Chicago Cubs: Five worst free agent signings in history

1 of 6

Apr 22, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the main marquee at the stadium entrance before the game between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Every offseason, fans and teams alike start dreaming of signing the biggest names hitting the open market. We Chicago Cubs fans probably wish more than most other fans. Most years we end up being disappointed. But there has been a few times when have landed one of those prized free agents. It’s not until after the following season when we are truly disappointed.

When these signings don’t go as the front office had planned, it has a ripple effect through the organization. Managers may lose their jobs, general managers will be fired, owners lose money and also lose trust in spending money to help the team, the player loses confidence and the fans get restless.

This slideshow is a list of some of those signings that didn’t quite work out. While some will agree with the names listed, some will say that some players that didn’t make the list should have over others. This is where you come in. In the comments section, don’t hesitate to speak your mind and list your players. Keep this debate alive and make your case for who didn’t live up to their contract for the Chicago Cubs.

Let the show begin.

Milton Bradley – signed 2009 – 3 years, $30 million

Milton Bradley was brought to the Chicago Cubs after having a record-setting season the previous year with Texas. Bradley posted a .321 average, hit 22 homers and drove in 77 runs to go along with a .436 OBP – all career-high numbers. Adding Bradley was considered a top priority with the Cubs front office. After being swept in the playoffs the previous season by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cubs offense was exploited by their right-handed heavy line up. Adding a left-handed batter was at the top of the team’s wish list.

Bradley was going to be protection in the middle of the lineup for Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano – all right-handed power hitters. It was expected that Bradley would also play right field primarily. Kosuke Fukudome and Reed Johnson would split time in center field while the other would platoon from the bench as needed.

Bradley also came with a history of bad press. A number of different incidents with the Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians did make some question if this was the right move for the Chicago Cubs. It ended up being exactly just that bad.

Bradley only played one season with the Cubs. Bradley’s stat line was one reason he was traded (.257 avg., 12 homers and 40 RBI), the other was his attitude that caused him to be suspended for the last two weeks of the season after making some comments about the Cubs and the locker room morale.

Jeff Blauser – signed 1997 – 2 years, $8.4 million

Jeff Blauser, while with the Atlanta Braves was a Chicago Cubs killer, plain and simple. When made available, the Chicago Cubs jumped at the chance to get him. Blauser posted an amazing stat line against the Cubs – in only 299 plate appearances he had a .351 average, 15 home runs, and 48 RBI. Blauser was also a versatile infielder – capable of playing second, shortstop, third base and, if needed, left field.

Blauser was considered at the time to be one of the better shortstops in the National League. After having a solid final season with Atlanta, Blauser decided to test the free agent market.

The 1998 season was a memorable one for the Chicago Cubs, as the club made the postseason. The Cubs were matched up against the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the playoffs. Sammy Sosa had his record-breaking season with his home run race with Mark McGwire. Rookie sensation Kerry Wood struck out 20 batters in a single game. It was, however, not so memorable for Jeff Blauser.

More from Cubbies Crib

Blauser was riddled with injuries during the season causing him to only play in 119 games. By the time the playoffs hit, Blauser saw himself as more of a utility player off the bench. His season numbers dropped way down from his previous season in Atlanta, ultimately ending the year with a .219 average, four homers and 26 RBI. His second season wasn’t much better. Now continuing his utility role, he platooned mostly at second base as a bench player. Blauser finished the year with a stat line of .240 average, 9 homers and 26 runs batted in.

When Blauser signed his contract in late 1997, there was a team option for a third year that would have paid him $7 million; however, the Chicago Cubs declined that option and Blauser was let go.

March 8, 2013; Lakeland, FL, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher

LaTroy Hawkins

(30) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

LaTroy Hawkins- signed 2003 – 3 years, $11 million

Heading into the 2003 offseason, LaTroy Hawkins was considered, by most, one of the top free agent relief pitchers on the market. The Chicago Cubs had a need heading into the 2004 season for some bullpen help alongside Joe Borowski. It was considered one of the Chicago Cubs’ff biggest needs to get this type of player after coming within one game of going to the World Series.

In his last two seasons in Minnesota, Hawkins showed he was worth the money he was seeking as a free agent. While used as more of a set-up man with the Twins, he was untouchable. In his last campaign with the Twins, the right-hander went 9-3 with a 1.86 earned run average to go along with 75 strikeouts over 77 1/3 innings of work. Before signing with the Cubs, Hawkins did have 44 career saves under his belt but he really found the most success as a set-up man.

Hawkins went into Cubs camp expected to be the set-up man for Borowski, but Hawkins did have a clause in his contract that would give him the opportunity to earn an additional $1.3 million if he became the closer. There was talk early on to have Borowski go back to his original job as the set-up man and have Hawkins take a shot at being the everyday closer considering the money he was being paid.

Hawkins would get his chance early in the season when Borowski was sidelined with injury, but he also struggled before the injury so really it was only a matter of time. Looking at Hawkins’ stat line, you would think the Cubs did well with signing Hawkins. He recorded 25 saves and a very respectable 2.63 earned run average, but it was the nine blown saves that hurt Hawkins, especially two of those coming late in the season while the Cubs were in a fight for the wild card spot.

Hawkins would only appear in 21 games in 2005 with the Cubs before being traded away to the San Fransisco Giants for pitchers Jerome Williams and David Aardsma.

Kosuke Fukudome – signed 2007 – 4 years, $48 million

Kosuke Fukudome came into Chicago with a lot of hype. After the success Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui had coming to the United States from Japan, Fukudome was expected to do as much – if not more. Many reports had labeled Fukudome as a better player than Suzuki and Matsui, at least he was a more well-rounded player. He was near the same level as Suzuki as a defensive outfielder but also showed the plus power that Matsui had – essentially he had shown the best of both players – or so we were told.

His Chicago Cubs career started off with a bang. On Opening Day, he hit a game-tying home run off Dodgers closer Eric Gagne. He was an instant celebrity among Cubs fans. After a hot start the season and being named an All-Star for the National League, he started to slow down and got into quite the slump. The season seemed to wear him down quickly and his batting average dropped quickly. What started out as a promising season, ended up being average – at best. Fukudome finished with a .257 average with 10 home runs and 58 runs batted in.

More from Cubbies Crib

Schedule