Whenever a baseball team signs a free agent they want every dollar to be worth it. Taking a look at the players who joined new teams via free agency for the 2014 season, these are three of the worst signings.
Curtis Granderson
Outfielder Curtis Granderson didn’t have to travel very far from his old team to the new one. After spending four seasons with the New York Yankees, the team no longer felt the need to re-sign him after the 2013 season. Granderson eventually settled on signing with the New York Mets and so far it has been a wasteful decision.
The contract Granderson signed with the Mets is a four-year $50 million deal. Even with the Yankees his batting average began taking a nosedive and with the Mets it doesn’t look like it will improve. In addition to a lack of hits, Granderson has lost his power. For what the Mets are paying the now former slugger, this may end up as a decision to further hold them back from once again being able to contend in the National League East.
J.P. Arencibia
After the departure of catcher A.J. Pierzynski the Texas Rangers needed someone new to take over behind the plate. Free-swinging J.P. Arencibia was available and although a downgrade, the Rangers hoped in an already strong lineup he would not be depended on too strongly. Unfortunately Arencibia got off to a terrible start going 2 for his first 30.
Not by any means an expensive player, what makes Arencibia a bad free agent signing are the other options out there. First the Rangers could have kept Pierzynski. If that was out of the question there was still Kurt Suzuki, Dioner Navarro, and begging Jarrod Saltalamacchia to come back. They also could have gone expensive and brought in Brian McCann whom may have been a better fit in Texas than he is in New York.
Brian McCann
Not to sound contradictory to the above, as bad as Brian McCann has been in 2014 he is still light years ahead of Arencibia. As a big free agent signing for the New York Yankees much more is expected of him. For the five-year $85 million contract the Yankees gave McCann he should be contending for the MVP, not hitting below .250.
In the case of McCann it appears the Yankees were just trying to get the best they could without caring how much it would cost. The plan has backfired and the once best hitting catcher in baseball seems to have lost his way. Many questioned whether or not Evan Gattis was ready to take over for the Atlanta Braves as the full-time catcher. Seeing how McCann has played in 2014, giving Gattis the opportunity was probably the right decision.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
MLB
