Dontrelle Willis & 10 Players You Won't Believe Still Have MLB Contracts

Over the last 20 months, Dontrelle Willis has been a member of five different organizations, spending 2010 with the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants, 2011 with the Cincinnati Reds and recently signing with the Philadelphia Phillies this winter.

I’m sure many of you didn’t even know the 29-year-old D-Train was still pitching.

Every now and then, a player resurfaces that we haven’t heard from in years, much like Willis did last season with the Cincinnati Reds.

The following list highlights these players, plus a few others on major-league contracts you may have forgotten about.

Los Angeles (AL): Jerome Williams, SP

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starter Jerome Williams burst onto the scene back in the early 2000s with the San Francisco Giants, where he posted winning records in 2003 (at 21 years of age) and 2004.

Back then, the puka shell-wearing Hawaiian accrued a massive following, quickly becoming a fan favorite among the Giants faithful. Ranked by Baseball America as the organization's top prospect prior to the 2002 season, Williams failed to find much success outside of the Bay Area, flaming out with the Cubs and a handful of other major league teams before pitching in Puerto Rico and Taiwan for a few years.

Last season, however, Williams reemerged, breaking out with the Angels and posting a 4-0 record and 3.68 ERA over six starts and four relief outings in the second half. 

Earlier this month, the Angels inked Williams to a one-year deal worth $820K, solidifying his spot with the team for the 2012 campaign.

Houston: J.A. Happ, SP

Two seasons ago, the Philadelphia Phillies traded highly-touted southpaw J.A. Happ to the Houston Astros for ace Roy Oswalt. Happ was coming off a tremendous rookie season in which he posted 12 wins and was named the Sporting News’ NL Rookie of the Year and MLB.com TYIB Rookie of the Year by the fans.

While he has started regularly for the Astros the past two seasons, little buzz has been generated by the 29-year-old, who has certainly had his share of struggles down in Texas.

Last season, Happ finished third in the National League with 15 losses and his 5.35 ERA was third-highest among all pitchers with at least 25 starts.

The Astros tendered a contract to Happ earlier this month and he will join the rotation again this coming season.

Toronto: Dustin McGowan, SP

After missing three straight seasons with three separate injuries, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dustin McGowan returned to the mound at Rogers Centre this past September for the first time since 2008.

The Blue Jays' top-ranked prospect in 2005 by Baseball America, McGowan was once considered an integral part of Toronto’s future, however struggled to meet those expectations early on in his career. The former first-rounder saw some success in 2007, amassing a 12-10 record and 4.08 ERA over 27 starts, but failed to build on it much in 2008 when he was forced to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery in July. He wouldn't return until 2011.

McGowan, who made four starts for the Jays in September, signed a one-year, $600K deal earlier this month. He will compete for a rotation spot next season.

Arizona: Geoff Blum, INF

Last winter, the Arizona Diamondbacks tagged utilityman Geoff Blum to a two-year deal worth $2.7 million in an effort to shore up their bench with a versatile infielder and pinch-hitter. Instead, they got a tired, 38-year-old Blum who started at third base 12 times and made just 12 pinch-hit appearances.

As the team’s primary backup third baseman behind Ryan Roberts, Blum should be back with the team in 2012 in a similar role. At the very least, he is due to make the second $1.35 million of his two-year contract.

Los Angeles (NL): Manny Ramirez, OF

Despite playing for the Chicago White Sox for two months, the Tampa Rays for five games and eventually retiring, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be paying former outfielder Manny Ramirez $16.67 million over the next two seasons. While it’s not a major league contract that impacts their current roster, it does take a substantial chunk out of their payroll.

Ramirez manned left field for the Dodgers from 2008 and 2010 and was a fan favorite for much of his stay.

Washington: Tom Gorzelanny, SP

A dependable back-end starter for much of his career, Washington Nationals lefty Tom Gorzelanny may be one of the most easily forgotten pitchers in baseball, playing for just one .500 team over his seven-year career.

A top-three prospect with Pittsburgh in 2005 and staff ace in 2007, Gorzelanny had his share of success early on with the Pirates before falling off a bit. Beginning in 2009, the southpaw spent a pair of seasons as a long relief specialist/fifth starter for the Chicago Cubs, ultimately ending up with the Nationals last January.

With the acquisition of Gio Gonzalez this offseason and return of ace Stephen Strasburg, Gorzelanny will likely fill a similar role to the one he had with the Cubs, serving primarily in long relief.

He was tendered a contract earlier this month and is expected to return to the Nationals in 2012.

Philadelphia: Dontrelle Willis, SP

It’s been a rough couple seasons for the 29-year-old Dontrelle Willis, who has failed to find big-league success since 2006, his second-to-last season with the Florida Marlins.

Since leaving the team back in 2007, a trade that also brought six-time All-Star slugger Miguel Cabrera to Detroit, Willis has made just 40 starts, failing to demonstrate even a fraction of the skill set that once made him a Cy Young award runner-up in 2005.

Over the stretch, he’s gone 4-15 with a 6.19 ERA, 6.3 K/9 and putrid 7.1 BB/9.

Things are looking up, however, for the Bay Area native. In 2011, Willis' swinging strike rate was his highest since 2004 and his strike percentage was up above 45 percent for the first time since 2007.

At 29 years old, Willis still seems to have something left in the tank, but just how much is yet to be determined?

Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Phillies inked the lefty to a one-year deal worth approximately $1 million. He will compete for a roster spot this spring.

Tampa Bay: Matt Bush, RP

It’s taken eight years, but former number one overall draft pick Matt Bush might finally make it to the big leagues in 2012—as a relief pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Drafted as a shortstop by the San Diego Padres in 2004, Bush struggled to excel on the diamond and stay out of trouble off of it early in his career. Failing to make it above High-A by the end of his fourth professional season, the Padres converted Bush to pitcher, hoping to get something out of their former top selection.

Since returning from an elbow injury that knocked him out through 2009, Bush has seen success in the lower ranks of the Tampa Bay Rays organization these past two seasons. His 13.8 K/9 rate led the Double-A Montgomery staff in 2011 and he is expected to compete for a roster spot in 2012.

Boston: Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP

While AL East fans need not be reminded, Boston Red Sox righty Daisuke Matsuzaka, currently rehabbing from season-ending Tommy John surgery, still has one final $10 million payout in 2012 on his back-loaded six-year, $52 million deal that he signed back in 2007.

A highly-touted Japanese product, Dice-K has utterly failed to meet expectations during his stint with Boston, posting three straight sub-par seasons (two of which were shortened by injury) that will likely close out his career with the team.

The 31-year-old could return in 2012 but that will depend largely on his diligence rehabbing and desire to play in Boston again.

Boston: Bobby Jenks, RP

Last winter, the Boston Red Sox looked to add some depth to their bullpen adding former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks on a two-year, $12 million deal.

Third in Chicago history with 173 saves, Jenks was considered a key offseason acquisition, giving the Red Sox a solid setup man to pair with closer Jonathan Papelbon. Instead, 2011 wasn't so kind to the 275-pound right-hander. Suffering from a back injury for much of the season, Jenks made just 19 appearances, the lowest total in his major-league career.

Hopeful to return healthy by spring, Jenks could battle newly acquired Mark Melancon for right-handed set-up duties behind new closer Andrew Bailey.

Jenks will make $6 million in 2012.

BONUS - New York (NL): Bobby Bonilla, OF

Bobby Bonilla hasn’t played for the New York Mets for over a decade, but beginning last July, the 48-year-old former slugger will receive $1.2 million annually from the Mets for the next 25 seasons. Seriously.

Back in 2000, strapped for cash and eager to defer payment, the Mets and Bonilla agreed to the delayed payment plan, rather than simply paying off the remaining $5.9 million on his deal.

Per the deal, Bonilla will receive $29.8 million over the next 25 years. 

Like the Manny-Dodgers contract, this deal doesn’t directly affect the Mets’ current roster structure, but the story was just too good not to tell.