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These are the worst free-agent signings based upon age, established level of ability and, of course, the amount of money paid and length of contract. Some of these deals are just impossible to fathom.

MIGUEL BATISTA (Mariners) - 3 yrs, $25 million. Has pitched to 97% of the League ERA in his career. Has just a .463 lifetime winning percentage and a lifetime K to BB ratio of 1.5. He'll likely end up in the bullpen by the end of the year while making $8.3 million, and he's 35 years old.

MARK DEROSA (Cubs) - 3 yrs, $13 million. Had a decent year last year in Texas, but it was his first ever. Career .331 OBP and .404 SLG does not justify him getting over $4 million a year, and he's 31 years old, so he's not going to get any better.

ADAM EATON (Phillies) - 3 yrs, $24.5 million. Has pitched to 108% of the League ERA in his career. He was never really any good pitching most of his career in a great pitchers park in San Diego, doubtful he'll be any better pitching in a Philly bandbox.

ALEX GONZALEZ (Reds) - 3yrs, $14 million. Career .292 OBP, .392 SLG and .246 batting Average cannot justify almost $5 million a year salary. Laughable that the Red Sox thought he could do the job for them last year.

ORLANDO HERNANDEZ (Mets) - 2 yrs, $12 million. Hard for me to say anything bad about him, I like to watch him pitch and he was money in the bank for the Yankees in the playoffs, but he's probably well over 40 and has not pitched a full year in ages.

TED LILLY (Cubs) - 4 yrs, $40 million. Has pitched to 100% of the league ERA in his career. Not a bad pitcher, but the Cubbies just gave him too much.

JULIO LUGO (Red Sox) - 4 yrs, $36 million. Career .340 OBP, .402 SLG, and .277 batting Average do not justify $9 million a year. Has never scored or driven in 100 runs a year, but he's being paid like he has.

JASON MARQUIS (Cubs) - 3 yrs, $21 million. Has pitched to 106% of League ERA in career. See, the idea is to get guys on your staff who pitch to below the League ERA, not the other way around. And Marquis pitched his entire career in two pitchers parks in Atlanta and St. Louis.

GARY MATTHEWS Jr. (Angels) - 5 yrs, $50 million. Career .336 OBP, .419 SLG, and .263 batting Average cannot justify $10 million a year. Had a decent year last year, but it was his first ever and it was in a great hitters park in Texas. He's also going to be 33 this year, so he's not getting any better.

GIL MECHE (Royals) - 5yrs, $55 million. Have discussed him at length in a previous posting. Unlikely to continue winning ways with the Royals.

JEFF SUPPAN (Brewers) - 4 yrs, $42 Million. Has pitched to 99% of the League ERA in his career. That means he's basically an average big league pitcher. Does the average big league pitcher make $10.5 million a year?

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