15 worst Los Angeles Angels free agent signings in franchise history

The Los Angeles Angels are often the butt of the joke when the discussion is about bad contracts. When talking about some of the worst in baseball history you can think of at least a couple of them that the Angels are responsible for.

One of these is the Vernon Wells contract they took on when trading Mike Napoli to Toronto. Wells was an absolute disaster as an Angel.

Arte Moreno has been willing to spend the money necessary to make a splash. Most of the money he has spent on these massive contracts has gone to waste.

This offseason, the Angels stayed away from the star players and brought in respectable veterans. While it's good to build at least more of a complete team than they have in the past, the Halos shouldn't just avoid star players forever.

Shohei Ohtani is hitting free agency this offseason. Will the Angels pay to keep him? If they do retain their superstar, how will that contract age? Most very lengthy contracts end up aging extremely poorly. Even some of the one-year deals the Angels have made in recent memory have been shockingly awful. Let's look into some of the worst free agent signings the franchise has ever made.

Honorable Mention: Jesse Chavez: One Year, $5.75 million, 2016

The Angels signed Jesse Chavez in the 2016 offseason to a one-year deal. They were looking for a pitcher who had experience in the rotation and as a reliever, so Chavez made a lot of sense. He made 62 appearances the season prior, splitting time with the Blue Jays and Dodgers.

Chavez opened the year in the rotation for the Angels but had a 5.24 ERA in 21 starts and was bumped from the rotation in late July. He finished the season in the bullpen and was even worse, posting a 5.84 ERA in 17 appearances out of the bullpen.

To make matters worse, Chavez excelled in 2018 pitching for the Rangers and Cubs. The same thing even happened AGAIN when the Angels acquired Chavez in the Raisel Iglesias trade. He excelled before and after coming to Anaheim.

15. C.J. Wilson: Five Years, $75.5 million, 2011

C.J. Wilson was not the big fish the Angels managed to reel in during the 2011 offseason, but he was coming off of a season which saw him make his first all-star team and finish sixth in the AL Cy Young balloting for the Rangers.

The Angels signed Wilson who joined Jerad Weaver, Ervin Santana, and Dan Haren in what was supposed to be a dominant rotation.

The southpaw wasn't bad by any means as an Angel, but wasn't quite the dominant pitcher he was developing into as a Ranger.

Wilson only pitched in four of his five years and in those years he posted a 3.87 ERA in 119 starts. In his one playoff start he was dreadful, allowing three runs while recording just two outs.

That start, combined with his slightly underwhelming performance, and the fact that he was hurt for an entire season of his big deal are reasons why he's on this list. The contract wasn't a complete disaster like the others, but it wasn't great either.

14. Trevor Cahill: One Year, $9 million, 2018

The Angels signed Trevor Cahill and gave him $9 million dollars. He was decent the season prior in Oakland and had a long track record of being a solid rotation piece. This all fell apart the moment he arrived in Anaheim.

Cahill was the Opening Day starter that season and allowed four runs in six innings. That's not awful, but his season was.

Cahill had a 6.92 ERA in 11 starts for the Angels before being bumped from the rotation and to the bullpen. Cahill was able to post a sub-5.00 ERA as a reliever, but 5.98 ERA overall.

The only reason Cahill isn't higher on this list is because he actually lasted the whole season and was able to eat 102.1 innings for them. He wasn't good by any means, and the Angels practically threw away $9 million, but he did, somehow, have more value than many others on this list.

13. Luis Valbuena: Two Years, $15 million, 2017

Luis Valbuena was brought in to play games at both corner infield positions. He enjoyed a really productive two year stint with the Astros which saw him hit 38 home runs with a 114 OPS+. Valbuena would play primarily against righties and give the Angels a nice power bat. Unfortunately, he wasn't any good once he left the Astros.

His first season could have gone worse. He hit just .199 but did hit 22 home runs and had a 94 OPS+. He didn't do much other than hit home runs, but like I said, it could've been worse.

His second year was worse as he hit .199 again with just nine home runs in 96 games. Valbuena hit 13 in 90 games just two seasons prior.

Valbuena's big power in the first season is what prevented him from being featured later on this list. The 11-year veteran was tragically taken away from us too soon after a car accident.

11. Cody Allen: One Year, $8.5 million, 2019

Cody Allen developed into one of the best closers in baseball for the Cleveland Indians. Andrew Miller is the reliever everyone talks about from the 2016 team, and for good reason, but Cody Allen was that team's closer, not Miller.

In a five year span from 2013-2017, Allen posted a 2.59 ERA in 359 appearances and recorded 122 saves. He always had elite strikeout numbers and saved as many as 34 games in a season. He was crucial for those Cleveland teams.

Allen was so good for the first six years of his career but hit a wall in 2018. The right hander had a 4.70 ERA in 70 appearances, he struck out fewer batters than he had in any year since his rookie season, and his walks skyrocketted.

Despite the rough year, the Angels gave him $8.5 million dollars to pitch for them in 2019. The gamble for him to rediscover his form predictably failed.

Allen began the year as the Halos closer and recorded four saves in his first six appearances but struggled mightily. He lost his job at the end of April, and ended up being DFA'd by the Angels in June after allowing four runs in an outing in Tampa Bay while recording just two outs.

Allen allowed 16 runs in 25 appearances and 23 innings pitched. He walked 20 batters in those 23 innings and had an 8.39 FIP. Just another deal that didn't work from the beginning for the Angels.

10. Matt Harvey: One Year, $11 million, 2018

Matt Harvey signed with the Angels the same week Trevor Cahill did. Despite Cahill's horrific season, at least he lasted the whole season. Harvey was DFA'd in mid July.

Harvey was given an Opening Day rotation spot with the Halos following a disappointing ending with the Mets and a poor showing in Cincinnati. The Angels thought Harvey could bounce back and be closer to the pitcher he once was when he was considered "The Dark Knight", but they couldn't have been more wrong.

Harvey started his Angels career on a good note, allowing two runs in six innings in a victory in Oakland. Unfortunately, things fell apart after that. Harvey allowed eight runs in four innings in his home debut against the Rangers. He ended the month of April with a 6.54 ERA. That number rose to 7.50 at the end of May through 10 starts.

Harvey missed the entire month of June with a back injury. His final start came at home against the Astros and he allowed six runs in six innings. He was DFA'd shortly after.

The Angels gave Harvey $11 million dollars to make 12 starts. He allowed 47 runs in 59.2 innings pitched, a 7.09 ERA. He was suspended for his role in the Tyler Skaggs death. It was just an absolute disaster from day one.

9. Julio Teheran: One Year, $8 million, 2019

Julio Teheran is the last of the failed one year deals the Angels have signed. It's hard to be on a list like this when only under contract for one season, but performance this poor earns a spot for sure.

Julio Teheran was a workhorse for the Atlanta Braves for nine seasons. He had seven consecutive seasons with at least 30 starts for Atlanta including 33 in 2019.

The 2019 season wasn't his best. He had a 3.81 ERA but a 4.66 FIP. His strikeouts were as low as they had ever been and his walks were up. It was clear he was in decline.

That didn't stop the Angels however, as they gave Teheran a one-year deal worth $8 million. This deal ended up being an absolute disaster.

The veteran made 10 appearances for the Halos (9 starts) in the shortened 2020 season. He allowed 35 runs in 31.1 innings pitched. He had a 10.05 ERA as an Angel. He went 0-4 and the team was 2-8 in his appearances. Somehow, he allowed 12 home runs in 31.1 innings pitched, that's 3.4 HR/9.

Allowing more runs than innings pitched in 10 appearances is very hard to do, especially when you make $8 million.

8. Joe Blanton: Two Years, $15 million, 2012

Instead of trying to bring Zack Greinke back, the Angels opted to sign Joe Blanton to a two year deal. Blanton played a key role in the 2008 World Series Phillies team and was a starter who you could expect to eat innings.

Blanton went 10-13 with a 4.71 ERA in 31 appearances (30 starts) splitting time with the Phillies and Dodgers in 2012. He headed from the Dodgers to the Halos on a two-year deal. It didn't work out at all.

Blanton made 20 starts for the Angels and did not pitch well at all in 2013. He went 2-13 with a 5.66 ERA in 116 innings pitched. The Angels went 4-16 in games he started. Blanton was so bad, he was removed from the rotation in July despite having a second guaranteed year (with a third year option!)

Blanton would finish the season in the bullpen as a mop up reliever and post an 8.64 ERA in 16.2 innings pitched. The Angels did not record a win in a single one of his relief appearances, making them 4-24 in games he appeared in.

The veteran was released after a poor showing the following spring. He did only completed one year out of the two guaranteed years and couldn't last a full season in the rotation.

7. Gary Matthews Jr.: Five Years, $50 million, 2007

The Angels decided to sign Gary Matthews Jr. to a five-year deal after one random all-star appearance. Matthews was a journeyman outfielder who had played for five different organizations in five years before landing in Texas in 2004. Matthews got to play every day in 2005 and really took off in 2006.

He'd slash .313/.371/.495 with 19 home runs and 79 RBI. He tacked on 44 doubles and ten stolen bases as well. He was an all-star and finished 30th in the AL MVP balloting. He turned that season into a five-year contract with the Angels. It didn't work out well at all.

Matthews would slash .248/.325/.383 with 30 home runs and 168 RBI in three seasons as an Angel before being traded to the Mets along with $21.5 million.

This wasn't the first time the Angels bought into one outlier season, and probably won't be the last. Matthews played just three of the five seasons he was supposed to in Anaheim and wasn't any good when he was here.

6. Zack Cozart: Three Years, $38 million, 2017

Zack Cozard is another example of a player who had one breakout year and the Angels decided to give a bunch of money to. Cozart was a .246 hitter with 58 home runs and an 82 OPS+ over his first six seasons as a Red. He really only played because of his awesome glove at shortstop. He then broke out seemingly out of nowhere in a huge way in 2017.

Cozart slashed .297/.385/.548 with 24 home runs and 63 RBI. He was an all-star in a contract year just like Matthews and got paid for it. The Angels gave Cozart a three-year deal to play primarily third base for them. A Cozart and Andrelton Simmons left side of the diamond was supposed to be special at least defensively. It didn't pan out at all.

Cozart dealt with numerous injuries and was limited to just 96 games in two seasons with the Halos. In those games, he slashed .190/.261/.296 with five home runs and 25 RBI. Unfortunately, the on field production wasn't even the worst part.

Cozart was traded to the Giants in the 2019 offseason along with the remainder of his contract. In order to get the Giants to eat the money, the Halos sent Will Wilson to San Francisco. Wilson was the first round pick of the Angels that season. While he hasn't turned into anything, giving up a prospect of that magnitude just to shed money is horrible asset management.

For the cherry on top, clearing this money allowed the Angels to sign Anthony Rendon, a player you all know will be on this list. It didn't work before, and has looked even worse after.

5. Justin Upton: Five Years, $106 million, 2017

The Angels traded for Justin Upton from the Tigers in the second year of his big contract with the Tigers. Upton had an opt-out after the season and used it as he was an all-star. Upton ended up signing a five-year $106 million dollar deal to remain an Angel. It started out fine, but ended poorly.

Upton hit 30 home runs in his first year of this new deal and had a 121 OPS+. He played in 145 games that season. He'd play in just 194 total over the next three seasons.

In those three seasons, Upton would slash .211/.299/.414 with 38 home runs and 103 RBI. He had a 90 OPS+. He struggled to stay on the field and when he played he was a shell of his former all-star self.

Upton ended up getting released prior to the 2022 season. The Angels got one good season out of Upton, and then he just disappeared. They wasted four years of big money on this contract.

4. Mo Vaughn: Six Years, $80 million, 1999

Mo Vaughn was a star with the Boston Red Sox. He was a three-time all-star and an MVP winner. He was coming off of a season which saw him slash .337/.402/.501 with 40 home runs and 115 RBI for the Sox. He finished fourth in the MVP balloting.

The Angels signed Vaughn to that six year deal after his outstanding season and made him the highest paid player in baseball history. It's safe to say they'll want that one back.

Vaughn's first two seasons went pretty well as an Angel. He slashed .276/.362/.503 with 69 home runs and 225 RBI in 1999 and 2000. He averaged 34 home runs and 112 RBI in those seasons which the Angels would definitely take.

The problem is what happened after the 2000 season. Vaughn missed the entire 2001 season due to injury and then issues with his weight caused his body to break down a bit early. He was traded to the Mets before the 2002 season and finished his career just two seasons later.

Vaughn played well when he was on the field, but physical issues limited him to just two seasons with the club. The Angels wasted most of the money on this deal, which at the time, was the largest in history.

3. Albert Pujols: Ten Years, $240 million, 2011

Albert Pujols was the marquee guy the Angels signed in the 2011 offseason. C.J. Wilson was nice, but Pujols was the prize. How could he not be based on how he played in St. Louis? The man was a nine-time all-star, a six-time Silver Slugger winner, and a three-time MVP.

Pujols slashed .328/.421/.617 averaging 40 home runs and 121 RBI per season in his first 11 years as a Cardinal. He was the best hitter in the game and one of, if not the best hitter we've ever seen. I know to me as a younger fan, the prime version of Albert Pujols is the best right handed hitter I've ever seen (Trout is pretty close).

Pujols hit 37 home runs, was fifth in the NL MVP voting, and won the World Series before signing with the Angels. He even had a game in which he hit three home runs in that World Series victory.

Pujols wasn't a terrible player as an Angel, but he wasn't anything close to the guy he was in St. Louis. He slashed .256/.311/.447, averaging 22 home runs and 78 RBI per season. Not a bad player, but nothing close to what the Angels were expecting.

Pujols made one all-star appearance in 9.5 years as an Angel and made one playoff appearance. He was released in 2021 as Jared Walsh was breaking out only to perform pretty well as a Dodger and then as a Cardinal to end his career.

2. Anthony Rendon: Seven Years: $245 million, 2019

Now we get to the massive, massive deals. Anthony Rendon, in a season after he was an all-star, a Silver Slugger winner, an MVP finalist, and a World Series champion, signed a massive deal with the Angels.

Rendon was one of the best players in the sport at the time. He slashed .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs and 126 RBI in 2019. He led the league in RBI and with 44 doubles. He was the best position player on a team that just won the World Series. That's the guy the Angels got.

Unfortunately, things haven't gone to plan at all since they brought him in. Rendon did play in 52 of a possible 60 games in 2020 and performed well, posting an OPS+ of 150 and finishing 10th in the AL MVP balloting. Since then, Angels fans have been waiting for SOMETHING.

Rendon has played in 105 games in the last two seasons, slashing .235/.328/.381 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI. He has a 97 OPS+ in that span. Rendon has barely played, and when he has played, he's been a below average hitter. Not what the Angels expected at all.

The highlights of these last two years include a home run he hit left handed and his role in a benches clearing brawl. Not exactly what you want.

I'm hoping for a Rendon bounceback, but it's unfair to not include him on this list. Right now, he's completely wasted two of the three seasons he's played. Injuries are unfortunate, but that's the reality.

Hopefully Rendon plays games and plays well to the point where he no longer appears on a list like this. Until it happens, he's right here.

1. Josh Hamilton: Five Years, $125 million, 2012

One season after signing Pujols, the Angels signed Josh Hamilton to a five-year deal. The years and money weren't as extreme, but it was an absolute disaster.

Hamilton won the MVP award for the Rangers in 2010. He then helped lead the Rangers to an AL Pennant in 2011, and finished top-five in the MVP voting in 2012. He was without a doubt one of the best players of baseball. Of course, immediately after the Angels signed him, things went south.

Hamilton's first season with the Angels wasn't anything close to what they were expecting. He slashed .250/.307/.432 with 21 home runs and 79 RBI. He had a 108 OPS+ in 151 games. Not great, but at least he played.

The following season, Hamilton was limited to just 89 games. He slashed .263/.331/.414 with 10 home runs in those games in a season ruined by injuries.

Hamilton, who had a long history with drug addiction, suffered another relapse. The Angels then traded him back to Texas and took on most of the remaining money on his deal.

Hamilton played one full season on the Angels and wasn't anything more than a slightly above-average hitter. Injuries and the drug relapse ruined his time with the Angels.