MLB Free Agents Who Will Be a Bargain This Offseason

Every winter there are steals to be had in the free-agent market, and this year is no exception. Whether it’s veteran arms or position players in line for a solid bounce-back year, smart executives do well to explore all options.

Some underrated players, such as pitchers Rich Hill and James Russell, have already been signed. Others, with exceptions, can be plucked from the international market at a bargain price.

For this list we’ll examine contract situations as well as possible landing spots for each player. These players may be overlooked at first, but it’s important to remember the value they can bring to clubs as veterans.

Bartolo Colon, 42, RHP

Bartolo Colon’s biggest appeal is the fact that he can eat up innings. In his age-42 season, he pitched 194.2 innings for the New York Mets, making him serviceable at the back end of a rotation containing a lot of young arms.

Prior to last season, the portly right-hander threw 202.1 innings in 2014 and 190.1 in 2013.

Both his consistent health and positive clubhouse presence are added bonuses. While Colon relies on his fastball, and sometimes gets hit hard, he still has the ability to command his pitches and get out of trouble, as the MLB.com video above shows. 

At his age, Colon could be had for cheap and would be an excellent addition to any rotation in which the starters have had issues going deep in games. Or he could provide a depth option. As he showed in the 2015 postseason, Colon could also be utilized out of the bullpen.

Good possible fits for Colon include the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins or Oakland Athletics.

John Lackey, 37, RHP

Given John Lackey’s age (37), it’s safe to expect that he won’t be commanding a long multiyear deal like he did when he signed with the Boston Red Sox for five years at $82.5 million in December 2009.

Instead, he figures to be had on a one- or two-year deal, perhaps sticking in the National League since he’s had success there of late. 

His 2.77 ERA and 218 innings pitched last year were surprising. That’s why it’s important to note that he is a fringe player on this list due to those numbers and his outstanding National League Division Series performance highlighted in the MLB.com video above.

Nevertheless, Lackey figures to be a lot cheaper than the big-name starters in the free-agent market such as Johnny Cueto or David Price, and so he deserves to be on this list. Destinations that make sense for him include the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Joe Blanton, 34, RHP

Joe Blanton reestablished himself as a big league pitcher by switching to the bullpen almost exclusively last season. In doing so, he showed a lot of versatility and thus, a ton of worth.

Before latching on with the Pirates last season, he hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2013, when he posted a 6.04 ERA in 20 games started for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Now, thanks to a 7-2 record and 2.84 ERA in time split between the Pirates and Kansas City Royals as a bullpen option in 2015, Blanton has more value than ever. As the MLB.com video above shows, he can be used in a variety of ways out of the bullpen. 

With star free-agent relievers available such as Darren O’Day and Tyler Clippard, it’s easy to forget Blanton’s name. However, the smart general managers wouldn’t let Blanton’s contributions to the Royals’ cause go unnoticed.

Logical landing spots include Oakland, Seattle, the New York Mets, or any other team that had bullpen struggles last season.

Asdrubal Cabrera, 30, SS

Still only 30 years old, Asdrubal Cabrera showed he has life left in his bat by swatting 15 home runs for the Tampa Bay Rays last season, one of which is shown in the MLB.com video above.

Cabrera has now hit 14 or more homers in each of the last five seasons.

While teams will be scrambling to sign other available shortstops such as Ian Desmond or Alexei Ramirez, Cabrera could prove a great option for a low-payroll club. Possible 2016 destinations for the Venezuelan include the San Diego Padres or re-signing with the Rays.

Chris Young, 32, Outfield

Similar to Cabrera, Chris Young has shown the ability to hit for respectable power throughout his career. In his second year as a New York Yankee, Young hit 14 home runs and 20 doubles in 2015. 

He also provided the Bronx Bombers with exceptional defense, playing all three outfield positions and committing only one error all season. An All-Star back in 2010, Young can still close on balls hit in the gaps, as the MLB.com video above shows. 

While his 73 strikeouts in 356 plate appearances is a cause for concern, Young’s pop can still help a team that is in need of outfield depth or defensive subs. As WEEI.com reports (h/t Ricky Doyle of NESN.com), the Red Sox have been linked to the free-agent outfielder.

Rajai Davis, 35, Outfield

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Although Rajai Davis is on the wrong side of 30, he can still impact a game in a number of ways. To start with, he still commands respect when running the bases and stole 18 bases in 112 games for the Detroit Tigers last season. Baseball-Reference.com projects him to snag 26 next year.

Due to his age, Davis could probably be signed on a bargain deal, somewhere around the $4 million mark, given his contract history. Any team looking to add outfield depth and speed would be smart to take a look at him.

Teams that fit that mold include the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox.

Justin Morneau, 34, 1B/DH

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Health is a major concern for this big left-handed hitter, and playing for an American League team probably makes the most sense for him at this point.

Justin Morneau worked hard to recover from his neck injuries last year, and according to a tweet by Mike Berardino, the Twins beat writer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, plans on playing for a couple more years at least.

He has hit over .300 in each of the past two seasons and is coming off a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Rockies.

While the Twins are not likely a match for Morneau because they are negotiating with Korean first baseman Byung-ho Park, the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays or Cleveland Indians would be interesting options.

Dae-Ho Lee, 33, 1B

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Dae-ho Lee is a South Korean slugger who has been playing in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league the past four seasons. What makes him especially attractive is his apparent affordability—he is an outright international free agent and would not require a posting fee to sign. 

Additionally, Lee is coming off a 31-home run season and has 323 homers over a 15-year career in Asia. Despite his 286-pound frame, Lee is a competent fielder. In the four years he’s played in Japan, his fielding percentage is .996.

A specific landing spot is difficult to predict for Lee, but it will be fun to see which power-hungry AL team will take a chance on him.