15 worst Detroit Tigers free agent signings in franchise history

15. Francisco Liriano, 2018

• 1 year, $4 million
• 0.3 WAR

Our list admittedly begins with some one-year deals, starting with Francisco Liriano’s. While this wasn’t a particularly painful contract in the grand scheme, former Twins star Liriano didn’t do much during his time in Detroit.

He did lose a lot, going 5-12 with a 4.58 ERA. He made 26 starts, 27 appearances total, and the Tigers lost two out of every three times he appeared on the mound for them.

He was worth a positive figure in WAR after eating about 133 innings on the mound, but that’s about the best you could say. It could have been even worse: he put up a 5.11 FIP.

14. Adam Everett, 2010

• 1 year, $1.55 million in 2010
• 0.3 WAR, 31 games, 89 plate appearances, .468 OPS, -3 DRS

Can you get upset over a small contract that just didn’t turn out particularly well? That was the question about Adam Everett’s deal as much back in 2010 as it is today.

Everett signed as a free agent with the Tigers for a $1 million deal in 2009. Known for his defensive prowess, he was kind of the epitome of an all-glove, no-bat player and put up 9 DRS (defensive runs saved) while batting .238 with .288 OBP and .325 slugging. Fans were frequently frustrated at how inept he was at the plate.

What especially inflamed them, however, was the fact Detroit brought him back again in 2010 after narrowly missing the 2009 playoffs by dropping Game 163 to the Twins. 

He didn’t last long: just 31 games and 89 plate appearances. The Tigers released him on June 15 the 2010 season as he was batting .185 with .468 OPS. Worse, he was worth -3 DRS at the time, erasing the only positive reason for keeping him in the lineup.

The Tigers went on to finish a disappointing third place in the AL Central that year and not working to find a better shortstop in the offseason is at least partially why.