Most Overrated MLB Players of All Time

It’s the word no big leaguer wants to hear, but somebody has to say it.

Most Overrated MLB Players of All Time

Wanna make a pro athlete seethe or at least give a dirty look? Just call that person the worst four-syllable word in all of sports. All together now, people — o-ver-ra-ted.

But in no way should that godawful term be confused with being a bad player. Heck, even legit Hall of Famers can be overrated, as you will discover soon.

So please keep that in mind. When we call these players overrated, in no way does it mean that they would have been better off as embalmers, roadkill collectors, or even manual sewer cleaners — they're just perfect as the most overrated MLB players of all time.

30. Mariano Rivera

Position: Pitcher

Career: 1995-2013 (19 seasons)

Teams: New York Yankees

World Series titles: 5 (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009)

Bottom Line: Mariano Rivera

New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera works against Oakland Athletics

Don’t know about you, but it kind of sucks that the first unanimous Hall of Famer was a closer — even if he was the best ever.

That's a closer, girls and boys, someone who’s lucky to pitch three innings a week!

Full disclosure: I voted for "The Sandman," albeit reluctantly for those reasons.

29. Clayton Kershaw

Position: Pitcher

Career: 2008-present (16 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Clayton Kershaw

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw tips his cap

Any mention of "The Claw" with the all-time greats requires an asterisk.

His 4.43 earned run average in the postseason is nearly two full runs higher than in the regular season. This guy is no Sandy Koufax, who had a 0.95 postseason ERA and two World Series Most Valuable Player awards. Not even in the same area code.

28. Lou Brock

Position: Outfield

Career: 1961-1979 (19 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals

Statistics/162: .293 BA, .753 OPS, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 58 SB

World Series titles: 2 (1964, 1967)

Bottom Line: Lou Brock

Lou Brock surrounded by teammates as he holds second base

The Hall of Famer was every bit of that against right-handers, but his .265/.308/.367 splits versus lefties was more like that of a platoon player.

Southpaws fed him a steady diet of sliders and curveballs, the result of which was 3.5 strikeouts for every walk.

Uh, did we mention his -16.8 defensive WAR total?

27. Nolan Ryan

Position: Pitcher

Career: 1966, 1968-93 (27 seasons)

Teams: New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers

World Series titles: 1 (1969)

Bottom Line: Nolan Ryan

Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan fires one home

If we needed someone to pitch a no-hitter with the future of Earth at stake, this is the person that we would want on the mound, no doubt. But if we needed someone to win one game, Nolan Ryan wouldn’t be on the list.

For all of his dominance, the all-time strikeout leader never learned how to pitch. The result was a staggering number of walks, wild pitches and high pitch counts, all of which worked against him and his team, especially in close games.

26. Mike Menosky

Position: Outfield

Career: 1914-17, 1919-23 (9 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Rebels (Federal League), Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Mike Menosky

Who in the hell was Mike Menosky, you ask? He was acquired from the Senators to be the next Red Sox star left fielder. "New Ace In The Red Sox Attack," the Boston Globe heralded him in bold print.

While "Leaping Mike" went on to produce some respectable numbers over the next three seasons, he fell juuuuust a little bit short of his predecessor.

Perhaps you’ve heard of Babe Ruth?

25. Rollie Fingers

Position: Pitcher

Career: 1968-82, 1984-85 (17 seasons)

Teams: Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers

World Series titles: 3 (1972, 1973, 1974)

Bottom Line: Rollie Fingers

This valuable member of the A’s dynasty ranks 14th in career saves and has an impressive postseason resume. Yet what many remember most was ... his Hall of Fame mustache?

He owns the lowest career WAR total ( 24.96) among HOF pitchers with 1,500 innings or more. His only dominant season came with the Brewers amid a players strike late in his career.

We’ve got him in the Hall of Very Good.

24. Roger Maris

Position: Right field

Career: 1957-1968 (12 seasons)

Teams: Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees

World Series titles: 2 (1961, 1962)

Bottom Line: Roger Maris

Some believe Maris deserves to be in the Hall of Fame largely because of one truly epic season. Yet he had only one other dominant season before his production tailed off quickly.

What’s more, he was a considerable postseason disappointment. That said, we’d trade a washed-up Hank Bauer, Don Larsen and Mark Throneberry for him in a New York minute.

We’d even throw in Norm Siebern, too.

23. Ron Santo

Position: Third base

Career: 1960-1974 (15 seasons)

Teams: Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs

Statistics/162: .277 BA, .826 OPS, 25 HR, 96 RBI, 3 SB

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Ron Santo

Ron Santo trouble coming up with ground ball

There was the Hall of Famer who hit .298 and slugged .529 in his Wrigley Field career. And then there the mediocre player who hit .257 and slugged .406 away from home.

While we’re at it, let’s not forget what a lousy teammate he was for much of his career and the role he played in the 1969 Cubbies collapse.

22. Burleigh Grimes

Position: Pitcher

Career: 1916-34 (19 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees

Statistics/162: 38 G, 16-13, 3.53 ERA

World Series titles: 1 (1931)

Bottom Line: Burleigh Grimes

Burleigh Grimes interacting with Van Lingle Mungo

Where do the lines of quality and longevity intersect as they concern Cooperstown induction?

While this well-traveled workhorse won at least 20 games five times, he’s the only Hall of Famer with more than 4,000 innings pitched and a sub-50 WAR total.

Other than the 1931 Fall Classic, in which he won both his starts, his postseason performance was well short of expectations. Which takes us to ...

21. Early Wynn

Position: Pitcher

Career: 1939, 1941-44, 1946-63 (23 seasons)

Teams: Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox

Statistics/162: 36 G, 16-13, 3.54 ERA

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Early Wynn

Chicago White Sox pitcher Early Wynn pitching

Early Wynn was a lot like the aforementioned Burleigh Grimes with one exception — he never played with a World Series champion. Wynn was very good at his seven peak seasons (1950-56), ordinary at best in the 16 others.

Only Jack Morris (more on him later) had a lower career WAR total among Hall of Famers with 500 or more starts. And only 10 lost more games.

All of which makes Wynn one of the more overrated players in Cooperstown today.

20. Dave Winfield

Position: Right field

Career: 1973-1988, 1990-95 (22 seasons)

Teams: San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians

Statistics/162: .283 BA, .827 OPS, 25 HR, 100 RBI, 12 SB

World Series titles: 1 (1992)

Bottom Line: Dave Winfield

In a career that spanned three decades, Dave Winfield played long enough to get 3,000 hits and an automatic Hall pass. Yet he led the league in a single major category (RBI) and then only once.

In the postseason, "Winny" was pooh — .208 batting average, nine RBI, 26 games. And his defensive WAR was the dead of winter in his native St. Paul.

That would be 22.7 below zero. Brrrrr!

19. Tony Perez

Position: First base and third base

Career: 1964-86 (23 seasons)

Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies

Statistics/162: .279 BA, .804 OPS, 22 HR, 96 RBI, 3 SB

World Series titles: 2 (1975, 1976)

Bottom Line: Tony Perez

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Tony Perez makes play

Death, taxes, Tony Perez in the clutch. How many times did we hear that in his career? But was "Doggie" really that, or did it just seem that way with Pete Rose and Joe Morgan on base so often?

Perez hit .284 and slugged .470 with runners in scoring position. Solid, not sensational. Minus one Bill Lee eephus pitch, he was a non-factor in the postseason (.238 batting average, .669 OPS).

Our HOF standards are a bit higher for a one-dimensional type such as this one.

18. Alfonso Soriano

Position: Left field and second base

Career: 1999-2014 (16 seasons)

Teams: New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs

Statistics/162: .293 BA, .732 OPS, 34 HR, 95 RBI, 24 SB

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Alfonso Soriano

If ever someone was born to be a designated hitter, it was Alfonso Soriano.

Problem is, 97 percent of his starts came in the field, where there was no place to hide his career -10.3 defensive WAR number.

What’s more, his low on-base percentage (.319) and high strikeout rate (one per 4.3 at-bats) detracted from his power numbers.

17. Phil Rizzuto

Position: Shortstop

Career: 1941-42, 1946-56 (13 seasons)

Teams: New York Yankees

Statistics/162: .273 BA, .706 OPS, 4 HR, 55 RBI, 15 SB

World Series titles: 7 (1941, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953)

Bottom Line: Phil Rizzuto

"I'll take any way to get into the Hall of Fame," Scooter once said. "If they want a batboy, I'll go in as a batboy."

Well, we're not sure about the batboy thing, but we do know this singles hitter with good range produced one HOF-worthy season out of 13 in the bigs.

16. Rube Marquard

Position: Pitcher

Career: 1908-1925 (18 seasons)

Teams: New York Giants, Brooklyn Robins, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Braves

Statistics/162: 39 G, 14-13, 3.08 ERA

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Rube Marquard

"Rube" Marquard following through on throw

Three stellar seasons (82-46 record, 2.66 ERA) in the dead ball era had the lefty on a Hall of Fame path through 27 years of age. Included were a record 19 consecutive wins to open the 1912 season.

But he was nothing of the sort (119-131, 3.25) in his final dozen seasons. His 34.9 career WAR total ranks last among Hall of Famers with at least 2,500 innings.

Per Baseball Reference, names such as Larry Jackson, Claude Osteen and Jim Perry appear on his similarity scores list.

15. Joe Carter

Position: Outfield and first base

Career: 1983-98 (16 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants

Statistics/162: .259 BA, .771 OPS, 29 HR, 107 RBI, 17 SB

World Series titles: 2 (1993, 1994)

Bottom Line: Joe Carter

Five-time All-Star Joe Carter is widely known for the second World Series walk-off homer in history.

It’s his subpar .306 on-base percentage, ordinary .771 OPS and unsightly -15.7 defensive WAR total that tend to be forgotten years later.

Of the 10 players with the most similar career scores, only borderliner Jim Rice has a plaque in Cooperstown.

14. Harvey Kuenn

Position: Outfield, shortstop and third base

Career: 1952-1966 (15 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies

Statistics/162: .303 BA, .765 OPS, 8 HR, 59 RBI, 6 SB

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Harvey Kuenn

This one-time batting champ took part in eight consecutive All-Star Games, but his inclusion had more to do with the times than anything. He didn’t hit for much power, didn’t draw many walks and didn’t steal many bases.

Moreover, he had subpar range and a negative defensive WAR total at two positions. When Indians honcho Frank Lane traded Rocky Colavito for him, he violated one of the golden rules of management — never trade a bonafide slugger for a high-average hitter.

13. Luis Aparicio

Position: Shortstop

Career: 1956-1973 (18 seasons)

Teams: Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox

Statistics/162: .262 BA, .653 OPS, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 32 SB

World Series titles: 1 (1966)

Bottom Line: Luis Aparicio

"Little Louie" had the wow factor back when speed and defense were highly valued components of the game.

Now, metrics geeks are more inclined to say, "Wow! How is it possible that a 5-foot-9 slap hitter with a career .311 on-base percentage is in the Hall of Fame?"

Indeed, he would be a backup shortstop/late-inning defensive replacement/pinch runner with most teams today. My, how times have changed.

12. Bo Jackson

Position: Outfield

Career: 1986-91, 1993-94 (8 seasons)

Teams: Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, California Angels

Statistics/162: .250 BA, .784 OPS, 33 HR, 97 RBI, 19 SB

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Bo Jackson

I once saw "The Bodacious One" hit a 600-foot homer — 250 feet up, 350 feet out. Cross my heart. And who can forget his 458-footer to dead center in the 1989 All-Star Game?

Overlooked amid such Herculean feats is that he whiffed once every 2.8 at-bats. And his range was average at best in the field.

World-class athlete, beyond a doubt. Great baseball player, not so much.

11. Larry Bowa

Position: Shortstop

Career: 1970-1985 (16 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets

Statistics/162: .260 BA, .620 OPS, 1 HR, 38 RBI, 23 SB

World Series titles: 1 (1980)

Bottom Line: Larry Bowa

In a span of six seasons (1974-79), this pepperpot was an All-Star selection five times. He accomplished this with a .283 on-base percentage in one and a .298 OBP in another. Then again, the two-time Gold Glover was known for his defense, right?

Except that his range factor per nine innings was below the league average in each of his All-Star seasons as well as his career as a whole.

C’mon, kids, help me out here.

10. Jack Morris

Position: Pitcher

Career: 1977-1994 (18 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians

Statistics/162: 35 G, 16-12, 3.90 ERA

World Series titles: 3 (1984, 1991, 1992)

Bottom Line: Jack Morris

Detroit Tigers' pitcher Jack Morris delivers a pitch

Morris got into the Hall of Fame because of his longevity and 10-inning shutout in the 1991 World Series.

Otherwise, he ranks among the 20th of all time in three categories — wild pitches (13th), home runs allowed (16th) and bases on balls (19th). What’s more, he has the highest ERA of any pitcher in Cooperstown today.

Let’s also not forget that he was one of the biggest chauvinistic jerks ever to stink up a clubhouse. Since character is part of the HOF criteria, that should disqualify him automatically.

9. Lloyd Waner

Position: Outfield

Career: 1927-42, 1944-45 (18 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates

Statistics/162: .316 BA, .747 OPS, 2 HR, 49 RBI, 5 SB

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Lloyd Waner

"Little Poison" hit for a high average and had exceptional range in the field. Yet there’s little, if anything, venomous about his other key measureables.

In fact, his career WAR total is dead last among Hall of Famers who played more than eight seasons in the post-1900 era.

8. Ray Schalk

Position: Catcher

Career: 1912-29 (18 seasons)

Teams: Chicago White Sox, New York Giants

Statistics/162: .253 BA, .656 OPS, 1 HR, 55 RBI, 16 SB

World Series titles: 1 (1917)

Bottom Line: Ray Schalk

This is the kind of old-timer that puts metrics geeks in a a tizzy. Because "Cracker" played at a time when defense and leadership defined the position, his 11 career homers and .316 slugging percentage went ignored in the Hall of Fame vote.

Per Baseball Reference, Jim Sundberg is the only modern player that compares with him.

Everyone in favor of HOF contraction, please raise their hands.

7. Lee Smith

Position: Pitcher

Career: 1980-1997 (18 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos

Statistics/162: 68 G, 5-6, 3.03 ERA, 32 SV

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Lee Smith

Ace Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Lee Smith following through

While Lee Smith ranks behind only Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman on the all-time saves list, his career was remarkably void of signature moments. Well, positive ones, anyway.

The big right-hander blew two crucial Game 4s (1984 NLCS, 1988 ALCS) in his only postseason series. And while the metrics crunchers will tell you won-loss records don’t matter, his 71-92 mark was too bad to be ignored completely.

6. Harold Baines

Position: Designated hitter and outfield

Career: 1980-2001 (22 seasons)

Teams: Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles

Statistics/162: .289 BA, .820 OPS, 22 HR, 93 RBI, 3 SB

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Harold Baines

Sure, the guy was a one-time batting champ and six-time All-Star. And his .363/28/139 slash line in the 1987 season was silly good. Yet he never won a major award and had a negative defensive WAR total.

Hey, wait, people! They put the wrong White Sox outfielder in the Hall of Fame! I think they meant Magglio Ordonez!

5. Bryce Harper

Position: Outfield

Career: 2012-present (11 seasons)

Teams: Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Bryce Harper

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper gestures

Don’t take our word for it. In an anonymous poll of his peers before the 2019 season, "Bam Bam" was voted as the most overrated player in the bigs. You don’t suppose there were a few jealous hearts in the crowd, do you?

Actually, the guy was pretty good in the 2019 season, when he put up a .260/35/114 slash line in his Phillies debut.

But pretty good doesn’t hack it for someone with a 13-year, $330 million contract.

4. Ken Caminiti

Position: Third base

Career: 1987-2001 (15 seasons)

Teams: Houston Astros, San Diego Padres

Statistics/162: .272 BA, .794 OPS, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 8 SB

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Ken Caminiti

Houston Astros third baseman Ken Caminiti looks over some papers

In eight seasons in H-Town, Ken Caminiti never hit more than 18 homers or drove in more than 80 runs.

But something happened after his trade to San Diego, he admitted. Steroids. In the next four seasons, he averaged 30 home runs and 99 RBI.

When I become commish, his 1996 Most Valuable Player Award will have an asterisk attached to it.

3. Barry Bonds

Position: Outfielder

Career: 1986-2007 (22 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants

Statistics/162: .298 BA, 1.051 OPS, 41 HR, 108 RBI, 28 SB

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Barry Bonds

San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds gets attention of fans

This loser was on a Hall of Fame trajectory in his first six seasons, but nooooo, that wasn’t good enough. He had to be an all-time all-timer.

So he headed west, ‘roided up his body and made an absolute mockery of the record book. In his 30s, he averaged 44 home runs, 108 RBI and 150 walks over 10 seasons.

That's not normal. Or right.

2. Ryan Braun

Position: Left field

Career: 2007-20 (14 seasons)

Teams: Milwaukee Brewers

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Ryan Braun

Ryan Braun walks away after striking out

Don’t let those numbers fool ya like Braun did before the 2012 season, when he tried to blame his positive test for using performance-enhancing drugs on the sample collector.

In the seven seasons after the suspension, he hit .280 with 27 homers and 93 RBI per 162 games compared to a geeked-up .313/37/118 before then. See the difference?

Of course, if the guy had a conscience, he would have offered to discount his contract after the fact. But no, he was intent to be paid every last penny of the $105 million deal and dragging down this mid-market franchise emotionally and financially in the process.

1. Everyone Who Played for the Rockies From 1995 to 2001

Career: 1995-2001 (seven seasons)

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Everyone Who Played for the Colorado Rockies, 1995 to 2001

Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon reacts after striking out against Kansas City Royals

The rarified air of the Mile High City turned journeymen into All-Stars, All-Stars into all-time greats.

So go ahead, pick one, any one. Dante Bichette. Ellis Burks. Vinny Castilla. Andres Galarraga. Todd Helton. Larry Walker. Neifi Perez.

Wait — Neifi Perez?!