Saw a tweet today from Reesdansie that said: America Held hostage day 588. I think that is unfair.
Held hostage implies that it was against our will, we did this to ourselves.
However with Manny on the brain it led me to this SI article from a few years ago of really bad free agent signings:
1. Hampton, $121 million, Rockies (and Braves). The deals for him and Denny Neagle ($55 million, five years) set the Rockies back five years. On the other hand, the complicated trade to send him away and get the Rockies on the path to the World Series was a stroke of genius. The Braves, who got him from the Marlins in November 2002, two days after Colorado dumped him, are known for wise pitching decisions, but this has to be their worst.
2. Carl Pavano, $40 million, four (long) years, Yankees. Never really looked interested. Changed agents more times than he actually pitched.
3. Albert Belle, $65 million, five years, Orioles. Brought surly mood, diminished power and bad hip to Peter Angelos’ brand of bad baseball
His list has 13 names on it with contracts worth a combined $925 million.
That is really the way we have to look at it. Barack Obama is a free agent who came with a lot of hype and the country got carried away with it, we thought we were getting the next Jackie Robinson, instead we got Pumpsie Green.
Bottom line Barack Obama is the most expensive free agent signing in history and he still has two years left on his contract!
Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog 
The Jackie Robinson/Barack Obama got me my first link at the Other McCain back in March 2009. Obama is just a backup infielder type like Green, not an all-star like he hopes to be.