MLB Trade Scenarios: 10 Horrendous Contracts That May Be Moved Somehow

Luckily for Yankees fans, A.J. Burnett is gone. He won't be missed, though, since he will cost New York $20 million before he is completely off the Yankees' payroll.

Burnett had a terrible contract that was given to player who overperformed in a contract year. Sadly, that is typically the case with big contracts. A good player has a great year and convinces other GMs that he is a great player. Great players get huge contracts and earn them—good players get big contracts and quickly prove they are not deserving.

Luckily, in the baseball world, mistakes can be remedied with salary dumps and one-sided trades.

The Yankees essentially paid $20 million for Burnett to go away. Here are a few other trade possibilities for players with horrendous contracts.

Barry Zito

Zito has the contract that will not die. He is owed $46 million over the next two seasons and a potential option for 2014 that could vest if he pitches enough innings.

Luckily for Giants fans, he won't have that option vest, but he will still make his money.

The Giants are in a bind because they don't really have any other pitching options and still need offense. The best (or worst) idea would be trying to flip Zito for another massive contract (a la Alfonso Soriano) and trying to get something for the money they are paying.

Vernon Wells

I still can't believe the Angels traded Mike Napoli for Vernon Wells.

In retrospect, it's probably one of the most lopsided one-for-one trades in recent history.

Anyway, Wells is due to make more than $70 million over the next three years. Nobody is going to take his entire contract, but a desperate team needing some pop could jump for part of Wells' salary.

Though, it will need to be a very desperate team.

Carlos Lee

The albatross of a contract that is Carlos Lee's $19 million a year is finally almost over.

After this year, Lee's earning power goes significantly down, but the Astros still need to pay him for 2012.

When July comes rolling around, Lee could be appealing to a team needing a bit of pop and might be willing to pay his rental price of $7 million for a shot at the postseason.

Alfonso Soriano

Soriano is a decent hitter, but he is old, immobile and inconsistent.

And he will make $19 million each year through 2014.

The only possible trade will be a bad for bad, so I refer you to Barry Zito yet again.

Carl Crawford

Carl Crawford is not as bad as his 2011 season indicates, but he is also not as good as his $142 million contract would dictate. He's somewhere in the middle, but he'll probably never live up to his dollar potential.

Few do, but the Sox might be interested in getting rid of him if he doesn't turn his Red Sox tenure around.

I could see a team like the Rockies making a play for Crawford at half-price somewhere down the line.

Adam Dunn

Everyone saw this one coming—with the exception of Kenny Williams.

Dunn signed a four-year, $56 million contract before last year and hit a pitiful .159, one of the worst all-time averages for a full season of play.

Luckily, there is a sucker born every minute, and I can see someone like the Blue Jays trying to make a go at him as the season winds down.

Chone Figgins

Chone Figgins used to be one of the most exciting players to watch in baseball.

But since he's gone to Seattle he's lost a step and some speed on his swing. As a result, Figgins has been reduced to a mere shadow of his former self.

He'll make $18 million over the next two years, but luckily I've got a solution.

Perhaps trade Figgins for...

Aubrey Huff

The Giants have a logjam at first, and Huff is merely getting in the way of the more-talented Brandon Belt and Brett Pill. The Giants might also need to send Buster Posey to first to protect him from being targeted behind the plate.

Huff makes $10 million in 2012 and won't be a stellar contributor for the Giants. With Seattle though, he could provide some much-needed power to an offensively challenged team.

Figgins to the Giants could provide the speedy utility player that electrifies the team.

John Lackey

This is a pipe dream.

Lackey is out for 2012 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He makes $16 million a year through 2014, and he can't really pitch anymore.

I don't know why anyone would actually take him, but maybe the Giants would prefer him to Zito?

I hope not, for everyone's sake.

Ted Lilly

The Dodgers overpaid for Lilly after the 2010 season. He's owed more than $20 million over the next two years, and while Lilly is a serviceable pitcher, he's not worth his cost.

Many teams will need pitching for the upcoming season, and with the Dodgers in rebuilding mode, it's very possible that a suitor will come calling to offer a few blue-chips for Lilly's services.