John Supowitz | June 12th, 2019
Every team has signed contracts they regret. Some turned out badly because of injury, others due to lack of production. Either way, here are the worst contracts for the teams in the American League East. Stay tuned for the rest of Major League Baseball, division by division.
Baltimore Orioles
1B – Chris Davis – 7yrs – $161 Million
Before contract 2008 – 2015 – .255 AVG – Average HR per season, 25 – Average RBI per season, 69
After contact 2016 – 2019 – .199 AVG – Average HR per season, 21 – Average RBI per season, 53
It’s undeniable Davis has not lived up to his contract. He led the league in strikeouts in 2015 with 208 and 2016 with 219. Last season was historically bad; he hit only .168, and he had 79 hits in 522 plate appearances. The 2019 season didn’t start any better; he went hitless in 33 straight at-bats and 57 total stemming from last season
Tampa Bay Rays
3B Evan Longoria – 6 yrs – $100 Million
Before contract 2008 – 2015 .271 – Average HR per season, 26 – Average RBI per season, 88
After contract 2016 – 2019 .257 – Average HR per season, 20 – Average RBI per season, 65
Longoria is the first instance the Rays ventured into giving a player a significant contract. Unfortunately for the Rays and Longoria, their relationship would not last; he was traded, two seasons after signing this contract, to the San Fransisco Giants.
Boston Red Sox
3B Pablo Sandoval – 5 yrs – $90 Million
Before contract – .294 – Average HR per season, 15 – Average RBI per season, 66
After contract – .242 – Average HR per season, 7 – Average RBI per season, 28
The San Francisco fans embraced Pablo Sandoval’s larger body type as it was not hindering his performance on the field. He helped bring three championships to San Fran and posted a .344 postseason average. The Kung-Fu Panda image changed on April 9, 2016, when he swung himself out of his belt. He missed most of 2016 with a shoulder injury. He struggled in his return in 2017. Boston would designate him for assignment and later release him.
New York Yankees
OF – Jacoby Ellsbury 7 yrs – $153 Million
Before contract – .297 – Average HR per season, 9 – Average RBI per season, 45
After contract – .264 – Average HR per season, 10 – Average RBI per season, 50
The biggest problem with Ellsbury is injuries. He played 111 games in 2015, 112 in 2017, missed the entire 2018 season, and there is currently no timetable for his return in 2019. His contract runs through the 2020 season.
Toronto Blue Jays
SS Troy Tulowitzki still owed 3 yrs – $38 million
Stats in Toronto – .250 AVG 36 HR 122 RBI in 238 games
The Blue Jays took on Tulo’s contract after they traded for him from the Rockies in 2015. Already having a history of injuries, the bug packed up north with him. He missed time every season with Jays included all of 2018. Toronto decided to outright release him at the end of the 2018 season. They will still pay him through the 2021 season.
Questions and comments?
thescorecrowsports@gmail.com
Follow Us on Twitter @thescorecrow
Follow Us on Reddit at u/TheScorecrow
Follow Us on Facebook at The Scorecrow
Follow Us on Instagram at The Scorecrow
Follow John Supowitz on Twitter @Imthatsupi85
Main Credit Image: [getty src=”1148926667″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]
