BD Hot Stove: Thanksgiving Turkeys

Written by: Drew Sarver on 24th November 2010

BD Hot Stove: Thanksgiving Turkeys | read this item

The hot stove recently took a look at the 10 best free agent bargains over the last decade. With Thanksgiving upon us that can only mean one thing- time to look at the five biggest free agent turkeys.

Barry Zito
Zito put together a solid seven year career in Oakland, including a 23 win, CY Young award season in 2002. Following the 2006 season he went looking for the big bucks and found them across the bay in San Francisco to the tune of seven years, $126M. Four years in, the Giants would like some of their money back.

ERAs generally lower when you go from the AL to the NL, but in Zito’s case just the opposite happened. After putting together a 3.55 mark in his time with Oakland, Zito posted a 4.53 ERA in 2007 and 5.13 a year later. Some blamed the money, some blamed separation from his pitching coach and guru Rick Peterson. Whatever the reason, Zito stunk out the joint, including leading the NL in losses in ’08 with 17. He’s shown flashed of his old self the last two years and has maybe turned a corner, but apparently not enough for the Giants. They left him off their post-season roster in their run to this year’s World Series title.

Zito to date: 40-57, 4.45

Carl Pavano
Pavano had a break out 17 win season for the Marlins en route to their second World Series title in 2003. That winter the Yankees beat out Boston and other suitors for Pavano’s services, signing him to a four year, $39.5M contract. He would appear in just 26 games over those four seasons.

So began a four year journey of injuries, car accidents, lies, and the nickname “American Idle”. When Pavano was in the Yankees clubhouse things couldn’t have been frostier if he were playing at the North Pole. Pavano pulled this, strained that, re-injured this and that, before Tommy John surgery totally finished off his Yankees career. He would miss all of the 2005 season and return in 2007 for just two games. All told, Pavano was 9-8, 5.00 and widely disliked while in New York.

Mike Hampton
Hampton finished second in the NL CY Young voting when he won 21 games for the 1999 Astros. But with free agency pending after the following season, the Astros shipped the left-hander to the Mets. There Hampton won 15 games and helped lead the Mets to the first World Series in 14 years. Hampton decided that winter that Colorado was the place to be and the Rockies signed him to an eight year, $121M contract.

Pitching in a hitter’s friendly ballpark, Hampton ERA rose well above 5.00. Too make matters worse he was no better on the road. Sure he gave the Rockies innings, but he gave opponents, hits, walks, runs, and home runs. Realizing the error of their ways the Rockies sent Hampton to Florida on November 16, 2002. Two days later the Marlins spun him to Atlanta where he put together back to back solid seasons before injuries set in. Hampton would throw just 12 games in 2005 and miss all of the next two seasons. He came back in the final year of his contract and appeared in 13 games.

Hampton’s eight yeear record – 147 starts: 46-52, 4.81

Gary Matthews Jr.
“Little Sarge” had a bust out season for the Texas Rangers in 2006, establishing career highs in almost every major offensive category. Matthews made his first All-Star game and was a force defensively. The centerfielder then found a very friendly free agent market and landed a five year, $50M contract with the Los Angels of Anaheim.

While Matthews’ home run and RBI totals nearly matched his previous season, his batting average dropped 60 points and his OPS dipped 124 points. Suddenly not sure of what they had, the Angels signed free agent Torii Hunter the following off-season to play centerfielder. After playing 140 games his first season in So Cal, Matthews played just 127 and 103 the following two years, and his offense disappeared (below .700 OPS). Following the 2009 season the Angels dealt Matthews to the Mets. He would play just 36 games and was released in July with one year remaining on his contract.

Jason Schmidt
The Dodgers claimed they knew Schmidt had rotator cuff issues before they signed him to a three year, $47M contract prior to the 2007 season. It’s one thing to make a foolish mistake, it’s another to admit you knew you were making one before you did it.

After a stellar six year stint in San Francisco, Schmidt would appear in just six games for the Dodgers in 2007, none in 2008, and just four games in 2009.

Here are some other players that are hoping to avoid the turkey farm:

Alfonso Soriano, CHC 8 years $136M 2007

A.J. Burnett, NYY 5 years $82.5M 2009

Jason Bay, NYM 4 years $66M 2010

Chone Figgins, Sea 4 years $36M 2010

Update 7 p.m.

Now that Victor Martinez’s four year, $50M has been finalized, the Chicago Trib’s Phil Rogers expects the Red Sox and Rangers to step up their pursuit of free agent Paul Konerko.

Ken Rosenthal reports that the A’s are the team most in pursuit of free agent Lance Berkman. Rosenthal also reports that Cliff Lee’s reps don’t expect a CC Sabathia type deal (seven years), but more likely a five or six year contract.

The Brewers inked outfielder Brandon Boggs as a backup outfielder for next season. Boggs spent most of this past season playing for the Rangers Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.

Arbitration Updates

Offered arbitration – Miguel Olivo, Kevin Gregg, Jason Frasor, Scott Downs (TOR), Yorvit Torrealba, Jon Garland, Kevin Correia (SD), Orlando Hudson, Jesse Crain, Carl Pavano (MIN)

No arbitration offered: Arthur Rhodes, Orlando Cabrera (CIN), Jon Rauch, Brian Fuentes, Matt Guerrier (MIN), Vincente Padilla, Rod Barajas, Scott Podsednik (LA)

Drew Sarver is the Yankees content editor and a contributor for BaseballDigest.com. You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter at @BD_Sarver and @MyPinstripes.

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