Contract Year Superstars

[Redz]

I was just checking on my roto team and shaking my head with disgust at the year Eric Byrnes is having for the D-Backs.  Last year, in his contract year, he stole 50 bases, bit 20+ homers, scored 100 runs and basically had a career year.  This year, after cashing on, he's hitting a paltry .230 so far with 4 steals etc...Time will tell, of course, how Byrnes plays out his contract, but the early returns are disappointing.

I started racking my brain for some other classic cases of a guy having a career year in his contract year, then signing a large contract and sucking wind.  Mark Blount is obviously one of our favorites in this category.  Adrian Beltre, in baseball, also comes to mind.

I'm drawing a blank on more.

Any thoughts?

[Big Ticket]

Erik Dampier
Mike James

[Redz]

Erik Dampier
Mike James

I still like James, he just signed with the wrong team, but yeh, he fits.

What about Chris Childs

[celticmaestro]

towards the end of this season przybila really started playing like he was possessed, and he's in contract year.

there are others, and this is really annoying because i have a complete mental block 

[Redz]

Nick Essasky...

Larry Hughes to some degree

[Edgar]

Anderson Varejao as Free Agent
Darko
Toine

[Bankshot]

How could you forget Mark Blount? 

In baseball, Barry Zito.... probably the worst contract in baseball history.

[Redz]

How could you forget Mark Blount?

In baseball, Barry Zito.... probably the worst contract in baseball history.

Check OP

He's Hall of Famer in this category

back to baseball...Mo Vaughn

Zito's good one

[crownsy]

How could you forget Mark Blount? 

In baseball, Barry Zito.... probably the worst contract in baseball history.

carl pavano is the worst contract in baseball  histroy, and its not close.

120 million to pitch 4 games.

[Redz]

How could you forget Mark Blount? 

In baseball, Barry Zito.... probably the worst contract in baseball history.

carl pavano is the worst contract in baseball  histroy, and its not close.

120 million to pitch 4 games.

TP.  That was a brutal signing (thankfully outbidding the Sox).  At least it was an injury though.  When a guy signs for big bucks and flat out can't perform is the worst (ala Zito).

Edgar Renteria with the Sox might work, but he had a well established career before (and after)

[Celtic]

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury I present to you Mr. Barry Zito. Seven Years 126 million dollars.

And of course how could we forget the pitcher every big team was lusting over Carl Pavano, 4 years 40 million dollars for 5 wins.

Allen Houston, Anfernee Hardaway, Chris Webber, Grant Hill also come to mind.

Gilbert Arenas is my pick to be next.

[Big Ticket]

I disagree completely with Zito.  He was turning into garbage before he got that contract.  That is in  no way an example of a "contract year" performance as much as it was just a terrible signing by the Giants.  There's a difference between a terrible contract and a guy only performing the year before he becomes a free agent.

[Celtic]

Guess everyone beat me to it, with Pavano and Zito.

Maybe Johnny Damon, he's not terrible, but nowhere near what he was.

[Redz]

Rickey Henderson was certainly guilty of stepping it up in a contract year, but he generally performed pretty well after signing as well too.

[wdleehi]

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury I present to you Mr. Barry Zito. Seven Years 126 million dollars.

And of course how could we forget the pitcher every big team was lusting over Carl Pavano, 4 years 40 million dollars for 5 wins.

Allen Houston, Anfernee Hardaway, Chris Webber, Grant Hill also come to mind.

Gilbert Arenas is my pick to be next.

None of those guys were injury concerns before they were signed.