It is hard to make such predictions without going after some of the players who are given too much credit, or money, for what they do. Without further ado, here are five of the most overrated players in the game today, in no particular order:
A.J. Burnett, SP, New York Yankees
In 2010, Burnett made $16.5 million, making him the 20th highest-paid player in baseball. Meanwhile, he ranked 402nd among pitchers alone in terms of his WAR (Wins Above Replacement). I'm no banker, but that doesn't appear to be a very good example of bang for your buck.
Burnett has the ability to break off curveballs that can buckle the knees of everyone in attendance, never mind the batter. He also has the ability to throw the next pitch to the backstop. By going 18-10 and leading the American League in strikeouts and starts in 2008, Burnett earned his big contract. However, he hasn't had a year with an ERA below 4.00 since the season before that, in 2007, and that was when he was in the midst of an eight-year battle with injuries. The Yanks have had a healthy Burnett, but not a good one.
Lastings Milledge, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
The bloom may be off the rose. Milledge, for years a can't-miss prospect in the New York Mets system and then a breakout candidate with Washington and Pittsburgh, has entered his mid-20s on a downward trend. Injuries and ineffectiveness have limited him to eight home runs and 12 stolen bases in 178 games over the last two years, this from a guy once mentioned as a 30-30 candidate.
Bobby Abreu, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Abreu left Philadelphia during the 2006 season. The Phillies have made the playoffs each year from 2007-2010. He was with the Yankees as their win total dropped for three straight seasons, culminating in their first year without a postseason trip since 1993. The Angels were a 100-win team the year before Abreu arrived. They won 97 in his first season and 80 in 2010. He is not the sole reason for any of this, but Abreu seems to lack that certain something that can make an impact in the middle of a lineup, even given his steady production over the years. He has also frustrated fans in each city with his less-than-daring approach to the outfield wall.
Jayson Werth, OF, Washington Nationals
Trust us, this story has nothing to do with rating former Phillies right fielders. Werth's time in the City of Brotherly Love resulted in some nice results and a legion of beard-sporting followers, but it was not the type of stint that deserved seven years and $126 million, the contract he received from Washington. Werth has never hit .300, has never driven in 100 runs and has shrunk in high-pressure situations throughout his career, at least those in the regular season (his postseason resume is rather solid). He's good, but not worth one of the biggest contracts in baseball history.
Scott Kazmir, SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Trust us, this story has nothing to do with rating current Angels players. Unfortunately for Kazmir, he may be a victim of overuse as a youngster. He threw 186 innings as a 21-year-old for Tampa Bay and topped the 200-inning mark at 23. Since then, the lefty that became a punch line in jokes related to the New York Mets and their recent history of poor moves has fallen off the map. A guy who once led the league in strikeouts had an abysmal 1.18 strikeout-to-walk ratio last year while sporting a 5.94 ERA in 28 starts. This is a contract year for Kazmir, and an opportunity to salvage something of a career gone south.
Who is the most overrated player in baseball? Leave your thoughts below.
