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10 Most Ridiculous NL East Contracts of the 2000s (10-6)
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Brothers verDorn at 6:55 AM on 06-14-2012
10. Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals) 2012
6 years, $100 million. (Average Yearly Salary: 16.7mil.)
18 million team option for 2020, 2 million buyout.
Personal services clause earns him $10 million over 5 years after the contract expires.
How bad?: Obviously the jury is still out, but Ryan Zimmerman doesn’t strike us as a player worthy of such a massive contract. The dude is solid, don’t get us wrong…but making him the second highest paid 3B of all time? Come on. This contract could turn out to be a real black hole for the Nats. That, mixed with the ‘personal services’ clause, lands him at #10 on this list.
What’s interesting: Zimm is currently one of only 6 major leaguers signed through 2019 (Pujols, Tulowitzki, Fielder, Braun, Kemp).
9. Adam Eaton (Phillies) 2007
3 years, 24.5 mil (AYS: 7.6 mil)
1 million signing bonus
How bad?: In 2007, Eaton went 10-19 with a 6.29 ERA. It wasn’t much better in ’08 where he tallied a 4-8 record with a 5.80 ERA. If that wasn’t enough, he decided to carry the trend into the minors going 0-5 with a 7.16 ERA between Single A and Triple A. Adam was eventually released with $9 mil remaining on his contract.
What’s interesting: He’s probably the only guy ever to get
8. Luis Castillo (Mets) 2007
4 years, 25 mil (AYS: 6 mil)
1 million signing bonus
How bad?: This one may be up for debate. To Castillo’s credit, he hit .270 during the first three years of this contract, but his salary was just too large for the type of player he was– slap hitter with terrible knees. That made expectations unrealistic and as a result, Mets fans developed a healthy hatred for the guy (That against the Yanks didn’t make him any friends either). Castillo was eventually released with one year remaining on the agreement.
What’s interesting: Combined, the contracts of Perez and Castillo had the Mets on the hook for seven years and $61 million. Wow.
7. Kenshin Kawakami (Braves) 2009
3 years, 23 mil (AYS: 7.6mil)
How bad?: KK pitched to the tune of a 4.32 career ERA and was sent down to the minors after just 1 and a half seasons with the Braves. He tallied only 8 wins in his American career and returned home to Japan with his tail between his legs, much to the delight of Braves fans.
What’s interesting: At the time of the demotion, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote, “they sent Kawakami all the way down to Double-A because they want to keep the Triple-A rotation open to pitchers who could have an impact in Atlanta this season.” Not exactly a vote of confidence from the front office…
6. Oliver Perez (Mets) 2009
3 years, 36 million (AYS: 12mil)
How bad?: Two years into his contract, Ollie had 9 losses and just 3 wins. With one poor start after another, Oliver was boo’d mercilessly by the Mets’ faithful. They even took it upon themselves to initiate a movement to raise money in order to buy him out. In 2011, After refusing to be sent down to Triple A, the team placed Ollie on the DL with a phantom injury. Later that year, Omar and Co. finally cut ties. They ate the entire 12 million for 2012, deciding he was so bad, they would prefer to pay him NOT to pitch. Good choice.
What’s interesting: Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Mets offered a four-year, $44MM deal, but Perez and Scott Boras, “Wanted the chance to re-enter the free agent market after three years.” (hahaha)
Getting into the top 5 worst contracts in the next post, keep it locked on NL East Chatter.
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