Baseball's 5 Biggest Contract Bubbles

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Even as the U.S. economy grows ever so slightly, Major League Baseball has seemingly been recession-proof, doling out massive contracts by the boatload this off-season.

Players such as Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, C.C. Sabathia and Prince Fielder received $100 million plus contracts during the off-season, with millions more payroll added throughout the American and National Leagues.

Not all of these contracts will work out for teams, especially as players age, their bodies break down and injuries become the norm, rather than the exception.

Here are five contracts that may become financial albatrosses for their teams.

Yadier Molina, catcher, St. Louis Cardinals

Yadier Molina, the youngest of three catching Molina brothers to play in the Major Leagues, enjoyed a successful 2011 season, hitting .305 with 14 home runs, and 65 RBIs.

Molina, generally regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his generation (as evidenced by his four Gold Gloves), signed a five-year extension through the 2017 campaign for $75 million.

Twelve million dollars a year for a catcher is not a lot of money, but considering Molina, who will turn 30 in July, will have to shoulder the load with Albert Pujols moving on to Anaheim, this contract could come back to hurt St. Louis in years three to five.

Molina has averaged 118 games during the regular season and played in an additional 18 postseason games last year, helping St. Louis win the World Series.

Jonathan Papelbon, relief pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

Having a reliable closer is extremely important, just ask the New York Yankees and Mariano Rivera. When the Philadelphia Phillies decided to let Brad Lidge walk and not re-sign Ryan Madson in favor of doling out big money to Jonathan Papelbon for big money, it left more than a few scratching their heads.