2014-15 MLB Free-Agent Tracker: Rumors and Destinations for Top 50 Free Agents
When Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants bested the Kansas City Royals in seven games in the 2014 World Series, the MLB season officially came to an end—kinda.
Sure, there is a regular season, a postseason and an offseason, but baseball never really goes anywhere.
Just ask the 121 MLBers who became free agents the day after the World Series ended. Now that number has already gone up thanks to a number of players having their options declined, and it will continue to go up as more options are declined and others are not offered arbitration.
To keep things simple, we have isolated the 50 best free agents based on WAR and will keep a running log of the major rumors before they sign a new contract. And once they do sign for fresh money, we will provide rapid reaction from around MLB.
Before getting to the top 50, let’s go over two things.
Free Agents in the Top 50 That Have Already Inked a New Contract
1 of 52
In an effort to streamline the process here, this page will provide direct links to player pages throughout the process.
In other words, as players ink fresh contracts, their page will be linked here for easy access. This way you can quickly find the most recent information on your favorite targets.
And after a player signs, the updates aren't done. As new analysis is written from columnists across the country, the player's page will refreshed.
Free Agents Who've Already Signed
No. 1: Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs (six years, $155 million)
No. 3: Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays (five years, $82 million)
No. 4: Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers (four years, $68 million)
No. 5: Chase Headley, New York Yankees (four years, $52 million)
No. 6: Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners (four years, $57 million)
No. 8: Hanley Ramirez, Boston Red Sox (four years, $88 million with $22 vesting option in 2019)
No. 10: Pablo Sandoval, Boston Red Sox (five years, $95 million with $17 million option in 2020)
No. 11: Brandon McCarthy, Los Angeles Dodgers (four years, $48 million)
No. 12: Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins (four years, $55 million with a fifth-year option)
No. 13: Melky Cabrera, Chicago White Sox (four years, $43.5 million)
No. 14: Nick Markakis, Atlanta Braves (four years, $44 million)
No. 16: Yasmany Tomas, Arizona Diamondbacks (six years, $68.5 million)
No. 17: Andrew Miller, New York Yankees (four years, $36 million)
No. 19: Jed Lowrie, Houston Astros (three years, $23 million)
No. 20: Jake Peavy, San Francisco Giants (two years, $24 million)
No. 21: Asdrubal Cabrera, Tampa Bay Rays (one year, $8 million)
No. 22: Pat Neshek, Houston Astros (two years, $12.5 million)
No. 23: David Robertson, Chicago White Sox (four years, $46 million)
No. 24: Francisco Liriano, Pittsburgh Pirates (three years, $39 million)
No. 25: Adam LaRoche, Chicago White Sox (two years, $25 million)
No. 26: Colby Lewis, Texas Rangers (one year, $4 million)
No. 27: Mark Reynolds, St. Louis Cardinals (one year, $2 million plus incentives)
No. 28: Michael Cuddyer, New York Mets (two years, $21 million)
No. 29: Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox (two years, $18 million)
No. 30: Jason Hammel, Chicago Cubs (two years, $18 million with a club option in 2017)
No. 31: Zach Duke, Chicago White Sox (three years, $15 million)
No. 35: Mike Morse, Miami Marlins (two years, $16 million plus incentives)
No. 38: Delmon Young, Baltimore Orioles (one year, $2.25 million)
No. 39: Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros (three years, $18.5 million)
No. 42: Jason Frasor, Kansas City Royals (one year, $1.8 million with a $2 million option in 2016)
No. 44: Chris Denorfia, Chicago Cubs (one year, $2.5 million)
No. 46: Chris Young, New York Yankees (one year, $2.5 million plus incentives)
No. 47: Jason Grilli, Atlanta Braves (two years, $8 million with a $3 million option in 2017)
No. 48: Torii Hunter, Minnesota Twins (one-year, $10.5 million)
No. 49: Alex Rios, Kansas City Royals (one year, $11 million)
A Quick Rundown of the Quiet Period and the Qualifying Offer
2 of 52
First off, there is a “quiet period” at the start of free agency. What that means is that while a player is free to discuss parameters of a contract with any organization, no formal offers can be made by any club other than the one for which the player last performed.
In other words, Jon Lester can talk all he wants with the Chicago Cubs, but only the Oakland A’s can make a formal offer until 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Second, there will be quite a bit of rhetoric about something called the qualifying offer. Here is a description of the qualifying offer from the always enlightening Dayn Perry over at CBS Sports that has stood the test of time:
"A qualifying offer constitutes a one-year proposal worth at least the annual average salary of the top 125 free agents from the previous winter.
If a team makes such a qualifying offer to an outgoing free agent and the free agent signs elsewhere, then his former team will receive a sandwich draft pick between the first and second rounds. The signing team, meanwhile, will forfeit its first-round choice -- unless it's a top-10 pick, in which case the team would give up a second-round pick. The lost picks don't go to any other team; rather, the teams behind the vanished pick all slide up a slot.
"
This season, the qualifying offer is valued at $15.3 million, per The Associated Press (via ESPN.com). To date, no one has accepted such an offer, always opting for free agency.
1. Jon Lester, LHP
3 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Red Sox and Athletics | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 32 | 219.2 | 2.46 | 2.80 | 1.070 | 9.01 | 1.97 | 6.1 |
Status: Signed a six-year, $155 million deal with the Chicago Cubs
Position Rank: No. 1 starting pitcher
Why Teams Wanted Him
Jon Lester is one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game. It is that simple.
Not only does he have a track record of longevity, logging more than 190.0 innings each of the past seven seasons, but he's a winner. True, some of his peripherals have been unimpressive over the years, but all told, he is a true top-of-the-rotation left-hander.
Contract News and Reaction
As first reported by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Lester has signed with the Chicago Cubs. Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan shared that the deal was worth $155 million over six years. Passan also noted that the Red Sox’s final offer was for $135 million over six seasons.
The move immediately legitimizes the Cubs’ rotation.
With Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks joining Lester, the Cubs have balance, depth and talent at the top of the rotation. Simply put, an argument can be made that the Cubs have the deepest rotation in the National League Central following the move.
Either way, the saga surrounding the left-hander’s future had dragged on for what seemed like an eternity.
One interesting side note is that, as Passan posited, “the likelihood that [catcher] David Ross and [outfielder] Jonny Gomes end up in Chicago increases significantly.” Now adding Gomes won’t be that much of a hassle, but after trading for Miguel Montero, per Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi, the Cubs will need to find a club to take Welington Castillo of their hands before signing Ross.
.png?w=256)
2. Max Scherzer, RHP
4 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Detroit Tigers | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 33 | 220.1 | 3.15 | 2.85 | 1.175 | 10.29 | 2.57 | 5.6 |
Status: Rejected qualifying offer; Available
Position Rank: No. 2 starting pitcher
Why Teams Want Him
It goes without saying that Max Scherzer is the best right-handed pitcher available this offseason. He has a Cy Young award on his resume, has averaged more than 10 strikeouts every nine innings each of the past three seasons and has put up an FIP below 3.00 the last two years.
Considering his dominating stuff, he issues too many walks, but more than makes up for it with his overpowering repertoire. Like Jon Lester, Scherzer can change the fortunes of a franchise.
Potential Suitors: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals
Latest Rumors
UPDATE: December 25 at 9:51 p.m. ET
In a far-ranging piece, Ken Davidoff from the New York Post basically said that we are going to have to wait until the end of January, at the earliest, before finding out which team secures Scherzer's services.
While Davidoff has no idea where Scherzer will land, we know the Giants won’t be talking with him, according to Alex Pavlovic from the Mercury News. Pursuing the free agent may have been an option at one point, the recent signing of Jake Peavy all but guaranteed that general manager Brian Sabean has closed the door on a run at Scherzer.
According to ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden (subscription required), the Tigers are the favorites to land Scherzer. He did add that he thinks Scherzer will go to the highest bidder, and it remains to be seen if that will be the Tigers, but he has the club at the top of his list.
Bowden’s report would seem to corroborate one from Buster Olney that said Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski was “prepared to spend big, big dollars” on Scherzer. It was a direct departure from the stance the GM had taken earlier in the offseason.
It was also refuted.
See, several hours later, Dombrowski said that he didn’t “know where he [Olney] got that from, via MLB.com’s Jason Beck. “That’s not accurate,” Dombrowski continued, and nothing has “changed from a Detroit Tigers perspective.”
And while Bowden did mention the Cardinals as a potential landing spot, the right-hander is “too expensive” for manager Mike Matheny’s club, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale
3. Russell Martin, C
5 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||
| G | BA | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 111 | .290 | .402 | .430 | .140 | 11 | 67 | 5.3 |
Status: Signed a five-year, $82 million deal with Toronto Blue Jays
Position Rank: No. 1 catcher
Why Teams Wanted Him
Frankly, Russell Martin is the only catcher available this offseason worthy of a long-term deal. His .290/.402/.430 slash line this past season was the best composite he’s put up over his nine-year career. And we can’t overlook his ability to frame pitches and the immense leadership he brings to a clubhouse.
Contract News and Reaction
Less than two days after Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal wrote that “executives involved in bidding for Russell Martin” are of the belief that the Cubs hold a decided advantage, Martin is headed to the Toronto Blue Jays.
While Peter Gammons initially reported the news, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman was the first to note that it was a five-year deal, and Rosenthal provided the salary details.
Needless to say, Martin’s addition is a coup for Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos. As Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi noted, he “is one of the few free agents who can help change a clubhouse culture.”
In addition to his leadership, Martin was the premier bat available at the position and can improve a rotation simply by being behind the plate. To that end, he ranked sixth in MLB with 19.3 runs added in 2014 due to his framing, according to BaseballProspectus.com.
There is simply no mistaking the fact that the Blue Jays are a significantly better club with Martin on the roster.
Another thing to keep in mind regarding the length of the contract is that the Blue Jays will be able to use Martin as the club’s designated hitter. After all, Dioner Navarro is under contract for another season, and he performed admirably at the plate last season.
True, the Blue Jays are going to want Martin to catch as many games as possible because of his ability to impact the rotation, but if a rest from catching is needed, the team has a capable backup in place.
Regarding the Cubs, MLB.com’s Phil Rogers noted that with Kyle Schwarber on the rise, going to five years wasn’t necessarily an option, and the number of years the Blue Jays committed to ultimately proved to be the deciding factor.
One other thing to note: Martin does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, per Heyman. That will certainly come into play in the final year or two of this deal.
4. Victor Martinez, DH
6 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Detroit Tigers | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 151 | .335 | .409 | .565 | .230 | 32 | 103 | 4.4 |
Status: Signed four-year, $68 million contract with the Detroit Tigers
Position Rank: No.1 designated hitter
Why Teams Wanted Him
Victor Martinez is the best pure hitter on the open market. True, he doesn’t have the power of Nelson Cruz or possess any speed, but he makes regular contact from each side of the plate and has a knack for delivering clutch hits.
To that effect, his career batting average as a right-handed hitter (.307) is within two percentage points of his batting average as a left-handed hitter (.305), and he has a .313/.405/.464 career slash line with runners in scoring position, per Baseball-Reference.
Contract News and Reaction
According to Jon Heyman from ESPN.com, Martinez has inked a four-year, $68 million deal to remain with the Tigers.
To be sure, that is a lot of money to spend on a 36-year-old designated hitter, but general manager Dave Dombrowski had little choice. Simply put, contention in 2015 and beyond hinges on getting All-Star efforts from Miguel Cabrera, V. Martinez and J.D. Martinez.
That is especially true considering the fact that Max Scherzer will assuredly be pitching for a different club next season, and the bullpen is an unfinished product. As is stands, the Tigers will try to maintain offensive production while filling out the pitching staff.
As part of the larger conversation, Martinez’s signing could be the piece that sets off a melee of activity across MLB.
After all, he was rumored to be on the radar of several teams, including the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. Each of those teams will now have to focus their efforts elsewhere. That could mean swinging a trade for Matt Kemp, who the M’s are interested in, per Bob Dutton from The News Tribune.
It could also mean that Nelson Cruz now sees an uptick in interest. Let’s not forget about Michael Morse and Delmon Young, who may now have new suitors.
The flip side of that argument is one that ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (subscription required) makes: There are already too many candidates on the market.
Now while Olney makes some valid points, the number of quality designated hitters is minimal. Any GM would be rolling the dice by putting too much stock in a rebound season from the likes of Kendrys Morales, Corey Hart or Ryan Ludwick.
Still left for Dombrowski is solidifying his staff and finding a replacement for Torii Hunter should he depart.
5. Chase Headley, 3B
7 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Padres and Yankees | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 135 | .243 | .328 | .372 | .130 | 13 | 49 | 4.4 |
Status: Signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the New York Yankees
Position Rank: No.1 third baseman
Why Teams Wanted Him
It comes as a surprise to many people considering his well-earned reputation as injury prone, but Chase Headley can still play a mean third base. Look no further for proof than the fact that he put together a 22.8 defensive rating in 2014, per FanGraphs. That was easily tops at the position in MLB.
And for as dramatic as the decrease in offensive production has been since his monster season in 2012, Headley is still one of the better third baseman in terms of getting on base.
Contract News and Reaction
According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Yankees have signed Headley to a four-year deal. Heyman later added that the contract is worth $52 million and is pending a physical.
The deal Headley agreed to is a far cry from the four-year, $65 million contract Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan tweeted Headley had on the table. Either way, the move signals that the Yankees are hardly certain about the value Alex Rodriguez brings to the table.
To be sure, there have to be concerns about Headley’s health over the course of the contract, but there is no doubt that he brings fantastic defense and the ability to get on base to the lineup. Both of those areas are ones that the club struggled in prior to Headley’s acquisition.
The move also allows manager Joe Girardi to utilize Martin Prado at second base if he chooses. In other words, the Yankees are a more complete team with Headley in the mix.
From a fiscal perspective, FanGraphs Eno Sarris noted that Headley has been worth roughly $40 million in offense alone over the past four seasons. True, much of that is the result of a terrific 2012 campaign, but if his defense is factored into the conversation, the value increases considerably.
Other than the Yankees, Heyman reported earlier in the offseason that the Miami Marlins contacted Headley and appeared “to have strong interest.” And MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince posited prior that the “Indians are among several teams who” were considering the third baseman.
It has to be assumed that the five-year, $95 million contract Pablo Sandoval signed with the Boston Red Sox has something to do with Headley getting a fourth year.
Chalk this one up as a win for general manager Brian Cashman—for now, anyway.
6. Nelson Cruz, DH/OF
8 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Baltimore Orioles | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 159 | .271 | .333 | .525 | .254 | 40 | 108 | 3.9 |
Status: Signed four-year, $57 million contract with the Seattle Mariners
Position Rank: No. 2 designated hitter
Why Teams Wanted Him
Nelson Cruz has one job—hit the ball hard. He does it well, posting a career .268/.328/.501 slash line with at least 22 home runs in each of his last six seasons.
Another plus regarding Cruz is that he can play a little bit of outfield. Not that he is going to win a Gold Glove, of course, but the option is there.
All told, Cruz is the purest power-hitter available this offseason.
Contract News and Reaction
Talk about making a statement.
According to Dominican newspaper El Caribe (via ESPNDeportes.com’s Enrique Rojas), the Mariners have inked Nelson Cruz to a four-year, $57 million contract.
On its face, the move is a huge one for general manager Jack Zduriencik. He got the best right-handed slugger still available, providing Robinson Cano with some needed protection and added balance between Cano and Kyle Seager, who are both left-handed hitters.
And truth be told, this is a deal that could prove fruitful for the first couple of seasons, if not all four years.
There is concern in the details, however.
Take, for example, Cruz’s slash line away from Camden Yards last season. Yes, he compiled a .289/.346/.584 slash away from home last season, but against American League West teams, he only hit .233 (14-for-60) with only three home runs, eight RBI and struck out 12 times, per Baseball-Reference.
That has to be worrisome for the Mariners, but the need for a power bat superseded such metrics.
This isn’t the end of the road for the M’s. As Bob Dutton from The News Tribune noted, “the club’s next priority is to find a right fielder." That could mean Nick Markakis is the next in line for Zduriencik.
7. James Shields, RHP
9 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Kansas City Royals | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 34 | 227.0 | 3.21 | 3.59 | 1.181 | 7.14 | 1.74 | 3.7 |
Status: Rejected qualifying offer; Available
Position Rank: No. 3 starting pitcher
Why Teams Want Him
When it comes to eating innings, they don't build them any better than James Shields, who has tossed at least 200.0 innings in each MLB season since his rookie year.
To be sure, he is more than a guy that can handle a heavy workload. For his career, he has a 114-90 record with a 3.72 ERA and a respectable 1.220 WHIP. Flat out, Shields can pitch.
Potential Suitors: Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays
Latest Rumors
UPDATE: December 28 at 11:17 p.m. ET
“You never close your eyes to opportunities,” Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington recently said, according to Tim Britton from the Providence Journal, “but we’re not actively engaged in anything right now.” That is as clear an indication as Cherington has given that they will not pursue Shields.
On to teams that are interested.
ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden (subscription required) published a piece that has the Giants as the odds-on favorites to land Shields. “The fact that Shields takes the ball for 32-plus starts a year and you can pencil him in for 220-plus innings per season,” Bowden wrote, “makes him a perfect fit for a team in need of starting-pitching innings, plus his leadership and winning attitude would fit nicely in a clubhouse that has three championships in five years.”
Bowden’s assertion has legitimacy considering that Peter Gammons recently posited that the Giants "will go hard" in their efforts to sign Shields to a contract. There is too much here to ignore.
And the reports from Bowden and Gammons come on the heels of one from the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea that noted the Giants are going to use the money they had earmarked for Pablo Sandoval to try and sign "an elite free-agent starting pitcher" such as Shields.
That said, another team looking at the right-hander are the Diamondbacks. Per Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, they are considering their options as they relate to Shields. As Rosenthal notes, however, "The problem for the D-Backs will be creating enough payroll flexibility to sign a pitcher of Shields' caliber. And frankly, it may be impossible."
True, Shields won't ink a deal on par with Scherzer or Lester, but that doesn't mean his contract won't be sizeable.
Per The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, “The final Shields numbers are expected to be close to the five years and $110 million remaining (if the option is picked up) on Cole Hamels’ deal, according to one major league source who was privy to Shields’ demands.” Cafardo added that the Giants and Yankees are potential landing spots.
8. Hanley Ramirez, SS
10 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Los Angeles Dodgers | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 128 | .283 | .369 | .448 | .165 | 13 | 71 | 3.4 |
Status: Signed four-year, $88 million contract (2019 vesting option) with the Boston Red Sox
Why Teams Wanted Him
Hanley Ramirez is the best run producer available at his position this offseason—by a mile.
According to FanGraphs, he led all qualified shortstops in wRC+ (135), slugging (.448), on-base percentage (.369) and offensive rating (21.8). There simply isn’t another shortstop this side of Troy Tulowitzki that compares from an offensive perspective.
Contract News and Reaction
The news came fast and furious on Sunday.
First, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman wrote that the “Red Sox are trying hard for a huge free agent double play, as they are involved with not only Pablo Sandoval but also Hanley Ramirez, according to sources.”
That was followed up by a report from WEEI’s Alex Speier. “According to an industry source,” Speier wrote, “the Red Sox are in advanced conversations” with Ramirez and that a contract could be imminent.
Hours later, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal put the rumors to bed when he reported that Ramirez was “headed to Boston” and had a deal in place with the Red Sox for around $90 million over five years. WEEI’s Rob Bradford confirmed Rosenthal’s report regarding Ramirez’s travel plans to “firm up [a] five-year deal.”
As it turns out, five years was a bit of a reach. Rosenthal tweeted on Monday that the deal is for $88 million over four years with a vesting option for a fifth year.
And with offers on the table to left-hander Jon Lester and third baseman Pablo Sandoval, Ramirez’s addition is the first in what is sure to be numerous moves for the Red Sox. As Chris Cotillo from MLB Daily Dish noted, there are assuredly “trades coming.”
Cotillo's right, too. There are several players that will be actively shopped as the club clears playing time and payroll. Yoenis Cespedes, Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts are just a few of possibilities.
The Red Sox’s signing of Ramirez puts a kink in the Seattle Mariners’ plans, who were “aggressively pursuing” the free agent, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Not surprisingly, the M’s have a spot for each of the above-mentioned players and the pitching to facilitate a deal.
9. Hiroki Kuroda, RHP
11 of 52
| 2014 Stats with New York Yankees | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 32 | 199.0 | 3.71 | 3.60 | 1.136 | 6.60 | 1.58 | 3.5 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 4 starting pitcher
Why Teams Want Him
Hiroki Kuroda is about as consistent as they come.
Not once in his seven-year career has he had an ERA over 3.76 or an FIP above 3.86. He has also never allowed a batting average on balls in play over .287, which is remarkable considering that he has pitched the last three seasons in the AL East.
Kuroda also commands the strike zone well, averaging less than two walks every nine innings (BB/9) over the course of 212 appearances. He was especially good this past season for the New York Yankees, averaging a mere 1.58 BB/9 in 199.0 innings.
Potential Suitor: New York Yankees
Latest Rumors
UPDATE: December 27 at 9 a.m. ET
As expected, Kuroda is returning to Japan, according to multiple reports which were verified by ESPNNewYork.com.
Thankfully, the Yankees are well-prepared. Per the ESPNNewYork report, the club is set to open next season with Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Capuano and Michal Pineda. They will also get Ivan Nova back in late May.
10. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
12 of 52
| 2014 Stats with San Francisco Giants | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 157 | .279 | .324 | .415 | .136 | 16 | 73 | 3.0 |
Status: Signed five-year, $95 million contract (including $5 million buyout) with a $17 million option in 2020 with the Boston Red Sox
Position Rank: No. 2 third baseman
Why Teams Wanted Him
Pablo Sandoval has a few things going for him.
First off, he is consistent, hitting double digits in home runs and driving at least 25 doubles in each of the past six seasons. He has also finished with an wRC+ over 110 in every season sans the 2009 campaign.
As important, he is a switch-hitter. True, his career slash from the right side (.271/.318/.392) isn't as good as it is from the left (.304/.357/.493), but he still presents matchup challenges for opposing managers late in games.
And while his OPS has decreased each of the past three seasons, he is a clutch hitter that can carry a team for extended stretches.
Contract News and Reaction
After an inordinate amount of uncertainly, the Red Sox have indeed won the derby for Sandoval. First reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman and finally confirmed by the San Francisco Chronicle’s John Shea, the third baseman is signing a five-year contract, per ESPN.com.
At the root level, the fact that the Red Sox acquired Sandoval makes sense. The club needed to upgrade the play at third (and yes, Panda is a fine defensive third baseman), and they needed his presence in the lineup.
And with the recent acquisition of Hanley Ramirez, Sandoval will enjoy the ability to hit lower in the order than he has in the past, arguably increasing his value. But with a five-year, $100 million contract, he had better set the world on fire from the six-hole.
The contract is a huge risk, and its value will be known in year one.
Simply put, if Sandoval doesn’t come out swinging immediately, the chance that he will be able to find a groove as the years march by is minimal. As FanGraphs Eno Sarris noted, Sandoval’s “size, his position, his skills at the plate, and his reputation [as an out-of-zone hitter]—all of these things bring with them hefty asterisks.”
It must be noted that Sandoval is only 28, meaning that there is a chance the above-mentioned variables won’t impact his production as greatly as they would were he a 32-year-old hitting free agency for the first time. As Sarris (and just about everyone else) notes, however, we have to assume Sandoval strengths have the potential to turn into weaknesses, and things “look a little scarier.”
On a related note, the Red Sox now have an excess of talent at several positions, meaning that this flurry of activity is only the beginning.
11. Brandon McCarthy, RHP
13 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Diamondbacks and Yankees | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 32 | 200.0 | 4.05 | 3.55 | 1.275 | 7.88 | 1.49 | 3.0 |
Status: Signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Position Rank: No. 5 starting pitcher
Why Teams Want Him
Following his trade to the New York Yankees, Brandon McCarthy proved that he can pitch on the game’s biggest stage. Not that he was doing poorly with the Arizona Diamondbacks, of course, but going into Yankee Stadium in the middle of a pennant race and pitching to a 2.89 ERA and a 3.22 FIP over 14 starts is impressive.
And if we look at McCarthy’s numbers closely, the success he found with the Yankees shouldn’t come as a surprise.
After all, he’s pitched to an FIP below 3.83 every season since 2011. True, the results haven’t always been there, but his peripherals paint a picture that is quite appealing.
Contract News and Reaction
Hours after Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that McCarthy was "close" to signing a four-year deal with the Dodgers, he was back at it with news that the two sides agreed upon a four-year, $48 million deal.
McCarthy brings a stabilizing presence to the middle of the rotation and should complement Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu nicely. True, the club is going to need to add another starting pitcher—potentially two—after trading Dan Haren to the Miami Marlins, per the Dodgers’ official Twitter feed. That said, McCarthy should hold up his end of the bargain.
It must be noted that there was a strong belief that the right-hander would end up returning to the Yankees.
After all, McCarthy said he wouldn’t mind staying in the Bronx. Per Roger Rubin from the New York Daily News, “he said he found the Yankees a good organization for a veteran pitcher and that he liked the professionalism throughout it.” And given the way he produced in the Bronx and the uncertain nature of the club’s rotation, bringing him back made sense.
Unfortunately, the Yankees weren’t prepared to offer the type of security the Dodgers did. As Andy Martino from the Daily News noted, general manager Brian Cashman was “never doing more than” three years.
12. Ervin Santana, RHP
14 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Atlanta Braves | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 31 | 196.0 | 3.95 | 3.39 | 1.306 | 8.22 | 2.89 | 2.8 |
Status: Signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Minnesota Twins with a fifth-year option
Position Rank: No. 6 starting pitcher
Why Teams Wanted Him
Ervin Santana has logged at least 178.0 innings in seven out of the past nine seasons. And in six of those seven seasons, he finished with an FIP below 4.30. If we use ERA and FIP as the benchmark, 2013 and 2014 are the best back-to-back efforts he’s put together.
Now that may not seem that remarkable, but it illustrates the fact that Santana is a very productive pitcher. That is not to say that he is worth a $75 million contract, of course, but he is a valuable addition nonetheless.
Contract News and Reaction
According to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan, Santana has inked a four-year, $54 million deal with the Twins. ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas later updated the salary figure to $55 million.
The news comes one day after LaVelle E. Neal III from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported the Twins “are prepared to give up a second-round pick as compensation,” for the right-hander.
It is an important addition for general manager Terry Ryan. Look no further than the fact that the Twins’ rotation had the worst ERA in baseball last season for proof that an upgrade was in order. Now if Ricky Nolasco can hold up his end of the bargain, the unit will be a dramatically improved one.
Santana was seeking a five-year deal, per ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, but the package he received from the Twins, which includes an option for a fifth season, is certainly reasonable considering the other contracts handed out this season.
The Twins sacrificed their second-round pick, No. 44 overall, since Santana turned down a qualifying offer from the Atlanta Braves.
13. Melky Cabrera, OF
15 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 139 | .301 | .351 | .458 | .157 | 16 | 73 | 2.6 |
Status: Signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox
Position Rank: No.1 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
There is only one knock on Melky Cabrera, and that is his health.
After all, he's put the PED drama behind him. Cabrera has also proven capable of maintaining both average and power numbers when healthy, making him the best thing going in the outfield this offseason.
True, he isn't going to challenge Alex Gordon for a Gold Glove in left field, but his role is to be a force on offense, and that is exactly what he does.
Contract News and Reaction
In what is quickly becoming an offseason for the ages, the White Sox have signed Cabrera to a three-year deal, according to CBS Chicago’s Bruce Levine. Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan cited a source who pegged the value at $43.5 million.
Ostensibly, the switch-hitter will slot into the second sport in the order, after center fielder Adam Eaton and in front of first baseman Jose Abreu. In other words, the White Sox now have a legitimate collection of hitters at the top of the lineup. It is truly impressive.
Making the signing even more exceptional are the splits.
Last season, for example, the White Sox put up a .237/.279/.355 slash line from the two-hole. Cabrera compiled a .288/.343/.440 slash batting second, per Baseball-Reference.
Also, the White Sox hit .251 with a .705 OPS against right-handers last season. Cabrera, on the other hand, owned righties, posting a .310 average and .817 OPS in 416 at-bats against them.
To say that the news came as a shock to many is an understatement.
After all, it appeared that Cabrera was headed to the Seattle Mariners when, only a couple of days prior, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal wrote that the M's "are serious" in their pursuit, and CBS Sports' Jon Heyman opined that general manager Jack Zduriencik’s club seems “to be favorite to sign him."
Well, it seems the Mariners will look for an outfielder elsewhere. That is, of course, unless they want to take Dayan Viciedo off the White Sox’s hands. With Cabrera’s signing, he no longer has a spot on the 25-man roster.
The White Sox will lose a third-round pick as a result of the addition. They lost their second-round selection when they inked David Robertson to new money.
14. Nick Markakis, OF
16 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Baltimore Orioles | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 155 | .276 | .342 | .386 | .111 | 14 | 50 | 2.5 |
Status: Signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Atlanta Braves
Position Rank: No. 2 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
Nick Markakis is an all-around player, putting up a career .290/.358/.435 slash line with 316 doubles, 141 home runs and 658 RBI. He has fair speed and is beast when it comes to getting on base.
What Markakis is best at is being consistent. He’s hit at least 24 doubles and has reached double digits in home runs every year. He’s also appeared in at least 147 games in every season except the 2012 campaign that was cut short due to a variety of injuries.
Contract News and Reaction
The news came fast.
First, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney wrote that “the negotiations between the Braves and outfielder Nick Markakis have intensified. Hearing the deal could wind up in range of four years and $45 million.”
Jeff Passan from Yahoo Sports followed up that report just hours later with news that the Braves had indeed inked Markakis to a four-year deal and speculated it to be worth around $44 million. Dan Connolly from The Baltimore Sun then confirmed both the signing and the dollar amount.
Apparently, the “fourth year became [a] sticking point between [the Baltimore] Orioles and Markakis,” per Eduardo A. Encina, also from The Sun. The Orioles, Encina continued, “became uncomfortable with four years.” Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal cited a 2013 MRI that showed a “small disk herniation in his neck” as a potential reason for the hesitance.
To a degree, signing a 31-year-old to a four-year deal is a risky proposition on its own, but considering potential health concerns, perhaps the Orioles were wise to not offer as many years as the Braves did.
Either way, the signing is a significant one for the Braves. Not only did they get a player capable of getting on base from the leadoff spot, but they filled the void if right field following Jason Heyward’s trade to the St. Louis Cardinals in November. Let’s not forget that Markakis has two Gold Glove awards.
One other thing to keep an eye on is how the signing impacts the uncertain futures of Justin Upton and Evan Gattis. As Passan noted, the move is likely the next step in “a further overhaul by Atlanta.”
15. Aaron Harang, RHP
17 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Atlanta Braves | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 33 | 204.1 | 3.57 | 3.57 | 1.400 | 7.09 | 3.13 | 2.5 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 7 starting pitcher
Why Teams Want Him
As MLBTradeRumors.com’s Zach Links noted, Aaron “Harang exceeded all expectations this season” after signing with the Atlanta Braves. Frankly, it was the best season of his career if we look at the combination of ERA and FIP.
Now Harang did have a 1.400 WHIP and is 36 years old, meaning that he will likely only secure a one- or two-year deal, but he is a fine option at the back end of any rotation.
Potential Suitors: Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays
Latest Rumors
Due to his production this past season, Harang has assuredly guaranteed the security of receiving a major league contract. That is a departure from last season when he signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians before requesting his release and signing with the Braves for $1 million.
As far as where he pitches next season is concerned, the Braves remain an option. As MLB.com’s Mark Bowman noted, Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy will likely miss the first month of the season, and Harang “said that he would be interested in pitching for Atlanta again next year.”
The Diamondbacks are another club that would be wise to pursue Harang, per Nick Piecoro from AZCentral.com. On a one-year deal with an option for 2016, the Diamondbacks make sense given the uncertainty of their rotation.
Outside the Braves and Diamondbacks, there are many options. After all, Harang will likely be inexpensive and fills out almost any rotation nicely.
16. Yasmany Tomas, OF
18 of 52
Status: Signed six-year, $68.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Position Rank: No. 3 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
Based on Kiley McDaniel's predictions over at FanGraphs, Yasmany Tomas has an upside of around 30 home runs and could put together a .275/.350/.480 slash. That line translates into roughly a 2.0 WAR considering his limitations in the field and on the basepaths. In other words, he is one of the best outfielders available.
And considering his age and the fact that there is no qualifying offer attached, Tomas comes without many of the strings associated with some of the other free agents at his position.
Contract News and Reaction
Well how about that.
Newly installed Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart hasn’t wasted any time. First he traded for Jeremy Hellickson, and now he's signed Yasmany Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million deal with an opt-out clause after four seasons, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez. The deal was confirmed by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.
To be sure, the acquisition of Tomas is a bold move for Stewart.
He has immense raw power, grading out at 70 on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale, per Ben Badler from Baseball America. He also has a shorter swing which could translate well in the National League West, although Badler did note that “he is prone to swinging through pitches and chasing off the plate.”
Given the defensive limitations that McDaniel notes in his piece, however, the move comes with inherent risk.
Put kindly, there is a chance that along with Mark Trumbo, the Diamondbacks could field one of the worst defensive tandems in right and left field in MLB, although he will be given a chance to win the starting job at third base. Then there is that fact that while he isn’t the slowest player in the game, he certainly won’t improve the Diamondbacks running game.
Either way, adding Tomas is a strong play for the Diamondbacks. They needed to sign a player this offseason to improve the offense.
This is a solid signing for the Diamondbacks.
17. Andrew Miller, LHP
19 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Red Sox and Orioles | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 73 | 62.1 | 2.02 | 1.51 | 0.802 | 14.87 | 2.45 | 2.3 |
Status: Signed four-year, $36 million contract with the New York Yankees
Position Rank: No. 1 reliever
Why Teams Wanted Him
Andrew Miller is a beast.
There is no other way to describe what he has done over the past three seasons. In that stretch, Miller has compiled a 2.57 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 1.050 WHIP and is averaging 13.6 strikeouts every nine innings, per Baseball-Reference.
True, he walked 3.6 every nine innings (BB/9) over those three years, but made marked improvement this past season, dropping down to 2.5 BB/9. The rise in production directly correlates with being taken out of the starting rotation in 2011. Miller is here to stay.
Contract News and Reaction
First reported by Jack Curry from the YES Network, the Yankees have signed Miller to a four-year, $36 million deal. Curry’s report was verified by several sources, including Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller.
General manager Brian Cashman was sure to make it clear that Miller was not brought on strictly to pitch the ninth inning. “I’m not signing him to be our closer,” Cashman said, via New York Newsday’s Mark Carig. “I’m signing him to be a weapon in our pen.”
That could mean that he plans on having Dellin Betances close in 2015. Or, it may be that he will leave each opportunity to manager Joe Girardi’s discretion.
That said, Miller’s agent, Mark Rodgers, presented the lefty as an ideal closing candidate, per ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick. “I think Andrew’s evolution in the bullpen,” Rodgers said, “and his numbers this year fortify the belief in baseball that he’s a closer-in-waiting—and maybe that the time for waiting is over.”
Whatever the case, Miller is a great get for the Yankees. He is arguably the best left-handed reliever in the game, and his addition makes the Yankees’ relief corps a formidable group.
The bidding for Miller’s services was intense.
The Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs were at one pointed interested, per CBS Chicago’s Bruce Levine. MLB.com's Brian McTaggart had the Houston Astros in the mix, and Jeff Blair from Sportsnet.ca cited a source from another club who said that the Toronto Blue Jays were "very aggressive" in their conversations with Miller's representatives before he signed with the Yankees.
18. Emilio Bonifacio, OF
20 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Cubs and Braves | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | R | SB | fWAR |
| 110 | .259 | .305 | .345 | .086 | 47 | 26 | 2.1 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 4 outfielder
Why Teams Want Him
Emilio Bonifacio is one of those players that can do just about everything on a diamond.
For example, he’s played 271 games in the outfield and has logged at least 100 contests at second base, shortstop and third base over his career. He has also stolen as many as 40 bases in one season and has twice scored more than 70 runs.
To be sure, Bonifacio won’t be handed a starting position on a contending club, but he does add a lot of value as a utility man.
Potential Suitors: Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays
Latest Rumors
There aren’t a lot of rumors regarding Bonifacio. He is one of those players that fills a need, but is rather unspectacular in doing so.
One thing to keep in mind is that Bonifacio has been moved midseason each of the last two years. In 2013, the Kansas City Royals purchased him from the Blue Jays, and this past season, the Chicago Cubs traded him along with James Russell to the Braves.
That could mean that a fringe team like the Indians (or any other club) could take a flyer on him, and if they aren’t in contention at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, they could move him for a prospect.
19. Jed Lowrie, SS
21 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Oakland A's | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 136 | .249 | .321 | .355 | .106 | 6 | 50 | 1.9 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 2 shortstop
Why Teams Wanted Him
Jed Lowrie may not be the prolific threat on offense that Hanley Ramirez is, but is still a valuable asset to have in the lineup. To that effect, he slashed out at .290/.344/.446 with 15 home runs and 75 RBI in 2013. True, he regressed in several metrics in 2014, but he is still one of the better shortstops available.
Contract News and Reaction
Per the Houston Chronicle’s Evan Drellich, the Astros have inked Lowrie to a three-year deal. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman added that the deal is worth $23 million guaranteed.
The signing marks a reunion for Lowrie and the Astros as the shortstop spent the 2012 season with Houston.
The addition of Lowrie significantly improves the Astros offense, which was an area that general manager Jeff Luhnow wanted to focus on. “Our feeling”, Luhnow said, according to Drellich, “is our infield output offensively this year—even with a batting champion (in Jose Alutve)—was the lowest in the American League, and that was an area we wanted to improve.”
Lowrie certainly does that. True, his defense is not spectacular, but it is good enough that his ability to reach base and drive the ball are what most fans will remember.
All told, the Astros have added Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek and Lowrie so far this offseason. If Luhnow can grab a mid-level starter, his club figures to be a competitive one.
20. Jake Peavy, RHP
22 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Red Sox and Giants | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 32 | 202.2 | 3.73 | 4.11 | 1.278 | 7.02 | 2.80 | 1.9 |
Status: Signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the San Francisco Giants
Position Rank: No. 8 starting pitcher
Why Teams Wanted Him
It's not so much that every MLB team would want Jake Peavy, but every National League club will take notice of the work he did after his trade to the San Francisco Giants.
In 12 starts, Peavy went 6-4, compiling a 2.17 ERA and a 1.042 WHIP. He kept hitters off-balance and controlled almost every one of his outings. And if we look at his career numbers, his ERA, FIP, WHIP and strikeouts per nine innings are all better in the NL.
Contract News and Reaction
Like the mythical Phoenix, Peavy has risen again, signing a contract with the Giants, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick added that the right-handed secured a full no-trade clause as well as a $24 million salary over two years.
That Peavy would rejoin the Giants is hardly a surprise.
The club failed to land Jon Lester, lost out on Pablo Sandoval and needed to bring back a face familiar to the organization. And let’s not forget that very early on this offseason, Nick Cafardo from The Boston Globe noted that because of the right-hander’s production down the stretch, he earned “himself a multiyear deal and it’ll probably be with San Francisco.”
Peavy will slot in as the No. 2 starter behind Madison Bumgarner and provides manager Bruce Bochy with a fairly effective one-two punch at the top of the rotation. And as Tim Dierkes and Steve Adams from MLBTradeRumors.com noted, “there’s no doubt that a full-time move to AT&T Park and the NL West will be of benefit to Peavy’s numbers.”
Prior to signing with the Giants, Peavy drew interest from the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins, per Rosenthal.
21. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS/2B
23 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Indians and Nationals | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 146 | .241 | .307 | .387 | .146 | 14 | 61 | 1.8 |
Status: Signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays
Position Rank: No.1 second baseman/No. 3 shortstop
Why Teams Wanted Him
To start with, Asdrubal Cabrera is the only free agent truly capable of being an everyday fixture in a lineup with the ability to play either middle-infield position.
Sure, Jed Lowrie said he’d be willing to play second under the right circumstances, but Cabrera proved it in 2014 following his trade to the Washington Nationals. Yes, his slugging percentage has dropped from .460 in 2011 to .387 this past season, but he is still a solid baserunner and can drive over 30 doubles per season.
Contract News and Reaction
First, the attribution.
Moments before Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that Cabrera and the Rays were in agreement on a deal, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported the two sides were “close.” Joel Sherman from the New York Post confirmed both and reported the contract is expected to be worth around $8 million for one year.
Now, what Cabrera’s addition means for the Rays in unknown.
He could slot in at second base, which would allow the Rays to play Ben Zobrist primarily in the outfield or he could slide over to his natural position at shortstop. The signing could also mean that Zobrist’s rumored departure is even more likely.
Either way, the fact that Cabrera signed a one-year deal means that he hopes to increase his value in advance of signing a long-term contract next offseason. And considering that his power numbers have sagged over the past few seasons, it seems to be a wise decision. Simply put, a solid year with the Rays will increase his value to several clubs following the 2015 campaign.
Prior to signing with the Rays, New York Newsday’s Marc Carig noted the New York Mets were interested, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick had the Philadelphia Phillies considering an acquisition and Ken Davidoff from the Post shared that the New York Yankees were a fit following the trade of Martin Prado to the Miami Marlins.
22. Pat Neshek, RHP
24 of 52
| 2014 Stats with St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 71 | 67.1 | 1.87 | 2.37 | 0.787 | 9.09 | 1.20 | 1.8 |
Status: Signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Houston Astros
Position Rank: No. 2 reliever
Why Teams Wanted Him
Pat Neshek is the best right-handed set-up man available on the open market, and it goes beyond his production in 2014. Since 2012, he’s appeared in 140 games, pitched to a 2.26 ERA, 3.43 FIP and a 0.974 WHIP with a 3.77 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
If that isn't reason enough to want him on your club, then we don't know what to tell you.
Contract News and Reaction
According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Astros have signed Neshek. Derrick Goold from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch valued the deal at $12.5 million over two years.
Neshek’s addition comes hours after the club signed Luke Gregerson to a three-year, $18.5 million deal and gives the Astros a formidable duo at the back end of the bullpen.
From an outsider’s perspective, the Astros have a relief corps that should be able to lock down the leads they are handed from the offense. That is said with the assumption that Neshek is tabbed to handle the seventh inning, Gregerson takes the eighth and Chad Qualls is the club’s closer.
The last two spots aren’t certain, of course. Gregerson could end up closing, but the larger point remains: General manager Jeff Luhnow now has three solid relievers capable of holding leads.
As a matter of fact, it’s reasonable to argue the Astros will have one of the better units in the American League. True, the bullpen posted a 4.80 ERA and a 1.393 WHIP last season, per Baseball-Reference, meaning that it would have been hard to get worse, but Neshek is a legitimate upgrade over every other option the Astros had last year in a setup role.
23. David Roberston, RHP
25 of 52
| 2014 Stats with New York Yankees | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 63 | 64.1 | 3.08 | 2.68 | 1.057 | 13.43 | 3.22 | 1.7 |
Status: Signed a four-year, $46 million contract with the Chicago White Sox
Position Rank: No. 3 reliever/No.1 closer
Why Teams Wanted Him
David Robertson has been on a four-year run akin to the one Jonathan Papelbon went on prior to signing a four-year, $50 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the 2012 season.
To that end, Papelbon put up a 2.75 ERA, 2.53 ERA, 1.076 WHIP and averaged 10.6 strikeouts every nine innings (K/9) from 2008 through 2011. Meanwhile, Robertson has compiled a 2.20 ERA, 2.40 FIP and a 1.097 WHIP with 12.3 K/9 since 2011.
It’s really quite remarkable. True, Robertson doesn’t have the save numbers that Papelbon did, but he has been no less dominant.
Contract News and Reaction
Early on the first full day of the winter meetings, George A. King III from the New York Post wrote that "the White Sox have serious interest" in Robertson to be the club's closer.
Turns out King was on to something.
Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the club has signed the right-hander to a four-year deal. He later added that Robertson will be paid $46 million over the life of the contract.
Simply put, this a bold move for White Sox general manager Rick Hahn. After adding Zach Duke in November for $15 million over three seasons, it was very clear that the work was not done. So he went out and landed the premier closer available.
That the White Sox would sign a pitcher of Robertson’s quality was hardly a given.
After all, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported early on that “the [Houston] Astros continue to pursue” the right-hander. In fact, Olney noted, it “could be his most lucrative offer comes from” general manager Jeff Luhnow.
That report followed one from MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart in mid-November that noted the Astros had Robertson high on the wish list. And the New York Post's Ken Davidoff noted the club had "communicated with Robertson’s agent Scott Leventhal to express" a desire to sign him, according to "an industry source."
All told, Hahn had to go above what may be considered reasonable to land a pitcher that will allow manager Robin Ventura and pitching coach Don Cooper to slot their remaining relievers in the proper spots.
Jake Petricka, for example, will surely benefit from being a setup man, and Daniel Webb is best used in low-leverage situations, per splits at Baseball-Reference. Robertson’s presence allows the coaching staff to put each man in just those situations, effectively improving the bullpen by being on the roster.
The White Sox will lose their second-round draft pick next season since Robertson turned down a qualifying offer from the New York Yankees and the club finished with one of the ten-worst records in MLB last season.
24. Francisco Liriano, LHP
26 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 29 | 162.1 | 3.38 | 3.59 | 1.300 | 9.70 | 4.49 | 1.6 |
Status: Signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Position Rank: No. 9 starting pitcher
Why Teams Wanted Him
After pitching to an ERA over 5.00 and an FIP 4.00 in 2011 and 2012, it looked like Francisco Liriano star had all but been extinguished. Well over the past two seasons, he has been fantastic, pitching to a 3.20 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 1.262 WHIP while striking out 9.4 batters every nine innings.
Call it a renaissance if you will, but Liriano has reestablished himself as one of the better second-tier lefties in MLB. Yes, he walks too many batters, but limits contact otherwise and pitches around big innings for the most part.
Contract News and Reaction
According to multiple sources, including Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Pirates have re-signed Liriano to a three-year, $39 million contract. Rumored to be the club’s intention for some time, the left-hander's return seemed a foregone conclusion.
His return also solidified the starting five. Fact is that the combination of Gerrit Cole, A.J. Burnett, Vance Worely, Jeff Locke and Liriano is a deep set of starting pitchers.
Dave Cameron from FanGraphs has some thoughts:
"The issue with Liriano is always going to be health. Even the last two years — two of his best seasons — he’s only thrown 160 innings, and he’s only managed to throw 3,000+ pitches in a season once in his career. You don’t sign Francisco Liriano for durability or innings. You sign him because when he’s on the mound, he’s really quite good.
…
He’s super high risk/high reward, but for this price, this seems like the right kind of risk/reward balance for the Pirates.
"
Kudos to general manager Neal Huntington here. He added Burnett earlier in the offseason and then brings Liriano back, setting the Pirates up for a deep run.
That said, the Pirates are best served winning the National League Central. There is no margin for error. If manager Clint Hurdle hopes to utilize his club's strengths to the fullest, he needs seven games.
25. Adam LaRoche, 1B
27 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Washington Nationals | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 140 | .259 | .362 | .455 | .196 | 26 | 92 | 1.6 |
Status: Signed two-year, $25 million contract with the Chicago White Sox
Position Rank: No. 1 first baseman
Why Teams Wanted Him
Adam LaRoche is one of those players that seems to make his club better. Not only is he good in the clubhouse, but for his career, he has an .829 OPS with men on and an .806 OPS with runners in scoring position.
True, his batting average isn’t where it needs to be, but his ability to get on base via walks and slug overshadows any deficiencies in the field, especially to an American League club that can use him at designated hitter.
Contract News and Reaction
Following the acquisition of Zach Duke, adding a left-handed bat figured to be next on White Sox general manager Rick Hahn’s list. And so it was.
According to Bob Nightengale from USA Today, Hahn inked LaRoche to a two-year, $25 million contract.
At first blush, the move looks like a solid one.
Per FanGraphs, LaRoche finished the 2014 campaign with a 127 wRC+, ranking ninth among MLB first baseman. If that same metric was applied to designated hitters, he would’ve ranked fifth, directly behind David Ortiz from the Boston Red Sox.
And the need for a guy like LaRoche was real. Simply put, the White Sox haven’t had a lefty capable of providing any protection from the No. 4 spot in the lineup since Jim Thome’s last season in 2009.
Now where LaRoche plays is anyone’s guess at the moment. After all, he is a first baseman by trade, but the White Sox already have Abreu seemingly in line to get most of the playing time at the position.
That would lead many to believe that LaRoche was brought in to be the club’s designated hitter. He could end up spelling Abreu at first more often than some may think, however, given the ankle issues the American League Rookie of the Year endured this past season.
Either way, signing a left-handed hitter capable of getting on base at a .340 clip and slugging .425 on a two-year deal is a steal for Hahn and the White Sox.
The White Sox officially announced the deal on Tuesday, Nov. 25, per MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
26. Colby Lewis, RHP
28 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Texas Rangers | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 29 | 170.0 | 5.18 | 4.46 | 1.521 | 7.03 | 2.54 | 1.6 |
Status: Signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Texas Rangers
Position Rank: No. 10 starting pitcher
Why Teams Wanted Him
Colby Lewis' value resides squarely in the second half of the 2014 season.
After missing all of 2013, Lewis got off to an atrocious start this past season, posting a 6.56 ERA, 1.821 WHIP and allowing a .353/.395/.539 slash line against over his first 16 starts. In his final 13 outings, however, he was a different pitcher, logging 80.1 innings and pitching to a 3.86 ERA, 1.228 WHIP and only allowed a .251/.304/.434 slash line against, per Baseball-Reference.
Contract News and Reaction
According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers have singed Lewis to a one-year deal. The Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant has the contract valued at $4 million in base pay.
The signing comes just over a month after general manager Jon Daniels indicated “that after a week of exchanging contract proposals with the agent for Colby Lewis, the veteran pitcher has decided to further test the free agent market," per a separate article from Grant.
Some, including Jesse Spector from SportingNews.com aren’t exactly thrilled. Spector sarcastically noted that Lewis’ return is “the news that all of Texas has been waiting to hear.” To be sure, he didn’t offer any initial critique, but it is a sentiment surely held by others.
Simply put, it took a fair second-half performance (statistics referenced above) just to get his numbers to a spot that wasn’t awful. True, he did log the most innings for the Rangers in 2014, so there is value to be had if his production after the All-Star break is the level he pitches to next season.
That’s a big if, though.
Lewis joins Yu Darvish and Derrick Holland as rotation locks next season, meaning that Daniels two holes to fill. In-house candidates are Nick Martinez, Alex Gonzalez and Nick Tepesch. In other words, Daniels is likely going to have to add another starter via free agency or trade.
27. Mark Reynolds, 1B
29 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 130 | .196 | .287 | .394 | .198 | 22 | 45 | 1.6 |
Status: Signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals
Position Rank: No. 2 first baseman
Why Teams Wanted Him
Mark Reynolds gets paid to hit a baseball as far as possible. And he does a good job—when he makes contact. The problem is that he doesn’t make contact nearly often enough, striking out as many as 223 times in one season.
He will find a home, however, because of a .782 career OPS, solid defensive abilities and the fact that he still hit 22 home runs in a platoon system with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2014. He will also command a very modest contract, so there’s that.
Contract News and Reaction
Rumored to be in the market for a power-hitting corner infielder, the Cardinals signed Reynolds to a one-year, $2 million contract, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
The move is a curious one.
Not that we are in any position to doubt general manager John Mozeliak, of course, it’s just that the Cardinals finished fifth in the National League last season with a .320 on-base percentage and have been known for some time as a patient club.
Reynolds is the opposite.
He is the owner of 31.9 percent strikeout rate over his career, amassing 1,398 whiffs in the process. Another thing to keep in mind is that his OBP has dropped each of the past three seasons, going from .335 in 2012 to .287 this past year.
At the end of the day, however, this move is about adding right-handed power. And Reynold’s lifetime .228 ISO (difference between batting average and slugging percentage) proved attractive to the Cardinals.
Used sparingly, Reynolds could be a valuable addition.
28. Michael Cuddyer, OF
30 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Colorado Rockies | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 49 | .332 | .376 | .579 | .247 | 10 | 31 | 1.5 |
Status: Signed a two-year contract with the New York Mets
Position Rank: No. 5 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
When healthy, Michael Cuddyer is an animal.
True, he has battled injuries the past few seasons, but he gets on base at a prodigious clip, has a career .466 slugging percentage and led the National League in hitting in 2013.
It must be noted that his best season came while playing his home games at Coors Field, but even if we only look at his time with the Minnesota Twins, Cuddyer is an impressive man. In 11 seasons (eight as a regular) with the Twins, he compiled a .272/.343/.451 slash line.
Contract News and Reaction
UPDATE: November 10 at 4:10 p.m. ET
The New York Mets have signed Cuddyer to a two-year contract, per the club’s official Twitter feed.
Initial reactions to the move are mixed.
As Joe Sheehan from Sports Illustrated noted, “There’s no sentient approach to winning that involves dumping a first-round pick for a fragile, bat-only, maybe-two-win 36-year-old.” Eno Sarris from FanGraphs shares the same sentiment in a less-direct approach.
Either way, Cuddyer has some work to do in order to live up to his end of the bargain, starting with staying on the field. If he can do that, the two wins Sheehan mentioned could easily turn into four or five, making his signing a shrewd decision.
To be sure, the move is a blow for the Rockies who had hoped to keep Cuddyer around. He was wanted back, per MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillo, and his return could have opened up several trade opportunities this offseason.
And we can’t overlook how well he was liked by those in the organization and the community. That said, the qualifying offer general manager Jeff Bridich extended Cuddyer’s way will net the Rockies a compensatory draft pick, lessening the blow of losing the right-fielder.
Per Jon Heyman from CBS Sports, the deal is valued at $21 million.
29. Koji Uehara, RHP
31 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Boston Red Sox | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 64 | 64.1 | 2.52 | 3.09 | 0.917 | 11.19 | 1.12 | 1.4 |
Status: Signed a two-year, $18 million contract with the Boston Red Sox
Position Rank: No. 4 reliever/No.2 closer
Why Teams Wanted Him
Over the course of his career, Koji Uehara has a 2.44 ERA, 2.69 FIP and is striking out 10.58 batters every nine innings. He’s also logged 350.1 innings over the course of 294 appearances. He is an exceptional closer.
It’s true that there was a six-game stretch at the end of 2014 when he fell apart, giving up 10 runs and losing command of the strike zone, but he ended the season with three scoreless outings, mitigating any lasting concern.
Contract News and Reaction
In the first big move of the offseason, Red Sox executive vice president/general manager Ben Cherington announced that the club re-signed Uehara to a two-year contract, via the club’s official Twitter feed.
While the terms were not immediately provided, WEEI’s Alex Speier had the accord valued at $18 million.
Some, including MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillo think the deal is a bit curious. The annual value of the deal “seems a little steep for a soon-to-be 40-year-old who struggled down the stretch,” Cotillo tweeted.
That may be a bit unfair.
True, Uehara hit a rough patch, but five bad outings from Aug. 16 to Sept. 4 is hardly “the stretch.” Cotillo’s larger point is accurate, however. The Red Sox set a pricey market for an aging closer.
For the Red Sox’s part, there was no hesitation. Speier shares the club’s point of view in a reaction piece that dissects what is to be expected of Uehara in his age 40 and 41 seasons:
"We felt comfortable with a two-year commitment to him. That’s driven really by his remarkable consistency not just with us but prior… We did not see any reason why that can’t continue. He keeps himself in remarkable shape. He’s a very diligent worker, a hard worker, he knows what he needs to do to get ready to pitch and he’s efficient.
"
The move impacts several clubs, including the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers who are looking for bullpen help and will now have to use Uehara's contract as a benchmark.
30. Jason Hammel, RHP
32 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Cubs and Athletics | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 30 | 176.1 | 3.47 | 3.92 | 1.123 | 8.06 | 2.25 | 1.7 |
Status: Signed two-year, $18 million contract with a club option in 2017 with the Chicago Cubs
Position Rank: No. 11 starting pitcher
Why Teams Wanted Him
Like Jake Peavy, Jason Hammel really only has one market, and that is the National League.
For example, his ERA in the American League is 4.90 in 132 appearances, while in the NL, it is a respectable 4.35. And his FIP in the AL is 4.68, but in the NL, it drops to 3.92. Frankly, almost every metric improves when he is on an NL club.
That is not to say that he doesn’t have value in the AL, but if a club is going to offer him more than one year, it will be a team that does not face a designated hitter on a daily basis.
Contact News and Reaction
According to MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillo, the Chicago Cubs have signed Hammel to a two-year, $18 million free-agent contract. Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi corroborated the report and added that the deal includes a 2017 team option with a $2 million buyout, putting the total value at $20 million.
After pitching to a 2.98 ERA with a 3.19 FIP and 1.021 WHIP over 17 starts for the Cubs prior to being dealt to the Oakland A's along with Jeff Samardzija in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline this past season, the re-acquisition should not be surprising.
And while it’s unknown how Hammel’s signing impacts the negotiation with Jon Lester, it’s safe to assume that the move has to help. After all, Hammel is a fine middle of the rotation starter with legitimate success in the National League.
Plus, the contract isn’t cumbersome to the point that it will limit the type of financial investment general manager Jed Hoyer can make on a top-tier free agent.
All told, this is a shrewd move for general manager Jed Hoyer. For a reasonable price, he is getting known results. The potential for a third year is also intriguing.
And considering that the Cubs have an offense laden with talent, adding Hammel is a fine step in the process of assembling a playoff-caliber starting five.
31. Zach Duke, LHP
33 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 74 | 58.2 | 2.45 | 2.14 | 1.125 | 11.35 | 2.61 | 1.3 |
Status: Signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Chicago White Sox
Position Rank: No. 5 reliever
Why Teams Wanted Him
If it weren’t for Andrew Miller, Zach Duke would be the best left-handed reliever available this offseason. And it’s not just his production this past season for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Since his trade from the Washington Nationals to the Cincinnati Reds August 2013, Duke has put up a 2.21 ERA, 2.35 FIP and is averaging 10.51 strikeouts every nine innings. He’s also collected 13 holds and is pitching to a 54.6 percent ground-ball rate in 69.1 innings.
Contract News and Reaction
The White Sox took a major step in the overhaul of the bullpen by agreeing to a contract with Duke as first reported by CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes. ESPN Chicago’s Doug Padilla reports that the deal is for $15 million over three years.
Duke fills a primary need for the White Sox who only had one left-handed reliever—Eric Surkamp—on the roster at the end of the season who’d appeared in more than four games. The situation was dire.
On top of that, the bullpen allowed 32 percent of all inherited runners to cross home plate. And as Hayes points out, Duke stranded 80 percent of the inherited runners he took responsibility for.
As important, Duke put up a .149/.219/.194 slash line against with 23 strikeouts in 33 appearances Baseball-Reference classified as high-leverage situations in 2014.
True, Duke doesn’t have the same track record as a guy like David Robertson or Andrew Miller, but he is quickly building up quite the resume as a lock-down lefty. Speaking of Miller, Duke’s acquisition doesn’t necessarily preclude them from bringing him on board as well.
Simply put, adding Duke is something that needed to happen. And while it must be noted that there is plenty more to be done in order to solve the White Sox’s bullpen woes, Duke is a fantastic first step.
32. Rickie Weeks, IF
34 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 121 | .274 | .357 | .452 | .179 | 8 | 29 | 1.2 |
Status: Option declined; Available
Position Rank: No. 2 second baseman
Why Teams Want Him
With the emergence of Scooter Gennett, Rickie Weeks became expendable. And thanks to a vesting option based on plate appearances that Weeks did not hit, the Milwaukee Brewers are able to part ways at no cost.
What makes Weeks attractive to other clubs is that he can flat out reach base with the best of them (lifetime .347 OBP) and has a tremendous amount of power (lifetime .424 slugging percentage) for a second baseman. True, he is better against lefties, but his .244/.332/.416 career slash line against right-handers is still quite good for a second baseman.
Weeks also provides excellent depth off the bench.
Potential Suitors: Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland A's, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals
Latest Rumors
The Milwaukee Brewers announced that they have declined Weeks' option, via the club's official Twitter feed. It was a widely expected move as Weeks' option in 2015 was worth $11.5 million. For his part, Weeks is content moving on. “Life still goes on,” Weeks said, via Tom Haudricourt from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
As far as where he lands, there are many options, but he can expect to take a serious cut in pay. Then again, that has to be expected, considering he made $31 million over the past three seasons with the Brewers.
33. Nori Aoki, OF
35 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Kansas City Royals | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | R | SB | fWAR |
| 132 | .285 | .349 | .360 | .075 | 63 | 17 | 1.1 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 6 outfielder
Why Teams Want Him
When it comes to getting on base, few are better than Nori Aoki, and that is what makes him so valuable. For his career, he has a .353 on-base percentage in 1,811 plate appearances and checks in with a lifetime 7.8 percent walk rate. That fits in well at the top of almost any order.
Another thing to keep in mind is that while he makes it adventurous in right field, Aoki has a 5.3 lifetime UZR at his primary position. Couple solid defense with an amazing ability to reach base, and Aoki is looking at a two- or three-year deal to man right field.
Potential Suitors: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers
Latest Rumors
UPDATE: December 24 at 9 a.m. ET
Going into the offseason, it was widely believed that Aoki would be with a different club next season. Not that the Royals wouldn’t love to have him back, but as CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman noted, “he is expected to explore the free-agent market” this offseason.
Well with the acquisition of Alex Rios, it is safe to say that Aoki will not be back in Kansas City, but the Reds remain an interested party.
To that end, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon noted that the Reds “have been eying” Aoki “since the market opened for business.” He was also mentioned by John Fay from the Cincinnati Enquirer as possible fit with the Reds.
Outside the Reds, Aoki could be a fit with the Mariners. Sure, they already added Nelson Cruz for power purposes but getting on base has been as problematic as slugging has for manager Lloyd McClendon’s club for some time. Aoki would form a platoon with recently acquired Justin Ruggiano in the outfield.
34. Josh Willingham, OF
36 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Twins and Royals | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 92 | .215 | .346 | .397 | .182 | 14 | 40 | 1.1 |
Status: Retired
Position Rank: No. 7 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
Clubs will be interested in Josh Willingham for two reasons.
First, he gets on base, posting a.358 on-base percentage over his 11-year career. From the middle of the order, that is a fine number.
Second, he has prodigious power. To that end, he has a lifetime .465 slugging percentage with a .212 ISO (difference between batting average and slugging percentage). Solid numbers, indeed.
Latest Rumors
Willingham announced his retirement on Nov. 24, according to HardballTalk's Aaron Gleeman.
35. Michael Morse, OF/1B
37 of 52
| 2014 Stats with San Francisco Giants | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 131 | .279 | .336 | .475 | .196 | 16 | 61 | 1.0 |
Status: Signed two-year, $16 million contract with the Miami Marlins
Position Rank: No. 8 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
Mike Morse acquitted himself well during the regular season. Sure, he went on a prolonged slump in the middle of the season, but putting up a .279/.336/.475 slash line is a marked improvement over his production in 2013.
Another thing that Morse has going for him is that in addition to playing the outfield, he can fill in at first base. True, he is best used as a full-time designated hitter in the American League, but if a National League club needed power badly enough, Morse could play the field
Contract news and Reaction
First reported by Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald, Morse has signed a two-year deal with the Marlins. MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro confirmed the initial report. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal values the accord at $16 million, plus incentives.
The addition of Morse is a fine one for the Marlins.
After inking Giancarlo Stanton to a 10-year, $325 million contract, trading for Dee Gordon and acquiring Mat Latos from the Cincinnati Reds, the club needed to add an experienced power-hitter to the lineup, and Morse fits the bill.
Sure there are defensive concerns, but when we look at what the Marlins are trying to build, an infusion of slugging behind Stanton and and before Casey McGehee was the top priority. And as Bob Nightengale from USA Today noted, "the Marlins are a serious contender in the NL East."
Morse’s signing comes roughly a week after CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported the club was looking at the right-handed hitter as an option to improve their offense.
36. Burke Badenhop, RHP
38 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Boston Red Sox | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 70 | 70.2 | 2.29 | 3.08 | 1.259 | 5.09 | 2.42 | 1.0 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 6 reliever
Why Teams Want Him
Burke Badenhop goes about his business about as quietly as one can. In 350 career appearances, he has a 3.71 ERA, 3.56 FIP and is averaging 6.34 strikeouts every nine innings.
One area of concern for the right-hander is his 2.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which is quite low for an effective reliever. To that end, he has a career .306/.374/.465 slash line against in high-leverage situations. As a middle reliever, however, Badenhop is very serviceable.
Potential Suitors: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals
Latest Rumors
First and foremost, manager John Farrell said the Red Sox are interested in retaining the right-hander “given his reliability over multiple years, if possible,” via WEEI’s Alex Speier. He was also mentioned by The Washington Post’s James Wagner as an option to improve overall performance for the Nationals.
Truth be told, Badenhop is an option for almost every MLB bullpen because of his consistency and versatility. As he noted in an interview with Speier, “I think I've thrown in the second and I've thrown in the 12th this year.” And he did them both well.
That is skill that translates into MLB longevity.
37. Ryan Vogelsong, RHP
39 of 52
| 2014 Stats with San Francisco Giants | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 32 | 184.2 | 4.00 | 3.85 | 1.278 | 7.36 | 2.83 | 1.0 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 12 starting pitcher
Why Teams Want Him
Ryan Vogelsong is one of those guys who would look great at the back end of a contending club's rotation. Just ask San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
In his time with the Giants, Vogelsong has put up a 3.78 ERA with a 3.99 FIP and a 1.302 WHIP, per Baseball-Reference. Those are numbers that will play in almost any city.
Potential Suitors: Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A’s, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants
Latest Rumors
UPDATE: December 22 at 9 a.m. ET
While we don’t know if Vogelsong will pitch again in 2015, Nick Cafardo from The Boston Globe noted that the Giants “likely won’t re-sign” the big right-hander. John Shea from the San Francisco Chronicle added some time later that there are “no current talks” between the two sides.
If he does not return to the Giants, it stands to reason that he would have to find a situation that is comfortable for him. That makes the Angels and Dodgers ideal destinations, considering they are both contending clubs on the West Coast.
More will be revealed, of course, but Vogelsong will likely ink a one-year deal if he decides to come back.
38. Delmon Young, DH
40 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Baltimore Orioles | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 83 | .302 | .337 | .442 | .140 | 7 | 30 | 0.9 |
Status: Signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles that could reach $3 million with incentives
Position Rank: No. 3 designated hitter
Why Teams Wanted Him
It comes down to clutch hitting when looking at Delmon Young.
Simply put, he delivers when it matters most. For example, he has a career .304/.334/.442 slash line during the regular season with runners in scoring position, per Baseball-Reference.
Young is also known for producing in the postseason. In the 2012 World Series with the Detroit Tigers, for example, he put up a .357/.400/.643 slash line, and overall, he has a .262/.314/.524 slash in 11 playoff series.
Contract News and Reaction
Pending a physical, the Orioles have re-signed Young to a one-year deal, per MASNSports’ Roch Kubatko. Eduardo A. Encina from The Baltimore Sun confirmed the report, adding that the contract is worth $2.25 million with incentives that could bring the total value to $3 million.
The reports comes roughly one month after Kubatko shared that the two sides were not averse to a reunion:
"The Orioles remain open to re-signing free agent outfielder Delmon Young, who evolved into baseball’s best pinch-hitter this season. However, Young is looking for a two-year deal, which doesn’t figure to provide a match.
If Young returns to Baltimore, the agreement likely would cover only the 2015 season. Young, naturally, will seek a lengthier contract after auditioning for the Orioles at their minicamp in January and settling for a minor league deal.
"
Frankly, it seems the Orioles were Young’s only option. His agent, Joel Wolfe, said the slugger’s “preference is to come back to Baltimore,” per a separate article by Kubatko. And without much in the way of interest from other clubs, his options were rather limited.
Either way, the right-handed hitter's return will help offset the slugging that was lost when Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis signed with the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves, respectively. Flat out, the O's needed Young back in the mix to balance out the middle of the lineup.
Young will take his physical after Jan. 1.
39. Luke Gregerson, RHP
41 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Oakland A's | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 72 | 72.1 | 2.12 | 3.24 | 1.009 | 7.34 | 1.87 | 0.9 |
Status: Signed a three-year, $18.5 million contract with the Houston Astros
Position Rank: No. 7 reliever
Why Teams Wanted Him
Looking for consistent excellence from a relief pitcher? Look for Luke Gregerson. From MLBTradeRumors.com’s Tim Dierkes:
"Among American League relievers with at least 60 innings, Gregerson’s 2.12 ERA this year ranked 12th. Among free agents, only Pat Neshek and Andrew Miller did better. In Gregerson’s six big league seasons, his highest ERA was 3.24 in his rookie campaign. He’s posted an ERA of 2.75 or lower in each of the past four seasons. From 2009-14 among relievers with at least 350 innings, Gregerson’s 2.75 ERA ranks fourth in baseball.
"
Contract News and Reaction
Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Astros have inked Gregerson to a three-year, $18.5 million deal. The report was corroborated by ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, who noted the total value of the deal can reach $21 million “if he’s the team’s closer.”
And make no mistake; the Astros needed this for two reasons.
First, they were reported by multiple sources to be finalists for the services of both David Robertson and Andrew Miller before they signed with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, respectively. It was imperative for general manager Jeff Luhnow to land a reliever that can immediately impact the relief corps.
Speaking of the relief corps, the Astros ranked 29th in unit WAR last season, per FanGraphs, posting a combined 4.80 EA and a 4.11 FIP. They simply weren’t good.
Gregerson will go into spring training with a shot at the closer’s role. Whether or not he wins it is a different story, but there is no mistaking the fact that the bullpen is significantly better with him on board.
40. Rafael Soriano, RHP
42 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Washington Nationals | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 64 | 62.0 | 3.19 | 3.08 | 1.129 | 8.56 | 2.76 | 0.7 |
Status: Option declined; Available
Position Rank: No. 8 reliever/No. 3 closer
Why Teams Want Him
He may have fallen on hard times in the latter stages of the 2014 season, but for the first four months, Rafael Soriano was a dominant closer. From April 3 through Aug. 13, he compiled a 1.94 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .191/.258/.302 slash line against.
He will need to take a significant decrease in pay and settle for a short-term contract laden with incentives, of course, but there is still legitimate value in his right arm.
Potential Suitors: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays
Latest Rumors
According to MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo, the Nationals have declined Soriano's $14 million option. His departure will usher in a new era for manager Matt Williams, who has relied on Soriano for most of the past two seasons.
Where he lands is unknown at this point, but there are several clubs that could bring him on—at the right price, of course.
41. Colby Rasmus, OF
43 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 104 | .225 | .287 | .448 | .223 | 18 | 40 | 0.6 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 9 outfielder
Why Teams Want Him
To be sure, there is value in what Colby Rasmus brings to the table. Yes, his career 25.2 percent strikeout rate is troublesome, but when a center fielder has a lifetime .438 slugging percentage, there are at-bats to be had.
Helping matters is that he is the best player at his position on the market. Emilio Bonifacio may bring more to the table in the way of versatility, but when it comes to competent defenders in center, Rasmus stands alone.
Potential Suitors: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers
Latest Rumors
UPDATE: December 31 at 10:45 a.m. ET
According to Brad Johnson from MLBTradeRumors.com, the Orioles are a possibility for Rasmus’s services. Johnson's take on the Orioles was corroborated days later when Rock Kubatko from MASNSports.com reported that the club has “legitimate interest” in Rasmus. Kubatko added that they “have maintained a dialogue with agent Casey Close since the winter meetings in San Diego."
In addition to the Orioles, Shi Davidi from SportsNet.ca noted that the Cubs “recently met with Colby Rasmus, and are one of several teams to have shown interest” in acquiring him.
That the Cubs and Orioles have only now expressed interest in Rasmus makes sense. After all, other outfielders such as Nick Markakis and Melky Cabrera needed to sign before Rasmus’ market started to heat up.
And to be clear, all of the clubs mentioned above don’t need a center fielder. But they could all use someone to play one of the corner spots or a solid fourth outfielder. And if Rasmus is agreeable to playing either right or left field, he will open up a whole new market for himself.
There is surely more to come.
42. Jason Frasor, RHP
44 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Rangers and Royals | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 61 | 47.1 | 2.66 | 3.28 | 1.225 | 8.75 | 3.42 | 0.5 |
Status: Signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract (including $550,000 buyout) with a $2 million option for 2016 with the Kansas City Royals
Position Rank: No. 9 reliever
Why Teams Wanted Him
If there is a knock on Jason Frasor, it's that he has control problems and his fastball is too straight. And while those criticisms may be true, he has pitched to a 3.59 ERA, 3.73 FIP and a 1.303 WHIP over his 11 seasons.
Contract News and Reaction
The Royals and Frasor reached an agreement on a $1.25 million contract for the 2015 season with a $2 million option for 2016. The deal carries with it a $550,000 buyout, putting the guaranteed dollars at $1.8 million, according to a pair of tweets from The Kansas City Star’s Andy McCullough.
Acquired on July 16 from the Texas Rangers for Spencer Patton, Frasor did not disappoint manager Ned Yost.
In 23 appearances covering 17.2 innings during the regular season, Frasor put up a 1.53 ERA, 2.91 FIP and a fine 0.962 WHIP. In seven postseason outings, he went 2-0 and pitched to a 1.69 ERA with a 1.313 WHIP. All told, it ended up being a fine trade for general manager Dayton Moore.
In addition to what he did for the Royals at the end of 2014, bringing him back is a shrewd move for two reasons.
First off, the deal is reasonable, giving Moore some flexibility as he looks to fill out the rotation, add a bat to the lineup and bring in a left-handed reliever.
Second, Frasor’s results are quantifiable. That is to say he will deliver in medium-leverage situations, which is exactly what the Royals need. After all, they have guys like Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland at the back end of the bullpen.
Consider the move a win for all parties.
43. Kelly Johnson, SS
45 of 52
| 2014 Stats for Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 106 | .215 | .296 | .362 | .147 | 7 | 27 | 0.5 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 4 shortstop
Why Teams Want Him
There is no mistaking the fact that the days when Kelly Johnson could be counted on to be an everyday performer are gone. He is a versatile middle infielder, however, and has some value as a reserve, especially considering that he will come at a reasonable price.
That said, he can’t be in a situation where he will be counted on for premium at-bats.
Potential Suitors: Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland A’s, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays
Latest Rumors
There haven't been any substantial rumblings about potential destinations for Johnson. The problems he’s had with injuries and the poor numbers he’s posted over the base several seasons preclude much in the way of excitement.
Like some of the others on this list, Johnson will likely sign a minor league contract as spring training approaches and try to latch on with a club. If he sticks around into July, expect him to be a trade chip much like he was this past season.
44. Chris Denorfia, OF
46 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Padres and Mariners | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | R | SB | fWAR |
| 121 | .230 | .284 | .318 | .088 | 36 | 9 | 0.4 |
Status: Signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Chicago Cubs
Position Rank: No. 10 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
Chris Denorfia is capable of being an everyday outfielder. After all, he put up a .285/.340/.419 two-year slash line with 18 home runs and 123 runs scored in 2012 and 2013 as the primary right fielder for the San Diego Padres.
He can run, get on base and can play every outfield spot. There is no doubt that he brings value to a 25-man roster.
Contract News and Reaction
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that the Cubs have signed Denorfia to a one-year deal. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman added that the contract is worth $2.5 million. The news was first broken by ex-teammate John Baker.
Denorfia is a fine addition for the Cubs. He provides the ability to play multiple positions, is an apt substitute for the recently departed Justin Ruggiano and has a career .292/.358/.430 slash line against left-handers. He also has a .339/.422/.500 slash at Wrigley Field over his nine years in the league, per those same splits.
Each one of those attributes wills serve new manager Joe Maddon quite well.
Prior to signing with the Cubs, Denorfia’s name wasn’t the subject of very many rumors. As the No. 10 outfielder available at the onset of free agency, the lack of speculation was to be expected. Simply put, Denorfia is a fine player, but had to wait for some other names to come off the board before finding a home for the 2015 season.
45. Kyle Kendrick, RHP
47 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Philadelphia Phillies | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 25 | 199.0 | 4.61 | 4.57 | 1.362 | 5.47 | 2.58 | 0.4 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 13 starting pitcher
Why Teams Want Him
It's hard to argue with a pitcher who's put up 381.0 innings over the past two seasons, yet that is exactly what Kyle Kendrick has done for the Philadelphia Phillies. Sure, his ERA in each season was 4.70 and 4.61, respectively, but he delivered the innings the Phillies needed.
Kendrick has found legitimate success in the past, too. In 2011, for example, he pitched to a 3.22 ERA and in 2012, he posted a 3.90 ERA. Either way, the number of innings he is able to throw each season make him an easy target for quite a few clubs.
Potential Suitors: Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, Oakland A’s, Pittsburgh Pirates
Latest Rumors
UPDATE: December 10 at 6:45 p.m. ET
Darren Wolfson from 1500ESPN.com notes that Kendrick is drawing interest from the Twins. Considering that the club received terrible production from the starting rotation—with the exception of Phil Hughes, of course—meeting with Kendrick makes sense. True, his ERA isn’t where anyone wants it to be, but he can eat innings.
In addition to the Twins, Kendrick was mentioned by Clark Spencer from the Miami Herald as a possible target for the Marlins. The move would make sense, but only if it is looked at as part of the long-term solution.
As it stands, Jose Fernandez likely isn’t available until June or July of next season. And by that time, the Marlins could be out of the race. True, there is a chance that they will be in contention when Fernandez makes his comeback, but it can’t be assumed.
That means that a guy like Kendrick will have the most value when thinking about the number of innings he would be able to log when Fernandez and company are at full strength in 2016. He would give the rotation a presence at the back end that it has missed for some time.
In addition to the Twins and Marlins, the Pirates are another club that could use a guy who can put up an FIP around 4.40 and toss 180.0 innings. Frankly, that is a stat set for a No. 4 or No. 5 starter that plays well in most MLB cities.
One thing that seems to be certain is the fact that the Phillies will not bring Kendrick back. Following his last home start of the season, CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury wrote that “there have been no indications that the Phillies are interested in re-signing him.”
As Salisbury noted, “no one knows where Kendrick will be next season,” although there are several clubs that could benefit from his services.
46. Chris Young, OF
48 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Mets and Yankees | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 111 | .222 | .299 | .385 | .163 | 11 | 38 | 0.4 |
Status: Signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the New York Yankees
Position Rank: No. 11 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
When he’s right, outfielder Chris Young can do a lot of things. He’s a fine baserunner, capable in the field and has surprising power. That's a combination that makes him attractive to MLB clubs.
In 1,103 career contests, Young has put together a .234/.313/.427 slash line with 155 home runs.
Contract News and Reaction
Hours after Mark Feinsand and Anthony McCarron from the New York Daily News reported that Young and the Yankees had a “mutual interest” in bringing the outfielder back, Sweeny Murti from WFAN broke the news that the right-handed hitter had agreed to a one-year contract.
Buster Olney from ESPN.com reports that the deal with the Yankees is worth $2.5 million plus incentives. Interestingly, USA Today's Bob Nightengale noted that the offer was made "nearly a month ago," but it took until now to decide on which direction he wanted to take.
It has to be assumed that Young will serve as the fourth outfielder, which makes a lot of sense. He logged time at all three position outfield positions last year and is a fine upgrade over Ichiro Suzuki from a versatility perspective. He will also be a nice platoon option for manager Joe Girardi against left-handed pitching.
Now Young can thank his production with the Yankees toward the end of the season after being released by the New York Mets in the middle of August for the new contract. In 23 games, he slashed out at .282/.354/.521 and delivered 11 extra-base hits in only 71 at-bats.
This seems to be a shrewd move by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. Young has speed, power, can play the field and is a bargain at $2.5 million.
47. Jason Grilli, RHP
49 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Pirates and Angels | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 62 | 54.0 | 4.00 | 3.37 | 1.333 | 9.50 | 3.50 | 0.3 |
Status: Signed a two-year, $8 million contract ($3 million option in 2017) with the Atlanta Braves
Position Rank: No. 10 reliever
Why Teams Wanted Him
After a rough start to the 2014 season, Jason Grilli was traded to the Los Angeles Angels and proved that he is still an effective reliever. In 40 appearances after the trade, he put up a 2.15 FIP with a 1.158 ERA and helped solidify an area that had given manager Mike Scioscia fits at the start of the year.
Since 2011, Grilli has collected 48 saves and has pitched to a 3.09 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 1.183 WHIP and averaged 11.9 strikeouts every nine innings. That is an impressive body of work.
Contract News and Reaction
According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Grilli signed with the Braves on Tuesday. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman confirmed the acquisition and put the total value at $7.75 million over two years with a $3 million option for 2017 ($250,000 buyout). In other words, Grilli is guaranteed $8 million.
Ostensibly, the idea is that he will slide into the role of primary right-handed setup man for closer Craig Kimbrel that was vacated by Jordan Walden when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of the deal that sent Jason Heyward to the Cardinals.
That said, Grilli provides manager Fredi Gonzalez with some experienced insurance should Kimbrel get hurt or falter. All in all, this is a move that should play well for the Braves.
Another thing to keep in mind is that with the trades of Heyward and Justin Upton, the offense in Atlanta will likely struggle to score runs. That makes the bullpen’s production paramount to success. Grill certainly makes the relief corps more formidable.
48. Torii Hunter, OF
50 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Detroit Tigers | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 142 | .286 | .319 | .446 | .160 | 17 | 83 | 0.3 |
Status: Signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Minnesota Twins
Position Rank: No. 12 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
From all accounts, Torii Hunter's best days are behind him. That doesn't mean he doesn't have value on a 25-man roster.
He still possesses a lot of power and can run the bases. True, his defense has fallen off the table, but as a platoon outfielder and designated hitter, he will make whichever club signs him better.
Contract News and Reaction
Citing a person who spoke off the record since the deal has not been make official, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale broke the news that Hunter was returning to the Twins on a one-year, $10.5 million contract.
Presumably, he will play a little outfield while also serving as the club’s designated hitter.
He will also “tutor” players like Byron Buxton and Aaron Hicks, per CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. To that end, La Velle E. Neal III from the Minneapolis Star Tribune wrote that “even if his production drops off, he still could be useful as an unofficial player-coach.”
Not everyone is excited about the move. Keith Law from ESPN.com, for example, cited the fact that Hunter is “barely a replacement-level player.” And in comparing to move to Ken Griffey Jr.’s return to the Seattle Mariners in 2009, Law doesn’t necessarily have high hopes that the move will end up being a wise one for Twins general manager Terry Ryan.
Regardless of Law’s thoughts (and they are valid), Hunter should provide a lift offensively for manager Paul Molitor’s lineup. He’s hit 17 home runs each of the past two seasons and has driven in at least 82 runs six years in a row.
The signing comes days after Mark Whicker from the Orange County Register wrote that Hunter had pared his final list of destinations down to the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Twins. Looks like the allure of going back to his first club—and a $10.5 million salary—proved too strong to resist.
49. Alex Rios, OF
51 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Texas Rangers | |||||||
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | ISO | HR | RBI | fWAR |
| 131 | .280 | .311 | .398 | .118 | 4 | 54 | 0.2 |
Status: Signed one-year, $11 million contract with the Kansas City Royals
Position Rank: No. 13 outfielder
Why Teams Wanted Him
Contrary to what some would say, Alex Rios is still a fine player. He just isn't worth the $13.5 million he was scheduled to make before the Texas Rangers declined his 2015 option.
He can still run, drive the gaps, and while his defense was never exceptional, he can still play an adequate right field when he is in the mood.
Contract News and Reaction
According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Royals have signed Rios to a one-year, $11 million contract. The news was corroborated by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
As it stands, Rios will slide into right field and likely hit toward the bottom of the order. His arrival also means that general manager Dayton Moore has officially closed the door on Nori Aoki.
From an outside perspective, adding Rios is an interesting move.
On one hand, he is a better power hitter than his .398 slugging percentage last year indicates. Simply put, he has quite a bit of gap power that he should be able to exploit at Kauffman Stadium.
On the other hand, $11 million is a significant investment for a player who battled health problems last season. Let’s not forget that he ended the season on the disabled list
And with the recent addition of Kendrys Morales, the Royals are putting a lot of faith in two bounce-back candidates next season. If they don’t come through, the season could be over before it starts.
Prior to signing with the Royals, The News Tribune's Bob Dutton noted that the Seattle Mariners "certainly" has an interest in the right-handed hitter. Heyman added that the "[Cleveland] Indians are among teams to check in on Rios."
He likely signed a one-year deal in an effort to reestablish market value after his time with the Texas Rangers came to an abrupt end.
50. Joe Thatcher, LHP
52 of 52
| 2014 Stats with Diamondbacks and Angels | |||||||
| G | IP | ERA | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | fWAR |
| 53 | 30.1 | 3.86 | 3.43 | 1.319 | 8.01 | 1.19 | 0.2 |
Status: Available
Position Rank: No. 11 reliever
Why Teams Want Him
Following his trade to the Los Angeles Angels, Joe Thatcher went on the disabled list and pitched quite poorly when he was active, diminishing his value a bit. It was a disappointing end to a season that saw him pitch to a 2.63 ERA, 3.30 FIP and a 1.083 WHIP over 37 outings for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It is that kind of production that makes Thatcher so intriguing. See, when he’s on, he’s on. And as a lefty that can get the ball over the plate (for the most part, anyway), there are plenty of teams that will show interest.
Potential Suitors: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays
Latest Rumors
There is a chance that Thatcher returns to the Angels next season. Sure, they will have to deal with quite a few arbitration cases and just picked up the option on Huston Street’s contract, per MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo, but according to Jeff Fletcher from the Orange County Register, “Thatcher would seem a more likely candidate to come back” versus a guy like Jason Grill.
If the Angels don’t bring him back, he won’t have a hard time finding work as many clubs need a left-handed specialist in the pen.
To be fair, though, Thatcher is this generation’s version of Kelly Wunsch. That is to say he is the epitome of a LOOGY (lefty one-out guy). As Bryan Grosnick from Beyond the Box Score correctly pointed out, “most teams would like to have a Joe Thatcher, but not rely on him.”
In other words, Thatcher is a luxury, not a necessity.
Unless otherwise noted, all traditional, team and historical statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference. Contract information pulled from Cots Contracts. Transaction, injury and game information are courtesy of MLB.com.
Follow @MatthewSmithBR
.png?w=480)
