15 worst Toronto Blue Jays free agent signings in franchise history

11. RHP Erik Hanson - three years, $9.4M (1995-1996 offseason)

After breaking into the league as a 23-year-old back in 1988, Hanson was actually a pretty dang good pitcher for the first seven or so years of his career. 

As a member of the Seattle Mariners, he made 145 appearances with a respectable 3.69 ERA and 111 ERA+. He was always a pitcher who didn’t rely too heavily on the strikeout (although he did rack up 211 Ks in 1990) and did an exceptional job at limiting walks and home runs.

After leaving the Mariners six years into his big league career, he spent the 1994 season with the Reds and 1995 with the Red Sox, making his first (and only) All-Star Game appearance.

Hanson hit free agency at the conclusion of the 1995 season and he had many suitors on the open market. The Toronto Blue Jays won the sweepstakes, signing him to a three-year deal that would guarantee him just under $10M.

In his first season with the Blue Jays, the wheels completely fell off. He went 13-17 with a 5.41 ERA in 35 starts. He allowed over 10 hits per nine innings, walked over 100 batters and managed an ERA+ of just 93. 

The injury bug bit Hanson in both 1997 and 1998 and he was able to make a combined 14 appearances. His career in Toronto wound up being a total dud, as he was worth just 1.3 bWAR and had an overall ERA+ of 87.