The 10 Biggest Laughing Stocks of Free Agency
The 10 biggest laughing stocks of free agency are described as such not necessarily because they aren't (or weren't once) fine players.
Although some of them are far past their prime.
But the main reason why teams would be foolish to sign them is because of the likely very high asking price.
Maybe the aging veterans whose production has dwindled would take a reduced deal, one-year to hang or try to resurrect their career. But that's not likely.
And maybe the free agents who aren't over the hill, aren't seeking contracts far better than they're worth.
That's not likely either.
No. 10: Nick Johnson
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2010 stats: 24 games, .167 average, 2 home runs, 8 RBI
2010 salary: $5.5 million
Interested Teams: Oakland A's
The Yankees chose Johnson over Hideki Matsui at this time last year, and it didn't work out.
He injured his wrist early in the season and never returned.
The 32-year-old, Sacremento-born Johnson has been a potential free agent signing for the A's, and might have other suitors. But he has been so beset by injuries the past half-decade, paying anything near $5 million per season again would be a tremendous mistake.
No. 9: Eric Chavez
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2010 stats: 33 games, .234 average, 1 home run, 10 RBI
2010 salary: $12.5 million
Interested Teams: Seattle Mariners
ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweeted that the Mariners are looking into signing Chavez as a possible option to spot start at first, third or DH.
As a longtime AL West slugger who hit 199 home runs from 2000-2006, the move would probably benefit both sides. Unless Chavez asks anything near what he earned over the last three years: more than $10 million a season.
Chavez has been riddled with injuries lately, despite only being in his early thirties. He's appeared in just 64 games the past two seasons.
No. 8: Jeff Francoeur
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2010 stats: 139 games, .249 average, 13 home runs, 65 RBI
2010 salary: $5 million
Interested Teams: Kansas City Royals
Francoeur signed with the Royals on Wednesday: one-year $2.5 million. Against what seemed to be the advice of MSNBC.com's Craig Calcaterra.
But for that to be a fairly huge free agent addition to the Kansas City, that's a laughing stock in itself.
It's borderline sad that Francoeur, whose career started so bright, is now on his fourth team in three seasons.
Maybe he'll recover and hit the open market in 2012, and if he does, someone will still be taking a big risk.
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No. 7: Kerry Wood
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2010 stats: 47 games, 46 innings, 3.13 ERA, 3-4 record
2010 salary: $10.5 million
Interested Teams: Chicago White Sox
The Yankees are apparently interested in bringing Wood back for 2011, even though they didn't offer him arbitration.
The rumored spot for Wood has been a return to the Windy City, this time with the Southsiders.
But, because the club just spent so much to bring back Paul Konerko, that will be a bit more difficult. Even though it's much less than he made in previous seasons, Wood is reportedly looking for roughly a two-year, $4.5 million per season deal.
Maybe if Wood was going to try and close games out that would be worth it, but that much on a middle reliever is pretty ridiculous, even if he did do a fine job in the second half for the Yankees.
No. 6: Magglio Ordonez
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2010 stats: 84 games, .303 average, 12 home runs, 59 RBI
2010 salary: $17.8 million
Interested Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox
Ordonez looked to be in the middle of a great comeback last season until his ankle injury sidelined him for most of the second half.
But, he turns 37 next month and that has to be one of the reasons why the Tigers declined their $15 million option on him for 2011.
Detroit is still hoping to bring him back, if only for a much reduced price. Someone will probably look at his career numbers, see that he hit .300 the last few years—even though his power numbers declined—and give him a big contract.
If Texas isn't able to sign Vlad Guererro, Ordonez could take his spot.
No. 5: Johnny Damon
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2010 stats: 145 games, .271 average, 8 home runs, 51 RBI
2010 salary: $8 million
Interested Teams: ?????
According to ESPN.com, Damon's agent, Scott Boras hasn't shut the door on any team's offers.
“I think Johnny is open to playing on winning teams, and he definitely wants to be a part of an organization that has a chance to do some things...Any club that he feels has a chance to win, he’d be interested.”
Damon had a pretty good season in 2010, which means he and Boras could ask for more than his salary earned in 2010. $10 million for him is a lot to pay.
He's a valuable name and the Red Sox might be interested in a reunion (they almost brought him in last summer), but he just turned 37.
No. 4: Jeremy Bonderman
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2010 stats: 29 starts, 171 innings, 8-10, 5.53 ERA, 112 strikeouts
2010 salary: $12.5 million
Interested Teams: Chicago Cubs
According to one report a few weeks back, the Cubs showed an interest in the big righthander.
But despite being just 28 years old, there has to be a feeling that his best days are behind him.
After a fine season with the club the year they won the AL pennant, Bonderman suffered from terrible thoracic outlet syndrome, a shoulder injury that kept him out off the field most of the 2008 and 2009 season.
He remained healthy last season and ate up plenty of innings, but he had one of the highest ERAs of any starter in baseball last year.
No. 3: Lyle Overbay
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2010 stats: 154 games, .243 average, 20 home run, 67 RBI
2010 salary: $7.95 million
Interested Teams: San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs
How exactly is Lyle Overbay worth an $8 million per season deal?
He isn't an overwhelmingly great glove. He doesn't hit for average (his collective average the past four seasons is barely. 250). And he doesn't hit for much power: his career high is 22 home runs. He does strike out like a home run hitter: 131 times last year.
Overbay is not a bad bat to have, he does have good doubles power, topping 30 every year since becoming a fulltime player and leading the NL back in 2004 with 53.
But if a team is going to pay that kind of money for a 30-plus year old first baseman, Derrek Lee is a better option.
No. 2: Carl Pavano
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2010 stats: 32 starts, 221 innings, 17-11, 3.75 ERA, 117 strikeouts
2010 salary: $7 million
Interested Teams: Milwaukee Brewers
Here's why Pavano is a laughing stock on this years free agent market: 2004.
That year with the Marlins, he had very comparable numbers, 18-8 record, 3.00 ERA, 31 starts, 221.1 innings, 139 strikeouts.
He signed that enormous deal with the Yankees and ended up making just 29 starts in four seasons. Now he is five years older.
According to one report, Pavano wants a substantial pay raise for what he did in 2010—somewhere near three-years, 33 million. That would actually be more than he made when he signed with the Yankees.
No. 1: Manny Ramirez
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2010 stats: 90 games, .298 average, 9 home run, 42 RBI
2010 salary: $18.7 million
Interested Teams: Toronto Blue Jays
There has been speculation that Man-Ram could wind up north of the border in 2011.
Scott Boras, Ramirez agent (who got Jayson Werth that enormous deal in Washington) said,
“Manny has certainly told me we’re out looking for a one-year contract. But remember, too, that this is Manny Ramirez....I think there are short-term contracts for players and there are short-term contracts for players with a history like Manny Ramirez.”
To any team that has to be a scary sentence to hear. If Ramirez wants to be paid like the Red Sox slugger who routinely hit .330, drove in over 100 runs and hit more than 40 homers, than they will be waiting a long time for a deal, even if it's a one year deal.
Manny certainly has star power and would excite any fan base. But not if he's frequently out of the lineup with injures: he's apparently going to have to spend a portion of this year's offseason rehabbing from surgery on his groin.
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