Adrian Beltre, Rafael Soriano and the 10 Best Remaining MLB Free Agents
It's been an eerily-quiet offseason for most clubs.
While teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers have all been among the most active thus far, most have remained rather inactive in the early part of the free agent season.
With so many long-term contracts in the past that have proven to be a burden to clubs down the road, general managers aren't spending lavishly like in previous times.
It's a bad time to be a remaining free agent because the amount of money left to spend is shrinking by the day.
10. Jeff Francis, SP
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Old Team: Colorado Rockies
2010 Statistics: 4-6, 5.00 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
Francis has battled shoulder problems over the last few seasons, but finally proved his health in the second half of last year.
Although his overall numbers are rather ugly, the veteran lefty was trying to find his groove after being sidelined for the entire 2009 campaign.
He'll likely have to settle for a one-year, low-base salary deal that is heavily built around incentives, but he could prove to be one of the best bargain-bin deals of the offseason if he can find his 2007 form.
Possible Destinations: New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals
9. Adam LaRoche, 1B
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Old Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
2010 Statistics: .261 AVG, 25 HR, 100 RBI
With the news that fellow veteran free agent Derek Lee has inked a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles for around $8 million, most expect LaRoche to sign his next deal quickly.
With the Washington Nationals publicly expressing heavy interest in LaRoche, it may be just a few days before he's donning his next jersey. Coming off a career high 100 runs batted in, LaRoche should be able to plate around $6-$8 million annually over the life of his next deal.
He's not very exciting and he's an extremely slow starter, but he's extremely reliable.
Possible Destinations: Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays
8. Jon Rauch, RP
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Old Team: Minnesota Twins
2010 Statistics: 3-1, 3.12 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 21 S
Before Capps arrived at the trade deadline in Minnesota, Rauch had a firm grip on the closer's job and was performing quite well.
The 6'11" tattooed veteran could be a very inexpensive option for a team looking for back-end bullpen help or even a potential closer, and it's surprising that the demand for a quality reliever like Rauch is not higher.
He's shown to be a reliable option in late-inning situations and that shouldn't change regardless of where he lands.
Possible Destinations: Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers
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7. Manny Ramirez, DH
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Old Team: Chicago White Sox
2010 Statistics: .298 AVG, 9 HR, 42 RBI
We all know the story with Manny being Manny.
After spending the majority of the early season on the shelf, the Dodgers got tired of his act and awarded him to the White Sox on a straight waiver claim. Manny didn't benefit whatsoever, belting just one homer during his tenure in the AL Central.
With the majority of teams questioning his true desire to keep playing the game of baseball, interest has been sparse in the slugger. However, if the price drops to a certain point, it's going to be hard for interested teams to keep saying no.
Possible Destinations: Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Toronto Blue Jays
6. Brian Fuentes, RP
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Old Team: Minnesota Twins
2010 Statistics: 4-1, 2.81 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 24 S
Fuentes had a miserable end to his tenure with the Angels and found himself as a situational specialist with the Twins because of it.
Despite amassing 24 saves last season, Fuentes has seemed to work better in a supporting role out of the bullpen rather than the closer, despite his pleas otherwise.
Now on the open market once again, Fuentes wants teams to view him as a closer. That's fine and he'll probably find a job, but he's not going to get the type of "closer money" that he was originally seeking.
Possible Destinations: Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Florida Marlins
5. Jim Thome, DH
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Old Team: Minnesota Twins
2010 Statistics: .283 AVG, 25 HR, 59 RBI
There are two repetitive themes on this list: the Minnesota Twins and aging designated hitters looking for new homes.
Fortunately for the 40-year-old Thome, he's coming off of a very solid season. Launching 25 homers in just 276 at-bats, the veteran clearly still has plenty of power left in the tank.
While he is definitely not an everyday first baseman at this point in his career, he can still be a force in the middle of the lineup and would fit brilliantly on a team looking for a left-handed DH.
Possible Destinations: Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers
4. Vlad Guerrero, DH
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Old Team: Texas Rangers
2010 Statistics: .300 AVG, 29 HR, 115 RBI
Big Bad Vladdy Daddy had a throwback season for the ages in Texas.
Enjoying his best year since 2007, Guerrero played his heart out all season long and proved that he actually can stay healthy for the duration of the entire year.
While his struggles in the outfield are obviously limiting his appeal on the market, he should be able to find a new home quickly if he becomes a little more flexible with his contract demands.
Possible Destinations: Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays
3. Carl Pavano, SP
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Old Team: Minnesota Twins
2010 Statistics: 17-11, 3.75 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
Pavano and his magic mustache took everyone for quite a ride in 2010.
Looking very much like the pitcher the Yankees thought they were getting when he signed a four-year, $40-million deal as a free agent after his time with the Marlins, Pavano proved that he's got plenty left in that right arm of his.
It's been reported that he's in search for a Ted Lilly-type of deal (three years, $33 million), but at this point he may have to settle for just a couple of years given how many teams are in the market for his services.
Possible Destinations: Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins
2. Rafael Soriano, RP
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Old Team: Tampa Bay Rays
2010 Statistics: 3-2, 1.73 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 45 S
Soriano really picked a bad time to have the best year of his career.
It's been a long time since we saw a closer other than Mariano Rivera dominate in the fashion that Soriano did last year, but that's exactly what happened. Blossoming as a near automatic option, the flamethrower blew just three saves all year long.
With only a handful of clubs in the market for a closer, Soriano is going to have an extremely tough time finding the four years and $40 million he was originally hoping for, so he may be better off just settling for a one-year deal and trying again next year.
Possible Destinations: New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers
1. Adrian Beltre, 3B
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Old Team: Boston Red Sox
2010 Statistics: .321 AVG, 28 HR, 102 RBI
Adrian Beltre sure knows how to cash in.
Notorious for having monster seasons in contract years, Beltre put together a very impressive stint with the Red Sox in 2010 that had many re-thinking just how good he is.
After toiling in mediocrity for several seasons with the Mariners after he left the Dodgers, Beltre is back at the top of his game and looking for another big paycheck to cash from his new club.
He wanted to go back to the Red Sox, but that's obviously not happening.
All signs point to him eventually landing with the Angels, as the two clubs desperately need each other.
Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Texas Rangers
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