Worst contracts in the AL East: 2 big Red Sox names make the list

As the end of the regular season draws to a close, MLB teams and players are already beginning to plan for offseason contract negotiations.

The American League East is packed with many players locked into expensive, lengthy deals, but several haven’t lived up to their forecast or price. There are a few questionable deals on each of the five teams in the division, and they're all included here — the Boston Red Sox have not been spared.

Here are the worst AL East contracts ranked in descending order.

Two Red Sox featured among the AL East's worst contracts

6.  Eloy Jiménez, Baltimore Orioles: $43 million for six years, signed in 2019

Eloy Jiménez is the perfect example of the high risk-high reward long-term contracts bring. Due to injuries, he hasn’t played more than 125 games in a season, not counting the shortened 2020 season. Despite his inability to stay healthy, Jiménez has maintained a career .270 batting average, .320 on-base percentage, and .465 slugging percentage. 

Jiménez’s contract is justifiable if his injury history and poor defense don’t count. He has a powerful swing and his ceiling remains high if he stays healthy. But those can’t be discounted. The Orioles only pay $4,263,441 on his remaining 2024 contract, but they should be cautious about deciding whether to exercise his club option in the offseason.

5. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays: $24 million for six years, signed in 2019

Brandon Lowe is a perfect example of a player who hasn't panned out. In the first year of his contract extension, he batted .270/.336/.514. Lowe’s stats have declined gradually in the last four years. His slugging percentage remains above league average at .475 this year, but his .244 batting average and .321 on-base percentage still indicate that he can’t find a rhythm with his injuries.

Tampa Bay got a great deal with Lowe in his contract’s first three years. They barely paid him $4 million and he earned an All-Star appearance in 2019. Lately, though, his salary has increased but his hitting hasn’t. The Rays are now paying him $8.75 million and should think twice before exercising his club option.

4. Brayan Bello, Boston Red Sox: $55 million for six years, signed in 2024

Brayan Bello was only 24 and had played one full season in the big leagues when he agreed to his deal with the Sox. In 2023, Bello held an ERA of 4.24 and a 1.34 WHIP, striking out 132 batters and walking 45. This year, he has a 4.75 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 135 strikeouts and 53 walks. Bello struggles to hold runners on base and consistently command the strike zone.

For $1.66 million, Bello is pitching slightly below his price tag this year. By 2027, however, the Sox will be paying him $8.66 million and should expect him to be better with more experience. It will be Boston’s fault for prematurely setting a high bar and miscalculating his potential if Bello doesn’t live up to expectations.

3. George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays: $150 million for six years, signed in 2021

The four-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and former World Series MVP hasn’t been the same since he signed with the Blue Jays. Springer left the Astros with a career split of .270/.361/.491 and a 5.1 WAR from 2014 to 2020. With Toronto, he’s averaged .252/.330/.441 with a 2.5 WAR. Though likely past his prime, Springer remains serviceable in his mid-30s.

Toronto still has to pay Springer about $72.5 million more for the next three years, a hefty price for slightly above-average hitting. The Blue Jays incorrectly predicted that he would return to peak form, but at least they benefit from his defensive skills in the outfield.

2. Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox: $140 million for six years, signed in 2022

Trevor Story hasn’t played enough in the past three years to warrant his high-paying contract. The Red Sox spent $40 million in 2022 and 2023 for Story to only play 137 games. He unexpectedly returned to action after his early-season shoulder surgery, and now the Sox have paid him $62.5 million to play in 166 games over three years.

The Sox made a mistake when they offered Story a six-year deal after his productivity showed signs of decline. In his last year with the Rockies, he slashed .251/.329/.471. When healthy, he was average. Now, Story is hitting below average and isn’t healthy. Boston should consider themselves lucky if Story opts out of his contract in 2026, which frees up $50 million in payroll over two years.

1. Carlos Rodón, New York Yankees: $162 million for six years, signed in 2023

Carlos Rodón is unpredictable. He had a solid 4.01 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP in his four years, but from 2019-20, they increased to 5.74 and 1.46, respectively, while he battled elbow inflammation and shoulder soreness. Rodón improved greatly in 2021-2022 but then regressed in his first year with the Yankees. His turbulence will only get worse with age.

Just because the Yankees can afford to overpay doesn’t mean they should. Signing Rodón at age 30 to a huge contract without an opt-out and after he only had three sub-4.00 ERA seasons in his nine-year career isn’t justifiable. Rodón has high highs and low lows. He may be worth his yearly $111.33 million in his four remaining years, but that’s unlikely.

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