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So it got me to thinking about this dilemma -- how often do good players sign with bad teams? Forget the reasons why, as we know bad teams often keep themselves out of the market for good players. I just want to get a sense of whether superstar free agents are giving the dregs of the league any chance at all.
While there are nearly 30 recent examples of players who signed significant deals with teams coming off multiple losing seasons, most of them involve high-revenue teams. The Rangers and Phillies are on the list four times, the Angels three, the Cubs and Mets twice. Last year’s best example was Alex Bregman signing with the Red Sox, hardly a “dreg” of the league. Buying talent in free agency is one way teams that make a lot of money keep themselves from falling to that level.
