Most Overpaid Player Ever

[StanMarsh51]

The little league comment was a bit much for me. When there are what, four guys with more total innings?

Earlier in his career (Oakland years), he was an "innings eater."

The past 7 years, he hasn't been....Hammer's claim was that he's "always been an innings eater." If you're making 33 starts a year and throwing under 200 innings, you're not an innings eater.

I'd think there are quite a number of guys with more innings since 2007

 

[David_son]

they actually just started paying him correct?

I believe last year and a million and a half for like 25 years

 

[molsaniceman]

Since 2007 the year zito signed with SF he has pitched 1111 innings 32 pitchers have more IP than zito

even beckett (mr DL) has more 1121 IP

CC(1565) ,Felix (1518) JV (1515) and shields (1496) are top 4

 

[ImSmartherThanYou]

Jamarcus Russell in football.

I think I'll go with A-Rod in baseball. Doesn't matter if you "earned" it, if you aren't meeting expectations you are overpaid.

Pretty twisted logic here. Anyone who expects a 38-year-old infielder to be worth $27.5M per year is an idiot. A-Rod didn't hold a gun to anyone's head.

 

[StanMarsh51]

Since 2007 the year zito signed with SF he has pitched 1111 innings 32 pitchers have more IP than zito

even beckett (mr DL) has more 1121 IP

CC(1565) ,Felix (1518) JV (1515) and shields (1496) are top 4

Pretty much...there are over dozen guys also who have at least 200 innings (a full season's worth) more of innings than Zito during that span.

 

[ImSmartherThanYou]

Are you from this planet? The Angels will be paying Pujols $26.5M til he's 44. There is no "earned." He is still "earning."

Zito is an innings-eating horse and has been his whole career. Comparing him to Pujols who can't walk to first, leads the league in strikeouts and inning-ending DPs at $26.5M per is ludicrous.

You clearly have no idea how the free agent market works. A player is paid based on the market value at the time they hit free agency. Almost every free agent player ever is paid based on what they've accomplished in the recent past, not what they *will* accomplish. That's the risk. You have no way of knowing what they will accomplish going forward. A-Rod got above market value, but not well above market. Santana got roughly market value. Pujols got roughly market value. They've all underperformed, obviously. No one's disputing that. But at least they had established themselves as being worth roughly what they received on the open market. Guys like Zito, Wells, and Howard did no such thing. They were overpaid from the moment the contract was offered, not just based on how it turned out. Then, it turned out badly. Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth are also more overpaid in my mind because they were never worth close to what they were offered. BJ Upton as well. At least A-Rod, Pujols and Santana were elite players worth being paid the most money when they were available, were huge stars, and put butts in the seats. These other guys did none of those things, but sure got paid like it.

How is Barry Zito an "innings eating horse"????? He hasn't pitched 200 innings in a season since his last year in Oakland, let alone the 215-230 that would qualify one as a "horse".

And how are they still "earning it" when contracts are guaranteed? The money is going to them whether they earn it or not. Plenty of players are paid more than what their on-field production is worth, but plenty of players outperform their salary as well. It balances out at the end. The question is whether they ever deserved it in the first place.

 

[ImSmartherThanYou]

Over 180 innings in all but two seasons this millennium. How many other guys can say that? It must be his contract that's kept San Fran from winning titles..... Wait, nope.

180 innings (especially 180 terrible innings) does not qualify as a workhorse, no matter how many years he does it. If someone like Verlander pitches 180 innings per year for the next 5 years, I assure you no one will call him a workhorse.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

It has to be somebody from the Mets past. Considering Jason Bay and Bobby Bonilla are our highest paid outfielders this year that's a pretty reasonable start. Bay was getting like $17 million per to hit .180 with 8 hrs and horrendous defense, for the 50 or so games a year he'd actually play.

 

[ImSmartherThanYou]

Please list pitchers since Zito came into the league who have pitched more innings than him.

Case closed.

Since Zito signed his contract, he's pitched 1,121 innings. There are 33 pitchers who've topped that total during that span, including several who missed entire seasons, and guys who weren't even in the majors yet. Some of the guys ahead of him include the eternally injured Josh Beckett, as well as Joe Blanton, Joe Saunders, Paul Maholm, Kyle Lohse and Aaron Harang. The 35th guy on the list is Randy Wolf, who only has 30 fewer innings despite 20 fewer starts over that time. Randy Wolf.

Maybe Zito *was* a workhorse when he was with Oakland, but that was over a half decade ago. Being a workhorse with mediocre peripherals doesn't make a pitcher worth what Zito got paid. His contract was awful the moment the ink dried.

 

[broncosmitty]

Nobody said he wasn't overpaid.

 

[rokketmn]

I would have to go with Vernon Wells. He hasn't produced since he signed his big contract (7yrs/$126mm) that kicked in in 2008.

At least Zito made a meaningful regular season and playoff contribution in the Giants' 2012 WS season. That has to account for something, right?

I think Pujols and Fielder's contracts will be on here soon enough, with Albie's looking a bit more onerous.

 

[rokketmn]

Wait...did somebody say Bobby Bonilla? Not only was that contract bad, but the Mets have to pay him $1mm a year for what, the next 15 or so years? I think that just kicked in recently, if I am not mistaken.

 

[Swangin]

Wait...did somebody say Bobby Bonilla? Not only was that contract bad, but the Mets have to pay him $1mm a year for what, the next 15 or so years? I think that just kicked in recently, if I am not mistaken.

Kicked in July 1, 2013 and he will receive a check for 1.2M on July 1, for the next 25 years. For playing 60 games.

That would be awesome

 

[rokketmn]

This the same guy who the past 6 years has been averaging 5.7 innings a start?

Geez. Stop taking these so freakin' literally just so you can jump on someone.

I am sure he means that Zito was at least taking the ball every 5th day, and made his 32 or so starts. I am also sure he thinks Zito is overpaid. it is just HIS opinion that he is not the MOST overpaid player.

Let it go.

 

[rokketmn]

Kicked in July 1, 2013 and he will receive a check for 1.2M on July 1, for the next 25 years. For playing 60 games.

Wow. Worse than I thought.

I was just reading that the Mets agreed to the deferral because they thought they would turn the $5.9mm they owed him into over $50mm by investing with Bernie Madoff, because their previous returns had been so excellent. So, the Mets would be making money.

I didn't like Bonilla, but this lazy ass dip-shit sure pulled one over on the Mets and he is laughing that lazy ass all the way to the bank.

 

[rokketmn]

I saw that the payments kicked in for 2011. Unless, of course, Bonilla deferred it again for another $30mm. lol.

 

[jdwills126]

Juan Gonzales...oh thats right he turned down the 10 years 100million Detroit offered him.

Albert Pujols deal with the Angels is just god awful. They could have stuck with Kendry Morales and got better value. That contract was for someone still in their prime. Josh Hamilton's contract is no winner either but at least he can still squeeze out a couple of decent years. Not sure if Hamilton's 5 for 125 will ever see the Angels their moneys worth.

Great pick on Bonilla I think Saberhagen gets $250,000 a year until 2029 from the Mets as well.

Zito has a bad contract but not the worst.

Halladay's 20 million this year and 20 million next are right close as being huge wastes.

 

[Swangin]

I saw that the payments kicked in for 2011. Unless, of course, Bonilla deferred it again for another $30mm. lol.

You're right. Last month I was reading an article on CBS talking about the contract. it said something like, Bonilla received his check today as he will every July 1 through 2035. I took as this was the first year, but it had actually kicked in earlier.

 

[Chef99]

Let's not forget Mike Hampton and the Rockies - 8 years, $121 million. I think he lasted two years.

 

[da55bums]

Zito was the worst pitching one maybe ever, mainly because they keep letting him pitch THATS definately making it even more worse....quite a few just got released, traded, etc at least then not cancers.......Mark Davis...AJ Burnett...Carl Crawford...Carl Pavano...Todd Van Popple...Danny Tartabul..Ken Cameniti...