Eight players signed as free agents for over a million bucks in the offseason have been dumped so far this year. Let's look at the grisly details.
- Alex Cora, released by Mets on 8-7-10. Signed to a one-year, $2MM deal by Omar Minaya on 11-30-09. Received 187 plate appearances.
- Chan Ho Park, designated for assignment by Yankees on 7-31-10. Signed to a one-year, $1.2MM deal by Brian Cashman on 2-24-10. Pitched 35.3 innings.
- Brendan Donnelly, released by Pirates on 7-29-10. Signed to a one-year, $1.35MM deal by Neal Huntington on 1-18-10. Pitched 30.6 innings.
- Garrett Atkins, released by Orioles on 7-6-10. Signed to a one-year, $4.5MM deal by Andy MacPhail on 12-18-09. Received 152 plate appearances.
- Adam Everett, released by Tigers on 6-15-10. Signed to a one-year, $1.55MM deal by Dave Dombrowski on 12-7-09. Received 89 plate appearances.
- Randy Winn, designated for assignment by Yankees on 5-28-10. Signed to a one-year, $1.1MM deal by Brian Cashman on 2-8-10. Received 71 plate appearances.
- Bob Howry, released by Diamondbacks on 5-17-10. Signed to a one-year, $2.25MM deal by Josh Byrnes on 12-28-09. Pitched 14.3 innings.
- Jack Cust, designated for assignment by Athletics on 4-3-10. Signed to a one-year, $2.65MM deal by Billy Beane on 1-7-10. This may have been more of a procedural move by the A's, but they were still willing to let him go for nothing three months and zero plate appearances after signing him.
- Only $16.6MM was committed to these players, so it's not outrageous. The cases of Cust, Howry, and Winn are curious because they were cut so quickly, while Atkins stands out as the worst signing of the bunch.
- Also consider Jeremy Hermida, Akinori Iwamura, and Brian Bruney. They were not free agents but these offseason acquisitions were also outrighted or released.
