Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1236 of 1503)

YAHOO! Sports columnist Jeff Passan compiles his all-overpaid and all-underpaid teams.

All-Overpaid

1B: Richie Sexson, Seattle, $15.5 million – With general manager Bill Bavasi fired Monday, the Mariners could finally cut ties with Sexson, the biggest mistake of Bavasi’s tenure. He’s been even worse than last season, striking out once every three at-bats, getting on base less than 30 percent of the time and slugging below .400. A disaster in every manner possible.

OF: The entire Los Angeles Angels outfield rotation, $54 million – For that much money, you figure Garret Anderson ($12.6 million), Gary Matthews Jr. ($9.4 million), Torii Hunter ($16.5 million) and Vladimir Guerrero ($15.5 million) can do better than the following rankings in left-field, center-field and right-field OPS; 23rd, 12th and 26th.

All-Underpaid

OF: Grady Sizemore, Cleveland, $3.17 million – Sizemore should be an annual participant on this list, with his contract calling for salaries no higher than $8.5 million through the 2012 season. He’s the Indians’ lone salvation this season, a home-run-hitting, base-stealing, outfield-ground-covering menace.

3B: Jorge Cantu, Florida, $500,000 – The Marlins always operate on the margins, and this year’s scrap-heap find was one of the AL’s best young players three years ago. Somewhere between his 117-RBI season as a 23-year-old and this year, Cantu lost his stroke. And somewhere since, he has found it with 14 home runs and a .506 slugging percentage that offset his 14 errors, .918 fielding percentage and range of a water pistol.

It’s amazing to think Sexson, a career .261 hitter, is making $15.5 million this year. Holy crap.

Cantu has been one of the best surprises of the season.

While explaining what happened when shortstop Jose Reyes put up a fight when asked to leave a game with a hamstring injury Tuesday, Mets’ manager Jerry Manuel joked:

“I told him next time he does that I’m going to get my blade out and cut him. I’m a gangster. You go gangster on me, I’m going to have to get you. You do that again, I’m going to cut you right on the field,” quipped Manuel, who reinserted Reyes at shortstop and the leadoff spot for last night’s series finale against the Angels.

Somebody fill Manuel in on the young people’s lingo. It’s not gangster, it’s “gangsta.” I know he was only joking, but that’s a weird thing to say to your starting shortstop.

Bugs & Cranks decided to put a team together comprised of the worst contracts in MLB history. The pitching staff alone will make your head spin.

Starter #1: Barry Zito
Team: San Francisco Giants
Contract: 7 years / $126M
I’m pretty sure we don’t have to get into this one…

Starter #2: Carl Pavano
Team: New York Yankees
Contract: 4 years / $39.95M
His nickname is “American Idle.” Enough said.

Starter #3: Mike Hampton
Team: Colorado Rockies (and Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves)
Contract: 8 years / $121M
Since 2004, he has made 12 starts. Over that time, he has been paid upwards of $50M. We’re all in the wrong business.

Starter #4: Russ Ortiz
Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
Contract: 4 years / $33M
How does 5-16 with a 6.99 ERA grab ya?

Starter #5: Denny Neagle
Team: Colorado Rockies
Contract: 5 years / $51.5M
Going 19-23 with a 5.57 ERA over the first three seasons was bad enough. Then he missed all of 2004. Then he was caught with his zipper down and a $40 hooker. Not only was he a thief, but he was apparently a cheap bastard too!

This list should be more than enough for teams not to dole out any more ridiculous contracts to free agent pitchers. Whether it’s the change in parks, clubs or even uniforms, the marquee free agent pitchers just never seem to pan out when given truck loads of money. Are the expectations too high? Barry Zito looks like he’s crumbling under the expectations. It’s almost like he’s just waiting for the wheels to come off in every start.