep in which the Sox are outscored 42-9. Torrez would face the Yankees 2 more times that season, and lose both, including the infamous Bucky Dent playoff. In the rest of his 5 years with Boston, he was exceedingly average in all aspects but one: walks, where he would lead the league with 121 base on balls in 1979.
Bruce Kison: I'll mention him because he was brought in to bolster the young starting pitching staff the Sox had in 1985 (Clemens, Boyd, Nipper, Hurst were the other starters). He got hurt in his first start. And then was involved in a notorious incident in Toronto when he was karate kicked in the midsection by George Bell after Bell was hit by a pitch. Kison had a reputation of being a head hunter, and Bell was no stranger to dust ups either. Bell would be suspended for 2 games. Kison would give up a grand slam later in the game, an 8-1 Sox loss. Kison would be moved to the bullpen, starting one more game but for the most part relegated to mop up duty, albeit with 1 save to his credit. There is one other reason this signing makes the list: in 1999, in a mostly meaningless game in Baltimore, Nomar Garciapara was hit on the wrist by Al Reyes; that was the only batter that Reyes would face that game. Nomar would eventually need surgery on that same wrist, surgery that would mark the decline of Nomar's career. Guess who was on the Orioles' coaching staff? Bruce Kison.
Frank Viola: He was nowhere near the worst FA signing. But few were more overhyped than Viola after he signed a 3 year, $15M contract with the Sox in 1992. Brought in to be the #2 starter behind Clemens, Boston fans had written in Viola for an easy 15 wins that season, if not 20. This was back in the day when everyone went ga-ga over wins. Viola wasn't terrible in his first 2 years; in fact, he was above average. But his declining K rate prevented Viola from recapturing the dominance he displayed in Minnesota and with the New York Mets. Then he blew out his elbow early in his final season with Boston. He would end up going 25-21 his 3 seasons. Of course, the Sox finished last Viola's first season with Boston. After Clemens and Viola, the starting pitching was awful, and the lineup was dreadful. Then there was manager Butch Hobson, but that's another thread.
Otis Nixon: Signed to a 2 year, $6M contract prior to 1994, the Sox were looking to add some speed to their traditionally plodding lineup. Nixon was not terrible; in fact, he had his typical year: 0.677 OPS, zero home runs, 42 stolen bases (3rd in the AL), 10 times caught (6th). Despite being 42nd in the league in OBP, he batted leadoff. One consolation, if you call it that, is that the 1994 season did not matter anyway as the players walked out in August. There are 3 things that make this worthy of a mention: the salary was fairly high given his production; the Sox had to give up a draft pick to sign him, whereas if they waited a day they could have had him for free; and he was eventually traded to Texas for Jose Canseco. 'Nuff said.
Tony Perez: In the season prior to Perez's arrival in 1980, the Sox started the year with George Scott as their regular first baseman. Scott, however, was well into his decline year, with his memorable 'taters a now rare event. The Sox then managed to pull off a theft and pry Bob Watson from Houston for a pair of minor leaguers, including 1978 hero Bobby Sprowl. In his half season with Boston, Watson put up a 0.949 OPS and quickly became a fan favorite. Of course, he was in the final year of his contract, and he would sign a $1.5M contract with the hated Yankees. So the Red Sox made a free agent coup of their own, bringing in the hero of the 1975 World Series. Again, hardly the worst signing given the circumstances; after all, Perez had all those RBI's!!. More seriously, it was thought that Perez would thrive in Fenway's comfy confines. Perez actually lived up to his billing his first season, putting up a 0.786 OPS while belting 25 HR's. And of course those 105 RBI!!! Unfortunately, the Sox pitching was terrible that year: Mike Torrez was still around, and Dennis Eckersley started his decline while battling addiction problems. The following offseason would see the departures of Fisk, Lynn, and Burleson. Perez would enter his decline phase, putting up 15 more HR's over the next 2 seasons, and be eventually released by Boston after an injury filled 1982. Perez would somehow manage to hang on as part time player, finishing his career back with the Reds. If there was any consolation, it was that Perez would outlast Bob Watson by 2 seasons, as Watson would be traded by the Yankees to the Braves for a minor leaguer after 2 mostly disappointing seasons.
Tony Pena: The catching situation had been a disaster for the Red Sox since the end of the 1986 World Series. Promising Rich Gedman had apparently lost the ability to swing a bat, and had spent the following 3 seasons hovering near the Mendoza line. Turns out he was injured much of that time and was in pain everytime he swung a bat (as were the Fenway fans). 1987 promising wunderkid John Marzano was also slow to develop. So, by 1989 the lion's share of the catching duties were performed by clubhouse cancer Rick Cerone, another candidate for dishonorable mentions among free agent signings. The Sox, one year removed from an appearance in the ALCS and stung by the loss of Nick Esasky via free agency to the Braves, and dealing with the fallout of the bitter departure/retirement of Jim Rice, decided to make a splash and sign one of the top free agents available, catcher Tony Pena. Pena was never a great hitter (0.673 OPS), but he was considered a better than average defensive catcher and added a flair in the way he called the game with his pitching staff. He performed as expected his first season (0.670 OPS), and he performed about as expected defensively. Looking deeper, he was only 24th in caught stealing percentage, but some of that could be attributed to the pitching staff as well. And the Sox would return to the ALCS. But that would be the high water mark, as Pena's OPS over the next 3 seasons would decline to 0.612, 0.589, and an unsightly 0.502. Despite being 20 points behind the Mendoza line, he would still appear in 126 games in 1993 to ensure at least one automatic out every 9 batters in the lineup. Of course, the other options were Bob Melvin and a 25 year old John Flaherty, the latter of whom was almost below the Mendoza Line in on-base percentage that same season. Yikes!
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Just for reference; Dawson's contract in the modern context would have been something like 2 years / $70M. Not entirely apples-to-apples because only a limited number of teams were giving out large free agent contracts in the mid-1990s. But the point stands.
Another negative to the Torrez signing was the Yankees were busy signing Rich Gossage while the Red Sox were pursuing Torrez. I think they signed the same day. Or close to it anyway.
I agree. I also don't think Lackey should be on the dishonorable mention list. He had two fine seasons, clearly pitched hurt in a third season, and also pitched well in '14 before getting traded. The option year boosted his value, so while we can question the return Ben got for him I don't think that the contract itself was horrible.
How about Jenks? 2/12m, a total of 19 appearances all in 2011 with an ERA over 6.
He pitched six strong innings. The fact that he wasn't pulled when he was losing his stuff was not his fault.
And I have one other, minor quibble. You have John Lackey as a dishonorable mention. I realize from a numerical perspective his production did not meet his salary. But he was absolutely dealing in that clinching game of the 2013 World Series. And he pitched a shutout in Detroit, as well as an inning of scoreless relief in a crucial point of Game 4 of the World Series. There are cases where you can chuck out the $$$/WAR and just enjoy the moment; Lackey is one such instance.
He was the return in a trade for Josh Hancock, who would later kill himself when he crashed into a tow truck while drunk, speeding, and texting. His parents sued the tow truck operator and the guy whose car broke down. Quite a legacy.
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Yes, even with inflation in salaries making that not all that much these days, that was a real crap return for decent money at the time. People might forget about it because of the fact that he pretty much went away quickly.
A few comments as I read thru this:
I'm still bummed Smoltz had nothing left. Even a year earlier and he might've been a great pickup.
Pretty sure clement had started to decline a few starts before he was struck in the head. Obviously, that didn't help.
I loved watching David Wells for us. There were a handful of inter league games he pitched where his curveball was just a thing of beauty. I was pissed when he got hurt in his second season with us just as he started pitching really well.
Mendoza fooled the shit out of the Yankees on my 30th birthday. He gets a pass from me.
I'm still bummed Smoltz had nothing left. Even a year earlier and he might've been a great pickup.
Pretty sure clement had started to decline a few starts before he was struck in the head. Obviously, that didn't help.
I loved watching David Wells for us. There were a handful of inter league games he pitched where his curveball was just a thing of beauty. I was pissed when he got hurt in his second season with us just as he started pitching really well.
Mendoza fooled the shit out of the Yankees on my 30th birthday. He gets a pass from me.
Gah, I always forget that Crawford also had the distinction of being the one to murder Matt Clement. Which particular sin was he penance for? Rarely has a single man wrought so much (largely incidental) destruction on one team. "Fun" article; the same kind of self-tortuous "fun" as we'll all have watching Epstein, Lester, and Rizzo raise that trophy in October(s). Our own championship glow dulls the pain, and hindsight is yadda yadda, but the choice of Crawford over Beltre will always, to me, epitomize "too clever by half." The 2011 team was excellent in a lot of ways and should have had a serious shot at that title, to say nothing of the damage noted in the article.
I agree that the shot to the head wasn't the trigger that precipitated his poor second half, but he wasn't pitching all that badly leading up to that game. He was arguably pitching a bit over his head in the first half of that season (specifically May), garnering his only All Star nod, but there was nothing particularly steep about his slide post-All Star game. It was more a steady regression to his average self.
Just looking at the numbers, 2005 Matt Clement ended up being pretty much exactly like 1999-2004 Matt Clement...a middle of the rotation innings-eater paid like a veteran middle of the rotation innings-eater.
His career ERA, FIP, and ERA+ to that point were 4.34, 4.21, and 98.
His ERA, FIP, and ERA+ in 2005 were 4.57, 4.04, and 99.
If his shoulder stays relatively healthy, I think he'd have been fine. Not a bust but not a bargain either (he produced a bWAR of 3.1 in 2005 with an AAV of 8.3M). Expectations may have been unfairly high given who he was "replacing", but it's not as though he wasn't exactly what he was supposed to be in year one. His shoulder falling apart and leaving two dead years on his contract, rather than what he actually did on the field, is what should warrant his inclusion on the list.
Yeah, partly tongue in cheek. But SoSH certainly expended a great deal of electrons here moaning and groaning about under performance. Personally, I liked Drew and didn't get too wrapped up in the debate. But his across-the board numbers for the 5 years spent in Boston during his 13-year career were his lowest. I think most around here expected more 2008-like years. Especially at $14M/year. So no, maybe not worth a Dishonorable, but at least a passing mention - of frustration more than anything else.
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Drew put up a 114 OPS + during his 5 years here, which includes his injury riddled, awful 2011 of 68. His WRC+ by year was 107, 142, 135, 110, and 67. Oh and in the playoffs he did this:
2007 ALDS: 364 OPS
2007 ALCS: 905 OPS
2007 WS: 878 OPS
2008 ALDS: 857 OPS
2008 ALCS: 796 OPS
2009 ALDS: 856 OPS
Dude was worth every penny of the $70M, and maybe more. He belongs nowhere near this list, or this discussion.
2007 ALDS: 364 OPS
2007 ALCS: 905 OPS
2007 WS: 878 OPS
2008 ALDS: 857 OPS
2008 ALCS: 796 OPS
2009 ALDS: 856 OPS
Dude was worth every penny of the $70M, and maybe more. He belongs nowhere near this list, or this discussion.
That's what generally happens in a guy's age 31-35 seasons. You sign over-30 FAs, you get decline phases. But the decline phase of a guy as good as Drew was still a very good player.
Seconding Bobby Jenks. That signing was disastrous enough but the hit-and-run & DUI outside a Florida strip club was the rotten cherry on top.
What about Mike Lowell? Does he count since he was a resign, but stiil a free agent at the time?
I can't and won't put up any argument against either of these observations. Like I said...I liked the guy. My point was just an observation that there are a slew of folks out there and on this board who feel otherwise, and was surprised that no one had already mentioned him, lightening rod for competing opinions as he was.
He was also one of those guys who was a talking point for the pro and anti advanced stats people. His traditional numbers were kind of blah for the time period, but his rate numbers were very good. OPS, k%, BB%, iso, WAR were all pretty impresive in 08 and 09. But if you expected 30 HRs and 100 RBI, and a .300 batting average, this guy was pretty disappointing to you, even in his good years. Also, Youk smashed stuff and screamed all the time like a big baby, and Drew looked like he had taken half a bottle of Ambien and then sleepwalked into the batters box. Obviously one cared and the other didn't, etc.
Good observation. Our communal affection for Lowell and gratitude for his contribution to 2007 make it easy to forget what a ghastly little contract that turned out to be. $37.5M for 2.4 BBref wins.
He was also a consistently excellent RF in a difficult place to play RF. He just failed to make the
diving-catch-overcoming-the-shitty-jump like so many other OFs who ended up on SportsCenter even though they couldn't carry Drew's jock in the OF.
Different offseason, same category - Jerry Remy after his 1981 season. After years of the Sox turning up their noses at their own free agents, they decided that this was the guy they needed to bring back. He then produced at WAR of 1.2 over the next three seasons, with OPS+ stats of 79, 72 and 58.
I was a big Darwin fan, so I am going to chime in here.
Darwin had two good seasons for Boston. His debut season (1991) was brutal and injury-shortened. Other than injury, his biggest problem that year was the long ball (15 HR in 12 starts).
As a swing-man in 1992 (51 appearances, 15 starts, 161+ innings) he posted a 3.21 FIP. I credit that as his first good season.
In 1993, he posted a 3.26 ERA over 229 innings. Yeah it was a luck-driven season (a 5.1 K/9 and a 4.29 FIP), but hell it was a sorely needed season in a year where Clemens scuffled with a 4.46 ERA and an 11-14 record.
1994 was a disaster, but I enjoyed those two good years from Doctor Death.
Also, great bit of trivia: "During a brawl between the Phillies and the Giants, Orel Hershiser claims Darwin punched him in the face. At the time, the two were teammates."
I don't remember how much cash the Sox had to throw in, but Edgar Renteria was traded for a top 10 prospect in baseball even after his failed year. His contract couldn't have been THAT bad.
It was $8M of the remaining $26M, plus $3M if his 2009 team option was declined (which it was). Renteria was a panicked sell-low dump and like you say, he netted a top prospect (even if the prospect flamed out). His signing is made a lot worse by the fact that they dumped him after a year. Had they held on to him, there's a fair chance the contract works out well enough to not warrant inclusion on a list like this.
Good article. There should be another list that includes extensions and international FA signings. The premise of the "worst" has to account for impact on the club, not just poor value in a vacuum. (I mean, regardless of whether that "worst" impact is the player's fault or not.) While Crawford has to be close to #1 on this list, as an OF, he was a somewhat superfluous signing. Maybe the case could be made that signing a particular FA to a key position is worse than it looked if it blocked other options.
For example, while not a FA signing, in April of 2010, the Sox gave Beckett a 4 year, $68M extension, which was pretty close to top dollar. Beckett would go on to have 3 subpar seasons. His one good season (2011) would be tarnished by the collapse/chicken 'n beer scandal. Beckett's final two starts were awful and the team missed the WC berth by one game. His contract was one of the prime drivers for the Punto Trade. Maybe even more so than Crawford.
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By contrast, who would be the best FA/Extension Sox signings? Ortiz? Pedro? Schilling's 2003 trade/extension? Manny?
For example, while not a FA signing, in April of 2010, the Sox gave Beckett a 4 year, $68M extension, which was pretty close to top dollar. Beckett would go on to have 3 subpar seasons. His one good season (2011) would be tarnished by the collapse/chicken 'n beer scandal. Beckett's final two starts were awful and the team missed the WC berth by one game. His contract was one of the prime drivers for the Punto Trade. Maybe even more so than Crawford.
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By contrast, who would be the best FA/Extension Sox signings? Ortiz? Pedro? Schilling's 2003 trade/extension? Manny?