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Phillies: Top 5 worst free agent signings of the last decade

A.J. Burnett, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
A.J. Burnett, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 27: Aaron Harang #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 27, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 27: Aaron Harang #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 27, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

#4. Aaron Harang

Still reeling from the lasting effects of going “all-in” in the early 2010s, the Phillies dipped their hand back into the free agency pool prior to the 2015 season, this time looking to add a new starting pitcher. With some promising young talent finally making its way up through the organization’s farm system (Aaron Nola, Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco), it seemed like the team may actually be ready to start competing again.

So what did the Phillies do? They paid a 37 year old $5 million dollars (plus further incentives).

After really struggling in 2013, Aaron Harang was coming off a half decent year with the Atlanta Braves in 2014. Making 33 total starts for the team, Harang went 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA. Not bad for a guy pitching in his thirteenth consecutive season.

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Despite putting up above average numbers for Atlanta, the Braves showed little to no interest in extending the pitcher’s contract the following offseason. Set to turn 37 in the spring, it was expected that the veteran would start falling off sooner rather than later.

The fears poised by their division rival clearly didn’t scare off the Phillies, and after a year and a half of facing him in the NL East, the Phils seemed plenty ready to sign away $5 million dollars to the aging righty. In 29 starts as a Phillie, Harang went 6-15 and posted an ERA of 4.86.

Signing Harang for such a sum of money makes little to no sense when reflecting back on it. The Phillies were clearly rebuilding at this stage in time, and handing out a one-year deal to a player set to retire the following season obviously wasn’t a step in the right direction.

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