Impact MLB Free Agents Who Aren't Getting Enough Attention This Winter

While impact hitters like Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez have already landed monster deals, the MLB free-agent market for pitchers has been remarkably quiet. 

So far this offseason, there just hasn't been a ton of buzz surrounding top arms like Max Scherzer and David Robertson. One reason for the lack of activity is that clubs appear to be waiting for the market to set itself once the first domino falls.

Last winter, the bidding on free-agent pitchers didn't take off until Masahiro Tanaka inked his megadeal with the New York Yankees. A similar situation is once again playing out this offseason. 

What follows is a rundown of the impact free agents who simply aren't getting enough attention. Pitchers dominate the list, but there's also room for last season's home run king.

Francisco Liriano, SP

2014 Stats: 7-10, 3.38 ERA, 29 GS, 162.1 IP, 130 H, 13 HR, 81 BB, 175 K

Francisco Liriano raised his free-agent price tag considerably during the second half of the 2014 season. The starter posted a 6-3 record and a 2.20 ERA in 14 starts following the All-Star break. 

According to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Liriano is looking for a three- to four-year deal for about $12 million per season. There is one major stumbling block that the 31-year-old is going to have to overcome if he's going to accomplish that goal. After rejecting the Pittsburgh Pirates' qualifying offer, Liriano is attached to draft-pick compensation. 

Still, Liriano deserves to be a popular name on the free-agent block, as he's the most dominant left-handed starter available aside from Jon Lester. 

David Robertson, RP

Al Bello/Getty Images

2014 Stats: 4-5, 3.08 ERA, 63 G, 39 SV, 44 SVO, 64.1 IP, 45 H, 7 HR, 23 BB, 96 K

Robertson is the first player to crack this list who has likely scared off some potential new employers with his salary demands. 

The right-handed reliever is seeking a $50 million payday, per Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York. That's a lot of money to sink into a closer—even if he did reel off 39 saves in 2014.

Robertson's situation is further complicated by his decision to reject the New York Yankees' qualifying offer, which means he's attached to draft-pick compensation. Nonetheless, Robertson is clearly the most established bullpen arm on the free-agent block.

James Shields, SP

Elsa/Associated Press

2014 Stats: 14-8, 3.21 ERA, 34 GS, 227 IP, 224 H, 23 HR, 44 BB, 180 K

James Shields is as reliable as it gets. 

The veteran starter has racked up over 200 innings of work in eight consecutive seasons. The ability to always make his starts—and to do so while pitching at a high level—should make the right-hander a valuable commodity this winter. 

Conversely, it's also possible that teams could be concerned that it's only a matter of time before all those innings catch up to the 32-year-old. There's a strong chance that the starter will have to wait until Lester and Scherzer sign new deals, as Shields will be a fallback option for the clubs that miss out on those aces.

Nelson Cruz, DH/OF

2014 Stats: .271 AVG, .333 OBP, .525 SLG, .859 OPS, 32 2B, 2 3B, 40 HR, 108 RBI, 55 BB, 140 K

While Yasmany Tomas, Sandoval, Ramirez and Victor Martinez have all inked new deals, Nelson Cruz remains unemployed. 

The outfielder/designated hitter clubbed 40 home runs to lead baseball in 2014, but he's also in the market for a big-time contract. Earlier in November, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reported that Cruz "is believed to be currently seeking a four-year deal." 

That's a lot of years to commit to a defensively limited player who is 34. Then again, Martinez scored a four-year, $68 million payout, and he'll be 36 when Opening Day rolls around. 

Max Scherzer, SP

Brian Blanco/Getty Images

2014 Stats: 18-5, 3.19 ERA, 33 GS, 220.1 IP, 196 H, 18 HR, 63 BB, 252 K

Lester has already received an offer from the Boston Red Sox, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, and from the Chicago Cubs, per David Kaplan of CSN Chicago. 

It's been a different story for Scherzer. 

His agent, Scott Boras, thinks that teams should be jumping at the chance to sign the 30-year-old starter. 

"It's a rare opportunity to get a Cy Young pitcher who has [positive] postseason experience," said Boras, via Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. 

So far, teams around the league have been willing to pass that opportunity up. As was the case with Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales last winter, Scherzer looks like he could be yet another Boras client who gets burned by the agent's strategy to slow-play the market. 

Note: All stats courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.