List of players back from the bust

In San Francisco, Barry Zito is 5-0, among the league leaders in ERA. And in Toronto, Vernon Wells is hitting .328, and among the league leaders in home runs and RBI.

"It's a different swing from what you saw last year," one opposing coach said after facing Wells last week. "He's extending his arms again."

"He looks like Vernon Wells used to look," a rival scout said.

Maybe he doesn't look like $126 million, the seven-year contract the Blue Jays gave him in December 2006 (and coincidentally, the same amount of money the Giants gave Zito). But just like Zito, Wells is starting to look like a lot less of a bust.

They're not alone.

Here are five players who while they may not yet be worth their contracts, have at least moved back from the bust stage in the first weeks of 2010:

1. Zito, Giants, $126 million, 7 years (starting in 2007). Career totals before contract: 102-63, 3.55 ERA. First three years of contract: 31-43, 4.56 ERA. 2010: 5-0, 1.49.

2. Wells, Blue Jays, $126 million, 7 years (starting in 2008). Best year before contract: 2003, with 49 doubles, 33 home runs and 117 RBI. First two years of contract (combined): .276, .763 OPS, 35 home runs, 144 RBI. 2010: 34 games, .328, 14 doubles, 9 home runs and 25 RBI.

3. Carlos Silva,Cubs, $48 million, 4 years (signed with Mariners, starting in 2008). Best year before contract: 2004, with 14-8 record, 4.21 ERA. First two years of contract (combined): 5-18, 6.81 ERA. 2010: 3-0, 3.50 ERA.

4. Dontrelle Willis, Tigers, $29 million, 3 years (starting in 2008). Best year before contract: 2005, with 22-10 record, 2.63 ERA and second-place finish in National League Cy Young voting. First two years of contract (combined): 15 games, 1-6, 8.27 ERA, and 63 walks in 57 2/3 innings. 2010: 1-1, 3.99 ERA, and 15 walks in 29 2/3 innings.

5. Aaron Rowand, Giants, $60 million, 5 years (starting in 2008). Best year before contract: 2007, with .309, 27 home runs, 89 RBI (with Phillies). First two years of contract (combined): .266, 28 home runs, 134 RBI. 2010: .321, 4 home runs, 17 RBI.

And, on the other hand ...

Here are three guys who got big contracts over the winter and are off to lousy starts:

1. Chone Figgins, Mariners, $36 million, 4 years. He said this spring, "I know I don't have to change anything." But after a three-season stretch with the Angels where he never hit lower than .276 and had an on-base percentage of .386, Figgins has begun his Mariner career -- and his new contract -- with a .185 batting average and an on-base percentage of .326.

2. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks, $51.25 million, 6 years. The day he signed, he said, "I want to be great." Someday, he may well be great. To start the new contract, he's been. .. not so great, with a .220 batting average and an alarming 44 strikeouts in 127 at-bats.

3. Jason Bay, Mets, $66 million, 4 years. They signed him to provide a punchless lineup with power. Through 32 games, he has hit one home run.