The 10 Most Underrated MLB Free-Agent Position Players This Offseason
On Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET, MLB free agents will officially be free to sign with any club. With 139 names on the free-agent list, there is plenty of intrigue as the hot-stove season gets set to fire up. With so many to choose from, there are plenty of overlooked offensive players on the list, such as Gerardo Parra, Nori Aoki and Marlon Byrd.
We’ll examine which underrated position players and designated hitters may be the best buys given their track records, offensive statistics, leadership qualities and glove work. The age of the players will also be considered.
General managers can find veterans and bargains to add to the lineup or depth chart. Some of these players have been in the game a long time, while others are looking to break into the major leagues for the first time after being posted by teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
Honorable Mentions
1 of 11
Dioner Navarro, 31, C
The list at catcher this offseason lacks some impact bats, and Navarro represents the best value at the position in free agency. After being limited to 54 games in a reserve role last season following the surprising addition of Russell Martin, Navarro will be hungry to prove his worth in 2016.
He did not make the list because he only managed to hit .246 last season, but he showed in 2014 and 2013 that he is fully capable of batting for a high average if given sufficient playing time.
He batted .274 in 2014 and .300 in 2013 with the Chicago Cubs. If given a starting job, he could re-establish that sort of production.
Jeff Francoeur, 31, RF
The athletic right fielder rediscovered his power stroke last season by hitting 13 home runs in 119 games in the bandbox that is Citizens Banks Park as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The last time he came close to that number was in 2012 when he hit 16 homers with the Kansas City Royals. Due to his reputation as an outstanding clubhouse guy and serviceable defender, Francoeur could be a nice pickup for a young club.
Ah-seop Son, 27, LF
Posted by the KBO’s Lotte Giants, Son is hoping he will be picked up by a major league team and become a top-of-the-order guy. There’s no way to predict how he may perform in the U.S., but we can examine his track record in the KBO and Word Baseball Classic (WBC).
Son batted .317 last season for the Giants and also played in the 2013 WBC. Over a nine-year career in the KBO, he had a batting average of .323 to go along with some pop.
During a disappointing WBC in 2013 for the Koreans, Son batted .250 in two games, playing right field. Following the surprising season by Pirates shortstop Jung-ho Kang, certain GMs could be more inclined to take a risk on Son this offseason.
Kyle Blanks, 29, OF/1B
Blanks has shown the ability to swing the bat effectively throughout his career and is a player a lot of people tend to forget about. When healthy, he quietly goes about his business, providing a solid glove at first base and good contact with the bat.
The problem is Blanks hasn’t had enough plate appearances over the past three seasons for a GM to truly know what he’s going to get from him. In any case, the high averages and on base percentages he’s had at times makes him a valuable possible addition or a good fit for platoon duties.
10. Juan Uribe
2 of 11Juan Uribe, 36, 2B/3B
At 36 years old, Uribe is one of the oldest players on this list. He looks physically unfit. But last year showed us that he still has it. With 14 home runs on the year split between three different teams, Uribe’s power numbers were impressive given his limited playing time.
Also, as the MLB.com video above shows, he still has the knack for collecting clutch hits.
After missing both the division series and the championship series due to a chest injury, Uribe pinch hit in Game 3 of the World Series and promptly smacked an RBI single to right field. That's quite impressive given the amount of time he missed.
Uribe provided a huge lift for the Mets after joining the team midsummer and could do the same thing for a new team next year. He still gives maximum effort with the glove and is an excellent clubhouse guy/mentor for younger players.
9. Chris Denorfia
3 of 11
Chris Denorfia, 35, OF
The Bristol, Connecticut, native has a dependable outfield glove and can a number of positions, offering any future manager some always appreciated flexibility.
Denorfia can also hit from various spots in the lineup, and after having a hot first half last year, he finished with a .269 batting average. The MLB journeyman is not as fast as he once was, but he is still a good piece to add for depth purposes.
8. Kelly Johnson
4 of 11Kelly Johnson, 33, 2B/3B
Similar to Uribe, Johnson gave the New York Mets a significant jolt after coming over in a trade last summer. His value as a pinch hitter often gets overlooked, and with 14 home runs in 111 games last year, he can hurt an opposing team in a flash, like the MLB.com video above demonstrates.
However, Johnson did strike out 81 times last year, which is a big reason why he is not higher on this list. He can also be a defensive liability at times, committing three errors in 12 games at third base in 2015.
Marc Carig of Newsday reports the Mets could re-sign the left-handed hitter, as they are aware of his value both off the bench and in the clubhouse.
7. John Jaso
5 of 11
John Jaso, 32, OF/DH
While Jaso’s catching days may be over due to a number of concussions, he showed off his versatility last season by playing some outfield for the first time in his career. He handled those duties well, committing no errors in 16 games playing outfield.
When healthy, Jaso is an excellent contact hitter and valuable lefty in the lineup. Last year, he hit a career-high .286 for the Tampa Bay Rays and could be a great pickup for a team in need of a leadoff man.
In 40 games batting first, Jaso hit .323 with an OBP of .404, accumulating 18 walks. He would be higher on this list, but the injury concerns still follow him.
6. Byung-Ho Park
6 of 11
Byung-ho Park, 29, 1B
Coming over to the big leagues from the KBO’s Nexen Heroes, Park represents one of the most exciting Korean position players to date. His power is a big reason why, as he hit 53, 52 and 37 homers in the past three seasons, respectively.
Furthermore, all those home runs came in 140 games or fewer for Park. Since countryman Kang’s 40 homers in the KBO in 2014 translated to 15 over here, it’s easy to get enthusiastic about what Park may do in the majors.
Why isn't he higher on this list? It's unknown how well his bat will adjust to major league pitching. Nevertheless, plenty of intrigue surrounds this slugger.
5. David Murphy
7 of 11
David Murphy, 34, OF
Since his days as a Texas Ranger, Murphy has consistently been one of the most underrated outfielders in the game. He hit 18 doubles last year while playing for the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
From 2012 to 2014, he averaged 26 doubles per year. Last season, he had a 1.000 fielding percentage in the outfield and has displayed the ability to make clutch catches throughout his career.
4. Steve Pearce
8 of 11Steve Pearce, 32, 1B/2B
Similar to Dioner Navarro, Pearce was blocked at multiple positions last year with the Baltimore Orioles, which led to a down year offensively. While he only hit .218, he still managed to slug 15 homers and provide a boost off the bench.
Projected over the course of a full season, that translates to around 18 homers. Pearce’s smooth power stroke is shown in the MLB.com video above.
His low average in 2015 hurts his spot in this ranking, but if given the opportunity to have consistent at-bats, he could return to his 2014 form of a .292 average. With Pearce, you never know exactly what you’re going to get on a year-to-year basis, but he’s worth a shot.
3. Marlon Byrd
9 of 11Marlon Byrd, 38, OF
Even though he is on the wrong side of 30, Byrd deserves a spot on this list because of his quiet production in whatever lineup he’s been in the last few years. Bouncing around from Boston to New York, Pittsburgh, Philly, Cincinnati and San Francisco hasn’t seemed to bother Byrd.
He just continues to hit and hit for power. He bashed 23 home runs last season, 19 of which came with the Reds. One of the sneakiest home run threats out there, Byrd can ambush a pitcher and is a .330 career hitter on the first pitch.
Byrd seems to be almost like a reincarnation of Julio Franco, given his age, and as the MLB.com video above shows, he can still go get it in the outfield. However, his limited speed is still a bit of a concern and is one reason why he’s not higher on this list. Overall, he would make a fine addition to any young lineup full of first- and second-year players.
2. Nori Aoki
10 of 11Nori Aoki, 33, RF
The San Francisco Giants cut ties with Aoki this week, declining his $5.5 million option and making him free to sign with any club. While he lacks something in the power department, the six-time Gold Glove winner can impact a club in other ways.
Aoki hasn’t made an error in a game since May 9, 2014. With the bat, he has a remarkable ability to hit the ball where it’s pitched, which means he can go to all fields, as the video courtesy of MLB.com shows.
His constant smile and positive attitude seem infectious, and his hot September was a big reason why the Royals were able to secure the first American League wild-card spot last year. While Aoki has many skills, he doesn’t quite have the full package like our No. 1 underrated free-agent hitter has.
1. Gerardo Parra
11 of 11Gerardo Parra, 28, OF
Only 28 years old, Parra is by far the most valuable non-big name free agent out there. He possesses a spectacular arm, as the MLB.com video above validates, and has won two Gold Gloves.
Despite struggling with the Orioles after coming over in a July 31 trade from the Milwaukee Brewers last season, Parra has both a solid track record and youth on his side.
Parra is coming off a career-high 14-homer season, and with a free-agent class that includes the likes of Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Colby Rasmus, he may get overlooked.
Maybe that’s due to the limited power numbers in his career or the fact that he’s played on a lot of losing teams. But a career .277 average from a lefty is substantial. There’s no fuss with Parra; he just quietly does his job. Currently in the prime hitting years of his life, Parra still has plenty of productive seasons ahead of him.
