Hindsight Is 20/20: MLB Free Agent Flops and Gems

The Three Biggest Free Agent Flops

• Barry Zito – San Francisco Giants

Oh how the mighty have fallen. It's hard to imagine that this kid won the Cy Young in 2002. Not since his Cy Young year has Barry Zito won more than 16 games. He has posted double digit losses now for 5 consecutive seasons and posted an ERA over 3.80 four of the last five years. Enough about his past, let's get into more of “What have you done for me lately?” Well.......not much. After signing a 7 year contract worth a ridiculous $126 million dollars, Zito has accumulated a record of 9-12 with a 4.46 ERA. I'm pretty sure San Francisco management was expecting a bit more than what Zito has been giving them. I stressed this in an article I wrote before about Zito, he isn't a #1 starter. He relished the role of pitching behind [[Tim Hudson]] and [[Mark Mulder]]. He just doesn't have enough confidence in himself or his stuff to be an effective #1 starter.

• Adam Eaton– Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies traded him away in 1999 after spending their 11th overall pick on him in 1996. The most wins he ever had in a season? 11 (twice) He has never posted an ERA lower than 4.08 and never pitched more than 200 innings. The Philadelphia Phillies, in their infinite wisdom, handed him a 3 year deal worth $24 million dollars. You know, because that makes sense. He is only making $2 million less than Barry Zito this year and has managed to be a fantastic disappointment. He is 9-9, sporting a 6.31 ERA, and has more earned runs than strikeouts. What a great investment. The last thing I read on a Phillies message board about Adam Eaton? “Can that a**hole please run into a knife?” I think that pretty much sums up whatever everyone thinks about him who's a Phillies fan.

• Jason Schmidt – Los Angeles Dodgers‎

Holy crap. The last two guys I mentioned have at least appeared in more than 6 games this season. Jason Schmidt is making $15.7 million dollars this season and has won one game...one. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed this guy in hopes that he would be their number one starter and instead has become best friends with the Dodgers trainer. Jason is 1-4 with a 6.31 ERA and has pitched a whopping 25 innings. In his six starts he got out of the 5 th inning once. This is the second time in his career that Schmidt has undergone season-ending shoulder surgery. BREAKING NEWS: [[Mike Schmidt]] is not related to Jason Schmidt and has pitched the same amount of innings Jason has since June 16th.


Honorable Mention

• J.D. Drew - .264 BA / 8 HR / 51 RBI / Salary $14.4 million

• Julio Lugo - .241 BA / 6 HR / 69 RBI / Salary $8.25 million

• Mike Mussina - 5.28 ERA / 9-10 Record / .314 BAA / Salary $11 million

The Three Biggest Free Agent Gems

• Dmitri Young – Washington Nationals

Signed a minor league contract with Nationals, is making $500,000, and sports the 6 th best batting average in the National League. A cast off from the Tigers after he assaulted his wife and went through substance abuse problems, Young has become one of the good stories in baseball. Dmitri has accumulated 38 doubles, 13 home runs, and 73 runs batted in this season. Selected to the all-star team for 2 nd time in his career, Young is batting .314 with runners in scoring position and leads his team in BA, OPS, and OBP. The Nationals have rewarded the soon to be Comeback Player of the Year with a 2 year extension worth $10 million dollars. A deserving reward for a player who was on the brink of ruining his baseball career.

• Carlos Pena- Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Pena hadn't played more than 100 games since 2004 and had only 33 at-bats last year when shared time with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. No one was really interested in Carlos when he hit the free agent market but the Tampa Bay Devil Rays gave him a shot, and boy has it paid off. Pena is currently earning $800,000 dollars and in the top 5 in the American League in HR (39), BB (86), SLG% (.613), RBI (111), and finally in OPS (1.013). Consider that [[Jason Giambi]] has been on the DL and is currently making $23 million dollars while batting .243 with 14 home runs, maybe the [[New York Yankees]] should have kept Pena around? Realistically though, no one saw this coming. Before this season Pena never had more than 116 hits in a season, an average over .253, or an on base percentage over .338. (based on seasons with >100AB) I can guarantee you though that the Devil Rays aren't complaining.

• Ted Lilly - Chicago Cubs

Unlike the last two guys I mentioned Lilly is being paid big bucks ($10 million over 4 years) but unlike the three pitchers I mentioned in my free agent flops, Lilly has been solid. He showed promise during just one season in Toronto in which he was 15-13 with a 4.31 ERA and has only gotten better with the Cubs. He is currently rocking a 15-7 record to go along with a 3.85 ERA. Lilly is on pace to set career highs in innings pitched, wins, strikeouts, and games started. Lilly is leading the Cubs in quality starts (18), WHIP (1.15), and ERA (3.85). The 31-year old has always been a solid 3 rd or 4 th starter but this year is really becoming a rock as the Cubs 2nd starter behind fire baller [[Carlos Zambrano]]. Without this guy the Chicago Cubs would certainly not be fighting for a playoff spot.


Honorable Mention

• Matt Stairs - .307 BA / 19 HR / 59 RBI / Salary $850,000

• Mark DeRosa - .288 BA / 9 HR / 69 RBI / Salary $2.75 million

• Sammy Sosa - .255 BA / 20 HR / 88 RBI / Salary $500,000

East Coast Bias - August 10, 2007

Today's Headlines

- Bonds Makes History

- Brady Quinn's Future

Prognostications, Predictions, and Picks

- PGA Championship Winner

Countdown to Kickoff: Division by Division

- NFC West and NFC Recap


On today's podcast, we dive right into the controversy that is Barry Lamar Bonds. We dissect the 756th home run and look ahead to his future in baseball. We then move to the gridiron to discuss the signing of Brady Quinn and his possible success this season. For our Prognostications, Predictions, and Picks segment we predict the winner of this week's PGA Championship at Southern Hills. And we end the show with our Countdown to Kickoff segment were we preview the NFC West.

Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez Reach Milestones

In the 2nd inning versus the San Diego Padres Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's all-time home run record with a blast to left field of pitcher Clay Hensley. His homer was his 72nd after age 40, tying Carlton Fisk for the most all-time. He has 21 homers this season, putting him five shy of last season. It took Bonds six games between his 754th and 755th home run while it took him five games to go from 714 to 715. Bonds said in his postgame news conference that he won't play in Sunday's series finale in San Diego. He's said he's opting to celebrate his historic home run with his family.

Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player in MLB history to hit 500 career homers, as the Yankees blasted the Royals 16-8. Rodriguez joins Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle as the third player to hit No. 500 with the Bronx Bombers. A-Rod is the fifth active player with 500 career homers, joining Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr. and Thomas. This marks just the second time in MLB history there are five active players with atleast 500 home runs. Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Ernie Banks did it in 1971.

The Overhyped, Overrated, and Overpaid Barry Zito

Barry Zito, the man whom the San Francisco Giants signed for 7 years and $126 million dollars, is currently sporting a 4.65 ERA and a record of 6-8. Not exactly the kind of performance you want from a player who is collecting that much money from your organization. But, unlike some people, I can't say I didn't see this coming. Let's look back on what Zito accomplished prior to his free agent singing with the Giants. As a rookie in 2000 Zito started 14 games for the Athletics and compiled a record of 7-4 to go along with a 2.72 ERA. Many saw a bright future for the 22 year old lefty and he didn't disappoint the following year. In 2001 Zito won 17 games while losing 8 and held a 3.49 ERA. But the following year was going to be a breakout season for him. During his 2002 season, Zito went on to win the American League Cy Young award after going 23 and 5 while having a 2.75 ERA. After that season experts and fans alike thought he was going to be the next big thing. The quirky kid with the NASTY 12-6 curve ball was going to win a couple more of those Cy Young awards and become the ace of the Oakland Athletics. The perfect ending however was never written as the wheels on the Zito hype bus fell off and were never replaced. Barry Zito, after his Cy Young season, never lost less than 10 games, never had more than 16 wins, never held an ERA under 3, never had his K/9 spike above 7, and has yet to record a shutout or a complete game since 2003. What happened? Was the pressure of becoming the staff ace with the departure of Hudson to Atlanta and Mulder to St. Louis after the 2004 season to much for the young lefty to take? Since the breakup of the Big 3 in Oakland after 2004, Zito has struggled mightily with his control. His K/9 ratio has decreased each season from 6.89 in 2004 to a staggering 5.63 this 2007 season and not only that, his K/BB ratio has dropped each season from 2.01 in 2004 to a paltry 1.31 this 2007 season. Maybe he relished in the role as a #2 or #3 starter and enjoyed being mentored by guys like Hudson and Mulder who had leadership qualities. So what did the Giants see in Zito that made them decide to pay such an exorbitant amount of money to get him? His Cy Young season had been 4 years prior and he never showed that he could duplicate that kind of season again. His statistics and even his demeanor on the mound exuded a lack of confidence in his abilities. Not only that, it just looks like he doesn't have fun anymore playing baseball. This used to be the same guy who admitted being a Halo nut and loved having fun with his teammates. It looks like that playfulness and happiness has been sucked out of him along with his pitching talents. Just 2 days ago against the Cincinnati Reds, Zito was pitching a masterful game. Going into the bottom of the 4th inning, Zito had a no-hitter going and was cruising. But he then lost confidence in his ability and walked 5 of the next 8 batters, and consequently walked in 2 runs. As soon as he walked Brandon Phillips he began to try locating instead of just pitching to contact. Zito then went on to give up 1 more in the bottom of the 5th before being relieved the following inning. He finished the game with the line 5IP 2H 3R 3ER 6BB and 5SO. The curve ball kid who was once heralded as one of the most extraordinary young pitchers in the Majors became one of the most extraordinarily mediocre pitchers in the Majors very quickly.

Former Major Leaguer Rod Beck Dies

Former all-star reliever Rod Beck, best known for his days with the San Fransico Giants, died today at the young age of 38. Foul play is not believed to be the cause but other than that nothing else about his death is known at this point. He was the given the nickname "Shooter" by his teammates on the Giants. Beck's pitching stints included the Giants (1991-97), the Chicago Cubs (1998-99), and the Boston Red Sox (1999-2001) before finishing his career with the Padres (2003-04). During a comeback stint in 2003 Beck played for the Triple A Iowa Cubs and became a folk hero. Beck lived in a Winnebago jut outside the outfield walls and welcomed all who came to say hello. He would sign autographs, invite people over for a beer, and just be a genuinely nice guy. Beck compiled a career record of 38-45 in 704 games, with a 3.30 ERA. He still holds the all-time season saves mark for the Giants with 48 and is second on the Giants all-time list for saves. He will truly be missed for all his kindness and good will. Beck is survived by his wife, Stacey, and two children.

I highly recommend the article written by Wayne Drehs about Rod Beck's time with the Iowa Cubs which can be found here.