The Misfit

Eyebrows were raised throughout baseball on Dec. 21 when the Seattle Mariners gave free-agent outfielder Jay Buhner a three-year, $15.5 million contract to re-sign with them. In eight years as a major leaguer, Buhner (19, at right) has not batted .280 or hit 30 home runs or driven in 100 runs in a season.

Here is a sampling of some of the other players who are making about the same money as Buhner. (Salary figures are the annual average over the life of the contract.)