MLB Free Agency: 1 Player Each Team Should Avoid
Each Major League Baseball offseason, teams get linked to certain free agents who just don’t make sense for their specific needs. Given the large sums of money these free agents demand, general managers have to be 100 percent certain about a player’s value before signing him.
Among the list of more than 100 free agents, there are plenty of names various GMs would be wise to avoid. For example, Jeff Samardzija, with his high fly-ball numbers from last year, may not be a good fit for the New York Yankees and their small ballpark.
Throughout the years there have been some historically bad free-agent signings, such as Josh Hamilton by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or Jason Bay by the New York Mets. For this list, we’ll look at players who have been mentioned as a possible target of a team and discuss the cons of the potential signing.
Whether that player is too costly or just doesn’t fit in with a team’s depth chart, there are plenty of reasons why a free agent should not be pursued. We will go division by division to analyze each team’s needs, starting with the American League West.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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As Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports, the Angels have had some small conversations with free-agent third baseman David Freese about returning to the club in 2016.
While Freese’s power resurgence (14 home runs last year) is appealing, his 107 strikeouts in 121 games certainly is not and should serve as a major red flag for re-signing. Furthermore, this team doesn’t necessarily need more thunder right now, and could focus on obtaining more of a contact-type hitter.
Oakland Athletics
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Bartolo Colon’s name has been linked to the Oakland Athletics again this offseason, but as CSN Bay Area’s Joe Stiglich writes, there are plenty of cons that come with signing a 42-year-old pitcher.
While the A’s need some depth in the rotation given their recent injury history there, Colon doesn’t make the most sense seeing that they already singed one veteran in Rich Hill. Also, Colon—with his steady supply of fastballs and a 4.16 ERA—could blow up at any point, as Stiglich notes.
Older pitchers don’t have the best track record in this league, and unless Colon would be willing to jump in the bullpen, the A’s would do well to look elsewhere.
Houston Astros
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Chris Davis was connected to the Houston Astros last month, according to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle, but a deal seems fairly unlikely. That’s a relief, given the fact that Houston already has plenty of high-power, high-strikeout players such as Chris Carter and Luis Valbuena.
A potential Astros-Davis pairing also doesn’t make sense given the fact that first base prospect A.J. Reed is not too far away, and the team also has Jon Singleton signed.
While a left-handed bat is needed, Davis may be too expensive for the Astros at this point. The team could also be better off saving that money for a starting pitcher.
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Seattle Mariners
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As MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports, there is word of Tim Lincecum being linked to the Seattle Mariners. Lincecum, who is from Washington and pitched for the University of Washington, has been a shell of his former self since 2011.
As a starter, Lincecum’s fastball velocity dropped off in 2015, and a move to the bullpen might be best for him. But Lincecum insists he still wants to start games in 2016, according to Fox Sports, and Seattle should be weary of that. In the end, he may not be worth the price tag.
Texas Rangers
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The Texas Rangers have a long history with free agent Colby Lewis, and according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the team has at least considered bringing him back next season.
However, the Rangers might be better off staying away from Lewis given the fact that he yielded 26 homers last year and 20 or more in four of the past five seasons. While Lewis gave them solid innings, his health is a concern and Texas should look elsewhere in order to assemble a reliable rotation.
Chicago White Sox
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After declining their $10 million club option on shortstop Alexei Ramirez, the Chicago White Sox seem to be in the market for a replacement. One name they should stay away from is Asdrubal Cabrera.
The Venezuelan had a .980 fielding percentage and nine errors last season to go along with 107 strikeouts.
While he could serve as a one-year option to bridge the gap to prospect Tim Anderson, there are better alternatives out there for the White Sox.
Cleveland Indians
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Outfielder Shane Victorino is on the wrong side of 30 and is coming off the worst year of his career. After being traded to the Angels from the Boston Red Sox, the 35-year-old hit .214 down the stretch.
Sources have told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that the Cleveland Indians are showing the most interest in Victorino's services. While it’s important the Indians add some veteran presence, Victorino may not be the best choice. Other outfielders such as Denard Span, Austin Jackson or Rajai Davis are far more appealing.
Kansas City Royals
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As Fox Sports reports, Ian Kennedy could be one free-agent target for the Kansas City Royals in the wake of Johnny Cueto’s likely departure.
Kennedy rejecting the San Diego Padres qualifying offer likely means he is seeking a multiyear deal, and that’s what makes his potential signing dangerous for the Royals.
Since his solid years of 2010 and 2011, Kennedy has been wildly inconsistent. He will be 31 years old when next season starts, meaning there would be some risk associated with a two- or three-year deal. As the market is deep this year, the Royals should thoroughly look elsewhere first.
Detroit Tigers
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The Detroit Tigers are one of many teams to have been linked to right-handed reliever Tommy Hunter, per CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Rich Dubroff. While Hunter, who has had success in the AL, is an intriguing option, Tigers GM Al Avila should look closely at his second-half stats from last season.
In 19 games with the Chicago Cubs during their playoff chase, Hunter had an ERA of 5.74, giving up 10 runs off 20 hits in 15.2 innings.
There’s always a chance down numbers could pour over to next season, so the Tigers may want to distance themselves from Hunter.
Minnesota Twins
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Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweeted that free agent Joakim Soria is one name that has caught the Minnesota Twins’ attention, but it’s debatable whether the Mexico product can deliver the sort of velocity they are looking for.
Furthermore, Soria might not be the smartest buy for the Twins, seeing that the back end of their rotation desperately needs depth.
Toronto Blue Jays
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The Toronto Blue Jays are currently searching for relief help, according to a tweet by ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, but should be wary of former Royal Ryan Madson.
The aging righty struggled mightily during the first two rounds of the postseason, with three earned runs during the American League Division Series and two during the American League Championship Series.
Madson, 35, also missed three seasons between 2011 and 2015 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. It’s unclear whether Madson could be counted on to save games, and that’s something that the Blue Jays need.
New York Yankees
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As touched upon in the intro slide, the Yankees have been linked to starter Jeff Samardzija, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. While inking another starter certainly makes a lot of sense for this club, Samardzija’s expensive price tag and comparable value does not. He was simply hit too hard in 2015.
As Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago writes, the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cubs are also interested, meaning the Yankees would go through a bidding war to get Samardzija.
Levine reports that the big right-hander is looking for a contract with a base pay of $15 million annually. That’s an awful lot of money for a pitcher who gave up a league-high 118 earned runs last season.
Owner Hal Steinbrenner has consistently said that a $200 million payroll shouldn’t be necessary to build a winner, per the Associated Press, via USNews.com. He is currently working toward shifting the culture around the Bronx Bombers.
Spending recklessly on Samardzija would not be in line with the Yankees' plan of relying on younger talent. Furthermore, the singing would cost them a draft pick since the starter rejected the qualifying offer from the White Sox to become a free agent.
Tampa Bay Rays
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With the list of available shortstops pretty short, the Tampa Bay Rays haven’t ruled out resigning Asdrubal Cabrera, tweets SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo.
However, that move might not make the most sense for the Rays because it would tie up their payroll and present a logjam up the middle since the team acquired shortstop Brad Miller from the Mariners on Nov. 5. Best to save that money for other pieces.
Boston Red Sox
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Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald has reported that the Boston Red Sox have had some discussions about free-agent power hitter Chris Davis. First, Boston needs to decide what it wants to do with Hanley Ramirez.
If Ramirez gets traded, it’s speculation that the Red Sox may go after Davis. Attempting to sign the defending AL home run king may prove foolish seeing that Boston should save that money for a top-tier starting pitcher instead.
Davis’ league-leading 208 strikeouts should give any GM pause.
Baltimore Orioles
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Even though starting pitcher Scott Kazmir is coming off a disappointing second half, plenty of teams are interested in the veteran. The Baltimore Orioles are within that group of suitors, as reported by CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Rich Dubroff.
After being traded to the Astros from the Athletics last summer, Kazmir wasn’t exactly the same in Houston. His 2.38 ERA with Oakland turned into a 4.18 mark through 13 starts for his hometown Astros.
Then, in the postseason, Kazmir gave up three runs in 5.1 innings pitched. Kazmir, 31, is still a solid option but the Orioles should view his splits as somewhat of a red flag while keeping in mind that there are plenty of other solid starters available this year.
San Francisco Giants
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Infielder Ben Zobrist may be the most sought-after free-agent position player right now, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Rosenthal tweeted that the San Francisco Giants are among the many teams interested in the switch-hitter.
However, given the Giants’ current infield situation, an expensive deal for Zobrist should not be the team’s main objective. Sure, having depth up the middle is always a good thing. Sure, Zobrist came up clutch throughout the postseason last year.
But Zobrist’s presence would cost too much, as the bidding war is likely to get out of hand. After re-signing Brandon Crawford for $75 million, the Giants should be fine with Joe Panik at second. Zobrist simply doesn’t fit in with the team’s needs the way a starting pitcher does.
Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have to deal with a predicament at second base this offseason. Both Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley are now free agents.
While there has been chatter of bringing back Utley, the team should dismiss the idea given Utley’s sharp decline in batting average this year (he finished with a BA of .212). Instead, the team has the funds to go after big-name free agent Daniel Murphy.
San Diego Padres
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One free agent who the San Diego Padres should view as risky is Daniel Nava. While Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune opines that the team may take a “long look” at Nava, there are clear warning signs.
One is the fact that his batting average dropped 76 points between 2014 and the end of last year. While he was limited to only 60 games in 2015, he struck out 36 times and hit only .179 against right-handed pitching.
Arizona Diamondbacks
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It has been well-documented that the Arizona Diamondbacks are actively looking for starting pitching help. After Johnny Cueto reportedly passed on Arizona’s offer, Mike Leake has been tied to the team, according to Rosenthal.
At just 28 years old, Leake is an attractive option on paper, but labored in the National League West after being traded to Giants from the Cincinnati Reds last season.
In nine games for San Francisco, he went 2-5 with a 4.07 ERA. Leake has started four games at Chase Field in his career, compiling an unfavorable 1-1 record and 6.29 ERA. With that in mind, it may be best for GM Dave Stewart to focus on international arms such as Kenta Maeda or Yaisel Sierra.
Colorado Rockies
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Early in the offseason, MLB.com’s Thomas Harding reported that the Colorado Rockies had at least discussed free agent Daniel Murphy’s availability, while noting that there was likely no serious interest.
Hopefully the Rockies were merely throwing around the idea, seeing that they need to stay committed to an offseason plan that revolves around obtaining pitching.
To add extra offense before signing a major starting pitcher would be foolish. Not surprisingly, Colorado’s pitching staff led the majors in earned runs last season. While pitching prospects are close, they still need some short-term guys for both the bullpen and the rotation.
Chicago Cubs
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Ben Zobrist makes this list again, this time for the Chicago Cubs, a team with a plethora of infield talent. On Monday, ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers wrote that the Cubs are one of the teams still in the mix for the veteran.
Rogers also opines that any Zobrist deal would result in a trade of Starlin Castro in order to make room. But why shake things up so much in Chicago? Sure, Zobrist is a proven leader, but the Cubs already have serviceable talent at all his positions.
It can be argued that the Cubs haven’t given second baseman Javier Baez enough of a shot yet. Why complicate things with the addition of Zobrist? Baez starred in the postseason, and the Cubs have pressing needs in the rotation.
Pittsburgh Pirates
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With the departure of J.A. Happ, the Pittsburgh Pirates' search for another starter has begun. One name they should stay away from is Ian Kennedy, due to both his inconsistencies the past few years and the fact that he is not a ground-ball pitcher, as Charlie Wilmoth of SB Nation opines.
Kennedy also failed to go deep into games last year, pitching only 168.1 innings in 30 starts.
Cincinnati Reds
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MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon has reported that 38-year-old pitcher Bronson Arroyo is interested in a reunion with his old team, the Cincinnati Reds.
While the proposition makes sense due to the favorable numbers Arroyo had with the Reds from 2006-13, winning 105 games, Cincinnati should avoid any temptation to sign him because of glaring health concerns.
Arroyo is recovering from Tommy John surgery and has not pitched since the middle of 2014. While the right-hander insists his arm is feeling better, according to Sheldon, that’s still a ton of time to miss for a guy his age. Can he really come back from that? How many innings can he give them?
The lanky righty is just at that age when pitchers typically see a drastic drop in effectiveness.
St. Louis Cardinals
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Free-agent pitcher Doug Fister has been loosely tied to the St. Louis Cardinals, who are aggressively looking for pitching following Lance Lynn’s Tommy John surgery in November.
While Fister has enjoyed a solid career in MLB, the red flag is that he’s coming off the single-worst year so far. In 25 games with the Nationals in 2015, Fister went 5-7 with a 4.19 ERA.
As Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out, this year’s crop of free-agent starting pitchers is exceptionally deep. There are multiple bargains to be had, and St. Louis would be smart to explore all options before settling on the somewhat inconsistent Fister.
Milwaukee Brewers
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The Milwaukee Brewers have serious holes at third base and in the outfield, and may rely on a combination of internal and external options to plug them. One name that has surfaced is former Brewer Casey McGehee, according to Fox Sports.
Similar to Arroyo in Cincinnati, McGehee had a lot of success when he was with the Brewers. In 2010, he hit 23 home runs for the Brew Crew. But this is not 2010. Following that season, McGehee went through a period of steady decline.
Between stops in San Francisco and Miami last year, he failed to hit over .200. Therefore the Brewers should just commit to youth and go with internal players in the infield.
New York Mets
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The New York Mets haven’t been linked to too many free agents so far this offseason, and don’t figure to mess with a roster that got them all the way to the World Series in October.
However, certain additions are always needed. On Monday, CBS Sports reported that the Mets have made Ben Zobrist their “No. 1 target.” But does he really fit their most pressing needs?
While examining their depth chart, it can be argued that the Mets currently have enough up the middle, presuming they don’t trade Wilmer Flores and start the waterworks up again.
Flores can handle shortstop duties, while Ruben Tejada and young Dilson Herrera could form a platoon at second. This would give them enough financial flexibility to try and sign Gerardo Parra, the player who would help them the most.
Miami Marlins
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It’s no secret the Miami Marlins need pitching. Mat Latos was a disaster for them last year. Now, they may or may not trade Jose Fernandez.
As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes, the team is searching the free-agent pool for a starter and has had discussions about John Lackey in the past.
But it’s not clear whether Lackey would fit in well with the Marlins. When considering their track record with veteran arms, think Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle, inking Lackey might not end well.
Lackey is 37 years old and is coming off a season in which he threw a whopping 218 innings. That arm might not have much left.
Philadelphia Phillies
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With 2016 expected to be a non-competitive year for the Philadelphia Phillies, it’s no surprise that they are currently not linked to many free agents. If anything, this organization is looking to trade, but one name that could get re-signed is Jeff Francoeur, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
While a return seems logical on paper, the Phillies should be weary of Francoeur’s high strikeout rates the past few years. As Zolecki writes, Philadelphia is looking at a number of other part-time outfielders on top of Francoeur.
Atlanta Braves
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The report by Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun on Tuesday that states the Atlanta Braves are still among the teams in the mix for top-tier reliever Darren O’Day sure is confusing.
Similar to the Phillies, the Braves have been rumored to be shopping players in the trade market and don’t expect to compete in 2016. Furthermore, they already signed a reliever on Monday, when they came to terms with Jim Johnson on a one-year, $2.5 million contract.
O’Day figures to be very expensive, and the Braves had the fourth-lowest payroll in 2015.
Washington Nationals
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Alejandro De Aza is one free agent who the Nationals should avoid as a replacement for outfielder Denard Span. De Aza has bounced around a lot in his short MLB career, and last season played for three different teams, compiling a .262 BA.
While serviceable as a backup outfielder or platoon player, De Aza lacks the speed he possessed as a member of the White Sox, which diminishes his value.
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