MLB Free Agency: 8 Available Players Who Could Be Pennant Race Weapons

The free-agent frenzy of the offseason is a distant memory at this point, as well it should be seeing as how the 2012 MLB season is now a month old.

There are, however, a handful of notable players out there who are still looking for work, some of them more actively than others. They think they can still contribute at the major league level.

Some of them will probably be picked up by struggling teams that are merely looking to have enough depth for the stretch run. Other current free agents are sure to draw looks from would-be pennant winners.

Here's a look at eight players who should be drawing looks from contenders.

Ross Gload, UTIL

Profile: Gload is a utility player who carved out a niche as a spot starter at first base and as a pinch-hitter; he bats from the left side.

Role He Could Play: Pinch-hitter, but Gload can be used at first base.

Status: He entered the offseason with an injured hip, but at last check, the word was he was going to avoid surgery.

Possible Fits: Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays

The Phillies need as many bats as they can get, and they could use an extra first baseman given the uncertain health of Ryan Howard and Jim Thome.

Adam Lind hasn't gotten rolling yet, so the Blue Jays could add Gload to give him some relief. They could also use a lefty bat to bring off their bench.

Jorge Cantu, INF

Profile: Cantu is a versatile infielder who has played everywhere but shortstop (save for one game). He's a career .271 hitter who has twice driven in 100 runs in a season. He swings from the right side and has power.

Role He Could Play: Cantu is a utility player who could play at the corners and DH. He would also be a good pinch-hitter.

Status: Cantu opted out of his minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels and became a free agent on Monday, according to MLB.com.

Possible Fits: Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals

Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post has reported that the Rockies were considering Cantu for depth purposes. The Rockies don't have a steady third baseman, and they could also use Cantu's right-handed bat on their bench.

The Marlins offense has been a mess this season, so it's in their interest to add another bat. Cantu's right-handed bat would be of use off their bench, and they could use him at the corners. It's also worth noting that Cantu had some good seasons with the Marlins.

The Nats have a great pitching staff, but they could use some offense. They could look to Cantu to fill in for Ryan Zimmerman while he's on the disabled list and to spell Zimmerman from time to time after he comes back. Cantu could also fill in at first and serve as a pinch-hitter.

Mike Gonzalez, LHP

Profile: Gonzalez is an experienced left-handed reliever who has been used as a closer in the past. Lefties have a .213 batting average against him in his career.

Role He Could Play: Situational lefty

Status: Agent Scott Boras recently said Gonzalez is close to being fully recovered from offseason knee surgery, and he could sign very soon, according to MLBlogs.com.

Possible Fits: Boston Red Sox, L.A. Angels, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays

Franklin Morales is a solid reliever, but the Red Sox don't have a reliable lefty other than him.

Scott Downs has been excellent, but the Angels could use another lefty and more bullpen depth in general.

Jeremy Affeldt is back on the DL with a freak knee injury, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. With Brian Wilson out for the season, the Giants could use some bullpen depth. 

 Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweeted this week that Gonzalez is a possible fit for the Rays. Their bullpen has settled down, but it needs another lefty.

Arthur Rhodes, LHP

Profile: Rhodes is a veteran lefty with tons of experience. He has been in the majors since 1991, made his first All-Star appearance in 2010 and helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series in 2011.

Role He Could Play: Situational lefty

Status: Rhodes told ESPN's Buster Olney in October that he wanted to play one more season. He turned 42 later that month.

Possible Fits: Boston Red Sox, L.A. Angels, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals

Each of the four teams listed on the Gonzalez slide could give Rhodes a look.

Jon Heyman reported in March that the White Sox had looked into signing Rhodes. Their bullpen has been solid, however, and they have plenty of lefties.

Rhodes told Olney he wanted to return to the Cardinals. They have a couple of lefties in their bullpen, but they could convince Rhodes to take a minor league contract and wait until he's needed.

Derrek Lee, 1B

Profile: Lee is a veteran first baseman with a good glove and a powerful bat. He finished third in the NL MVP voting in 2005 when he was with the Chicago Cubs.

Role He Could Play: Platoon first baseman, pinch-hitter.

Status: Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reported in March that Lee was looking for the "right opportunity."

Possible Fits: Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mat Gamel has a torn ACL. The Brewers are going to need to find help at first base, and Lee could be their man. 

Mitch Moreland isn't the most reliable hitter, so the Rangers could sign Lee and use him and Moreland as part of a left/right platoon. He could also be used as a pinch-hitter when Mike Napoli plays first. 

The Nats could use a first baseman and a right-handed bat to bring off their bench. Lee's veteran leadership would be a welcome addition.

Vladimir Guerrero, DH/OF

Profile: Guerrero is a free-swinger who always flirts with a .300 average, and he still has pop in his bat. He went to the World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2010.

Role He Could Play: DH, spot right fielder

Status: Guerrero worked out for the Arizona Diamondbacks recently, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.

Possible Fits: Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays

The D-Backs could bring Vlad off the bench as a pinch-hitter, and he could occasionally play right field when Justin Upton needs a rest.

Luke Scott is Tampa Bay's primary DH, but Vlad could fill in when Joe Maddon wants a right-hander in the lineup. He could also spell Matt Joyce in right field.

Bobby Abreu, DH/OF

Profile: Abreu is an experienced lefty hitter with a patient approach at the plate, and he can still steal an occasional base.

Role He Could Play: Full-time DH, corner outfielder, pinch-hitter

Status: Abreu was released by the Los Angeles Angels last week, according to the Los Angeles Times. Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com has reported that Abreu is drawing interest from National League teams.

Possible Fits: Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers

The Phillies need a bat, and Abreu could conceivably fill in for them in left field.

The Marlins need another bat, and Abreu is a guy who could platoon with Logan Morrison, an awful fielder, in left field.

The Rangers need an extra left-handed bat. If they can convince Abreu to take a limited role, he could join them and go looking for a World Series ring.

Roy Oswalt, SP

Profile: Oswalt is an experienced right-handed starting pitcher with a career .631 winning percentage. He pitched in the World Series with Houston in 2005.

Role He Could Play: Back-end starter

Status: Oswalt is drawing plenty of interest. Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com recently reported that the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals were showing interest in him.

Possible Fits: Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals

The Braves need rotation depth, and Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post thinks they could give Oswalt a look.

The Red Sox need rotation depth. If they add Oswalt, they could move Felix Doubront or Daniel Bard to their bullpen.

Michael Pineda is out for the season, Freddy Garcia has been moved to the bullpen and Phil Hughes is a struggling starter who could be moved to the bullpen. The Yankees find themselves needing a starting pitcher.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported that the Cardinals haven't yet reignited their offseason interest in Oswalt (which contradicts Rosenthal's report), but he's definitely in play for them given Chris Carpenter's health woes.