Adam, a regular contributor to the blog, pointed out that I somehow forgot to include the signing of Carlos Silva on my time line of the past couple months. Definitely a huge oversight on my part. However, maybe I overlooked the move due to the fact that Bill Bavasi throws around absurd contracts to pitchers like he's Rick the Peanut Man. I actually think Silva is a huge upgrade over both Jeff Weaver and Horacio Ramirez (who wouldn't be) and I've even convinced myself that Silva could turn out alright. Of course I also convinced my self before last season that Jeff Weaver wasn't a bad gamble for a one year deal. Anyways, all this contract talk has got me thinking, what have been the worst ones over the years for Seattle sports teams? Without further ado, here are my top ten worst contracts given out by Seattle teams:
10. Scott Spiezio 3-years/ $9 million - A classic Bill Bavasi "gritty" signing, Spiezio hit .215 in his first season with the Mariners and .064 in 29 games before being released in his second season.
9. Bret Boone 4-years/ $33 million - Signed the extension after his huge 2001 season and did have two pretty good years, hitting 24 and 35 home runs and driving in over 100 runs in each season. Then in 2004, Boone hit 24 home runs, but drove in just 83 and hit only .251. In 2005, Boone played in just 74 games, hitting .231 before being traded.
8, 7 & 6. Shaun Alexander 8-years/ $62 million, Richie Sexson 4-years/ $50 million, Adrian Beltre 5-years/ $64 million - I put these three together, because they are all still playing out their contracts with their respective teams. Alexander signed the biggest contract ever given to an NFL running back coming off his MVP season, but has since rushed for a combined 1,600+ yards and 11 touchdowns, while averaging 3.5 yards per carry.
Sexson did 34+ homers in both of the first two years of his contract, but he has struck out a combined 421 times in his three years as a Mariner and last season Sexson hit a measly .205 with a .295 OBP as the highest paid member of the team.
Although Beltre has improved steadily since his first year as a Mariner and was a solid contributor last season, he still has not hit more than 26 home runs, driven in 100 runs or hit for an average higher than .276. Beltre does supply Gold Glove defense at third base, but he signed the contract coming off a year in which he hit .334 with 48 home runs.
5. Grant Wistrom 6-years/ $33 million - Tallied 11.5 total sacks in three seasons with the Seahawks after recieving a $14 million signing bonus, the biggest ever given out to a Seahawk at the time.
4. Jeff Cirillo 4-years/ $27.6 million - After coming over from Colorado in a trade and signing the 4-year extension, Cirillo proceeded to hit .249 and 6 home runs for the Mariners. The following season Cirillo hit .205 in 87 games before being traded, with the Mariners eating most of the remaining money on the deal.
3. Vin Baker 7-years/ $86 million - After being brought over from Milwaukee in a trade for Shawn Kemp, Baker averaged 19.2 points and 8 rebounds per game and the Sonics won 61 games. Baker signed his massive extension after that season, but then began to steadily decline and would never average more than 16.6 points again. Baker was traded to Boston before the 2002-2003 season.
2. Calvin Booth 6-years/ $34 million - The Sonics gave this contract to Booth coming off a season in which he averaged 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 55 games. In three years as a Sonic, Booth averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds before being traded for Danny Fortson.
1. Jim McIlvaine 7-years/$33.6 million - Another unproven big man at the time of his signing, McIlvaine played just two seasons with the Sonics, averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds. On top of his poor play, McIlvaine has long been blamed for being part of the reason that Shawn Kemp was eventually traded.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I think you are right on about Mccilvane, Booth and Baker. Two guys that were unproven. The other suddenly picked up the bottle and found El Gaucho. Cirillo at 4 is probably accurate but something tells me their was more going on in the clubhouse that didnt allow Cirillo to achieve. Based on the fact that he is still playing baseball and he hit .320 in 2006 5 years after the Mariners. I believe Spiezio should be hire on this list as at least Cirillo played flawless defense. Also Winstrom helped us get to the Super Bowl and should we have won he wouldnt be on the list.
No argument on #1. Perhaps one of the worst deals ever for any team. He does get credit for his 9 blocks versus the Bulls, and would have to be included on any "All Crew Cut" team from the 90s.
Gabe - Maybe a little before your time, but Brian Bosworth was voted the 3rd worst sports flop over the last 25 years by ESPN.com SportsNation users. He's got to be on this list
Didn't think to put Bosworth on the list, because he was a draft pick, but I just looked him up and the Hawks gave him a 10 year contract and the biggest ever given to a rookie, so he probably should have found his way on there.
Post a Comment