6 2019 MLB Free Agent Contracts That Teams Already Regret

Sometimes free agent contracts just don't work out. Players either don't live up to the hype or they simply can't stay healthy. When a franchise extends a huge sum of money to a free agent, it's met with the expectation that said player will act as a catalyst for the team. That's not always how things work out, and with each offseason, there's a handful of deals that look awful in hindsight. Here are six free agent contracts that MLB teams already regret.

6. Cody Allen - Los Angeles Angels

The Angels signed Cody Allen on a one-year, $8.5 million "prove it" deal in the hopes of reviving the career of the once-dominant closer. Instead, they've gotten a mess of a man who has posted a 4.80 ERA, an ugly 7.15 FIP, and has produced a 1.867 WHIP. He's already hit the 10-day IL and has only picked up 4 saves, effectively losing the closer role to Hansel Robles in just more than a month of play.

5. Ian Kinsler - San Diego Padres

When the Padres signed Ian Kinsler to a two-year, $8 million deal, they expected to get a reliable, veteran second baseman. Instead, they've gotten an absolutely cooked baseball player who probably hates the fans. His -0.7 fWAR is third-lowest in all of baseball, and his .240 OBP is second-worst in the NL. Not exactly what the team signed up for when bringing the 36 year old aboard.

4. David Robertson - Philadelphia Phillies

Robertson signed with the Phillies for $24 million over the next two years, pitched in seven games to the tune of a 5.40 ERA, and is now out until at least July due to a flexor strain in his throwing arm. At least a quarter of his contract will be spent recovering from injury, but even when he's healthy he hasn't sniffed the production that is expected to come with a contract of that size.

3. Jed Lowrie - New York Mets

So far, the Mets have paid Jed Lowrie a healthy chunk of the $20 million he's due over the next two seasons. The results? The utility man has been sidelined with injury since spring training and has yet to even set foot on an MLB field in 2019. He suffered a setback during his rehab stint and was later transferred to the 60-day IL, meaning the Mets won't see him on the field until June at the earliest.

2. J.A. Happ - New York Yankees

Happ has struggled to find his 2018 form that netted him a two-year, $34 million deal with the Yankees. He has a 5.16 ERA through 10 starts, and his 5.70 FIP suggests that if anything, he's fortunate that things haven't gone even worse. Happ has already surrendered 13 long balls and has just 40 strikeouts through 51 innings of work.

1. Bryce Harper

Premature? Perhaps. However, a quick glance at his rather modest .235/.366/.458 slash line makes his 13-year, $330 million contract with a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs looks like an absolute nightmare. Harper was expected to be the key piece that would put the Phillies over the edge, but after 50 games with his new team, he's managed just 9 home runs and 32 RBI while striking out an MLB-high 66 times. There's still plenty of time for turnaround, but this has all the makings of a massive waste of money.