Free Agent Fantasy Baseball Impact: Who Could Still Help a Team?

Pitchers and catchers are set to report in about a month, and we still have a plethora of free agents available. Many of those still in the pool helped owners down the stretch, or had an impact over the course of the entire season.

The economy and appetite for larger contracts has tempered the feelings on many of these players.

What we can certainly say is that there are impact players still available and that should be watched leading in to spring training. Here are a handful of players that could help you in later rounds of your drafts that are still out there.

Ben Sheets (SP)

No one will convince me that this guy can't pitch. The issue with Sheets is his ability to keep himself healthy and on the field. He made 31 starts in 2008, but missed a portion of the season with injuries. In his three seasons prior to 2008, he hadn't cracked 25 starts.

There aren't going to be many teams looking to invest in an injury prone pitcher, regardless of his ability. With Sheets not cracking 200 innings over the last four years, there is certainly upside in the acquisition. Fact is, he's still someone that will get drafted too early but should be waited until the middle-rounds (seven to 12 or so).

Reports are surfacing that the Rangers are interested, and that could be a disaster. The ball flies in Texas like in no other ballpark in baseball. I'd beware if this is his ultimate destination.

Oliver Perez (SP) 

With Derek Lowe signing in Atlanta, he becomes one of the more desirable free agents. I don't know if this is a good thing. He had a very respectable BAA of .234 in 2008, but walked 105 batters in 195 innings. His control was the larger issue in his lack of wins.

Perez, though, is just 27 and needs to be valued pretty highly in keeper leagues. You can still teach command, and he has the stuff to be successful. If his destination ends up in the National League, you can count on him continuing success. Perez works well against the bottom-third of the N.L. lineups.

Perez is a beast during day games, posting a 3.15 ERA in 2008 to go with a BAA of .205. He should be owned in most formats, and is certainly a worthy spot start when pitching in the sun. The talk is he will still end up with the Mets, and if he were still pitching in Shea that would be a good thing.

Rumor has it the new Mets ballpark is a launching pad. Beware of his, and of all Mets pitcher's, early home starts.

Braden Looper (SP/RP) 

Looper split time most of last season, but ended up with a 12-14 record and an ERA just north of 4.00. He feasted on poor offensive teams, putting up stellar stats against Washington, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Florida in particular.

He was at his best when he got two strikes on a hitter, holding opponents to a .200 average in those situations. Looper was a solid player at home, and should be looked at as a spot starter, especially against bottom-third offenses.

Brandon Lyon (RP) 

He became expendable as he started to falter as a closer with his command. He's young and still has the ability to be effective at the end of the bullpen. There are enough teams that have a fluid closer situation that Lyon could find a home for some saves.

Other Potential Impact Pitchers: Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland

I'm not a huge fan of Garland, as he gives up a lot of home runs and is horrific away from Anaheim. If he stays where the parks are bigger (out west) or moves to a more pitcher friendly league (the N.L.), then I like him slightly more. Still a late-round pick or waiver grab in my mind.

Freddy Garcia proved he can pitch, and just needs a team to give him a chance. Don't be surprised to find him at the back end of someone's rotation. Cubs perhaps?

Orlando Hudson (2B) 

Hudson was on pace for a career-type year when he went down with a wrist injury. He was at .305 after 107 games, but was not able to recover and help the Diamondbacks down the stretch.

Most players rake at home, and he's no exception, posting a .321 average at the Bank. He's 31, so there still should be some juice in the legs. I would think it's a possibility that we see him somewhere in the N.L. Central. He's a top-15 second basemen, and a dependable start in nearly any format if he remains healthy.

Sean Casey (1B) 

Casey isn't much of a name anymore, but he's a solid injury fill-in. We saw last season that he can handle spot duty, especially as the Red Sox looked to plug holes when Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, or Mike Lowell went down during various points of the season.

Casey is never going to be drafted, but should be monitored on waivers. He's no starter anymore, but teams that need a quick punch should be able to ride a streak of his for a week or two at a time.

Joe Crede (3B) 

His injuries have basically put the squeeze on him in Chicago, and the presence of younger prospects sealed his way out the door. His last two seasons have been shortened by injury, and that should make owners very wary of putting much stock in his bat.

Texas could use him should they trade Michael Young, but it will take a team with a pretty big hole at third base to give Crede any sort of long-term deal. There's something to be said for having to earn your contract, and Crede may be out to surprise in that regard.

He can hit the long-ball, and that generates instant offense. You don't suddenly forget how to hit. Expect him to get a shot somewhere and watch his early production.

Orlando Cabrera (SS) 

We hear a lot about his clubhouse issues, and that he has a tendency to be a pain to his teammates, but Cabrera can still play. In leagues that count defensive statistics, there will certainly be a home for him.

It's likely that Cabrera is looking for a deal that would be much more than he's worth in this type of market, but there's going to be a home for a guy that can hit .280 and play the type of defense he's capable of.

Toronto, Baltimore, and potentially Texas in the American League (depending on the Michael Young situation) could make room for Cabrera at the right price. In the National League, I think you could maybe see Astros (based on what they decide to do with Miguel Tejada) as a destination.

Toronto is my bet. And there he's worth a fantasy play.

Other Infielders: Nomar Garciaparra, Ivan Rodriguez, Paul LoDuca

There are certainly teams that need catching, and plenty of veteran help. Rodriguez and LoDuca highlight that group.

In Boston, the big name is Jason Varitek. He just doesn't have the bat speed at this point, and his ability to manage the staff will only take you so far. Rodriguez is on the decline, and LoDuca is becoming as much a liability as the others with his bat.

Most teams will explore younger options, but there will be franchises that need to fill a backup hole. The question remains if any of those out there will take that position.

I like throwing Nomar on here for the fun of it. Garciaparra is a backup or utility player at best now, but there are very few other infielders that could make a material impact.

Adam Dunn (OF) 

If you can handle the strikeouts, you'll get 40 home runs. Dunn has to be looking for a ridiculous deal, because there's no doubt the guy can flat-out hit. He did it in Cincinnati, and that didn't change when he moved over to the Diamondbacks.

If you don't think there are teams that could use him in the middle of the lineup, you haven't been paying attention. Dunn is a decent third option as an outfielder whenever he signs.

Manny Ramirez (OF) 

Amazing how contract demands can impact a player. Manny played out of his mind when he moved to the Dodgers, but there are going to be teams that question his desire to play. I can't imagine why.

It's tough to know what to make of his situation. If he signs a short-term deal, he's likely still a decent fantasy player because he'll be playing for one more deal. If he gets four years, does he just coast?

The good thing is, from a fantasy perspective, we don't care about how he acts in the clubhouse as long as he gets on the field. I'd still look at Ramirez as a first-five round selection. You can still pencil him in for great offensive numbers. There's something to be said for the predictability there.

Bobby Abreu (OF) 

Another guy that I thought would be generating more interest than he is at this point in the offseason. Abreu has speed, gets on base, and will generate some power numbers in the right lineup. He hits for average, which makes it that much better.

Not sure where he'll end up, but I wouldn't overlook him on draft day to fill a spot.

Other Outfielders: Jacque Jones, Garrett Anderson

Sort of slim pickings as you go down the line, especially compared to the thunder that can still be had from the other three on this list. Jones and Anderson can help teams, it's just a matter of how they choose to do so.

Anderson was very steady throughout his time in Anaheim, but may need to look for a role as a DH. Jones has been all over, but can still produce as an extra outfielder for fantasy purposes.