Who will be the biggest FA bust in 2007?

[Soriano12]

My pick is Gary Matthews Jr. Sorry, he is just not a good ballplayer. His 2006 season is nothing but a mirage. In 07 he will go back to the 750 OPS guy we know.

[Productive Outs]

Alfonso Soriano

[Soriano12]

Alfonso Soriano

 

That one came earlier than I expected. :lol:

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The obvious choice is Juan Pierre.

[Drew Doughty]

Matthews Jr.

 

I think Pierre is going to have a similar year to this year. It's up to you to consider that a bust or not...but that's what he's being paid to do...

 

:roll: @ Colletti

[Jazz]

The early favorites is obviously GMJ or Pierre but I like Barry Zito as a darkhorse.

[Drew Doughty]

The early favorites is obviously GMJ or Pierre but I like Barry Zito as a darkhorse.

 

I think he busts a year down the road, personally. I also like him as a darkhorse, especially if he goes to a more hitter-friendly park.

[A New Era]

Soriano!!

 

:roll:

[NorthsideAvenger]

Considering the ballpark factor, I see Soriano having a big yr.

 

My guess....is Gary Matthews, Jr.

[WrigleyField 22]

DeRosa, Soriano, and anyone else the Cubs sign.

[baseball7897]

Nomar

[Balsa]

I'm gonna go with Matsuzaka, if he signs with the Red Sox.

[sunnydoo]

GM Jr has to be the favorite so far. 5/50 is criminally stupid or insane for his services.

 

My dark horse is the AJ Pierzynski of the Outfield, Mr Douche Bag himself, JD Drew. He falls and breaks a hip in mid April and is lost for the rest of the season, as it is an odd year after all. Hopefully it is not the Cubs who are the unwitting dupes in this equation.

 

Who was the old Cubs pitcher who used to do the same pattern with his ERA? Good one year, bad the next? Whomever signs JD Drew better have a back up plan for when he decides he doesnt need to play 100 games this year or needs more money down the road. Hopefully he goes over to the American League as just about every National League has had their fill of his act.

[Drew Doughty]

GM Jr has to be the favorite so far. 5/50 is criminally stupid or insane for his services.

 

My dark horse is the AJ Pierzynski of the Outfield, Mr Douche Bag himself, JD Drew. He falls and breaks a hip in mid April and is lost for the rest of the season, as it is an odd year after all. Hopefully it is not the Cubs who are the unwitting dupes in this equation.

 

Who was the old Cubs pitcher who used to do the same pattern with his ERA? Good one year, bad the next? Whomever signs JD Drew better have a back up plan for when he decides he doesnt need to play 100 games this year or needs more money down the road. Hopefully he goes over to the American League as just about every National League has had their fill of his act.

 

Trachsel

[sunnydoo]

 

Trachsel

 

Thank you...that was bugging me.

 

Old age is a bad thing kiddies...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

GMJ is the obvious choice, but Zito might be a good choice if he goes to a park that isn't that good for a flyball pitcher.

[frostwyrm]

We have to wait for the pitchers to sign before we can make a complete list, but GMJ is at the top right now.

[NewUserName]

Jason Schmidt. He has been losing velocity for several years and he will be leaving one of the best pitching parks in baseball.

[NCCubFan]

Who was the old Cubs pitcher who used to do the same pattern with his ERA? Good one year, bad the next? Whomever signs JD Drew better have a back up plan for when he decides he doesnt need to play 100 games this year or needs more money down the road. Hopefully he goes over to the American League as just about every National League has had their fill of his act.

 

Trachsel

Specifically he was good in even-numbered years (1994, 1996, and 1998) and el stinko in odd-numbered years (1995, 1997, and 1999). Kyle Farnsworth had the same pattern his last few years with the Cubs but the other way around, good in odd-numbered years and bad in even.

[Jon]

The better question is which long-term deals actually have a good chance of working out. I'm having a hard time thinking of any right now other than Ramirez.

[b_wiggy_66]

Suppan

[jmajew]

Vincente Padilla when he signs.

[Soriano12]

Vincente Padilla when he signs.

 

Relative to the marketplace, I think he might be a bargain.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Do you know whats hilarious?

 

JD Drew would have been a MONSTER bargain if someone had gotten him to sign for 4/52. He's easily the best overall FA when it comes to actual performance.

 

Anyway...busts include Barry Zito, GMJ, Soriano, and Pierre to me. Whoever gets Zito and expects anything more than an innings eater at this point is going to be dissapointed. GMJ and Soriano are working off of career years. Pierre just sucks.

 

What a disgusting offseason. So much money spent on mediocrity. Are GMs really this stupid?

[Rob]

Nomar

 

It wasn't a good signing with Looney, Kemp, and Ethier now stuck in left and right field, but it's hard to be much of a bust when it's only a pretty cheap 2 year deal.

 

I always think of a bust as somebody who actively hampers his team's chances for success down the road. Nomar wont be doing that.

 

Pierre certainly will when he loses that one step (if he isn't already). GMJ has a more multi-faceted attack. He's not a good ballplayer by any means... but unless his IsoD and IsoP both drop at the same time as his batting average, his decline wont be nearly as nasty as Pierre's. And there's no doubt both of these guys are going to decline in the next five years.

 

Simply because of the length and money of the Soriano contract, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it as being the largest possibility of a huge bust. If he hits at Wrigley like he did in Arlington, we are completely buggered. Thankfully, his decline will still leave him much more productive than Matthews and Pierre... but for nearly twice as much money. Whether that leaves him as a bust is a judgement call.