January 15, 200917 yr I am trying to think of a player who via free agency did not do bettr than a sure thing that was offered. I am certain there has to be some.
January 15, 200917 yr Jody Reed. Reed turned down a 3 year, $8 million contract with the Dodgers, only to sign with Milwaukee for $300,000 the following year.
January 15, 200917 yr Juan Gonzalez was offered a huge extension while with the Tigers. Instead of 8 years, $148 million, he got 2 years, $24 million. Jody Reed: The infielder rejected a three-year, $7.8 million offer, hoping to get more on the open market. Instead, he got a minor league contract with the Brewers. To replace the departed Reed, the Dodgers traded a young Pedro Martinez to the Expos for Delino DeShields, one of the most lopsided deals in history. Nomar in 2003: He rejected a four-year, $60 million extension, as well as a four-year, $48 million offer, because he felt he deserved "A-Rod/Jeter Money." A year later, Garciaparra was traded to the Cubs, where he signed a one-year deal for 2005 worth about $8 million and is now a Dodger after signing a similar one-year contract. Miguel Cairo: Emboldened by a strong season in pinstripes (.292 average), Cairo wanted more than the Yankees' offer of $3 million for two years. The Bombers signed Tony Womack instead, and Cairo had to settle for a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Mets.
January 15, 200917 yr Matt Harrington, a RHP who was a top prospect coming out of high school, passed on an offer of $4 million after being drafted 7th overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2000 MLB draft. His agent asked for $4.95 million, giving him 25% more than the Josh Hamilton (the number 1 pick in 1999). Harrington turned down the deal, sat out the season and was re-drafted in 2001 in the second round by the San Diego Padres. This time Harrington was advised by Scott Boras, who had pledged to get him something close to the $4.95 million he was seeking a year earlier. The Padres initial offer was for $1.2 million and when it was rejected they never revisited negotiations. Harrington would be drafted three more times but was never offered more than slot money and never signed. He played indy ball for the Fort Worth Cats, lost signigicant velocity on his fastball, and finally signed a minor league deal with the Cubs (with no signing bonus) in 2006. He didn't make the club, was released, and is back in Indy ball making (ahem) a fraction of the $4 million he turned down.
January 15, 200917 yr QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 04:31 PM) Nomar is the most notorious case Nomar had every reason to believe that. He was basically the Grady Sizemore of his position before injuries, etc. slowed him down.
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