Cubs: Best and worst free agent signings all-time, by position

Cubs: Finding the number of starting center fielders that came to the Cubs via free agency was not easy.

Best: Jim Edmonds

Cubs fans might not like this, but longtime nemesis Jim Edmonds fit incredibly well on the 2008 division champion team. The longtime Angel and Cardinal obliterated Cubs pitching in his career and was seen as one of the team’s biggest villains. When he signed with the Cubs in 2008, after a brief failed stint in San Diego at the ripe age of 38, North Side fans wanted to puke.

However, the veteran slugger and eight-time Gold Glove winner came up so big in his 85 games as a Cub. He slashed .256/.369/.568 with 19 home runs, a .937 OPS, 135 OPS+ and 17 doubles. On June 21, he homered twice in the fourth inning against the White Sox. While his time in Chicago was brief and he is still probably seen as a Cubs villain, cannot discredit him for his contributions in a Cubs uniform.

Worst: Willie Wilson

We had to give it to someone, so Willie Wilson is the somewhat unfortunate receiver of this dishonor. Wilson signed with the Cubs prior to the 1993 season as his career was winding down. He was 37 and had played in the majors since 1976. Wilson was a two-time All Star, two-time Silver Slugger winner, Gold Glove winner (1980), 1982 batting champion (.332), and was part of the 1985 World Series champion Kansas City Royals.

Wilson was simply old and washed when he came to the Cubs. In his 122 games in Chicago (1993-1994) he slashed .256/.298/.355 with one home run and a 77 OPS+. He was released in early 1994 and finished his MLB career with 2,207 hits in 2,154 games. Again, we had to give it to someone. Sorry, Willie.