MLB Offseason: Bobby Abreu and Other Veteran Hitters Available to Contenders

Spring training is here, and even though the offseason may be over, there will still be plenty of trading and free-agent signings to come before the season starts.

Whether it is a team not set to contend moving a veteran for prospects, a player unhappy in his current situation or a still-unsigned free agent, there are plenty of options for a team looking for a bat.

So here is a look at the field of veteran hitters available to contenders looking to add one last bat to their roster in an effort to push their offense over the top.

Magglio Ordonez: Free Agent

Not since 2008 has Ordonez been a 100-RBI guy, but up until last season, he was still good for a .300 average and a decent amount of production in a part-time role.

However, from 2010 to 2011, he saw his numbers dip from .303 BA, 12 HR, 59 RBI in 323 at-bats to .255 BA, 5 HR, 32 RBI in 329 at-bats, a signal that this could be the end of the road for the 38-year-old slugger.

Complicating matters even more, Ordonez has indicated that he is unwilling to sign a minor-league deal and will only join a team on a guaranteed big-league contract.

Chone Figgins: Trade Candidate

Coming off of a horrendous season in which he hit just .188 over 288 at-bats, Figgins will once again be penciled in as the Mariners starting third baseman this season and will likely hit second in the order.

Since signing a four-year, $36 million contract prior to the 2010 season, he has been a huge disappointment, and now with two years remaining and a vesting option for a third, the Mariners could loo to move him by any means possible.

The team indicated at the start of the offseason that they would be willing to include some cash if it meant moving the 34-year-old, but nothing ever developed in trade talks.

However, if he gets off to a good start, that could all change, and with Kyle Seager and Alex Liddi both big-league ready prospects at third base in Seattle, cutting ties with Figgins certainly makes sense for Seattle.

He has good speed and defensive versatility, and if he can get his average back to where it used to be, is an ideal table setter. That is a big if, though.

Vladimir Guerrero: Free Agent

It appeared as though Guerrero was done after a poor final season with the Angels in 2009, but he bounced back with an All-Star year for the Rangers in 2010 and landed in the Baltimore on a one-year deal last winter.

However, his numbers returned to their 2009 levels, as he hit .290 BA, 13 HR, 63 RBI over a full 562 at-bats.

Those are solid numbers, but at this point in his career, Guerrero can't do much other than DH, and teams may be unwilling to commit a starting DH job to someone with those average numbers and so little versatility.

Depending on his willingness to take a limited role, he could make a solid Jason Giambi type pinch-hitter in the National League.

Marlon Byrd: Trade Candidate

The Cubs' lone All-Star representative in 2010 when he hit .293 BA, 12 HR, 66 RBI, Byrd is entering the final year of a three-year, $15 million deal.

He was limited to just 119 games last season after he was hit in the face by an Alfredo Aceves pitch in a May 21 game against the Red Sox, and his overall stat line fell to .276 BA, 9 HR, 35 RBI.

With the Cubs rebuilding, Byrd will likely be gone at some point this coming season, and while he will be 34 this coming season, he plays a solid center field, hits for a decent average and is a positive presence in the clubhouse.

Derrek Lee: Free Agent

Lee split last season between the Orioles and the Pirates, putting up terrific numbers in Pittsburgh after coming over at the deadline, hitting .337 BA, 7 HR, 18 RBI in 28 games.

In total, he put together a line of .267 BA, 19 HR, 59 RBI last season, decent numbers but enough to scare away some teams given the fact that he is a Type B free agent and will cost whoever signs him a draft pick.

In the end, his desire for a major-league contract and ideal situation could wind up leading to a forced retirement of sorts.

Hideki Matsui: Free Agent

After seven seasons in New York, Matsui has spent the past two seasons in California, spending 2010 with the Angels and 2011 with the Athletics.

He hit .251 BA, 12 HR, 72 RBI last season in 517 at-bats, and while those numbers don't jump out at you, it was a small accomplishment to drive in even 72 runs in the Athletics lineup last season, so he does still have some run production ability.

With the Athletics signing Manny Ramirez and the Yankees signing Raul Ibanez, the field that could be interested in his services is narrowing, but he will likely find a job somewhere before spring training is over.

Carlos Lee: Trade Candidate

In the final year of an eight-year, $100 million contract, the rebuilding Astros have little use for the 36-year-old first baseman at this point and will no doubt look to deal him.

He still has plenty of run production ability, evidenced by an 18 HR, 94 RBI season last year in a pathetic Astros lineup. However, the $18.5 million that he is still due will be the sticking point in any potential deal.

The Astros are reportedly willing to take on half of that money in any deal, but Lee has full 10-and-5 rights and could veto any move he didn't like.

It will likely take a team desperate to add some offense and the Astros taking on over half of the money for a move to happen, and if nothing else, he'll likely be a hot commodity at the trade deadline when there is less money on the deal and teams have more clear-cut needs.

Johnny Damon: Free Agent

Among the most puzzling cases of a veteran struggling to find a job, Damon is coming off of a solid season with the Rays in which he hit .261 BA, 16 HR, 73 RBI, 19 SB.

With the Yankees signing of Raul Ibanez, what seemed like the most likely destination for Damon at one point is likely no longer an option, so he will continue to hope someone comes calling.

The 38-year-old will likely take work wherever he can get it, as he continues to pursue 3,000 hits, entering the 2012 season with 2,723 to his credit.

Bobby Abreu: Trade Candidate

The Angels made a huge splash when they signed Albert Pujols this offseason, but that signing has caused a ripple-effect as far as playing time is concerned.

With Pujols moving to first, Kendrys Morales will move to DH, while Mark Trumbo will be shifted to third base. The odd man out in that situation appears to be Bobby Abreu, and he is none to happy about that.

The 38-year-old still believes he is an everyday player despite hitting an uninspired .253 BA, 8 HR, 60 RBI last season, and he has told the media that if the Angels do not intend to give him everyday at-bats, they should trade him.

He's certainly lost a step, but he still has solid on-base skills (.353 OBP in 2011) and decent speed (21-of-26 SB attempts in 2011), so he could find someone willing to start him. That is, if the Angels eat a good portion of the $9 million he is due in this the final year of his contract.