Sinister Six: Worst Contracts in the BLB (2016)

[Pat]

Great read. Pat even if you can do one of these a week the BLB will be a better place.

Just think about it...we're about to kick off our 38th season (I think) and we're going to actually be in the future soon.

Thanks! Hopefully I have the time and creativity to come up with some cool ideas to do that many articles. Again, feel free to shoot ideas my way.

Free-Agent previews, draft previews, team reviews, season previews, etc are the obvious ones...some of which are very time consuming.

And yeah...crazy to think we are entering 2016. I joined in 1979.

I tend to agree with you. Still, if there's a case for a "peak" guy who didn't have longevity, Neubauer is that player.

Definitely.

I think his days of "elite level" as a SP are probably over.

If he can convert to RP and have a decent run as a CL/SU, where he has a very high K rate, he might have a HOF chance. A lot of SPs have done that with success in this league.

[umd]

That does make it more reasonable. I just think a guy taking up a roster spot and $2M per year, who's only serviceable trait is spot-starts against LH pitching...seems like a lot when he hits just a .708 OPS vs. them, in two of the most LH friendly parks in the BLB.

The issue with Leger isn't his bat it's his glove. He's a career .865 efficiency with a 1.34 range in LF and .926 efficiency with a 1.70 range in RF. If those were rated against the BLB this year, he would be by far the worst qualified defensive LF/RF in baseball.

Agree on the glove. With one of the best defenses, I took a flyer on his inability to catch or chase a ball. He is our worst contract by far.

He wasn't the savviest of my signings, more a necessity I guess. At the time he hit waivers, we had a negative record vs left handed pitchers and 4 OFs on the disabled list with a little wiggle room money wise to add a player without giving up anything. I had hoped DJ Philips claim would have worked out better, but it turns out that Ethan Costa returning from injury and Leger were the keys to fixing our LH issue. Them and Zuk putting in a glue guy season for us. He probably is going to stick through this season, since it's looking pretty close to a goodbye for Cracker. I'm thinking I'll be playing some combo of Leger and August at 1B while the rookie adjusts. We also should have about $25m for FA once we part ways with McCarley and Rosales.

Erik Jackson is the future, I just need to have him continue developing at SS and teach him 2B. We will probably have 4 rookies playing for us by the waiver deadline - Jackson, August, LF Robby McGowan, and 3B JD Harper. We just don't have any young stud SPs in the pipeline for the first time in years.

[BDub]

Cant say im surprised by Ruedas getting a dishonorable mention in the article. I still think he will be productive but the wheels will fall off at the mid 30s.

At least its not a Ron Wessel contract!

[Pat]

Agree on the glove. With one of the best defenses, I took a flyer on his inability to catch or chase a ball. He is our worst contract by far.

He wasn't the savviest of my signings, more a necessity I guess. At the time he hit waivers, we had a negative record vs left handed pitchers and 4 OFs on the disabled list with a little wiggle room money wise to add a player without giving up anything. I had hoped DJ Philips claim would have worked out better, but it turns out that Ethan Costa returning from injury and Leger were the keys to fixing our LH issue. Them and Zuk putting in a glue guy season for us. He probably is going to stick through this season, since it's looking pretty close to a goodbye for Cracker. I'm thinking I'll be playing some combo of Leger and August at 1B while the rookie adjusts. We also should have about $25m for FA once we part ways with McCarley and Rosales.

Erik Jackson is the future, I just need to have him continue developing at SS and teach him 2B. We will probably have 4 rookies playing for us by the waiver deadline - Jackson, August, LF Robby McGowan, and 3B JD Harper. We just don't have any young stud SPs in the pipeline for the first time in years.

And the continuos musical chairs in Death Valley continues.

[Carlos]

Aten is on this list. That makes this writer a reliable source.

[liquidcrash]

Good stuff, Pat.

Dishonorable mention from the Bats would be Tyler Salzman. I really went back and forth on bringing him back before last season, ultimately deciding it was worth it. Worked ok last year, as a 5th starter / bullpen swingman. But this season it all fell apart. He got hurt and then got shelled when he came back. I thought he'd gotten it figured out, but it all came apart again in game 7.

So, he'll finish with ERA's over 8 in both the regular season and playoffs. Granted, the sample size is small. But, for 6.5 million, it's pretty terrible return.

My scout still thinks he can pitch, his ratings haven't fallen. So, perhaps he'll bounce back. He's available (for cheap) if anyone wants to find out.

[Pat]

Good stuff, Pat.

Dishonorable mention from the Bats would be Tyler Salzman. I really went back and forth on bringing him back before last season, ultimately deciding it was worth it. Worked ok last year, as a 5th starter / bullpen swingman. But this season it all fell apart. He got hurt and then got shelled when he came back. I thought he'd gotten it figured out, but it all came apart again in game 7.

So, he'll finish with ERA's over 8 in both the regular season and playoffs. Granted, the sample size is small. But, for 6.5 million, it's pretty terrible return.

My scout still thinks he can pitch, his ratings haven't fallen. So, perhaps he'll bounce back. He's available (for cheap) if anyone wants to find out.

I actually had him on my initial list but cut a 2-3 names from the mentions list. He has been added to the original post.

IMO, when you are on the fence about re-signing a guy, especially a back-end SP/RP type, it's usually in your best interest to let them walk. They more often then not aren't as good as they are demanding in a contract, and you can always find #5 SP/RP types in FA for much less annually and sometimes on one-year deals. Low risk. This Salzman extension came with a lot of risk...and now it's hurting.

[Hank]

Feliciano's contract is one I regret.
Not resigning him, but I know I could have gotten him cheaper and probably for a year (or two) less in term.
IIWII.

I was hoping he'd retire after getting a ring, but the Big Guy wants to come back.
That's fine with me. I know his contract is going to force me to say goodbye to a few players that can contribute more than he can, but IIWII.
Hopefully he can still bang out a few HR's in his finals years and make a run for the HR title.

[fsquid]

Fink is one for sure. Signed him and Moon on the same day to long extensions. Thought their 1-2 punch would bring me multiple Brewmasters. Oh well. I won't release him, the fans still like him.

[Pat]

Fink is one for sure. Signed him and Moon on the same day to long extensions. Thought their 1-2 punch would bring me multiple Brewmasters. Oh well. I won't release him, the fans still like him.

Cutting him doesn't make sense.... He's just overpaid.

Very High Leadership. Fan favorite. Still has elite control.

[fsquid]

Cutting him doesn't make sense.... He's just overpaid.

Very High Leadership. Fan favorite. Still has elite control.

I must have misread your blurb on him then.