Post by Fish Troll on Jun 1, 2007 15:42:15 GMT -5
This are the Top 16 Worst Overpaid Teams Acording To SI:
1) 2007 New York Yankees | Opening Day Payroll: $189 million
Record: 22-29, .431 (Through May 31)
Tied for fourth place
This year's Yankees are well on their way to becoming the highest-paid team ever to miss the playoffs. But at least they won't be alone in their misery. Since the era of rampant free-agent spending and payroll disparity began in the late 1980s, here are the other teams that stand out for being big-money busts.
2) 2006 Boston Red Sox | Payroll: $120 million, 2nd overall (out of 30)
Record: 86-76, .531
Finish: 3rd place, 11 GB
They were in the race until a late-season sweep at the hands of the Yankees, and then suffered too many injuries to recover. The lack of contributions from right-hander Matt Clement (65 1/3 IP) and former closer Keith Foulke (zero saves, 4.35 ERA) proved costly.
3) 2006 Chicago Cubs | Payroll: $94.4 million, 7th overall (out of 30)
Record: 66-96, .407
Finish: 6th place, 17.5 GB
An early-season injury to star first baseman Derrek Lee sent the club into a tailspin and greased the skids for manager Dusty Baker's ouster. Kerry Wood was paid $12 million to pitch in only four games.
4) 2003 New York Mets | Payroll: $117.2 million, 2nd overall (out of 30)
Record: 66-95, .410
Finish: 5th place, 34.5 GB
All-Star catcher Mike Piazza ($15.5 million) was limited to 68 games and high-priced veteran Roberto Alomar ($8 million) earned a ticket out of town in a midseason trade. Former AL MVP Mo Vaughn ($17 million) managed only 79 at-bats before breaking down for good.
5) 2001 Texas Rangers | Payroll: $88.6 million, 7th overall (out of 30)
Record: 73-89, .451
Finish: 4th place, 43 GB
Unhappy with a last-place finish in 2000, the Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to a still-record $252 million deal ... and still finished in last place. They threw good money after bad the following winter, landing Chan Ho Park to a $65 million contract. Texas finished in last place all three seasons it had A-Rod on its roster.
6) 2001 Boston Red Sox | Payroll: $109.7 million, 2nd overall (out of 30)
Record: 82-79, .509
Finish: 2nd place, 13.5 GB
They spent only $3 million less than the Yankees but didn't come close to challenging for a playoff spot as Oakland took the wild card with 102 wins.
7) 2000 Baltimore Orioles | Payroll: $83 million, 3rd overall (out of 30)
Record: 74-88, .457
Finish: 4th place, 13.5 GB
The O's paid Albert Belle about $13 million for a subpar season, his last before retiring because of a hip injury. Brady Anderson was still around and making star money ($7 million) for a mediocre performance (.257 average, 16 steals in 25 attempts).
8) 1998 Baltimore Orioles | Payroll: $70.4 million, 1st overall (out of 30)
Record: 79-83, .488
Finish: 4th place, 35 GB
Former 50-home-run man Brady Anderson batted .236 while starters Jimmy Key and Doug Drabek faltered badly during their final big league seasons.
9) 1995 Toronto Blue Jays | Payroll: $49.8 million, 1st overall (out of 28)
Record: 56-88, .389
Finish: 5th place, 30 GB
The remnants of Toronto's back-to-back world champions of 1992-93 didn't age well. Pitchers Duane Ward (nearly $5 million salary) and Juan Guzman (nearly $3 million) in particular had rough seasons.
10) 1993 Cincinnati Reds | Payroll: $42.9 million, 2nd overall (out of 28)
Record: 73-89, .451
Finish: 4th place, 31 GB
Former 20-game winner John Smiley signed for $18.4 million over four years and won only three games in his first season in the Queen City.
1) 2007 New York Yankees | Opening Day Payroll: $189 million
Record: 22-29, .431 (Through May 31)
Tied for fourth place
This year's Yankees are well on their way to becoming the highest-paid team ever to miss the playoffs. But at least they won't be alone in their misery. Since the era of rampant free-agent spending and payroll disparity began in the late 1980s, here are the other teams that stand out for being big-money busts.
2) 2006 Boston Red Sox | Payroll: $120 million, 2nd overall (out of 30)
Record: 86-76, .531
Finish: 3rd place, 11 GB
They were in the race until a late-season sweep at the hands of the Yankees, and then suffered too many injuries to recover. The lack of contributions from right-hander Matt Clement (65 1/3 IP) and former closer Keith Foulke (zero saves, 4.35 ERA) proved costly.
3) 2006 Chicago Cubs | Payroll: $94.4 million, 7th overall (out of 30)
Record: 66-96, .407
Finish: 6th place, 17.5 GB
An early-season injury to star first baseman Derrek Lee sent the club into a tailspin and greased the skids for manager Dusty Baker's ouster. Kerry Wood was paid $12 million to pitch in only four games.
4) 2003 New York Mets | Payroll: $117.2 million, 2nd overall (out of 30)
Record: 66-95, .410
Finish: 5th place, 34.5 GB
All-Star catcher Mike Piazza ($15.5 million) was limited to 68 games and high-priced veteran Roberto Alomar ($8 million) earned a ticket out of town in a midseason trade. Former AL MVP Mo Vaughn ($17 million) managed only 79 at-bats before breaking down for good.
5) 2001 Texas Rangers | Payroll: $88.6 million, 7th overall (out of 30)
Record: 73-89, .451
Finish: 4th place, 43 GB
Unhappy with a last-place finish in 2000, the Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to a still-record $252 million deal ... and still finished in last place. They threw good money after bad the following winter, landing Chan Ho Park to a $65 million contract. Texas finished in last place all three seasons it had A-Rod on its roster.
6) 2001 Boston Red Sox | Payroll: $109.7 million, 2nd overall (out of 30)
Record: 82-79, .509
Finish: 2nd place, 13.5 GB
They spent only $3 million less than the Yankees but didn't come close to challenging for a playoff spot as Oakland took the wild card with 102 wins.
7) 2000 Baltimore Orioles | Payroll: $83 million, 3rd overall (out of 30)
Record: 74-88, .457
Finish: 4th place, 13.5 GB
The O's paid Albert Belle about $13 million for a subpar season, his last before retiring because of a hip injury. Brady Anderson was still around and making star money ($7 million) for a mediocre performance (.257 average, 16 steals in 25 attempts).
8) 1998 Baltimore Orioles | Payroll: $70.4 million, 1st overall (out of 30)
Record: 79-83, .488
Finish: 4th place, 35 GB
Former 50-home-run man Brady Anderson batted .236 while starters Jimmy Key and Doug Drabek faltered badly during their final big league seasons.
9) 1995 Toronto Blue Jays | Payroll: $49.8 million, 1st overall (out of 28)
Record: 56-88, .389
Finish: 5th place, 30 GB
The remnants of Toronto's back-to-back world champions of 1992-93 didn't age well. Pitchers Duane Ward (nearly $5 million salary) and Juan Guzman (nearly $3 million) in particular had rough seasons.
10) 1993 Cincinnati Reds | Payroll: $42.9 million, 2nd overall (out of 28)
Record: 73-89, .451
Finish: 4th place, 31 GB
Former 20-game winner John Smiley signed for $18.4 million over four years and won only three games in his first season in the Queen City.
