| It's that time of year again known as the off-season in | | | | MVP) which put Ripken in the record books for being |
| pro baseball and as always free agency was one of | | | | the oldest major leaguer to accomplish that feat. |
| the hottest topics at the GM meetings this past week | | | | Biggest Bust #3 - Mo Vaughn (1B - Angels) - 6 years, |
| (November 5-8, 2007). The other two were instant | | | | $80 million ($13.3m/yr.) |
| replay and trying to approve the wearing of batting | | | | Vaughn was another high priced free agent whose |
| helmets for first and third base coaches. The helmet | | | | career ended abruptly in injury. He played 13 seasons |
| issue arose due to the death of Rockies Minor League | | | | with three teams --- Red Sox (1991-98), Angels |
| manager, Mike Coolbaugh, who died after being struck | | | | (1999-2001), and Mets (2002-03). He played his college |
| in the head by a line drive while coaching first base. | | | | ball at Seton Hall and was drafted by the Red Sox in |
| Looking back in retrospect, free agency was born out | | | | 1989 (1st round - 23rd pick), and made his MLB debut |
| of 70 years of player frustration at the hands of | | | | on June 27, 1991. When he was playing in the Cape |
| baseball owners who held a choke hold on player's | | | | Cod Baseball League his teammates included Chuck |
| rights. The Brotherhood Strike (1890) was the first | | | | Knoblauch and Craig Biggio. |
| attempt by the ball players to end the owners grip on | | | | Vaughn was a very popular figure in Boston mostly |
| player mobility as they organized the National | | | | because of his charity work in the community and his |
| Brotherhood of Ball Players. But it failed miserably and | | | | personality, but his issues with Red Sox management |
| the owners kept their death grip on the game until | | | | and the local media eventually spelled the end of his |
| 1966. | | | | career in a Red Sox uniform. Despite starting the 1998 |
| That year, the players enlisted the services of Marvin | | | | season with a ninth inning walk-off grand slam to beat |
| Miller, labor union activist, and formed the Major League | | | | the Mariners, the season was filled with constant |
| Ball Players Association (MLBPA). The final nail in the | | | | bitterness between him and management. After the |
| coffin of the owner's reserve clause binding players to | | | | Indians knocked Boston out of the divisional series, |
| one team happened when both Don Drysdale and | | | | Vaughn announced his free agency. |
| Sandy Koufax refused to re-sign their contracts. In | | | | Within days, he signed the highest paying contract (at |
| 1970, Curt Flood, St. Louis Cards outfielder, took the | | | | the time) with the Angels. In 1999 and 2000 he hit over |
| leagues to court to officially challenge the clause by | | | | 30 home runs and drove in over 100 RBI's. He was |
| negotiating a player trade citing the 13th Amendment | | | | plagued by injuries in 1999, one of which included falling |
| and Antitrust legislation as grounds for the law suit. | | | | down the dugout steps on his first play of his first |
| He lost the case in 1972 in the Supreme Court by a | | | | game and badly spraining his ankle. In 2001, he never |
| 5-3 vote, but due in part to large-scale public sympathy, | | | | played in one game the whole season. But the Mets |
| the damage had been done. In 1975, Dave McNally and | | | | saw him as a run producer suited for the middle of |
| Andy Messersmith played without contracts and then | | | | their lineup and took him in trade for pitcher Kevin |
| declared themselves free agents. The owners, whose | | | | Appier on December 27, 2001. |
| grip on the ball players was weakened by | | | | Despite the new opportunity in the Big Apple, Vaughn |
| concessions that came out of the Flood case, had no | | | | could not resurrect his past performance in Boston nor |
| choice but to accept the Collective Bargaining | | | | kick the injuries that were nagging him the past few |
| Agreement put forth by the MLBPA, effectively ending | | | | years. He had a poor season in 2002, and only |
| once and for all the reserve clause's effectiveness. | | | | appeared in 27 games due to a chronic knee injury in |
| I've come up with a list of the five biggest free agent | | | | 2003. At that point, doctors were telling Vaughn that |
| busts of the last ten years by putting in some due | | | | continuing to play baseball would eventually render him |
| diligence and doing some research. Hopefully, you'll see | | | | disabled. For Vaughn, this closed the door on his |
| my reasoning behind choosing the five ball players that | | | | career. |
| are on this list. I arranged the list from lowest annual | | | | Biggest Bust #2 - Kevin Brown (P - Dodgers) - 7 |
| contract salary to the highest, and oddly enough three | | | | years, $105 million ($15m/yr.) |
| of the five are pitchers. | | | | Though Brown had an 18 year career in the majors, he |
| Biggest Bust #5 - Albert Belle (LF/RF - Orioles) - 5 | | | | was never one that I would consider a great pitcher. |
| years, $65 million ($13m/yr.) | | | | He was mediocre at best, running hot and cold and the |
| Albert "Joey" Belle played for three teams in his injury | | | | hot part usually happening at contract time. Brown |
| shortened 12 year career --- the Indians (1989-96), the | | | | always reminded me of a ball player from yesteryear |
| White Sox (1997-98), and the Orioles (1999-2000). He | | | | named "Jumpin'" Joe Collins. They called him that |
| was called "Joey" (his childhood nickname) while in the | | | | because he "jumped" to wherever the money was. |
| minors, but his temperament and excessive drinking | | | | Brown played for six different teams --- Rangers |
| habits labeled him a high risk draft prospect in college, | | | | (1988-94), Orioles (1995), Marlins (1996-97), Padres |
| and it was during his counseling for alcohol abuse that | | | | (1998), Dodgers (1999-2003), and Yankees (2004-05). |
| he started going by his proper name of Albert. | | | | He was drafted fourth in the first round of 1986 by the |
| Even though his career was ended in 2000 due to a | | | | Rangers, and made his debut in 1989, and was placed |
| severe hip injury, Belle's career was continually clouded | | | | as #2 in the rotation behind Nolan Ryan. He had |
| by his questionable behavior both on and off the field. | | | | average seasons in 1990-91, but in 1992 he was 21-11 |
| He was suspended in the 1986 college World Series | | | | making him the first Rangers pitcher since Fergie |
| when he went into the stands after a fan had been | | | | Jenkins (1974) to win 20 or more games. |
| shouting racial slurs at him. In 1990, he threw a baseball | | | | He spent 1995 with the Orioles after the 1994-95 strike |
| into the stands, hitting a person that was taunting him | | | | was settled, and then went to Florida for the 1996-97 |
| about his alcohol rehab. He also ran into a Halloween | | | | seasons. The highlight with the Marlins obviously came |
| vandal with his car after catching him in the act of | | | | in the '97 season when they won the World Series. |
| throwing eggs at his house. | | | | When Marlin's ownership dismantled the championship |
| In 1994, a corked bat got him suspended. He was fined | | | | team, Brown was traded to the Padres for the '98 |
| in 1996 for colliding with Fernando Vina on a play at | | | | season. He helped get the Padres to the series, but |
| second base. And in 1995, Hannah Storm of NBC | | | | not before he blew a save opportunity in Game 5 of |
| Sports was the target of a profane outburst during the | | | | the NLCS. |
| 1995 World Series when she approached him for an | | | | When Brown signed his contract with the Dodgers, he |
| interview. It was also reported that the Indians billed him | | | | became the first $100 million man in baseball, and in my |
| $10,000 a year for damages done to opposing team's | | | | opinion the most overrated. The contract was |
| clubhouses during road games. | | | | oftentimes referred to as the worst one ever from a |
| At the end of the 1999 season, Belle invoked a clause | | | | team's point of view because throughout his final |
| in his contract that would guarantee that he would | | | | years he would only average nine wins per season |
| remain one of the three highest paid players in | | | | and be hampered continually with injuries. |
| baseball, and when the White Sox refused to give him | | | | Brown was traded to the Yankees in December of |
| a raise, he immediately became a free agent. The | | | | 2003 --- a trade I have never agreed with and my |
| Orioles, desperate to get back into a pennant chase, | | | | skepticism was well documented with "I told you so's" |
| jumped at the opportunity and signed Belle to a five | | | | after only two years in the Bronx. Though he dealt |
| year contract worth $65 million. But Belle's career | | | | with health problems (back and spine) during '04, |
| would end after only two of the five seasons on the | | | | Brown proved he lacked intelligence when he angrily |
| contract when he was diagnosed with degenerative | | | | stormed out of Torre's office, punched the wall outside, |
| osteoarthritis of the hip. He was only 34 years old. | | | | breaking his left hand. Brown would be out of action |
| During his career, Belle became only the fourth player | | | | for the remainder of the season. |
| all time along with Ruth, Gehrig, and Foxx to have eight | | | | Brown would make an attempt at returning in 2005, |
| straight seasons of 30 or more homers and 100 or | | | | but would fail miserably being plagued with back |
| more RBI's. In 1995, Belle became the only player in | | | | problems and other injuries throughout the season. His |
| MLB history to hit 50 homers and 50 doubles, and to | | | | 4-7 record and 6.50 ERA was enough, and in |
| this day he remains alone in the record books with that | | | | February of 2006, he announced his retirement. For |
| stat. | | | | Yankee fans it was too long in the making. For me, it |
| Biggest Bust #4 - Chan Ho Park (P - Rangers) - 5 | | | | was the end of a foolish waste of money. |
| years, $65 million ($13m/yr.) | | | | Biggest Bust #1 - Mike Hampton (P - Rockies) - 8 |
| Park has been with 4 teams in 14 professional | | | | years, $121 million ($15.1m/ yr.) |
| seasons. He was picked up by the Dodgers as an | | | | Hampton was drafted by the Mariners in 1990 and |
| amateur free agent in 1994 where he spent eight | | | | made his major league debut in 1993. Besides Seattle |
| seasons (1994-2001), then pitched for the Rangers | | | | (1993), he has been with the Astros (1994-99), the |
| (2002-05), the Padres (2005-06), and finally the Mets | | | | Mets (2000), the Rockies (2001-02), and the Braves |
| (2007). But the "bust" occurred when he was in a | | | | (2003-present). Hampton would get off to a |
| Rangers' uniform. | | | | disappointing start in Seattle and get shipped off to |
| After a 15-11 season with the Dodgers in 2001, Park | | | | Houston after only one season. The best year of his |
| signed with the Rangers for five years and $65 million, | | | | career came in 1999 with the Astros when he posted |
| which was a record for size of contract signed by a | | | | a 22-4 record and a 2.90 ERA as well. |
| pitcher at the time. But while he was in Texas he was | | | | Hampton was also revered as one of the better hitting |
| hampered with injuries and a hitter friendly ballpark that | | | | pitchers in the league and would win five Silver Slugger |
| did not play out in his favor. Park was an unpopular | | | | Awards in a row. In 2001 while with the Rockies he |
| figure in the Dallas area. The media constantly | | | | batted .291 and hit 7 home runs. But coupled with his |
| demeaned him in print with nicknames like "Heave Ho | | | | hitting prowess that year was a disappointing 14-13 |
| Park", "(It's) Outta Tho Park," and "Oh No Park", not to | | | | won/loss record and a dismal 5.12 ERA. Adding insult |
| mention the jeers of fans that he was an under | | | | to injury, he developed control problems. In 2002, things |
| achiever hurting his team as well as a big waste of | | | | just got worse. His ERA swelled to 6.15 and he posted |
| money. | | | | a miserable 7-15 record. |
| Not wanting to label Park as a pitcher who could not | | | | As a result, in November of '02, Hampton was traded |
| succeed, upper management took the stance that he | | | | to the Marlins then immediately to Atlanta. He won 14 |
| didn't fit the Rangers' organization. So on July 29, 2005 | | | | games in 2003 and in 2004 he helped get the Braves |
| the Rangers traded him to the Padres for Phil Nevin, | | | | into the post season. Limited by injuries in 2005, he |
| and he was immediately shelled for seven runs and | | | | posted a 5-3 record, only to have his season end with |
| eight hits in only 4.1 innings in his first outing in a San | | | | an elbow injury that August. He would undergo |
| Diego uniform. The only highlight of his 2006 season | | | | Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2006 |
| came as a reliever for Korea in the World Baseball | | | | season while in rehab, and 2007 would prove to be no |
| Classic. | | | | better. In March, he tore an oblique muscle; in April, a |
| February of 2007 saw Park ink a one year, $3 million | | | | bullpen start was shut down due to recurring elbow |
| deal with the Mets, but he was immediately sent to | | | | pain; and after having another elbow procedure done |
| AAA New Orleans due to a poor spring performance. | | | | shortly thereafter, the Braves announced that he |
| On April 30th he pitched only one time for the Mets | | | | would miss the entire 2007 season with a torn flexor |
| filling in for an injured Orlando Hernandez, but was sent | | | | tendon in his pitching elbow. |
| back down to New Orleans on May 3rd and then | | | | As of the date of this article, there is no news about |
| designated for assignment on June 4th. On June 12th | | | | Hampton or his future. For me, this contract was more |
| he signed a minor league contract with the Astros' | | | | ridiculous than A-Rod's $25.2 million per year only |
| triple A franchise at Round Rock, but as of season's | | | | because the Yankees got some good out of A-Rod. |
| end, he never joined the Astros due to unimpressive | | | | A writer for Sports Illustrated said it best --- "This deal, |
| stats in the minors. This past November 7th, Park | | | | signed in the wild winter before the '01 season, was |
| supposedly accepted an offer from the Dodgers to | | | | doomed from the start. The lefty Hampton was so |
| report to spring training in 2008. | | | | bad -- 21-28, 5.75 ERA -- that the Rocks paid Florida |
| Some of the notable events of Park's career include | | | | (and then the Braves) to take him. The Braves still |
| being the first South Korean pitcher to reach 100 | | | | owe Hampton -- who missed all of '06 and '07 -- $15 |
| victories in the majors. In 2001, he gave up Bonds' | | | | million for '08." Now that is a "bust" if ever there was |
| record breaking 71st home run and then his 72nd later | | | | one. |
| in the game. April 23, 1999 saw him give up two grand | | | | As always, if you have any comments or questions, |
| slams in one inning to Fernando Tatis. And in the third | | | | e-mail me at and I will respond to you as quickly as I |
| inning of the 2001 All Star Game, he surrendered the | | | | can. Until next time, here's hoping your free agent isn't |
| home run to Cal Ripken, Jr. (later named the game's | | | | a bust. |