Selecting the All-2014 MLB Free-Agent Team

Karl BuscheckSep 8, 2014

The biggest deals don't always pay the biggest dividends.

That conclusion is unavoidable after building the All-2014 MLB free-agent team. By far the best signing of the entire offseason was the Baltimore Orioles one-year, $8 million deal with Nelson Cruz. The Chicago White Sox have also already received all sorts of value from their six-year, $68 million agreement with Jose Abreu.

While first base proved to be the most crowded spot on the team, the two weakest spots were center field and starting pitcher.

Catcher: Kurt Suzuki, Minnesota Twins

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2014 Salary: $2.75 million

Kurt Suzuki has been an absolute steal for the Minnesota Twins.

The 30-year-old backstop, who inked a one-year, $2.75 million deal in the offseason, played his way to his first ever All-Star appearance, cracking 27 doubles while hitting .291. Suzuki is also nearly impossible to strike out, as he has the fifth-lowest strikeout percentage in all of baseball, per FanGraphs.

The catcher parlayed his strong performance in 2014 into a two-year, $12 million extension with an option for 2017. Suzuki is so popular at Target Field that even his understudy is glad he's sticking around.

"He knows a lot about baseball," said Josmil Pinto, via Mike Berardino the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "If I can pass more time with him, it will be good because I'll learn a lot."

One big question facing Suzuki is whether he can repeat his impressive offensive campaign in 2015 and beyond.

First Base: Justin Morneau, Colorado Rockies

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2014 Salary: $5 million

There's no better place for a player to go to revitalize his career than Coors Field. On the surface, that appears to be the game plan that Justin Morneau has executed perfectly.

Playing in the first season of a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Colorado Rockies, the first baseman is right in the mix for the National League batting crown, as he's hitting .316. Digging into the numbers, it's clear that the 33-year-old's turnaround is not just a product of the altitude. At home, Moreau is swinging at a clip of .321, and on the road he's batting .311.

Second Base: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners

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2014 Salary: $24 million

It's going to be impossible for Robinson Cano to live up to the terms of his 10-year, $240 million monster deal, but in 2014 he's been just what the club has needed.

The second baseman has excelled in the field and headlined Seattle's underwhelming offense. It's no accident that the arrival of Cano in the Pacific Northwest has coincided with the club's return to relevancy. For the first time since 2001, the M's could be on their way to October baseball in the Dominican's first season with the team.

One disappointing, if not terribly surprising, aspect of Cano's first year at Safeco Field is that he has totaled just 12 home runs.

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Shortstop: Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals

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2014 Salary: $15.5 million

So far, Jhonny Peralta has been worth every penny of the four-year, $53 million deal.

After landing a 50-game ban for PED usage last summer, Peralta's agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals sparked plenty of controversy. At the time, Arizona Diamondback's right-hander Brad Ziegler torched Peralta and MLB owners, via Twitter, commenting: "It pays to cheat...Thanks, owners, for encouraging PED use."

This year, Peralta has been one of the most productive shortstops in baseball. The 32-year-old has gone yard 20 times, which has allowed him to prove his critics wrong, as he explained via Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com: "I don't try to worry about how many home runs I hit, but it's important for me to show people I can do it."

Third Base: Casey McGehee, Miami Marlins

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2014 salary: $1.1 million

After spending the 2013 season in Japan, Casey McGehee has provided the Miami Marlins with all sorts of production in his return to the big leagues.

The third baseman has connected on 27 doubles, and his batting average has hovered around the .300-mark throughout the season. As Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel notes, McGehee could become the first player since 1990 to drive in 70 runs with fewer than four homers.

McGehee just missed out on earning an All-Star nod, but he could just scoop up the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Left Field: Nelson Cruz, Baltimore Orioles

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2014 Salary: $8 million

This winter, nobody wanted anything to do with Nelson Cruz after MLB slammed the right-handed hitter with a 50-game suspension for PED use in the second half of the 2013 season. Eventually, Cruz had to settle for a one-year, $8 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

It turns out that 29 other clubs completely struck out on their assessments of Cruz.

The 34-year-old leads all of baseball with 39 home runs and drove in all seven runs in the team's win over the Tampa Bay Rays on September 7.

As the O's storm into October, Cruz is swinging his way to the top of the American League MVP Award ballot. He's also on his way to a major payday in the offseason.

Center Field: Rajai Davis, Detroit Tigers

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2014 Salary: $5 million

Last offseason, the center field market was devoid of talent. However, the Detroit Tigers did manage to find one of the few productive players who can handle that spot by signing Rajai Davis to a two-year, $10 million deal.

Davis' greatest asset is by far his disruptive speed. The 33-year-old is a nuisance whenever he's on the basepaths, as he's racked up 32 steals. That total ranks as the fourth-best in the AL and No. 7 in all of baseball.

Right Field: Marlon Byrd, Philadelphia Philles

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2014 Salary: One-year, $8 million

Power is the most elusive tool in baseball. In 2014, Marlon Byrd has been providing the Philadelphia Phillies with plenty of pop. Playing in the first season of his two-year, $16 million deal, the 37-year-old has connected on 25 home runs and also added 24 doubles. His home run total marks a career high for the 13-year veteran.

However, that power comes with an absurd number of strikeouts. This season, Byrd has a share of the MLB lead in that category.

Designated Hitter: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox

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2014 Salary: $7 million

Jose Abreu has been dismantling AL pitching in his first season in the big leagues.

The right-handed hitter is not only a lock to take home the AL Rookie of the year honors but has also already cemented his status as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball. The Cuban has the highest slugging percentage in MLB thanks to his 32 doubles and 33 home runs, and he's also looking to make a big impact in the clubhouse moving forward.

"Believe me, if they look at me as [a leader] and they allow me to be that, I will do my best," the 27-year-old told Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune via an interpreter.

Considering Abreu's on-field production and demeanor, it's difficult to envision how the first season of his six-year, $68 million deal could have gone any better.

Starting Pitcher: Ervin Santana, Atlanta Braves

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2014 Salary: $14.1 million

After the Kansas City Royals tagged Ervin Santana with a qualifying offer, it wasn't easy for the right-hander to find a job. Santana finally landed a gig with the Atlanta Braves in mid-March on a one-year, $14.1 million deal.

That last-minute move has proved to be an excellent value for the NL wild-card contenders. In 2014, Santana owns a 14-7 record with a 3.61 ERA. Over his past 10 starts, the 31-year-old has posted a sub-3.00 ERA.

Masahiro Tanaka also received consideration for this spot, but the New York Yankees right-hander's chances were dented by his elbow injury, which has kept him off the mound since the beginning of July.

Closer: LaTroy Hawkins, Colorado Rockies

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2014 Salary: $2.5 million

In what has been a train wreck of a season for the Colorado Rockies, LaTroy Hawkins has been a rare bright spot. The 41-year-old has locked up 22 of 25 save opportunities for the Rockies in 2014. The reliever has also done so while pitching on a team-friendly one-year, $2.5 million deal.

Francisco Rodriguez of the Milwaukee Brewers is also worth an honorable mention. The 32-year-old has recorded 39 saves for the NL Central club after signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal in the offseason.

As for non-closers, Pat Neshek has been posting stats that simply can't be ignored. The 34-year agreed to a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason. Since making the team out of spring training, Neshek has gone on to post a 1.33 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .157 average on his way to earning his first ever All-Star honors.