Your Mike Hamptons - Bad FA Signings by AI

[JMDurron]

Just came up against this guy in my regular season, and happened to notice what a horrifyingly bad deal his contract is.

Playing in 2025 in my MLB QuickStart league, with a mild (1%) inflation factor year-over-year. After the 2020 season, SP Dylan Bundy signed a 5-year, $111 million deal with the Texas Rangers. The following statistics ensued, and somehow I think that GM has been fired since then. It's safe to say that Mr. Bundy's 2020 season was well-timed.

[Habsfan18]

From my fictional MLB, I present to you..Antonio Alonso.

Antonio had played some decent seasons with the Kansas City Royals after signing with them out of Venezuela as a 16 year old back in 2013. He was an all-star 3 times and his 2022 season earned him a Silver Slugger. Fast forward to the end of the 2023 season and he was a 27 year old free agent looking to cash in as part of a somewhat weak free agent class. Did he ever.

The AL East Champion New York Yankees (95-68) - who had been eliminated by the Astros in the ALDS - were looking to make a big splash, and having a crapload of available cash put the baseball world on watch. What were they going to do to put them over the top?

Christmas day: The New York Yankees sign Antonio Alonso to a 7 year contract, worth $206,200,000..making him the highest paid player in the majors (a position he would hold for multiple seasons) and at that time the highest AAV for a contract in MLB history. He was viewed as a decent player and someone who should help the Yankees. But the reaction to the deal was .."seriously?"

Anyways, as you can see, he was pretty much a complete bust in a Yankees uniform despite being named an All-Star during his first two seasons there (popularity likely played a big role). The Yankees didn't make the playoffs once over the course of his contract.

[JMDurron]

Originally Posted by Habsfan18

From my fictional MLB, I present to you..Antonio Alonso.

Antonio had played some decent seasons with the Kansas City Royals after signing with them out of Venezuela as a 16 year old back in 2013. He was an all-star 3 times and his 2022 season earned him a Silver Slugger. Fast forward to the end of the 2023 season and he was a 27 year old free agent looking to cash in as part of a somewhat weak free agent class. Did he ever.

The AL East Champion New York Yankees (95-68) - who had been eliminated by the Astros in the ALDS - were looking to make a big splash, and having a crapload of available cash put the baseball world on watch. What were they going to do to put them over the top?

Christmas day: The New York Yankees sign Antonio Alonso to a 7 year contract, worth $206,200,000..making him the highest paid player in the majors (a position he would hold for multiple seasons) and at that time the highest AAV for a contract in MLB history. He was viewed as a decent player and someone who should help the Yankees. But the reaction to the deal was .."seriously?"

Anyways, as you can see, he was pretty much a complete bust in a Yankees uniform despite being named an All-Star during his first two seasons there (popularity likely played a big role). The Yankees didn't make the playoffs once over the course of his contract.

It's always good to see the Yankees get their just rewards. I consider that signing to be a complete success!