NBA free agency is getting a lot of buzz recently, but the Minnesota Wild made headlines by signing the two most sought after NHL free agents. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter both inked 13 year $98 million dollar contracts and joined the Wild.
The long, expensive contracts could either boost the Wild to stardom, or cripple their franchise for years, like these players in the list of 10 worst $100 million dollar contracts did. Luckily for Parise and Suter, they are $2 million dollars away from being eligible.
10. Ilya Kovalchuk: 15 years (2010-2025), $100 million. New Jersey Devils.
Before signing with the Devils, Kovalchuk was one of the most prolific scorers in the NHL. Playing for the Atlanta Thrashers, Kovalchuk was one of the most sought after players. When Kovalchuk, a left winger, became a free agent, New Jersey offered him several massive contracts, final landing on the current deal. Although Kovalchuk hasn't been a complete bust, his numbers are down since joining New Jersey. More importantly, Kovalchuk already shows signs of aging. Remember, the contract has 13 more years on it.
9. Alfonso Soriano: 8 years (2007-2014), $136 million. Chicago Cubs.
Soriano signed this mega deal in 2007 after several successful years with the Yankees, the Rangers, and one with the Nationals. The deal was supposed to help the Cubs end their World Series drought, but hasn't resulted in post season success. Soriano, known for his power, has sustained decent power numbers while a Cub, but a career average of .265 doesn't get it done when you are making $136 mil. Soriano has been deemed more or less untradeable because of his salary.
8. Allan Houston: 6 years (2001-2007), $100 million. New York Knicks.
You know your contract is bad when the NBA makes a rule to help teams get rid of such contracts. That is exactly what the NBA did after Houston was unable to play the final years of his deal. Fittingly, it was called the Allan Houston rule. Houston was a solid scorer and great shooter before his big pay day, but only had two good seasons under his contract.
7. Kimi Räikkönen: 3 years (2007-2009), $151 million. Ferrari Racing.
If you have never heard of a sports figure that is making $51 million a year, its not good. Maybe he won son F1 races for Ferrari, maybe helped sell some cars. I don't know the answer to these questions, because I, like most of you, have never heard of him. This driver alone makes more than several entire rosters of MLB and NHL teams. If these guys had heard of Jimmie Johnson I'm sure they would offer him a contract making somewhere around $200 million a year.
6. Kevin Brown: 6 years (1999-2005), $105 million. Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kevin Brown was a very good pitcher from the ages of 24-35, but unfortunately the Dodgers signed him to this 6 year deal when he was 34 years old. Brown won an average of 9 games per season over the course of this contract and was eventually dealt to the Yankees, where he continued to struggle.
5. Carl Crawford: 7 years (2011-2017), $142 million. Boston Red Sox.
Crawford thrived in Tampa Bay, and when he qualified for free agency in 2010 was the best speedster on the market. While at playing for the Rays, Crawford had turned himself into not just a base stealer, but a leadoff hitter who could hit for average. It is still early in this deal, but Crawford seems to have already forgotten both abilities that previously made him exceptional. He has struggled with injury and routinely bats at the bottom of the lineup.
4. Barry Zito: 7 years (2007-2014), $126 million. San Francisco Giants.
Before signing with the Giants, Zito thrived across the Bay as an Oakland A. Zito won 20 games and a Cy Young award, and then cashed it. Since signing him the Giants have had one of the best pitching rotations in the league. Unfortunately for Zito, that rotation has featured him as it's worst starter. Zito's ERA is over 4.5 for the Giants. He struggles with a lack of velocity and inconsistancy.
3. Rashard Lewis: 6 years (2007-2013), $126 million. Orlando Magic.
After he averaged 22 per game in 2006 Lewis looked like he could turn into one of the best scoring small forwards in the league. That's what the Magic thought too, so they gave him big time money. Since then, Lewis' scoring has decreased every year. Last year, Lewis averaged 7 points a game for the Wizards, after the Magic dealt him to Washington.
2. Albert Haynesworth: 7 years (2009-2016), $100 million. Washington Redskins.
This is a deal gone bad in so many ways. Haynesworth came to the Redskins as the most dominate defensive lineman in the NFL, after several seasons in Tennessee. As soon as he arrived in Washington Haynesworth didn't fit in. He was out of shape, he wanted to do his own training program, and he didn't want to change positions. The position change problem turned into a nation wide media frenzy and debacle. Haynesworth was used to playing in the middle of a 4-3 and the Redskins wanted to use a 3-4. Haynesworth's fitness was also called into question several times, when the Redskins publically questioned his ability to compete at the NFL level. Haynesworth and Washington parted ways after Haynesworth had seen the field 12 times.
1. Mike Hampton: 8 years (2001-2008), $121 million. Colorado Rockies.
Mike Hampton was unquestionably the best hitting pitcher during his time at Colorado. When it came to doing what he was actually paid to do (pitch), he was terrible. Hampton only made it through 2 years in Colorado, during which he put together a 21-28 record with an era over 5. Maybe Hampton should have focused a little more on pitching and a little less on hitting.
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