worst contract out of these $100 million contracts

The Aaron Rowand signing was way more annoying than Zito

We're definitely at an impasse. I think it mostly comes down to those two postseason starts (he left the other one up 3-2 after 2.2 innings). In general, you see postseason success as much more determinative than I do. His game scores were 72 and 55--timely, well pitched games, nothing more or less. Marco Estrada gave the Jays some terrific postseason starts in 2015 and 2016. I'm glad he came a lot cheaper than $126 million.

Would be interested in hearing from others who posted in this thread at the time and thought it was a terrible signing.

Actually, no--let's do a poll of the worst contracts of the past decade, then we can argue about stuff we actually remember (I evidently had all these strong feelings about the Zito contract in 2010 that I have zero recollection of today).

the zito contract was . . . not good. he was coming off a really good run but even then his K and BB numbers and velocity weren't great

but also the giants won two titles during that deal (and another a year later) so you can't really say that his contract hampered the team at all

which may not officially count in a 'worst contract' thread? but it certainly colo(u)rs my thinking about its disaster level. if the giants *hadn't* signed him, would they have won more than those two championships? i'm skeptical

Which I somehow didn't mention, the reason I initially thought it was so bad: his three mediocre seasons (and large number of innings he'd already pitched in his career) leading up to the signing.

I think "you can't really say that his contract hampered the team at all" is about the best compromise I'm going to get here, so let's go with that (and move on!).

I think zito's contract was some other, secret third thing

'supporting country music'

The proper response was: ‘no secrets’

i hate to say it since i will love him forever, but that contract the Rockies gave Kris Bryant is looking pretty bad.

― omar little, Sunday, April 7, 2024 12:28 PM (four months ago)

sure is. since joining the rockies in 2022 he has -1.2 fWAR in just 159 games. only 4 more years (through 2028) on the bryant contract

Rendon has 238 plate appearances this season and zero HR

rendon has been brutal but you can kinda see where they were coming from at least

the rockies signed bryant to that deal 13 months after trading away nolan arenado for a fungo bat! like they were simply one bryant-sized piece away from contending! just a completely clueless organization

top salaries for 2024

Scherzer • TEX $43,333,334
Verlander • HOU $43,333,333
Judge • NYY $40,000,000
deGrom • TEX $40,000,000
Rendon • LAA $38,571,428
Trout • LAA $37,116,667
Cole • NYY $36,000,000
Corbin • WSN $35,416,667
Arenado • STL $35,000,000
Seager • TEX $35,000,000
Strasburg • WSN $35,000,000

so....3 out of 11 ain't bad.