Worst free agent signings

4. Allan Houston, New York Knicks, 6 years, $100 million: At best, Houston was a good shooter who couldn’t do much of anything else. Mix in a string of injuries, and the Knicks spent most of his tenure at Madison Square Garden trying to grin and bear it.

5. Chan Ho Park, Texas Rangers, 5 years, $65 million: No one likes to pitch in Arlington, Texas, either, but that doesn’t excuse overpaying for Park. For all that money; the Rangers landed a pitcher who was injured much of the time and rarely effective when he was healthy. Toss in a fragile psyche, and this ranks among the worst deals in the history of a franchise that has made more than a few.

6. Grant Hill, Orlando Magic, 7 years, $93 million: A good guy with a bad foot, Hill spent most of his time in the Magic Kingdom nursing a bum wheel, playing in just 200 games in six seasons before moving on to the Phoenix Suns.

7. Carl Pavano, Yankees, 4 years, $40 million: Always injured, Pavano became an object of scorn from New York media and fans. He ended up winning just nine games (losing eight) during his time in pinstripes and is trying to resurrect his career in Cleveland.

8. Larry Brown, Oakland Raiders, 5 years, $12.5 million: No one hit the lottery quite like Brown, who intercepted two passes for the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX when Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell inexplicably threw the ball right to him both times, virtually handing him the Most Valuable Player trophy. Only the Raiders saw greatness in Brown, but hardly anyone expected him to be the total disaster he became in Oakland. He started just 12 games in two seasons before the Raiders let him go.

9. Albert Belle, Orioles, 5 years, $65 million: One of the game’s more surly individuals, but one of its best hitters, Belle was coming off a 49 home run/152 runs batted in season with the White Sox when Baltimore waved this deal under his nose. A hip injury limited his effectiveness, and Belle was forced to retire just two years into the new contract.

10. Mo Vaughn, Angels and Mets, 6 years, $80 million: A beast in Boston, Vaughn was mostly a bust after getting this deal. He was productive in his first two years in Anaheim, but he was also injury-prone and missed the entire 2001 season. The Mets took a chance on him, but he drove in just 72 runs in 139 games in 2002 and appeared in just 27 games in 2003 before a lingering wrist injury ended his career.

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