THE STORY
In January 2016, the Baltimore Orioles signed first baseman Chris Davis to a seven-year, $161 million contract, the largest in franchise history. Davis had led MLB with 47 home runs and 117 RBIs in 2015. However, his performance declined in 2016, batting.221 with 38 home runs and 84 RBIs, leading to criticism of the investment.
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Baltimore Orioles
WHY IT MATTERS
The contract remains the largest in Orioles' history and is often cited as a cautionary tale about long-term investments in players based on a single standout season.