12 Most Recent Free Agency Disaster Signings
Josh Hamilton has to be the biggest free-agent flop in recent memory, right?
By recent memory, I mean Alex Rodriguez doesn't count. That is to say, within the last few years, several big-time, big-hype deals turned out to be just womp.
In fact, these 12 signings have been disasters, at least so far. Just how big the disaster depends on monetary loss and potential for redemption—and many of these players don't even have the latter with the team that signed them.
It's worth noting that Matt Flynn was a pretty big bust for the Seattle Seahawks. However, that's only because Russell Wilson exists, and the 'Hawks won a Super Bowl the same season it signed Flynn. So—no disaster there.
Honorable Mention: Toby Gerhart, Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Deal: In March 2014, free agent running back Toby Gerhart signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars for three years and $10.5 million with $4.5 million guaranteed.
Why it was (Kind of) a Disaster: Injuries slowed Gerhart down early in the season, and the emergence of Denard Robinson as a breakout back further limited Gerhart's opportunities. He finished the season with 326 yards on 101 carries.
Gerhart's season was a disappointment but not a total disaster. It looks like the Jaguars are going to give him some snaps at fullback in 2015, so his deal probably won't go down as a total flop. It does, however, appear to be too much for what he will likely contribute.
Jairus Byrd, New Orleans Saints
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The Deal: In March 2014, the New Orleans Saints signed Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd to a six-year, $56 million deal with $28 million guaranteed.
Why it was a Disaster: Byrd came in No. 1 on Chris Wesseling's list of free-agent flops because his 2014 season was severely limited by injury.
Still, Byrd couldn't exactly help being injured. He's been cleared to play in the upcoming season, so time will tell if the entire deal is a disaster.
Boone Logan, Colorado Rockies
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The Deal: In December 2013, the Colorado Rockies signed lefty reliever Boone Logan to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million.
Why it was a Disaster: That's a lot of money for a specialty reliever anyway, and Logan certainly didn't live up to his contract numbers. Logan entered the Rockies bullpen coming off shoulder surgery as it was, and injury woes plagued him in 2014. Despite a good start to the season, Logan ultimately sputtered—pitching just 25 total innings and posting a 6.84 ERA.
Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston, Chicago Bears
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The Chicago Bears spent big on defense in the 2014 offseason, and you might say it did not go well.
The Deal(s): In March 2014, the Bears signed Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen to a four year, $32 million deal and defensive end Lamarr Houston to a five year, $35 million deal.
Why it was a Disaster: Allen recorded his lowest sack total ever (5.5). And Houston, well Houston had just one sack all year and tore his ACL celebrating it.
These two were not great in their first seasons, but at least there is still time to save face with their deals.
Dimitri Patterson, New York Jets
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The Deal: According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the New York Jets hoped cornerback Dmitri Patterson could replace Antonio Cromartie when they signed him to a one-year, $3 million deal in March 2014.
Why it was a Disaster: Patterson didn't even make it to the regular season. After what Cimini called a "slow start" in camp, issues with injury and disciplinary problems with the team, the Jets released him in August. Patterson didn't represent a huge monetary hit for the Jets, but the whole thing was just embarrassing.
Dave Bolland, Florida Panthers
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The Deal: In July 2014, the Florida Panthers signed veteran center Dave Bolland for five years and $27.5 million.
Why it was a Disaster: Bolland himself told TSN, "I'm going be there to be a leader. I want to be there to help some of these young guys out, make the playoffs. I'm there to be a team player, to help Florida move forward." This, according to Harrison Mooney of Puck Daddy, who wrote $27.5 million is a "laughable and stupid amount" of money to pay for leadership.
Indeed, in the 2014-15 season, Bolland scored just six goals and 23 points while averaging a smidge over 16 minutes of ice time per game.
Spencer Hawes, Los Angeles Clippers
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The Deal: The Los Angeles Clippers signed center Spencer Hawes to a four-year, $23 million deal in July 2014.
Andrew Bynum, Cleveland Cavaliers
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The Deal: Andrew Bynum has had an injury-plagued NBA career, to say the least. He sat out the full 2012-13 season before the Cleveland Cavaliers signed him to a two-year, $24 million free-agent contract in July 2013.
Why it was a Disaster: Six months later, after disappointing play and a suspension, the Cavs saved some money by trading Bynum to the Chicago Bulls (who promptly released him for cap reasons). In 24 games with the Cavaliers, Bynum averaged 8.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 20 minutes per game.
Bynum landed in Indiana, signing for $1 million to close out the season. Unfortunately for the big man, he struggled with injury there too and ultimately left the team.
Josh McCown, Tampa Bay and (Possibly) Cleveland
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The Deal(s): Josh McCown had a good (half) season in Chicago in 2013, throwing for 1,829 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one interception in eight games. That's probably why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him to a two-year, $10 million deal in March 2014. Less than a year later, the Cleveland Browns signed him to a three-year, $14 million deal.
Why it was a Disaster: Given the Cleveland deal, obviously things didn't work out in Tampa. McCown failed to live up to the hype he created in Chicago—throwing for 2,206 yards, 11 TDs and 14 interceptions in 11 games and missed time with a thumb injury. The Bucs released him in February.
Time will tell if things go better in Cleveland, but maybe don't hold your breath?
Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, Boston Red Sox
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After a disastrous first-to-worst transition from 2013 to 2014, the Boston Red Sox aimed to get things back on track for 2015 by going big in the free agent market.
The Deal(s): In November 2014, the team signed Hanley Ramirez to a four-year, $88 million deal and Pablo Sandoval to a five-year, $95 million deal.
Why it was a Disaster: The season, in general, has been disappointing thus far for the Red Sox—they sat in last place in the AL East at the All-Star break. Through July 20, Ramirez is batting .261/.306/.474, and Sandoval isn't much better at 266/.308/.383. Plus there was that whole Instagram incident.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports wrote, "the Red Sox thus far are a $184 million flop," and, "Sandoval and especially Ramirez look like poor fits in Boston." If those statements turn out to be true, these two would represent big-time disasters. Stay tuned.
B.J./Melvin Upton, Atlanta Braves
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The Deal: In November 2012, the Atlanta Braves signed outfielder B.J. Upton (now going by Melvin Upton) to a five-year, $75 million deal.
Why it was a Disaster: In 2013, Upton batted .184 and struck out 151 times. Things didn't get much better in 2014—those numbers were .208 and 173, respectively. In April, the Braves cut their losses and sent Upton to the San Diego Padres, which took on the $46.35 left on his salary.
Brad Richards, New York Rangers
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This is a stretch on the "recent" criteria because Brad Richard’s abysmal deal with the New York Rangers happened in 2011. But bear with me here—the $20 million buyout took place in 2014.
The Deal: The Rangers signed Richards, an All-Star center, to a nine-year, $60 million contract leading up to the 2011-12 season.
Why it was a Disaster: Richards flat-out underperformed. In the 2013-14 season, he scored just 51 points in 82 games, good for a 0.62 points-per-game average, the lowest of his career.
In June 2014, with six years left on the contract, the Rangers and Richards agreed to a buyout that would pay him over $20 million in remaining salary and signing bonuses over the next 12 years.
Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles Angels
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The Deal: Sporting News called Josh Hamilton's five-year, $125 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels the worst free-agent signing ever.
Why it was a Disaster: The deal went down in December 2012. According to Cork Gaines of Business Insider, Hamilton hit .313 and averaged 33 home runs over his last three seasons with the Texas Rangers. In two seasons with the Angels, his BA dropped to .255, and he hit just 31 homers total.
The Rangers mercifully took him back in late April, though the Angels remain on the hook for most of his remaining salary.
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