Fantasy Baseball Rundown: Best/Worst Free Agent Landing Spots

Evaluations From Fantasyrundown.com

It seems as if experts love to write about the effects of a free-agent signing after the deal has been done. But with constant access to rumors all over the Internet, I decided to figure out where would be the best and worst landing spots for three of the top remaining unsigned free agents: Mark Teixeira, Milton Bradley, and Brian Fuentes.

Mark Teixeira

Teixeira will be solid no matter where he ends up. There haven’t been too many first basemen who can switch hit, play everyday, and aren’t replaced for their lack of defense.  He is a consistent fantasy star.

Teams pursuing Teixeira to date include the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, L.A. Angels, and Washington Nationals.

Best Spot: Boston Red Sox—Aside from Teixeira having the ninth-best OPS in baseball, Fenway is a great place for a switch hitter.  Imagine if he were hitting somewhere between Pedroia, Ortiz, Bay, Youkilis, and Drew.

On top of that, he'd be hitting in a park that boasts both the Monster (315 very questionable feet) and Pesky’s Pole (302 feet). If I owned him, I would be hoping that the rumors of the Red Sox pining for Tex are true.

Worst Spot:  Washington Nationals—I think this is rather obvious. The wondrous possibilities of being in the Red Sox lineup turn into Ryan Zimmerman, Lastings Milledge, and Josh Willingham. I can’t think of anything else to say except, please Jim Bowden, don’t increase the offer to some crazy 10 year/$200M deal.

Milton Bradley

Bradley is coming off a great season for the Rangers. When healthy, which is rare, he tore it up with career highs in home runs and RBI (22-78) last season. The problem is, he is never healthy.

He has only topped 500 plate appearances twice in his career, and last season’s .396 BABIP (Batting Average of Balls In Play) is ridiculously high, even if you look at it compared to his 24.7 percent line drive rate. 

This guy is due for a major decline in 2009, so if you own him, trade him to anyone that will give you a decent return.  Teams pursuing Bradley to date include the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays.

Best Spot: Tampa Bay Rays—This is easy. Due to his injury history, Milton Bradley will be much better off as a DH for the Rays.  The guy is made of balsa wood, he is going to miss games, there is no doubt about that.

But odds are he has less of a chance of hurting himself running around the bases as opposed to running around the outfield. Assuming 500 plate appearances in Tampa, expect a .270-20-70 line…in other words, take a pass.

Worst Spot: Chicago Cubs

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