Top Alternatives for MLB Buyers Who Missed Out on Priority Targets

MLB general managers aren't wasting any time this offseason.

Though the winter meetings remain out on the horizon, there has already been a flurry of free-agent activity. In particular MLB clubs have begun to raid the the markets for catchers, shortstops and starting pitching. Plenty of top alternatives still remain on the free-agent market and the trade front, but all come with their drawbacks.

From superstars and not-so-superstars with outrageous salary demands to former Cy Young Award winners who may or may not have anything left in their respective tanks, there are a lot of variables to consider. Here's a look at the top alternatives for MLB buyers who missed out on priority targets.

The Catcher Market:

With Brian McCann now a New York Yankee and Carlos Ruiz staying put with the Philadelphia Phillies, two of the top catching options are off the board. Lesser names like Geovany Soto, Jose Molina and Brayan Pena have all landed deals as well, but there are still some premier players available. 

The Remaining Options:

Among the unsigned backstops, Jarrod Saltalamacchia represents the most intriguing choice. Last season, the 28-year-old catcher actually posted a higher OPS (.804) than McCann did (.796). However, Saltalamacchia won't command anywhere near the five-year, $85 million deal that McCann secured—and for good reason.

In 2013, Saltalamacchia hit just .218 off left-handers. A stat line like that coupled with his defensive limitations leaves him best suited for a part-time role. 

A.J. Pierzynski is yet another option to consider. The veteran switch-hitter has caught at least 128 games in 12 straight seasons and owns a .283 career batting average. There is, of course, a drawback or two with Pierzynski. As Adam Kaufman of Boston.com explains, "Ignoring the fact that he walked just 11 times in 2013 and doesn't take a lot of pitches...he's also regarded as a world-class jerk."

Some club will overlook those considerations, but clearly Pierzynski's lack of popularity will impact his choice of suitors. Dioner Navarro is another top alternative on the free-agent front.

In just 89 games last season, Navarro swatted 13 home runs and hit .300/.365/.492. The largest issue with Navarro is that the 89 games he caught in 2013 is actually his highest total since 2010, when he appeared in 115 games. Plus, as Peter Gammons tweets, the catcher is unlikely to be on the market for long.

John Buck is also worth a look. The 33-year-old connected on 15 home runs in 2013, although only two of those came after the month of June.

The Shortstop Market:

The St. Louis Cardinals decision to hand Jhonny Peralta a $53 million deal fresh off a PED ban has sparked plenty of controversy around the game. The strongest critique came from Brad Ziegler of the Arizona Diamondbacks via Twitter:

While there's certainly some validity to Ziegler's gripe, there is actually a far more compelling explanation as to why the Cardinals paid Peralta so handsomely. Quite simply, the shortstop free-agent market is supremely shallow. In fact, outside of Peralta, there's only one starting-caliber player to be had.

The Remaining Options:

Stephen Drew is the only worthwhile name left on the shortstop free-agent front. Drew turned in an uninspiring .111 (6-for-54) showing in the playoffs, but was far more productive during the 2013 regular season. Last year, Drew hit .253/.333/.443 in 124 games for the Red Sox. However, that was his highest number of games played since 2010 when he appeared in 151 contests. 

There's also one last factor to consider with Drew. Since the shortstop rejected the Boston Red Sox's qualifying offer, the team that signs him will lose a draft pick. Ultimately, that consideration could mean that Drew will have to settle for a less lucrative deal than the $53 million doled out to Peralta.

For teams priced out of the Drew sweepstakes, there are a few veteran stopgaps on the scrap heap. Rafael Furcal, Clint Barmes and Cesar Izturis could all garner attention, but a far better option is the trade route.

Among potential trade targets, Asdrubal Cabrera is one of the most tempting options. According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cleveland Indians aren't exactly shopping the shortstop, but they will "listen" to offers. Even in a down year, Cabrera still posted a .700 OPS, but does have $10 million salary in 2014. 

Before the Cardinals locked up Peralta, Peter Gammons wrote on GammonsDaily.com that St. Louis was "interested" in Jed Lowrie of the Oakland A's. However, manager Bob Melvin squashed any notion that the club would part with Lowrie via Mark Kreidler of 95.7 The Game. That position could change before the trade deadline, though, if minor league shortstop Addison Russell proves he's ready for the big leagues.

The Starting Pitcher Market:

A whole slew of starting pitchers have already found new homes for the 2014 season. Here's a quick rundown of the most prominent names, with all contracts details via CBS Sports:

• Tim Hudson to the San Francisco Giants on a two-year, $23 million deal
• Dan Haren to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year, $10 million deal
• Josh Johnson to the San Diego Padres on a one-year, $8 million deal
• Jason Vargas to the Kansas City Royals on a four-year, $32 million deal

With the exception of Hudson, none of those pitchers qualified as priority targets. The true top options on the market will command far more lucrative contracts than what any of those pitchers grabbed, but there are a myriad of options in between.

The Remaining Options:

Masahiro Tanaka is the big prize, but for now there are two major holdups. First, Nippon Professional Baseball and MLB are close, but have yet to come to a "resolution" on a new posting system agreement, as the Japan Times reports. Second, as Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News remarks, the the posting fee alone could be as high as $100 million.

As Jon Heyman of CBS Sports writes, Ervin Santana is in the market for a $112 million deal. Meanwhile starters like Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jimenez and Ricky Nolasco are all likely to be after major deals, as Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports observes.

However, for clubs priced out of the top tier of starters, there are still intriguing options much closer to the Hudson price range.

The unheralded Scott Feldman is definitely on that list. Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM tweets that 15 teams have kicked the tires on the right-hander. Workhorse Bronson Arroyo should draw plenty of interest, and then there's the enigmatic Bartolo Colon. 

The right-hander went 18-6 with a 2.65 ERA in 2013, but will be 41 next May. During the playoffs, Colon told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he wants to pitch for three more seasons. It's hard to see any team handing the starter a three-year pact, but a two-year deal remains a possibility. 

For the truly bold, there are even larger gambles to be made. Roy Halladay is coming off a 2013 season in which he only made 13 starts due to shoulder surgery. However, now 36, and still without a World Series ring, the two-time Cy Young Award winner makes for an epic flier.

For the most speculative general managers of all, Johan Santana is also a possibility. As Adam Rubin of ESPN New York writes, "there is no guarantee" the left-hander will be healthy enough to pitch in 2014. If he does, though, Santana offers a remarkable upside on an incentive-laden deal. 

Note: All statistics and salary information courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.