MLB: The 10 worst free agent signings before this season

Of all the MLB free agent signings before this season, these are the 10 worst.

Every offseason, MLB teams look to the free agent pool to acquire players to help them in the future. Some free agent signings are expensive blockbuster acquisitions, like a stud starting pitcher or a power-hitting outfielder, but others don’t make any headlines, like signing a lefty setup guy to a one-year deal. The 2016-2017 offseason didn’t have any huge contracts, like Zack Greinke’s six-year, $206.5 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the 2016 season, but it had some $15-$20 million per year contract signings.

Among the big names signed before this season were Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Turner, and Kenley Jansen, all of whom re-upped with their previous teams. There were three big money relief pitchers signed—the aforementioned Kenley Jansen along with Aroldis Chapman and Mark Melancon—all making at least $15 million per season for four or five years. Big bats included Cespedes and Turner, and also Edwin Encarnacion. Dexter Fowler further stoked the Cardinals-Cubs rivalry by switching from Cubs blue to Cardinals red.

With any free agent class, there are some winners and losers. Some contracts work out very well, some are just okay, and some are spectacularly bad (from the team’s point of view). Of course, it’s not entirely fair to judge a long-term signing after just one season, but I’ll do it anyway.

This list of the 10 worst free agent signings in the offseason is based on the player’s production in 2017 and the cost of his contact. For that reason, many low-cost, one-year free agents didn’t make the cut. The Rangers signed Mike Napoli to a one-year, $8.5 million deal. He’s been bad, but it’s just one and done. The Rangers will recover. The Rockies, who still owe Ian Desmond at least $60 million over the next four years, are likely feeling more regret.

Here are the 10 worst MLB free agent signings last offseason: