MLB Free Agency: 10 Worst Last-Minute Contracts in Baseball

With spring training just around the corner, most teams probably have a good idea of what their rosters will look like in a month.

But other teams might just be looking to make that one last move before spring training, during spring training or even during the first weeks of the season, to get them over the hump.

In many instances, teams may end up finding a great pickup, while in others, the money can most certainly go to waste.

Here are some of the worst last-minute contract signings we've seen in recent years.

Nick Johnson: 3 Years, $16.5 Million

Despite still being under control in 2006, the Washington Nationals still signed Nick Johnson to a three year, $16.5 million deal just before the start of the season.

It would be his best season with the Nationals, as he would go deep 23 times on his way to a 77 RBI performance.

Johnson would sit out the entire 2007 season and play only 38 games in 2008 before moving to the Florida Marlins during the 2009 season.

Manny Ramirez: 2 Years, $45 Million

You'd have to believe that given a full 2009 season, Manny Ramirez could've proven he may have been worth the $45 million contract he signed in March of that year, but as it stood, he was held to 19 home runs in just over 60 games after missing the first 50 games of the season due to a suspension.

The following season, Manny played only 66 games with the Dodgers before finishing off the season with the Chicago White Sox.

Joe Mauer: 8 Years, $184 Million

Joe Mauer certainly picked a good time to have a career season, as his 28-home run effort in 2009 when he would bat .365 earned him an astounding eight-year, $184 million contract in spring training of 2010 after his agent indicated negotiations would break off at the start of the season.

Since then, he has failed to stay healthy and has only hit 12 home runs in the past two seasons, while batting a career-low .287 last season.

Oliver Perez: 3 Years, $36 Million

In what was a deal questioned by many from the start, the New York Mets signed Oliver Perez to a three-year, $36 million contract in February of 2009 as the team headed into spring training.

Perez would only pitch two years of that contract with the Mets, going 3-4 in 2009 and 0-5 in 2010, posting a 6.81 ERA during that time-frame.

Ken Griffey Jr.: 9 Years, $117 Million

It's hard to live up to your expectations for the duration of a long-term contract, especially one valued at over $100 million. But Ken Griffey Jr. was up for the challenge, signing a nine-year deal with the Reds at the start of spring training in 2000.

Griffey Jr. did have some solid seasons while in Cincinnati, but he batted below .270 in six of the seasons and had a stretch of three consecutive seasons where he played a total of 206 games.

Kenji Johjima: 3 Years, $24 Million

While the decision may have been out of management's hands as ownership essentially mandated Kenji Johjima's three-year, $24 million contract in April of 2006, it still proved to be a bad move for the Mariners.

Johjima batted .224 in 112 games with Seattle in 2008, driving in only 39 runs. It didn't get any better in 2009 (which would be his last season with the Mariners) as he appeared in only 71 games with similar results.

Danny Tartabull: 1 Year, $2.3 Million

During spring training of 1997, the Philadelphia Phillies brought in a veteran presence in signing Danny Tartabull to a one-year, $2.3 million deal.

The price was relatively low, and Tartabull had proven the year before that he still had some gas left in the tank, hitting 27 home runs and driving in 101 runs with the Chicago White Sox.

His tenure in Philly was virtually non-existent, however, as Tartabull would appear in only three games with the team, going 0-for-7.

Jake Westbrook: 3 Years, $33 Million

In April of 2007, the Cleveland Indians rewarded Jake Westbrook's early returns with a three-year, $33 million contract.

Westbrook would only win six games in 30 starts between 2007 and 2008, and would miss all of 2009 due to Tommy John surgery.

Eric Chavez: 6 Years, $66 Million

Just before the start of the 2004 season, the Oakland Athletics locked in Eric Chavez long term, signing him to a six-year, $66 million contract.

His first two seasons would yield the best results, as he'd go deep 56 times between 2004 and 2005 while driving in 178 runs, but would drop off after that as his average declined and he missed time consistently, playing in only 154 games during his last four years with the team.

Roger Clemens: 1 Year, $28 Million (Pro-Rated)

After a three-year stint with the Houston Astros from 2004 to 2006, Roger Clemens emerged in Yankees Stadium in May of 2007, signing a one-year, pro-rated $28 million deal.

He would go on to win six games that season with an ERA of 4.18, making for one of the highest dollar-per-win ratios you'll ever see.