MLB Free Agents: 10 Biggest Busts You Need to Beg Your Team to Avoid

If you're a baseball fan, you know your team could land key acquisitions and great role players.

Free agency is underway, and there are stars available like Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee and Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford. No one denies their talent and they would be a huge prize for any team.

But what about the busts?

Players who looked like they could be great additions have signed huge contracts and turned out to do absolutely nothing. One of the greatest examples of this came when Texas Rangers' Tom Hicks, then-team owner, signed pitcher Chan Ho Park to a $65 million contract.

It may not be at that level, but the pattern of poor decisions has kept repeating itself.

Here's a look at 10 free agents who could wind up being major busts after this offseason:

10. Jim Thome

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 6: Jim Thome #25 of the Minnesota Twins speaks with home plate umpire Jerry Crawford #2 during game one of the ALDS against the New York Yankees on October 6, 2010 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Fosli

The Minnesota designated hitter played in 108 games last season and had a .283 average, with 78 hits and a team-high 25 home runs.

He made $1.5 million last season, but Thome is 40 years old and can't really be considered as an option in the field anymore. General manager Bill Smith has expressed interest about retaining Thome, but only a short-term deal would make sense.

9. Vladimir Guerrero

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 31: Vladimir Guerrero #27 of the Texas Rangers reacts after he struck out in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants in Game Four of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 31, 2010 in Arl

The Rangers designated hitter did win American League Comeback Player of the Year honors, but if you watched him in the postseason, he was a guaranteed out and was also a liability when in the outfield.

8. Pat Burrell

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 01: Pat Burrell #9 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after he struck out against the Texas Rangers in Game Five of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on November 1, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Do

The San Francisco Giants left fielder hit .252 and had a .348 on-base percentage, but even more telling were his postseason numbers: In 42 at bats, he hit .143, with only four RBIs and 22 strikeouts.

Stay far, far away here. Don't even consider this an option.

7. Derek Jeter

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice against the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.

Yes, the Yankees captain is one of the team's legends, but he is getting older, and there's no way he deserves $15 million a year.

6. Carl Pavano

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MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 07: Carl Pavano #48 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch in the first inning against the New York Yankees during game two of the ALDS on October 7, 2010 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Six to eight teams have reportedly shown interest in the Twins pitcher.

Pavano is 34 and just finished his 12th major league season. He has been plagued by injuries that forced him to miss the entire 2006 season. He had two starts for the Yankees in 2007 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, and didn't return until August 2008. He made seven starts for the Yankees before being traded.

Pavano finished last year with a 17-11 record and 3.75 ERA. Bill James' 2011 projections have Povano pitching nearly 200 innings with an ERA over four.

5. Manny Ramirez

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Manny Ramirez #99 of the Chicago White Sox stands in the dugout before their game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 22, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Im

He's 38 and may be more of a headache than he's worth.

Ramirez finished off last season with the White Sox. In 24 games, he had just two RBIs and 23 strikeouts in 69 at-bats with a .319 slugging percentage.

4. Paul Konerko

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CHICAGO - AUGUST 29: Paul Konerko #14 of the Chicago White Sox hits the ball against the New York Yankees at U.S. Cellular Field on August 29, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Yankees defeated the White Sox 2-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Konerko's numbers last season were impressive.

He hit .312 with 39 homers and 111 RBI, and also had career highs in on-base percentage (.393) and slugging percentage (.384). His defensive numbers did slip, though.

It would be great to see him replicate those numbers, but the 34-year-old had seen a decline in his numbers from 2007 to 2009. And there's talk that Chicago could look to replace him with Adam Dunn.

3. Magglio Ordonez

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DETROIT - JULY 09: Magglio Ordonez #30 of the Detroit Tigers bats in the first inning during the game against the Minnesota Twins on July 9, 2010 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Twins 7-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Ordonez saw his season cut short on July 24 when he broke his ankle.

He did hit .303 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs and 59 RBI in 84 games. But Ordonez is 36 and his ankle will raise concerns. His agent Scott Boras has said he's completely healthy.

Philadelphia is reportedly interested, and could offer him a one-year, $10 million deal.

2. Joaquin Benoit

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 09: Joaquin Benoit #53 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws a pitch against the Texas Rangers during game three of the ALDS at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 9, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Rays won 6-3. (Photo by Stephen Dun

The Tampa Bay reliever has already pulled off an insane heist by signing with the Tigers for a three-year, $16.5 million deal.

He did finish last season allowing nine earned runs, and had a 1.34 ERA. From 2001 to 2008 however, he only finished with a winning record three times for Texas, and had an ERA below three just once.

1. Adrian Beltre

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 15: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Boston Red Sox bats against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 15, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The Red Sox third baseman is reportedly looking at signing with Oakland, which is offering five years, $64 million.

Beltre was the team's offensive MVP, with a .321 average, 28 home runs and 102 RBIs. He did strike out every one out of six times at the plate, though.

Oakland's Billy Beane is big on on-base percentage, and while Beltre had an OBP of .365 last year, Beane may need to consider that his career percentage is just .328.