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MLB Hot Stove: Best all-time signing for each team

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches in relief during game five of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs on October 12, 2017, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 9-8.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches in relief during game five of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs on October 12, 2017, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 9-8.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 24: Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro watches his fourth inning home run go over the fence off Minnesota Twins starting pitcher LaTroy Hawkins during their game in Baltimore, MD. 24 August. (Photo credit should read TED MATHIAS/AFP/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 24: Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro watches his fourth inning home run go over the fence off Minnesota Twins starting pitcher LaTroy Hawkins during their game in Baltimore, MD. 24 August. (Photo credit should read TED MATHIAS/AFP/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Orioles: Rafael Palmeiro, 1994

  • The Terms: five years, $30.4 million

No one dominated free agency quite like the Baltimore Orioles in the 1990s. Buoyed by the construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the O’s matched the Yankees nearly dollar for dollar and built one of the best teams in the league, mostly through free agency.

Headlining a group of All-Stars, which included Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar, closer Randy Myers and versatile outfielder B.J. Surhoff, was first baseman Rafael Palmeiro. The two-time All-Star with the Texas Rangers elevated his power in hitter-friendly Camden Yards and earned MVP votes in each year of the contract.

Palmeiro hit .292/.371/.545 with 182 home runs and 553 home runs during his first go-round with the Orioles. He also won two Gold Gloves and the 1998 Silver Slugger. Building their lineup with free agents almost paid off with a World Series for the Orioles. They made the ALCS in 1996 and 1997, but everything unraveled the following year and the team would not return to the playoffs until 2012.

Obviously Palmeiro’s career ended in disgrace after he returned to play for the Orioles a second time. He was the first high-profile player to test positive for steroids and was run out of the game of baseball. Even with the cloud of steroids hanging over him, Palmeiro is one of the best pure hitters to ever play for the Orioles and is one of only four players in MLB history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.

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