Let’s face it: The economy isn’t getting any better. Gas prices are going way up and the jobs market still stinks, regardless of what Mr. Obama is telling you.
In the spirit of wasting money, here in no particular order, is the unofficial Evan Haffner “5 Most Overpaid Bums In New York Mets History.”
And congratulations to Kei Igawa for winning the award four years in a row by stealing money from the Yankees!
How can we not start with Bobby Bonilla? Good old Bobby Bo from the Bronx. With that fake smile that only a used car salesman could love!
In 1992 he signed a $29 million five-year contract with the Mets. He went on to play for some awful Mets teams, had some public run-ins with the media and ultimately is the poster boy for guys who definitely don’t belong in New York. But since those that don’t follow history are doomed to repeat it, the Mets actually brought him back for Round 2 in 1999. The new and fatter Bobby Bo hit a robust .160 in 119 at-bats but is more known for playing cards with teammate Rickey Henderson in the clubhouse during an NLCS battle with the Atlanta Braves. What’s more shocking is that he still hung around MLB for two more seasons with the Braves and Cardinals. I guess it pays to know someone who knows someone!
Next up…Carlos Beltran. I’m sorry, I’ve never been a big fan of this guy and his bloated contract is based mainly on his 2004 postseason with the Houston Astros. Yes, he hit 41 homers in the 2006 season and yes, he had 100+ RBI’s from 2006-2008. But he also was a big part of the 2007/2008 teams that gagged it up down the stretch and although he claims he is healthy now, is in the last year of a contract with gimpy knees. He’s just not a superstar who’s getting superstar money!
Third, Armando Benitez: It’s not that he had a huge contract. He definitely didn’t rob the Mets like others did. He was just a bum. Yes, he saved 160 games for the Mets from ’99 to ’03. (Can’t believe it was really that many!) But did he ever save the “big one?” Perfect example of a guy that looks unhittable on a Wednesday night in April but goes to pieces in September. Makes K-Rod look like Rollie Fingers!
Fourth…Carlos Baerga. If you ever look up guys that just lost all their talent and ability in about five minutes, here is your guy! Came to NY in 1996 and promptly hit .193 in the last 26 games of the season. Hit the softest .267 ever, (with only 75 extra base hits) over parts of three seasons. Was a .300 hitter when he left Cleveland, yet was a shell of his original self when he arrived in Flushing.
Fifth…Jeff Kent. Bad dude who didn’t belong in NY. Although I do give him his props for wanting to fight Barry Bonds in the dugout when he got to San Francisco. Kent was traded from Toronto in the summer of 1992 for David Cone. All Cone did was help the Blue Jays win a World Series. Kent played on some lousy Mets teams for parts of five years and hit .279. He went on to the Giants, Dodgers and Astros and became more of a superstar that the Mets envisioned when they got him as he won the MVP in 2000 with SF.
Honorable mentions:
- Aaron Heilman
- Kaz Matsui
- Roberto Alomar
- Jason Bay, (work in progress!)…
