As usual, there was plenty of money spent in the free-agent market this off season and this spring. But, after three weeks of the season, nobody really has become rich.
One of the biggest contracts went to Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton, who was lavished with a $133 million, five-year contract to leave Texas. Hamilton was hitting .200 before the weekend.
The Angels, who already have lost series to Houston and Minnesota, hadn’t fared too well either with the $6.5 million they gave Joe Blanton, who was 0-3 with a 4.91 earned-run average, or with the $3.5 million they gave to reliever Ryan Madson, who still is hurt.
Even though Angels reliever Sean Burnett, signed for $3.625 million, had a 1.42 ERA, the Angels clearly are near the bottom in bang for their free-agent bucks.
Manager Mike Scoiscia has a contract through 2018 but the Angels, who missed the playoffs last year, are trending in a direction in which that contract might not necessarily ensure his presence in his dugout.
Up the freeway, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top free-agent acquisitions haven’t exactly paid dividends, although there is an asterisk attached to pitcher Zack Greinke, who is making $21 million in his first year with the team. Roughed up by San Diego’s Carlos Quentin after a disagreement recently, Greinke is out for a couple of months because of a fractured left clavicle.
The more pressing issue with the Dodgers is the offensive shutdown from the high-priced players they already have on a roster that has the highest payroll in the National League, some $217 million.
Taking away first baseman Adrian Gonzalez’s seven hits in 14 at bats with men in scoring position entering the weekend, the rest of the Dodgers were hitting .130 (15 for 115) with men in scoring position.
That included 1 for 20 (.050) by Matt Kemp, who is making $20.25 million this year and one for 16 (.063) by Andre Ethier, signed at $13.5 million.
Kemp, who had shoulder surgery last October, was hitting only .182 overall with 18 strikeouts and three walks. He was benched Wednesday by Manager Don Mattingly and Kemp told reporters, “I don’t ever want to sit out. I want to play baseball games. But, you know, I didn’t make the lineup out tonight, Donnie B. did. He told me I needed a night off. I respect him for that.”
Mattingly was known as “Donnie Baseball” when he starred for the Yankees. But until Kemp did so no player had publicly referred to him as “Donnie B.”
The Dodgers, not to be outdone by the Angels losing 2 of 3 to awful Houston, proceeded to drop all three at home in a series against San Diego. The Padres entered that series at 2-10, having won only one game at home and one on the road.
Baseball’s best team so far has been the Atlanta Braves, who recently reeled off 10 wins in a row.
But even they have reaped little or nothing from their top free-agent acquisition, outfielder B.J. Upton, who was hitting .167 while being paid $13.05 million.
There is a corollary here, though. United with his brother for the first time as major leaguers, Justin Upton, acquired via trade with Arizona, had nine homers and was hitting. .328.
The Braves have the kind of offense that generally isn’t conducive to championship baseball. They are leading the league in home runs but also have at least six players on pace to strike out 100 or more times.
A couple of teams getting the most for their money have been the ones that have been getting some of the least in recent years - the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees have resorted to a more low-end approach. That’s because they didn’t have much choice with the extended loss of stars Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira to injury.
Designated hitter Travis Hafner, once a star with Cleveland but making only $2 million, was hitting .342 with four homers. First baseman Lyle Overbay, making $1.25 million, was hitting .267. Outfielder Brennan Boesch ($1.5 million) was hitting .286.
The Red Sox, who surprisingly have been one of the best teams in the majors, didn’t get much early return from shortstop Stephen Drew ($9.5 million), who went 2 for 23. But first baseman Mike Napoli ($5 million) had 17 RBI in the first 21/2 weeks and outfielder Shane Victorino ($13 million) was hitting .322.
Reliever Koji Ueharra ($4.25 million) had an 0.00 ERA for his first 62/3 innings but starter Ryan Dempster, who is getting $13.25 million, had an ERA roughly equivalent to that at 12.24.
Cleveland’s Michael Bourn, a late spring signing, has been as good as any free agent to change teams. Bourn, making $7 million, was hitting .333.
The National League has had very few free agents make an impact.
One has been third baseman Placido Polanco, hitting .309 for Miami. He the team’s second highest paid player, at $2.75 million. He also is the team’s cleanup hitter, which tells you a lot about the Marlins.
Former Cardinal Polanco hasn’t hit more than 10 homers in a season since 2004.
Sports, Pages 26 on 04/21/2013