2016 MLB Season: 5 risky free agent signings

We’re still a couple of months away from Opening Day, but several MLB free agent signings already look troubling.

Hope springs eternal this time of year. In many parts of the country, winter is finally beginning to show its cracks, and spring seems just around the corner as the birds return and the flowers bloom. It’s no different for fans of America’s Pastime, as baseball fans everywhere must be giddy at the news that pitchers and catchers have finally begun reporting to Spring Training in Arizona and Florida.

The return of baseball is always a welcome sight, and some major league teams have already taken aggressive measures to ensure they’ll hit the ground running right out of the gate. It’s an obvious thing to say, but only two teams out of 30 can play in a World Series every year, and only one can win it, so it’s never too early to start planning a path to the pennant. The Kansas City Royals didn’t linger on the heartbreak of a runner-up finish to the San Francisco Giants after seven grueling games in 2014 – they came back even stronger last year, and finished what they started with their first title in 30 years.

Many teams have been active through free agency, but some decisions already look more precarious than others. Here are the five riskiest moves that have happened this season.

Next: 5. Mark Reynolds to the Rockies