The 10 worst contracts in Colorado Rockies history

The Colorado Rockies are entering their 30th season of playing games in 2022 so while they don’t have as much of a rich history as some franchises that are 50 or even 100+ years old, they still have plenty of history that can be analyzed, for better or for worse.

In their history, they have made a few good free agent signings but they have made more than their fair share of bad free agent signings or contractual obligations. Unfortunately for them, there has been a lot of them in recent years.

In fact, seven of the top 10 worst contracts in Colorado Rockies history have been made in the last seven years.

For these, we considered the amount of money that the Rockies paid for the player, how poorly they played for the team, and some other factors, which will be obvious here in a moment.

Here are the top 10 worst contracts in Colorado Rockies history in no particular order.

Colorado Rockies reliever Bryan Shaw: 3 years, $27 million

Bryan Shaw is another member of the Colorado Rockies “super bullpen” that fell flat and, perhaps, Shaw fell hardest of all.

Shaw signed a three-year deal for $27 million after leading the AL in appearances in three of the previous four seasons with Cleveland. In that span, he had an ERA+ of 141.

But with the Rockies, he had an ERA of 5.61 in 131 games in the two years with Colorado with an ERA+ of 89. Like McGee, the Rockies released him just before the start of the 2020 season, eating the rest of his contract.

Shaw signed with Cleveland again in 2021 and he returned to his former glory as he led the AL in appearances (81) and he had an ERA of 3.49 and an ERA+ of 126.

Colorado Rockies closer Wade Davis: 3 years, $52 million

The Wade Davis deal worked at first for the Colorado Rockies as he led the NL in saves (43) in 2018 with a 4.13 ERA (115 ERA+) and a 3.65 FIP.

But after that, Davis had a 9.77 ERA, a 1.957 WHIP, and a 6.23 FIP in 55 games in 2019 and 2020. He was one of many pieces in the “super bullpen” that didn’t work.

Colorado Rockies left-handed starter Mike Hampton: 8 years, $121 million

The Colorado Rockies signed left-handed starting pitcher Mike Hampton before the start of the 2001 season to an eight-year deal worth $121 million. That was the richest contract in MLB history at the time … until one week later, when outfielder Manny Ramírez signed with Boston for eight years and $160 million. He held the record until one month later when Alex Rodríguez signed with Texas for 10 years and $262 million.

Hampton was an All-Star in his first season with the Rockies but from his last start before the All-Star Game through the end of the season, Hampton’s ERA ballooned from 3.76 to 7.57 after. His overall ERA ballooned to 5.41.

He had a 6.35 ERA in 30 starts in 2002 before the Rockies traded him to the Florida Marlins. The Marlins ended up trading him to Atlanta but the Rockies were able to get themselves out from underneath that albatross of a deal but they had to take on Preston Wilson’s and Charles Johnson’s contracts. ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian described all the logistics well at the time.

Colorado Rockies first baseman/outfielder Ian Desmond: 5 years, $70 million (in theory)

The Colorado Rockies signed shortstop/outfielder Ian Desmond before the 2017 season to a five-year deal for $70 million … to play first base.

The problems with that were that a) Desmond had never played first base and b) was not a great offensive player before the Rockies signed him. He had an OPS+ of 93 in the two seasons prior to signing with the Rockies.

So with the Rockies, he was awful at first base so they moved him back to the outfield and he didn’t hit. From 2017 through 2019, he had an OPS+ of 82 and an rWAR of -2.6.

He opted out of the 2020 and 2021 seasons and he forfeited his salary for the two years, making it a three-year deal for $45 million.

Colorado Rockies starter Darryl Kile: 3 years, $24 million

It may not sound like much but in December 1997, a $24 million dollar deal was a big deal. That’s what the Colorado Rockies gave to Darryl Kile to become their ace. At the time, the most lucrative deal in MLB history was signed the previous offseason by Albert Belle when the White Sox gave him five years and $55 million.

Kile was 5th in the NL Cy Young voting with Houston in 1997 and he was an All-Star too.

Compared to the era in 1998, Kile actually wasn’t terrible (100 ERA+ and a 2.2 rWAR) but his ERA was 5.20 and he led the NL in losses (17), which were two key stats of the time. He was even worse in 1999 as he had a 6.61 ERA in 32 starts.

The Rockies traded him to St. Louis (sound familiar?) where he regained his former form until he passed away in June 2002 in Chicago while with the Cardinals at the team hotel due to a heart attack.

Colorado Rockies reliever Jake McGee: 3 years, $27 million

Jake McGee was with the Colorado Rockies for two seasons before they re-signed McGee to a three-year deal for $27 million in the 2017-2018 offseason.

McGee was acquired by the Rockies from the Rays along with Germán Márquez before the 2016 season and that was a very good trade for the Rockies. But, like the “super bullpen,” McGee faltered in 2018 as he had a 6.49 ERA in 61 games.

He was better in 2019 (4.35 ERA in 45 games) but nothing like he was in 2017 (3.61 ERA, 140 ERA+ in 62 appearances). The Rockies released him before the third and final year of the deal ($9.5 million) and for the buyout of the option for the 2021 season ($2 million).

Colorado Rockies first baseman Daniel Murphy: 2 years, $24 million

The Colorado Rockies signed Daniel Murphy to play first base for them before the start of the 2019 season and, with the exception of the Arenado extension later that offseason, that’s the only move that the Rockies made that offseason involving an MLB contract.

In those two years, Murphy had an OPS+ of 81 and had an rWAR of -0.5.

What made the deal even worse was that the Rockies signed Murphy instead of re-signing D.J. LeMahieu, who signed for the same exact amount and length with the Yankees. LeMahieu came in 3rd and 4th in AL MVP voting in those two seasons with an OPS+ of 146 and an rWAR of 8.7. It could have been even higher if not for the 2020 pandemic season.

The Rockies had a team option for $12 million for 2021 but Murphy opted to retire instead.

Colorado Rockies left-handed starter Denny Neagle: 5 years, $51 million

The Colorado Rockies signed Denny Neagle to a five-year, $51 million deal in the same offseason that they signed the aforementioned Mike Hampton. In fact, Neagle was signed just eight days prior to Hampton.

In 1997, Neagle came in 3rd in NL Cy Young voting and was an All-Star. He wasn’t that caliber when the Rockies signed him but he was still a decent pitcher.

However, Neagle only played in three of the five years of the contract with Colorado and he pitched to a 5.57 ERA (91 ERA+). He missed all of the 2004 season due to elbow surgery and in late 2004, he was arrested in Colorado. Therefore, the Rockies were able to cancel the last year of his contract due to a morals clause. He never pitched in the majors again.

Colorado Rockies infielder José Reyes: 6 years, $106 million

In all fairness, the Colorado Rockies did not sign this awful deal but they did agree to acquire it. The Miami Marlins signed this deal in the 2011-2012 offseason and, later, they traded it to the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays eventually passed it on to the Rockies in the Troy Tulowitzki deal in July 2015.

Reyes was awful with the Rockies in 47 games (-0.2 rWAR) but he was going to be their shortstop in 2016. However, he was suspended by MLB for choking his wife and shoving her into a door while on vacation in Hawaii. The police were called and he was arrested. Charges were later dropped since his wife refused to comply with authorities but he still was suspended for 51 games.

The Rockies sent him to the minors on a rehab assignment but before he was called back up, they designated him for assignment, partially because a rookie shortstop by the name of Trevor Story proved that he was much better than Reyes.

For all of those issues and the awful production, the Rockies had to pay Reyes $29.46 million. Not a great trade for the Rockies and it wasn’t a good trade for Toronto either.