The 20 Biggest Has-Beens in Major League Baseball

From veteran superstars like Roy Halladay and Josh Hamilton to young guns Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Stephen Strasburg, there are always surprises come baseball season.

While the young stars shine a light on the future, baseball fans nationwide still have questions on some of the most fan-favorite players in the league. 

From everyone posting a terrible season to those who need to retire, here are the 20 biggest has-beens in Major League Baseball.

Honorable Mention: Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies

Without question, Phillies starter Cliff Lee has been one of the most dominant pitchers of the last decade. 

However, through 2012, Lee has appeared in 12 games and has yet to register a win. 

The 2008 CY Young Award winner is not quite a "has-been" just yet, pending a strong second half in 2012. 

Honorable Mention: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

Unless he's being purely shelled this season, Big Time Timmy Jim can be found on the bench with an unhappy look hiding behind black hoody. 

Whether it's his unique and quirky wind-up, extreme weight loss or simply a bad season, Tim Lincecum is not the two-time Cy Young Award winner Giants fans are used to. 

However, even if his career ended today, Tim Lincecum be one of the best pitchers in San Francisco Giants history. 

20. Jim Thome, Baltimore Orioles (DH)

Even though he is 42 years old and has changed teams six times, Orioles designated hitter Jim Thome is still breaking MLB records while getting a bonus to do it, too. 

Throughout 22 years in the big leagues, Thome has launched 609 career home runs, placing him seventh on the all-time home run list.  

Whenever the official retirement day is, Thome led an awesome career and is surely a first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

19. Andruw Jones, New York Yankees (OF)

Without a doubt, Yankee outfielder Andruw Jones is one of the best all-around outfielders of the last 20 years. His game is built on speed, hitting power, range in the field and a cannon for an arm; however, his recent struggles with consistency have raised questions about how long he has left in the big leagues. 

After winning a home run title, 10 gold gloves and five All-Star appearances, Andruw Jones could leave major league baseball as a potential Hall of Famer. 

However, while Jones' career looks promising for the Hall of Fame, he hasn't batted anywhere near .300 since the year 2000. 

18. Joe Nathan, Texas Rangers (RP)

Texas Rangers closer Joe Nathan originally began his career in San Francisco, where he went 24-10 with a 4.11 ERA and just five save opportunities.

After his four years in San Francisco, he moved to Minnesota and promptly began shutting down the American League, registering three 40-save seasons.

Recently, Nathan has been slowly turning it around, as he has a 1.99 ERA through 32 games for the league's second-best team.    

17. Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins (1B)

Following his MVP season in 2006, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau was selected to four consecutive All-Star Games, and even won a Home Run Derby title in the process.

However, more recently, the former MVP has not been even close to his normal Silver-Slugging self after suffering numerous neck and head injuries.

16. Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees (SP)

In his first season since 2010, the Yankee O.G. is headed back to the bench for six weeks.

As a five-time World Series Champion in the iconic pinstripes, Pettitte's legacy will be everlasting for Yankee fans.

However, until his eventual retirement, Yankee fans are subject to watching the 40-year old struggle with consistency during the year-long pennant race:

American League East

	Wins	Losses	Winning %	Games Back
New York Yankees	47	30	.610
Baltimore Orioles	42	35	.545	5
Boston Red Sox	41	37	.526	6.5
Tampa Bay Rays	41	37	.526	6.5
Toronto Blue Jays	40	38	.513	7.5

16. Eric Chavez, New York Yankees (3B)

Former Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez moved to New York after a successful and well-paid career in the Bay Area.

Chavvy snagged five consecutive Gold Glove awards from 2001 to 2006 and was even given a sweet $66 million deal in 2004 for his prolific play at third base. 

However, with A-Rod and Jeter healthy for the Bronx Bombers, Chavez will be subject to limited playing time, as his .267 career batting average speaks for his ability at the plate. 

15. Torii Hunter, Anaheim Angels (OF)

Despite five years in Los Angeles after serving 11 seasons in Minnesota, Torii Hunter has yet to bat above .300 in a full season. 

After winning nine consecutive Gold Glove awards, however, it's clear the Angels and Twins put up with Hunter's lack of a bat in exchange for saving runs in center field. 

14. Bartolo Colon, Oakland Athletics (SP)

Dominican native Bartolo Colon has had a very successful MLB career through seven different franchises; however, the former Cy Young winner hasn't posted a winning record since his 21-win season back in 2005. 

Currently, Colon toes the rubber for the Oakland Athletics despite battling an oblique injury that has landed him on the 15-day DL. 

13. Kevin Millwood, Seattle Mariners (SP)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Kevin Millwood is currently on his fourth Major League team in as many years. 

While playing for the Mariners, Rockies, Orioles and Rangers in the last four years, Millwood is a combined 24-35 with a 4.06 ERA.

Millwood has certainly had a lengthy career in the big leagues, as he's played on seven different teams over 16 years, most notably with the Braves from 1997 through 2002.   

12. Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians (DH)

The 35-year-old Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner is battling a dwindling career while milking all of the perks of playing in the American League. 

Hafner once hit 42 homers in a season for the Tribe; however, in the six seasons since that historic year, he has just 77 total home runs. 

11. Bobby Abreu, Los Angeles Dodgers (OF)

Current Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Bobby Abreu didn't have to move too far when his former team released him.

During his three-year stint with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Abreu struggled to live up to his 30-30 expectations and has yet to bat over .300 since 2004.

Seeing as how the Dodgers were just swept by the rival San Francisco Giants and have failed to score a run in 30 consecutive innings, they could certainly use the former Home Run Derby champion's bat immediately.  

10. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies (1B)

Phillies slugger Ryan Howard was one of the most dominant hitters in the league, but since striking out to end the 2011 Phillies playoff run very early, Howard has been completely absent. 

Despite a horrific end to the season for one of the league's best power hitters, Howard has eight productive seasons behind the plate and an impressive trophy case to show for it. 

Since the horrific injury, Howard has yet to come off of the "15-day DL" for the entire 2012 season. 

9. Ichiro, Seattle Mariners (OF)

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro is headed to the Hall of Fame whenever his prolific career comes to an end. 

Ichiro began his historic Major League Baseball career in 2001 at the ripe age of 28. In his first MLB season, Ichiro out-shined Cardinals prospect Albert Pujols and took home the league Rookie of the Year award in addition to the Most Valuable Player award, just the second player to achieve both honors in the same season. 

Following the historic 2001 campaign, Ichiro added back-to-back 200-hit seasons in 2002 and 2003. After he emerged as one of the league's top hitters, Ichiro decided to make his mark in history and swatted a major league record 262 hits, breaking George Sisler's 84-year old record. 

After posting 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons in as many years, Ichiro finally cracked and dropped in offensive production. He is flirting with batting third in the Mariners lineup similar to his native Japan National roster for the World Baseball Classic in an effort to spark a rejuvenation.  

His average has dropped to sub-.300 for the second consecutive season in Seattle. 

If Ichiro joined the MLB younger than age 28, he would have seriously given Pete Rose's 4,256 career hit record a run for it's money. 

8. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees (1B)

Mark Teixeira is one of the league's highest-paid players—undeservedly so.

After five seasons in Texas and Atlanta, Teixeira joined the Yankees for a handsome $180 million over eight seasons.

After hitting 39 homers and batting in 122 runs in 2009 en route to the World Series, it seemed as if Teixeira would live up to the $22.5 million per season salary. 

However, since contributing to the Bronx's 27th World Series, "Big Tex" has batted just .249 and ranks as one of the most overpaid players in the league. 

7. Carl Pavano, Minnesota Twins (SP)

Back in 2004, Carl Pavano was living pretty. After fighting through five seasons in Montreal where he went 27-37, Pavano moved to Florida and promptly became a World Series Champion.

Following the great World Series run in 2003, Pavano finally blossomed into the Cy Young candidate the scouts imagined and finished the season with 18 wins.

While riding high on two solid seasons, the Yankees signed Pavano for a four-year deal and paid him nearly $40 million total.

Currently, Pavano is 2-6 with a 6.00 ERA in his fourth season with the Twins.  

6. Jason Giambi, Colorado Rockies (1B)

After leaving the Athletics the summer before the historic Moneyball squad, 2001 league MVP Jason Giambi joined the Oakland Athletics for $120 million. 

However, once Giambi publicly admitted to using performance enhancing drugs for the 2001-03 MLB seasons, the public perception of Giambi tanked. 

Giambi admitted to the allegations and preached his apology in an effort to gain a fresh start with Major League Baseball. 

Currently, the 41-year-old slugger is chasing the 500 career home run milestone in Colorado. 

5. Brad Lidge, Free Agent (RP)

After snagging three individual awards (NL Comeback Player of the Year; Rolaids Relief-Man of the Year; DHL Delivery Man of the Year) and a World Series ring, Brad Lidge was one of the greatest stories of the 2008 MLB season. 

However, in recent news, the former All-Star was dumped by his most recent team, making him a free agent. 

4. Livan Hernandez, Milwaukee Brewers (SP)

The only NL East team Livan Hernandez hasn't pitched for is the Philadelphia Phillies. 

After defecting from Cuba, Hernandez found himself pitching for the Florida Marlins in the 1997 World Series, earning the 1997 NLCS MVP award in the process. 

After anchoring the Marlins pitching staff to their first World Series in franchise history, Hernandez funneled through eight more MLB clubs and is currently pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Over the lengthy 16-year career, Hernandez is 175-177 with a lifetime ERA of 4.40.   

3. Hideki Matsui, Tampa Bay Rays (DH)

The 2009 World Series MVP has been lost in translation.

After a brief stint in the American League West for Oakland and Los Angeles, Hideki Matsui is hitting just .162 in 74 at-bats for the Rays.

Baseball fans worldwide have always embraced "Godzilla" wherever he has suited up; however, it might be time for the 38-year-old to call it a career.  

2. Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants (SP)

Original "Big Three" member from Oakland's lethal Hudson-Mulder-Zito pitching combo.

Since his 23-win Cy Young season in 2002, Zito finished his career in Oakland 66-59 only to join San Francisco for one of the worst contract signings in MLB history. 

Since inking Zito to the seven-year, $126 million deal, he is an atrocious 49-67 with an average ERA of 4.60 per season. 

1. Manny Ramirez, Free Agent (OF)

Manny Ramirez is the Ochocinco of Major League Baseball: Despite struggles on and off the field, he's still somehow in the media. 

Manny was one of the biggest pieces to the 2004 "Reverse the Curse" Red Sox lineup as well as their 2007 World Series club. 

Despite the major success at the plate, including his passage into the coveted 500-homer club, Manny tested positive for performance enhancing drugs multiple times, retired and even joined Oakland's minor league team until he asked to be released.

If Manny Ramirez never returns to Major League Baseball, fans still might get a glimpse of another "Manny Ramirez."