MLB’s #10YearChallenge
If you have opened social media in the past week odds are you have met the worlds newest celebrity, an egg, that’s right an egg has taken over social media. You have also probably seen people posting their #10YearChallenge, where you post a picture of yourself from 10 years ago and one from now and then act all surprised that your appearance has changed over a decade. Today we’re going to put a little twist on the MLBs #10YearChallenge and see how the top ten free agent signings of the 2009 off season panned out.
*Top 10 free agents as published by MLB Trade Rumors*
10. Ben Sheets RHP-1 yr/$10M Ben Sheets was coming off his fourth of four all-star appearances in 2008 with the Brewers, posting a 13–9 record with a 3.09 ERA. Sheets, entering his age 29 season, would end up signing with the Oakland Athletics where unfortunately, due to injuries, his career in Oakland never worked out. After missing the entire 2009 season, Sheets would post a 4–9 record his one season for the A’s in 2010, before retiring in Atlanta.
9. Ryan Dempster RHP-4yr/$52M Ryan Dempster was going into his age 32 season when he resigned with the Chicago Cubs. Dempster, and all-star in 2008, saw his production decline over the next four seasons, but still served as a reliable starting pitcher, and mentor for some of the young pieces in a then rebuilding organization.
8. Adam Dunn OF/1B- 4yr/$56M Adam Dunn was always known as a slugger with great power…. but horrible plate discipline. This made him a very intriguing free agents heading into the 2009 season. Dunn would eventually sign with the Washington Nationals, who was looking for a power bat to match with a young Ryan Zimmerman. Dunn would have two decent seasons with the Nats, belting 38 homers in each of them before they flipped him to the Chicago White Sox.
7. Orlando Hudson 2B-1yr/$3M+ Orlando Hudson was coming off his second straight season hitting above .290 and had won two of the last three Gold Gloves for second baseman in the NL. However, Hudson only got a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $3M plus up to $8M in potential bonuses. Hudson would be an all-star in his lone season with LA posting a .283 BA and winning another Gold Glove.
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6. Derek Lowe RHP-4yr/$60M Derek Lowe, a two-time all-star and World Series champion was entering the twilight of his career when his 2009 free agency came around, so getting $60M over four years from the Atlanta Braves shocked a lot of people in the baseball world. Lowe would have two solid seasons in Atlanta in 2009 and 2010, posting a 31–22 record combined. However, the 2011 season was rough for Lowe, going 9–17 with an ERA over 5.00.
5. A.J. Burnett-5yr/$82.5M Burnett, who was coming off an 18-win season in which he struck out a career high 231 batters in Toronto signed with their AL East rival, New York Yankees. In three seasons in pinstripes Burnett tallied a 34–35 record, before being shipped off to Pittsburgh before the 2012 season. Burnett won his second World Series in 2009 while playing for the Yankees.
4. Francisco Rodriguez RHP-3yr/$37M Francisco Rodriguez, also known as K-Rod, was a highly coveted free agent during the 2009 offseason, and for good reason. During the 2008 season Rodriguez saved an MLB record 62 games for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and finished third in Cy Young voting as a closer. Over two and a half seasons playing for New York’s other team, and saving 83 games, Rodriguez was shipped to Milwaukee during the 2011 season.
3. Manny Ramirez OF-2yr/$45M Manny Ramirez went unsigned for most of the offseason but would eventually sign back with the Los Angeles Dodgers in early March, just before opening day. Ramirez was traded to LA from Boston in 2008 and went on an absolute tear for the Dodgers in the second half of the season. Manny Ramirez would face suspensions for PEDs while playing for the Dodgers, but luckily for them they had Juan Pierre, who was more than an adequate fourth outfielder on their roster.
2. Mark Teixeira1B- 8yr/$180M Mark Teixeira had been amongst the top producing players in the MLB for a few years at this point, but he had never found a real home. After bouncing from between three teams in just two seasons, Tex signed an eight-year deal with the New York Yankees. He would spend the rest of his career in the Bronx and become one of the fan favorites, along with being one of their most productive players for the good part of his time with the Yanks. Three Gold Glove awards, two all-star games, a Silver Slugger and a World Championship later, Tex will go down as one of the most beloved Yankees of this generation.
1. CC Sabathia LHP- 5yr/$122M Much like Manny Ramirez, CC Sabathia was coming off a season in which he was traded to an NL contender midseason and carried them to the playoffs. In 17 starts with the Brewers, Sabathia compiled an 11–2 record with an otherworldly 1.65 ERA. Many teams were bidding for the services of the former Cy Young award winner, but he would eventually sign with the New York Yankees, where he is about to enter his 11th season. Sabathia helped bring the 27th title to the Bronx, where to this day he is among the most beloved Yankee players. Sabathia enters the 2019 season just four wins short of 250 for his career, a number not many more people will reach the way bullpens and specialty pitchers have become such a big part of todays game.
Other notable free agents: Mike Mussina, Raul Ibanez, Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, Jamie Moyer, Randy Johnson, Rafael Furcal
