Most Overpaid MLB Players by Position

This team has a ridiculous payroll, and the roster is not earning its keep.

Most Overpaid MLB Players

A Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabrera jersey hangs in the dugout during a 2018 game against the Minnesota Twins. Cabrera played in just 38 games in the season after having surgery to repair a ruptured biceps tendon.

Baseball fans love when their team signs a high-priced free agent. Having one of the game's best don a new uniform brings excitement, anticipation and hope that a franchise wants to win now.

But things don't always go according to plan. Players who get eight- or nine-figure deals sometimes don't produce. They might be at the tail end of a career and past their prime. Maybe they get injured or lose their skills faster than expected. Or maybe the have a great agent who suckered a team into paying big bucks. Whatever the reason, they end up not being worth their huge contract.

Major League Baseball has many financial cautionary tales, and no team is exempt from overpaying.

We have assembled a 25-man collection of current players who are not earning their keep. This roster would create a payroll in the $500 million range, while maybe finishing with a .500 record. Meet MLB's all-overpaid team.

Sources: Spotrac for player contract numbers and Baseball Reference for career and season statistics.

Catcher: Russell Martin

Team: Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 35

Experience: 13 years

Rookie season: 2006

Financials

2019 total salary: $20,000,000

Base salary: $20,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 5 years, $82,000,000

Free Agent: 2020

Career statistics

WAR: 37.1

AVG: .249

OBP: .349

OPS: .749

HR: 185

2018 statistics

WAR: 1.3

AVG: .194

OBP: .338

OPS: .663

HR: 10

Bottom line: The role of catcher has evolved more than any other position on the diamond. Catchers are rewarded for pitch-framing and blocking balls behind the plate, rather than hitting for power.

Russell Martin has done both over his career, but he now is a platoon player with little offensive output. That role doesn’t align with the $20 million he is set to make in 2019.

First Base: Miguel Cabrera

Team: Detroit Tigers

Experience: 16 years

Rookie season: 2003

Financials

2019 total salary: $30,000,000

Base salary: $30,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 8 years, $248,000,000

Free Agent: 2024

Career statistics

WAR: 69.64

AVG: .316

OBP: .395

OPS: .946

HR: 465

2018 statistics

WAR: 0.56

AVG: .299

OBP: .395

OPS: .843

HR: 3

Bottom line: After one of the most meteoric rises in baseball history on the 2003 Marlins, Miguel Cabrera is a long way removed from being a plus on the defensive side.

He’s in the running for best right-handed hitter ever, but injuries have eroded his skills at the plate.

His value comes down to projections. Cabrera had a bad 2017 and a solid 2018 given limited action, but the idea of paying a 42-year-old Miggy $30 million is daunting.

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia

Team: Boston Red Sox

Experience: 13 years

Rookie season: 2006

Financials

2019 total salary: $15,125,000

Base salary: $15,000,000

Signing bonus: $125,000

Contract: 8 years, $110,000,000

Free Agent: 2022

Career statistics

WAR: 52.1

AVG: .300

OBP: .366

OPS: .806

HR: 140

2018 statistics

WAR: -0.2

AVG: .091

OBP: .231

OPS: .322

HR: 0

Bottom line: The ultimate gamer, Dustin Pedroia was the heart and soul of two Boston Red Sox World Series teams, and picked up another ring as a glorified bench coach and cheerleader.

The way Pedroia went all-out in his prime at all times has caught up with his body. His size and stature makes it hard to maintain that pace, and he only appeared in three games for the Red Sox in 2018 before shutting it down because of knee troubles.

We will see if he has a second act as a utility player, but $15 million is a big price tag for a player whose starting days could be over.

Shortstop: Zack Cozart

Team: Los Angeles Angels

Age: 33

Experience: 8 years

Rookie season: 2011

Financials

2019 total salary: $12,666,666

Base salary: $12,666,666

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 3 years, $38,000,000

Free Agent: 2021

Career Statistics

WAR: 16.7

AVG: .251

OBP: .304

OPS: .711

HR: 87

2018 Statistics

WAR: 0.1

AVG: .219

OBP: .296

OPS: .658

HR: 5

Bottom line: Shortstop is an underpaid position around the majors. Whether that has to do with stronger hitters switching to third base or a general statement on how teams value the position is unclear.

What is clear is after a career year in 2017 with the Reds, Cozart got paid and came crashing back down to reality in 2018.

An already inflated Angels payroll looks to have even more bloated money on its books after Cozart’s first year in Anaheim, when he played in just 58 games for the Angels.

Third Base: Martin Prado

Team: Miami Marlins

Age: 35

Experience: 13 years

Rookie season: 2006

Financials

2019 total salary: $15,000,000

Base salary: $15,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 3 years, $40,000,000

Free Agent: 2020

Career statistics

WAR: 29.3

AVG: .290

OBP: .338

OPS: .755

HR: 98

2018 statistics

WAR: 0.3

AVG: .244

OBP: .287

OPS: .592

HR: 1

HR: 0

Bottom line: Martin Prado hit right at his career average with plus defensive stats as recently as 2016, but after being forced into a bench role, he’s seen a steep decline in production. It’s hard to decipher if that is due to a lack of consistent at-bats or an actual regression.

His defensive stats have stayed solid despite all this. It’s not enough to make the large payroll number work, especially when he’s not getting regular at-bats.

Left Field: Ryan Braun

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Age: 35

Experience: 12 years

Rookie season: 2007

Financials

2019 total salary: $19,000,000

Base salary: $18,000,000

Signing bonus: $1,000,000

Contract: 5 years, $105,000,000

Free Agent: 2022

Career statistics

WAR: 47.9

AVG: .299

OBP: .361

OPS: .896

HR: 322

2018 statistics

WAR: 1.1

AVG: .254

OBP: .313

OPS: .782

HR: 20

Bottom line: Notwithstanding the outfielder’s steroid controversy in 2013, his decline really started in the 2017 season. Following one of the best seasons of his career in 2016, Braun’s numbers dropped off a cliff, with his OPS falling by 80 points.

The decline continued in 2018, despite the best Brewers season in recent memory. He still raked off left-handed pitching, so perhaps a platoon role is in order.

Still, a price tag so high for a player in decline does not bode well for the last three years of his contract.

Center Field: Jacoby Ellsbury

Team: New York Yankees

Age: 35

Experience: 12 years

Rookie season: 2007

Financials

2019 total salary: $21,842,857

Base salary: $21,842,857

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 7 years, $153,000,000

Free Agent: 2022

Career statistics

WAR: 31.1

AVG: .284

OBP: .342

OPS: .760

HR: 104

2018 statistics

Did not play

Bottom line: There are a few contenders for center field on this team, but yikes, Jacoby Ellsbury takes the cake. He never emerged from the disabled list over the course of the 2018 season, playing in a few spring training games. He still was paid in excess of $20 million.

The Yankees reached on a player who had one phenomenal season in 2011, and they will be paying for it again in 2019. Simply getting on the field would be an achievement for Ellsbury at this point.

Right Field: Jason Heyward

Team: Chicago Cubs

Age: 29

Experience: 9 years

Rookie season: 2010

Financials

2019 total salary: $22,500,000

Base salary: $20,000,000

Signing bonus: $2,500,000

Contract: 8 years, $184,000,000

Free Agent: 2024

Career statistics

WAR: 19.1

AVG: .263

OBP: .343

OPS: .753

HR: 123

2018 statistics

WAR: 1.6

AVG: .270

OBP: .335

OPS: .731

HR: 8

Bottom line: This was a close call between Jason Heyward and Matt Kemp, but Heyward gets the nod after his worst season as a defender. When the Cubs signed Heyward, they knew what they were getting — a great defensive outfielder who was hit or miss at the plate.

In 2018, his defense took a sharp decline, and he graded out as a league average outfielder after years of a dWAR of between 1.2 and 2.2, according to Baseball Reference. Without his stellar defense, the value is not there for a player with an OPS under .800.

Designated Hitter: Albert Pujols

Team: Los Angeles Angels

Age: 39

Experience: 18 years

Rookie season: 2001

Financials

2019 total salary: $28,000,000

Base salary: $28,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 10 years, $240,000,000

Free Agent: 2022

Career statistics

WAR: 100

AVG: .302

OBP: .382

OPS: .936

HR: 633

2018 statistics

WAR: 0.5

AVG: .245

OBP: .289

OPS: .700

HR: 19

Bottom line: For all the ridicule the Angels have received for the 10-year deal Albert Pujols signed in 2012, he has had some productive seasons for the Halos. Nevertheless, he never has reached the level he was at in St. Louis.

In 2018, his production dip was in line with his 2017 numbers, indicating he is indeed a different hitter. Having seen his OPS decrease nearly 100 points since 2016, Pujols has little more than replacement value left in his bat, and for whatever sadistic reason, he still plays the field.

Fourth Outfielder: Matt Kemp

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Age: 34

Experience: 13 years

Rookie season: 2006

Financials

2019 total salary: $21,500,000

Base salary: $21,500,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 8 years, $160,000,000

Free Agent: 2020

Career statistics

WAR: 22.2

AVG: .286

OBP: .338

OPS: .826

HR: 280

2018 statistics

WAR: 1.1

AVG: .290

OBP: .338

OPS: .818

HR: 21

Bottom line: On the surface, the numbers looks great for Matt Kemp, who had an inspiring resurgence for the World Series-losing Dodgers. However, the deeper you dig into it, the more troubling those numbers become.

The second half of the season, his average dropped 50-plus points, and his OPS decreased by 155. He only homered once in the postseason.

Also, despite the solid offensive output, he was such a negative defensively, which is why his WAR is so low. Kemp was traded to the Reds in the offseason, and his role in Cincinnati remains uncertain.

Backup Infielder/Outfielder: Chris Davis

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Age: 32

Experience: 11 years

Rookie season: 2008

Financials

2019 total salary: $21,118,782

Base salary: $17,000,000

Signing bonus: $4,118,782

Contract: 7 years, $161,000,000

Free Agent: 2023

Career statistics

WAR: 17.4

AVG: .238

OBP: .319

OPS: .790

HR: 283

2018 statistics

WAR: -2.8

AVG: .192

OBP: .243

OPS: .539

HR: 16

Bottom line: Chris Davis is what he is, plain and simple. If you can live with 200 strikeouts for the sake of 30-50 home runs, he’s your guy.

The Orioles decided they could live with that, and it seems to have been a big miscalculation.

Davis played in 128 games each of the past two seasons, striking out nearly 200 times in each. He is a negative defensively, and in 2018, his offensive numbers were even worse than his value in the field.

Backup Infielder: Kyle Seager

Team: Seattle Mariners

Age: 31

Experience: 8 years

Rookie season: 2011

Financials

2019 total salary: $19,500,000

Base salary: $19,000,000

Signing bonus: $500,000

Contract: 7 years, $100,000,000

Free Agent: 2023

Career statistics

WAR: 27.9

AVG: .258

OBP: .325

OPS: .765

HR: 175

2018 statistics

WAR: 0.8

AVG: .221

OBP: .273

OPS: .673

HR: 22

Bottom line: Kyle Seager has spent eight seasons in Seattle, trafficking mostly on his potential as a prospect that, as of his age-30 season, has yet to materialize. Despite this, and a lone All-Star season in 2014, he was awarded a nine-figure deal by the Mariners.

He is a consistent threat to hit 30 home runs, but he grades out at about league average defensively, and has had a steep drop in OPS the last two seasons since 2016.

Backup Catcher: Jason Castro

Minnesota Twins catcher Jason Castro, left, attempts to tag Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon (4) during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Gordon was safe on the play.

Team: Minnesota Twins

Age: 31

Experience: 9 years

Rookie season: 2010

Financials:

2019 total salary: $8,000,000

Base salary: $8,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 3 years, $24,500,000

Free Agent: 2020

Career Statistics

WAR: 11.4

AVG: .231

OBP: .311

OPS: .697

HR: 73

2018 Statistics

WAR: 0.0

AVG: .143

OBP: .257

OPS: .495

HR: 1

Bottom line: Jason Castro earned a reputation for being a solid defensive catcher with a bat that could pop from time to time on some rebuilding Astros teams, but the All-Star form he showed in his first full season in 2013 is the best it’s gotten.

He is not likely to factor into the Twins’ plans in any significant way in 2019 with Mitch Garver taking over full-time duties behind the plate.

Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez

Team: Seattle Mariners

Age: 32

Experience: 14 years

Rookie season: 2005

Financials

2019 total salary: $27,857,142

Base salary: $27,000,000

Signing bonus: $857,142

Contract: 7 years, $175,000,000

Free Agent: 2020

Career statistics

WAR: 51

ERA: 3.34

IP: 2658

Ks: 2467

WHIP: 1.197

2018 statistics

WAR: -1.2

ERA: 5.55

IP: 155.2

Ks: 125

WHIP: 1.4

Bottom line: King Felix is approaching a pivotal point in his career. Not all that dissimilar to CC Sabathia or Clayton Kershaw, Hernandez no longer has stuff to overpower hitters and will be forced to become less Randy Johnson and more Greg Maddux, finding creative ways to get weak contact from hitters.

Hernandez was on top of the world in his 20s, but since turning 30, he’s seen a sharp decline. He may be able to adapt and become an above-replacement level player again.

However, there is little chance he’s worthy of being the seventh-highest-salaried starting pitcher in the game.

Starting Pitcher: Jordan Zimmermann

Team: Detroit Tigers

Age: 32

Experience: 10 years

Rookie season: 2009

Financials

2019 total salary: $25,000,000

Base salary: $25,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 5 years, $110,000,000

Free Agent: 2021

Career statistics

WAR: 21.1

ERA: 3.83

IP: 1490.2

Ks: 1183

WHIP: 1.225

2018 statistics

WAR: 0.6

ERA: 4.52

IP: 131.1

Ks: 111

WHIP: 1.264

Bottom line: After seven largely stellar seasons in Washington, Jordan Zimmermann has fallen off a cliff in Detroit, not approaching anywhere near his success in D.C.

There were signs of a tail off during his final season with the Nationals in 2015, but the Tigers were prepared to go all-in with an aging core and forked over nine figures for the righty. Three years in, he has a collective WAR of only 1.3.

Starting Pitcher: Wei-Yin Chen

Team: Miami Marlins

Age: 33

Experience: 7 years

Rookie season: 2012

Financials

2019 total salary: $16,000,000

Base salary: $16,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 5 years, $80,000,000

Free Agent: 2022

Career statistics

WAR: 8.8

ERA: 4.02

IP: 996.1

Ks: 783

WHIP: 1.26

2018 statistics

WAR: -0.5

ERA: 4.79

IP: 133.1

Ks: 111

WHIP: 1.335

Bottom line: For the first few years of his career in Baltimore, Wei-Yin Chen was a solid third or fourth starter, posting a 3.7 WAR in his final season before free agency. Scott Boras appears to have sold the Marlins a false bill of goods, as Chen has been below replacement level in two of his three years in Miami.

Former Marlins president David Sanson went off on Boras for the Chen deal on a Dec. 5, 2018, episode of "The Dan Le Batard Show, "and it’s an entertaining insight into how Boras gets these large deals for his client.

Starting Pitcher: Jeff Samardzija

Team: San Francisco Giants

Age: 33

Experience: 11 years

Rookie season: 2008

Financials

2019 total salary: $19,800,000

Base salary: $18,000,000

Signing bonus: $1,800,000

Contract: 5 years, $90,000,000

Free Agent: 2021

Career statistics

WAR: 12.2

ERA: 4.17

IP: 1447.1

Ks: 1303

WHIP: 1.26

2018 statistics

WAR: -0.7

ERA: 6.25

IP: 44.2

Ks: 30

WHIP: 1.634

Bottom line: Jeff Samardzija lived up to the large deal the Giants forked over for the righty during his first two seasons in the Bay Area, but 2018 was a different story as the former Notre Dame wide receiver (and really most of the other Giants veteran pitchers) suffered a season from hell.

It remains to be seen if he can regain the form he showed consistently over the previous seven seasons. His peripheral stats do not suggest that is in the cards.

Starting Pitcher: Ian Kennedy

Team: Kansas City Royals

Age: 34

Experience: 12 years

Rookie season: 2007

Financials

2019 total salary: $16,500,000

Base salary: $16,500,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 5 years, $70,000,000

Free Agent: 2021

Career statistics

WAR: 14.4

ERA: 4.12

IP: 1704

Ks: 1560

WHIP: 1.379

2018 statistics

WAR: 0.5

ERA: 4.66

IP: 119.1

Ks: 105

WHIP: 1.281

Bottom line: Ian Kennedy is a long way removed from the pitcher who tossed nearly 200 innings in his first season in Kansas City in 2016. The last two years of his deal, he’s been bad, with his strikeout numbers dropping to their lowest since he was 25 years old.

Entering his age 34 season, Kennedy will be forced to find new ways to get hitters out, with his swing-and-miss stuff unlikely to return.

Long Reliever/Spot Starter: Tyler Chatwood

Team: Chicago Cubs

Age: 29

Experience: 8 years

Rookie season: 2011

Financials

2019 total salary: $12,500,000

Base salary: $12,500,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 3 years, $38,000,000

Free Agent: 2021

Career statistics

WAR: 9.6

ERA: 4.44

IP: 751.1

Ks: 523

WHIP: 1.529

2018 statistics

WAR: 0

ERA: 5.30

IP: 103.2

Ks: 85

WHIP: 1.804

Bottom line: If this seems like a large price tag for a pitcher with a career WHIP of more than 1.5, that’s because it is.

The kid cannot find the strike zone. Tyler Chatwood led the National League in walks in 2018 with 95 in 103.2 innings, nearly a walk per inning. That is not simply below replacement level, it’s below Tripe-A level.

If he can find the plate, he’s got enough good pitches to get hitters out, but there are no signs that is on the horizon.

Middle Reliever: Addison Reed

Minnesota Twins pitcher Addison Reed throws to a Milwaukee Brewers batter during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Minneapolis. The Brewers won 5-4.

Team: Minnesota Twins

Age: 30

Experience: 8 years

Rookie season: 2011

Financials

2019 total salary: $8,500,000

Base salary: $8,500,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 2 years, $16,750,000

Free Agent: 2020

Career statistics

WAR: 6.2

ERA: 3.53

IP: 458.2

Ks: 469

WHIP: 1.193

2018 statistics

WAR: 0.1

ERA: 4.50

IP: 56

Ks: 44

WHIP: 1.429

Bottom line: After several solid years as a reliable bullpen arm with the Mets, Addison Reed has had two very mediocre stints with the Red Sox and Twins.

It’s likely that the ballpark in New York factored into his numbers, as his hit and home run stats have seen an uptick since he departed. However, his strikeout stats have plummeted as well.

Reed's contract is not the largest dollar figure in the majors, but for a small-market team like the Twins, his production is not going to cut it.

Middle Reliever: Anthony Swarzak

New York Mets pitcher Anthony Swarzak delivers the ball against the Atlanta Braves during a 2018 game.

Team: Seattle Mariners

Age: 33

Experience: 10 years

Rookie season: 2009

Financials

2019 total salary: $8,500,000

Base salary: $8,000,000

Signing bonus: $500,000

Contract: 2 years, $14,000,000

Free Agent: 2020

Career Statistics

WAR: 4.8

ERA: 4.30

IP: 587.2

Ks: 433

WHIP: 1.341

2018 Statistics

WAR: -0.4

ERA: 4.50

IP: 31

Ks: 26

WHIP: 1.595

Bottom line: Save for one year with the Yankees, Anthony Swarzak has been a reliable relief arm over the course of his nine-year career, which includes stops with the Brewers, Twins, White Sox and Indians. But his 2018 season with the Mets was a bit of a nightmare, and it coincided with his first big payday, which doesn’t bode well for the future.

It’s entirely possible that he hates New York, and his struggles seem to suggest that.

He was traded to Seattle in the offseason, so a change of scenery may help him regain his form. If he doesn't, his payroll number will be too high.

Middle Reliever: Brett Cecil

Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 32

Experience: 10 years

Rookie season: 2009

Financials

2019 total salary: $7,750,000

Base salary: $7,500,000

Signing bonus: $250,000

Contract: 4 years, $30,500,000

Free Agent: 2021

Career statistics

WAR: 6.6

ERA: 4.29

IP: 756

Ks: 670

WHIP: 1.357

2018 statistics

WAR: -1.0

ERA: 6.89

IP: 32.2

Ks: 19

WHIP: 1.959

Bottom line: Brett Cecil enjoyed several years of success in Toronto as one of the team’s go-to options in the later innings, posting a 2,90 ERA and 261 strikeouts in 205 innings pitched over his last four years north of the border.

His first year as a Cardinal was a solid one as well, but in 2018, he was downright ineffective. His walk rate was by far the highest of his career at nearly seven per nine innings, while his strikeout rate dipped to 5.2.

Setup Reliever: Mike Dunn

Team: Colorado Rockies

Age: 33

Experience: 10 years

Rookie season: 2009

Financials:

2019 total salary: $7,000,000

Base salary: $7,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 3 years, $19,000,000

Free Agent: 2021

Career Statistics

WAR: 2.9

ERA: 3.87

IP: 418.1

Ks: 458

WHIP: 1.410

2018 Statistics

WAR: -0.5

ERA: 9.00

IP: 17

Ks: 12

WHIP: 2.353

Bottom line: Mike Dunn earned his stripes as one of the most trustworthy arms on some bad Marlins teams. That did not involve a ton of high-leverage situations, and he flashed signs of regression in 2016, with his strikeout rate dropping to below one per inning, while being limited to lefty-lefty matchups.

Despite this, Colorado forked over nearly $20 million for him. The change in altitude only has made it worse for Dunn, who appeared in 25 innings in 2018 after stints on the disabled list with forearm issues.

Setup Reliever: Bryan Shaw

Team: Colorado Rockies

Age: 31

Experience: 8 years

Rookie season: 2011

Financials

2019 total salary: $8,500,000

Base salary: $8,500,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 3 years, $27,000,000

Free Agent: 2022

Career statistics

WAR: 5.2

ERA: 3.43

IP: 536

Ks: 452

WHIP: 1.289

2018 statistics

WAR: -1.1

ERA: 5.93

IP: 54.2

Ks: 54

WHIP: 1.793

Bottom line: Poor Rockies. Despite a good 2018 season that landed them in the National League Division Series, they had two high-end relievers not produce. Such is life in Denver.

Bryan Shaw was solid in Cleveland, but he mostly relied on weak contact to get outs. The idea of weak contact in Colorado can turn into a double quickly, and his results in Year 1 were worse than expected.

Closer: Kenley Jansen

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 31

Experience: 9 years

Rookie season: 2010

Financials

2019 total salary: $19,333,334

Base salary: $18,000,000

Signing bonus: $1,333,334

Contract: 5 years, $80,000,000

Free Agent: 2022

Career statistics

WAR: 15.9

ERA: 2.20

IP: 548.2

Ks: 823

WHIP: 0.888

2018 statistics

WAR: 0.6

ERA: 3.01

IP: 71.2

Ks: 82

WHIP: 0.991

Bottom line: Kenley Jansen still is a productive National League arm. His inclusion on this team has less to do with the player and a lot to do with his dollar figure — over $19 million in 2019.

That level of salary for a pitcher who isn’t lights out is worthy of the moniker "overpaid."

His performance in the World Series the past two years is the perfect indicator of this, as he gave up four home runs in 12.2 innings.

Honorable Mention Pitcher: Homer Bailey

Team: Free agent

Age: 32

Experience: 12 years

Rookie season: 2007

Financials

2019 total salary: $23,000,000

Base salary: $23,000,000

Signing bonus: N/A

Contract: 5 years, $23,000,000

Free Agent: 2021

Career statistics

WAR: 4.0

ERA: 4.56

IP: 1230.1

Ks: 1001

WHIP: 1.377

2018 statistics

WAR: -1.5

ERA: 6.09

IP: 106.1

Ks: 75

WHIP: 1.636

Bottom line: The Reds raised plenty of eyebrows when they gifted Homer Bailey a massive, nine-figure deal in 2013, which followed his second straight season of 200-plus innings.

It’s clear they saw him as an innings-eater for the future, and since 2015, he’s pitched a total of 231.2 innings. His career WAR is 4.0.

For reference, Jon Lester has posted a WAR of at least 4.0 in five different seasons. They’ll make roughly the same salary in 2019.

In the offseason, the Reds traded Bailey to the Dodgers as part of the Yasiel Puig deal. Bailey was released but still is owed $25 million. It remains to be seen if he can rebound with another team.