Worst Free Agent Contracts in Pittsburgh Pirates History

#12 Matt Diaz, 2-year $4.25 million.

Matt Diaz was a professional baseball player who spent the 2011 season playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Diaz was primarily an outfielder and designated hitter, and he joined the Pirates as a free agent after spending the previous five seasons with the Atlanta Braves.

Diaz had a solid year with the Pirates in 2011, batting .259 with 2 home runs, 13 doubles, and 19 RBIs in 98 games. He also showed good plate discipline, drawing 21 walks while striking out just 27 times.

While Diaz's offensive numbers weren't eye-popping, he was a valuable contributor to the Pirates' lineup. He was especially effective against left-handed pitching, batting .315 against southpaws during the season.

Defensively, Diaz played primarily in left field for the Pirates, but he also saw some time in right field and as the designated hitter in American League games. He had a decent arm and made some solid defensive plays throughout the year. Throw in the fact that he hit lefties extremely well and Diaz was able to be moved at the Trade Deadline.

After signing Diaz to a two-year deal worth just over $4 million, the Bucs traded him before the end of the first year of that contract. Diaz was sent packing to the Braves for a player to be named later, which ended up being Elicier Cardenas who never amounted to anything. Again, a free agent contract was handed out to a player that the team had no real long-term plan to keep. The Bucs paid all of his 2011 salary, and basically had nothing to show for it.