Baseball's most overpaid players

With the 2021 MLB campaign firmly into the dog days of summer, it’s time to take stock and see which players just aren’t living up to their lofty salaries. From oft-injured stars to guys who can't hit the broadside of a barn, these are baseball's five most criminally overpaid players.

5. Bobby Bonilla (New York Mets)

Salary: $1.19 million

You’re darned right I’m going for the cheap laugh to kick things off!

Chances are you know the story already, but if not, here’s the summary: When the Mets bought out Bobby Bonilla’s contract, which was worth a bit more than $5 million, they proposed an arrangement where the money would be deferred into the future. Bonilla agreed, and in doing so turned that original salary into nearly $30 million.

He’ll be paid $1.19 million every July 1st through the year 2035.

4. Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers)

Salary: $30 million

Cabrera would’ve been a bit higher on this list if not for a month of June that included several vintage performances. During the recently-concluded month, he hit .329, though it only brought his overall average up to .237. Cabrera was a deadly offensive presence for most of his career and is just 79 hits away from 3,000, but it’s tough to justify that $30 million cost.

3. David Price (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Salary: $32 million

Like Cabrera, Price carries a very high... price tag, because of past performance. It can be argued he’s got a Hall of Fame resume. However, he’s started just three games this year and has posted a WHIP of 1.66.

He’s just not the pitcher he once was, and at age 35, all $32 million seems to have bought the Dodgers is a lefty reliever that’s yielded 38 hits in 27 2/3 innings pitched.

2. Patrick Corbin (Washington Nationals)

Salary: $24.4 million

Patrick Corbin rode a career season in 2018 to a lucrative six-year, fully-guaranteed contract with the Nationals. His 2019 season was strong, as he went 14-7 with a 3.25 ERA as Washington won it all, but the wheels have fallen off the past two campaigns. He was just 2-7 in 2020, and while he’s a slightly-better 5-7 so far this season, his ERA has ballooned to a career-worst 5.56. Even worse, his contract goes through 2024, and he’s owed $35 million in that final season.

1. Chris Davis (Baltimore Orioles)

Salary: $23 million

For the most part, I’ve avoided injured players, but I simply couldn’t land anywhere else on this list. The Orioles hitched their wagon to Davis after he led the American League in home runs in 2013 and 2015. His 2016 campaign saw him hit 38 dingers, but he’s fallen off rapidly since then.

He hasn’t hit above .179 since 2017, he’s played just 16 games for Baltimore this season, and it’s entirely possible he’s played his last game with the organization after undergoing hip surgery in May.