Every baseball fan knows the pain of watching their team shell out a fortune for a player who proceeds to fall off the face of the earth. One moment they’re the toast of the league, and the next they’re batting .192 in Triple-A or mysteriously “rehabbing” forever.
Whether it was a breakout season at the right time or just elite agent work, these guys hit the jackpot—and then disappeared. From forgotten outfielders to fading aces, here are 20 MLB players who secured the bag, then ghosted the production.
20. Jason Bay
Bay cashed in after some big years in Pittsburgh and Boston, but his Mets stint was a disaster from day one. Injuries and a steep decline turned his massive deal into a punchline.
19. Carl Crawford
Crawford went from Tampa Bay speedster to $142 million Red Sox bust. He never looked comfortable in Boston and was shipped out just as fast.
18. Eric Hosmer
Hosmer rode a World Series win and a solid year into a huge Padres contract. Unfortunately, his bat forgot to come with him to San Diego.
17. Jordan Zimmermann
Zimmermann looked like a safe bet after a strong run in Washington. Then he got paid by Detroit and instantly forgot how to pitch.
16. Jacoby Ellsbury
Ellsbury parlayed a big season with the Red Sox into Yankees money. He spent more time on the IL than in the outfield and hasn’t played since 2017.
15. Chris Davis
Davis led the league in homers, got his $161 million deal, then stopped hitting entirely. Orioles fans are still trying to forget the slump that never ended.
14. Mike Hampton
Hampton inked a record-breaking contract with the Rockies and promptly turned into a home run machine—for opposing hitters. Coors Field didn’t help, but he never bounced back anywhere else either.
13. Pablo Sandoval
The “Kung Fu Panda” ate up a massive contract with Boston after playoff heroics in San Francisco. He repaid them with brutal defense and worse offense.
12. Melvin Upton Jr.
Upton looked like a five-tool star in Tampa, but the Braves regretted his $75 million contract almost instantly. His bat disappeared and never really returned.
11. Barry Zito
Zito signed one of the biggest pitcher deals ever with the Giants and was average at best. He had a couple decent years, but nowhere near the ace they paid for.
10. Ian Desmond
Desmond turned versatility and solid numbers into a big contract with Colorado. But his bat couldn’t handle Coors, and his performance vanished.
9. Mo Vaughn
Vaughn was a slugger with the Red Sox who got a huge payday from the Angels. Then the injuries piled up, and he faded fast.
8. Ken Griffey Jr. (Reds version)
Yes, he’s a legend—but his time in Cincinnati came with a massive contract and way too many injuries. Fans waited for a resurgence that never came.
7. Jayson Werth
Werth got paid like a superstar in Washington, but never really played like one. He had a few solid years, but his production didn’t match the paycheck.
6. Josh Hamilton
Hamilton’s comeback story was incredible—until the Angels paid him big and watched him unravel. Off-field issues and a declining game made the deal a disaster.
5. Yoenis Céspedes
Céspedes got hot in a contract year and the Mets opened the vault. Then came wild boar injuries, mystery disappearances, and a whole lot of nothing.
4. Stephen Strasburg
Strasburg dominated in the 2019 postseason and earned every penny of that massive deal—until he basically vanished. Injuries kept him sidelined for most of the contract.
3. Prince Fielder
Fielder signed a megadeal with the Tigers and later moved to Texas, where neck injuries cut his career short. He got paid long after his bat stopped showing up.
Read more: 15 MLB Stars Who Never Lived Up to Their Massive Contracts
2. Albert Pujols (Angels version)
Pujols was an all-time great in St. Louis, but his time with the Angels was a long, expensive decline. The production dipped fast, but the checks kept coming.
Read more: 17 Baseball Stars Who Let Their Agents Do the Heavy Lifting
1. Bobby Bonilla
Bonilla finessed the ultimate MLB payday. He hasn’t played since 2001—but thanks to a deferred contract, he’s still getting paid every July 1.
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