Fact or Fiction: Juan Gonzales was the last great FA signed

[TribeinLA]

I was just thinking who the last true superhuman-like player was that didn't come from our farm system (and do not say kenny Lofton in 2007) who we signed to play ball.

Kevin Millwood (I would say no)?

I cannot think of any. Jason Michaels did look like Lex Luger though, so he should count.

[redneckofsc]

Don't know any Juan Gonzales, but Juan Gonzalez was the last good free agent we signed.

But if you think about it, the Indians have never really signed that many big free agents.

The only ones I can recall I would say were big, was Gonzalez, Burks, Alomar, and Finley.

If my memory is correct, Gonzalez, Wood, and Millwood are the only free agents the Indians ever gave 10M to in one season.

[gotribe31]

I was just thinking who the last true superhuman-like player was that didn't come from our farm system (and do not say kenny Lofton in 2007) who we signed to play ball.

Kevin Millwood (I would say no)?

I cannot think of any. Jason Michaels did look like Lex Luger though, so he should count.

We traded Max Ramirez for Kenny Lofton in 2007, so I don't think anyone was going to say him.

[BruceK]

We gave a big contract to Travis Hafner to keep him from leaving as a FA. That worked out well.

[skatingtripods]

Bob Howry in 2005.

[googleeph2]

Kerry Wood?

[redneckofsc]

Bob Howry in 2005.

Wasnt he signed after he sat out almost a whole season, and paid next to nothing?

[WarAdmiral]

From Wayne Garland to Juan Gon, there haven't been that many. Jack McDowell is one that comes to mind, that hasn't been listed, and that one turned out pretty bad. We have clearly had more success with free agent reclamation projects, than healthy established free agents.

[redneckofsc]

Geronimo Berroa

[skatingtripods]

Wasnt he signed after he sat out almost a whole season, and paid next to nothing?

Maybe. Either way, he's made the biggest contribution as a recent Indians FA signing.

[noles1]

Kevin Millwod, maybe?

[Dellucci TailGator]

Millwood led the league in ERA. I'd count that as a great signing.

[YahooFanChicago]

I also agree that Juan Gone would be the latest big free agent to sign at the time. Millwood was a great signing but he was also coming off a poor prior year and injuries.

Before these guys, Blackjack, The Bulldog Herschieser and El Presidente Martinez. I am not sure if Eddie Murray was a free agent or a trade?

All of those signings were excellent for us with the exception of Blackjack.

I went to see Blackjack play a concert at a very small venue in Lincoln Park about a month after he signed with the Tribe. He was either completely out of his mine stoned, completely crazy or both. He shows up by himself for an accoustic set, proceeds to sing songs with highly racist lyrics and about halfway through one set starts refering to "his band". Only problem is there was no band it was just him. He played one set and left very abruptly to no fanfare or clapping. People were stuned and there were a lot of tribe fans in the audience sporting wahoo gear looking to get a first glimpse of our new ace.

[Toxicadam]

Casey Blake was a free agent signing. He racked up 13 WAR in his 5 1/2 seasons with the Indians.

[Eckersley]

Juan Gonzalez, Kevin Millwood & Bob Wickman were the top 3 IMO.

[Bigfist]

Wickman was part of the Richie Sexson trade with Milwaukee. Really, I think of all the free agent signings, the best was Roberto Alomar, who had three great seasons in Cleveland...then went downhill quickly once he was traded.

[Eckersley]

Wickman was part of the Richie Sexson trade with Milwaukee. Really, I think of all the free agent signings, the best was Roberto Alomar, who had three great seasons in Cleveland...then went downhill quickly once he was traded.

Correct, but his contract expired once or twice & we resigned him after he was eligible for free agency. He had some of his best years at the end of his career. He usually walked the tightrope in the 9th inning, but he was great bang for the buck.

I don't know how I forgot Robbie. He was definitely the best FA signing in Tribe history.

[Spin]

Wickman was part of the Richie Sexson trade with Milwaukee. Really, I think of all the free agent signings, the best was Roberto Alomar, who had three great seasons in Cleveland...then went downhill quickly once he was traded.

I agree, Robby may have been the last of the best. Juan Gone only played 150 games here.

[Pressrunnr]

Robby was far and away the best. Ellis Burks underrated, but very good. Millwood and Juan were great one-year rentals. For pure, multi-year free agent deals for established major league players (i.e., non-one-year-rental), I'd rate them this way:
1. Robby. 2. El Presidente 3. Ellis Burks (very underrated, probably because he and Gonalez were kind of the consolation prize for losing Manny) 4. Eddie Murray.

[Dellucci TailGator]

Those 20 fabulous games of Kevin Mitchell in 1998 have to be in the discussion, do they not?

[peeker643]

Those 20 fabulous games of Kevin Mitchell in 1998 have to be in the discussion, do they not?

They do if you hated Chad Curtis.

I'm assuming Wayne Garland and Keith Hernandez have been eliminated?

[Pressrunnr]

Oh, if we want to talk BAD free agent signings, that's unfortunately a much more crowded field. I'd have to vote Jack McDowell for worst. Man, with that lineup at that time, that stud No. 1 starter was THE last piece. To his credit, John Hart said he had a choice between him and Kevin Brown (imagine -- an Indians GM being able to CHOOSE between two big-name free agents) and, obviously, chose wrong.

[Spin]

Oh, if we want to talk BAD free agent signings, that's unfortunately a much more crowded field. I'd have to vote Jack McDowell for worst. Man, with that lineup at that time, that stud No. 1 starter was THE last piece. To his credit, John Hart said he had a choice between him and Kevin Brown (imagine -- an Indians GM being able to CHOOSE between two big-name free agents) and, obviously, chose wrong.

Let's not forget Juan Gone Part II.

One at bat. Must have left his roids in KC.