2009 Roster of MLB's Worst Contract Extensions

It's a tough economy out there. We all know that by now. But it's obvious to note that baseball is completely different than the real world, so I thought it would be fun to make a roster comprised solely of terrible contract extensions.

First off, let me explain how I classified an "extension" for this list. An extension could mean a number of different things:

1. Player was traded to new team and then signed a new contract with the club (i.e. Miguel Cabrera).

2. Player was under contract with a team, but signed a new, long-term deal.

3. Player signed a new contract with same club before he filed for free agency
(i.e. Alex Rodriguez's 10-year/$275 million contract is not an extension on this list, and neither is Luis Castillo's four-year/$26 million contract—both guys filed for free agency before they signed with their old teams).

Please keep in mind that I am only dealing with contracts that are currently active, meaning that extensions that have expired (i.e. Mark Mulder) are not eligible.

So there you have it. Maybe these extensions looked good at the time, but for whatever reason, these deals look excessive, and somewhat stupid, now.

2009 Roster of the Worst Contract Extensions

C: Kenji Johjima (three years/$24 million), Seattle Mariners
1B: Todd Helton (nine years/$141 million), Colorado Rockies
2B: Bill Hall (four years/$24 million), Milwaukee Brewers
*(I know Hall doesn't play 2B anymore, but I had no one else)
SS: Michael Young (five years/$80 million), Texas Rangers
3B: Eric Chavez (six years/$66 million), Oakland A's

OF: Vernon Wells (seven years/$126 million), Toronto Blue Jays
OF: Eric Byrnes (three years/$30 million), Arizona Diamondbacks
OF: Gary Sheffield (two years/$28 million), Detroit Tigers

DH: Travis Hafner (four years/$57 million), Cleveland Indians

Bench: Brandon Inge (four years/$24 million), Detroit Tigers
Bench: Scott Rolen (eight years/$90 million), St. Louis Cardinals (now with Toronto)
Bench: Carlos Guillen (four years/$48 million), Detroit Tigers *debatable*
Bench: Hideki Matsui (four years/$53 million), New York Yankees
Bench: Dmitri Young (two years/$10 million), Washington Nationals
Bench: Jack Wilson (three years/$20 million), Pittsburgh Pirates

SP: Chris Carpenter (five years/$65 million), St. Louis Cardinals
SP: Jake Westbrook (three years/$33 million), Cleveland Indians
SP: Dontrelle Willis (three years/$29 million), Detroit Tigers
SP: Bronson Arroyo (two years/$25 million), Cincinnati Reds
SP: Nate Robertson (three years/$21 million), Detroit Tigers
SP: Jose Contreras (three years/$29 million), Chicago White Sox

RP: Mike McDougal (three years/$6.5 million), Chicago White Sox

So what does this list prove?

1. Teams rarely give out extensions to relief pitchers, especially middle relief pitchers. Given the unpredictability of middle relievers, this is expected.

2. What about the second basemen? Any feelings as to why there is/are virtually no second basemen on the list?

3. You'll notice that I was unable to fill out an entire 25-man roster. That surprised me.

So, did I miss anyone?