When Darren Dreifort inked his big deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2001, it was widely viewed as a mistake. After all, his career record at that point was 39-45, 6 games under the .500 mark. He had a history of arm troubles and other ailments, and he had posted just ONE season with an ERA under 4.00. With all these factors against him, Dreifort was able to FLEECE to Dodgers for a 5 year deal, worth $55 million.
The pitching market was limited, and Scott Boras was able to sell his client based on the infamous word that surrounds every talented pitcher: “Upside”. The Dodgers took the bait, and in his first season after the deal, Dreifort needed reconstructive elbow surgery and was out of action until the end of the 2002 season. In total, Dreifort pitched in only 3 of the 5 years of the deal, constantly struggling to stay healthy.
Final Tally:
- 5 years
- 9-13 Record
- 4.53 ERA
- 1.39 WHIP
- 86 games pitched
- 205.1 IP
Dreifort earned slightly more than $6 million for each victory he earned over the course of the contract!
The Dodgers were fleeced beyond comprehension in one of Scott Boras’ most infamous deals over the years.
Filed under: *Great Moments in Fleece History, Los Angeles Dodgers
yea, that was a doozy. do you remember who the dodgers gm was back then?
Kevin Malone was the GM who made this great deal!