The Free Agency Trap: Which 2026 Contracts Will Haunt Teams

Every summer, GMs convince themselves they've found the next bargain, only to watch eight-figure mistakes unfold over the next five years. This offseason is no different, except analysts are already waving red flags on some of the bigger signings teams are rushing to make. The difference between a shrewd veteran pickup and an albatross contract often comes down to one bad year or a sudden decline, and the teams that signed early are starting to look nervous.