MLB Free Agency 2014-15: Early Look at 1 Realistic Fit for Every Team
The 2014-15 MLB offseason is rapidly approaching, and with it comes the rebuilding, retooling and reshuffling of rosters across the game via free agency. And while every fan wants his or her club to add the best player available, that is not always a realistic proposition.
So let’s take a look at one free-agent addition that is within the realm of reason for each MLB club.
Now none of the players suggested here are meant to imply that they will be the only player a club is going to add. Some teams will undergo dramatic overhauls this offseason. These are merely realistic options that fit a particular need.
Here is an early look at realistic free-agent fits for each MLB team.
Arizona Diamondbacks
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According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Arizona Diamondbacks will offer the vacant general manager position to Dave Stewart. If Stewart accepts, he has his work cut out for him as he looks to improve the club.
Fact is, the 25-man roster has several holes, including starting pitcher.
Thankfully, the series of moves made in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline by then-GM Kevin Towers, created enough payroll flexibility “to immediately reinvest in areas of the team in need of upgrading,” including the rotation, per AZCentral.com’s Nick Piecoro.
To that end, Ervin Santana would be a realistic acquisition.
For the Atlanta Braves this season, Santana is 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 190.1 innings. More importantly, he is pitching to a 3.41 FIP and is surrendering a career-low 0.8 home runs every nine innings.
Some of that can be attributed to pitching at Turner Field, but he’s still a fine pitcher and has proven that he can mix his off-speed repertoire with his fastball quite effectively in the National League.
Another thing to consider is that the Diamondbacks have Archie Bradley on the verge of cracking the starting rotation and should get Patrick Corbin back around June 2015. “I figured [I would] probably miss a month or so of next season,” Corbin said, via MLB.com’s Adam Lichtenstein.
In other words, dropping over $100 million on a guy like Max Scherzer may not be necessary right now. Santana would be a cost-effective option who will deliver sustained results at the top of the rotation.
Atlanta Braves
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Impact bats on the open market this winter are likely going to be too expensive for the Atlanta Braves. The starting rotation figures to be in good shape with Julio Teheran, Alex Wood and the returns of Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen at some point next season.
That leaves the bullpen as the area where someone can be added at a reasonable price, and left-hander Zach Duke is that guy.
In 72 appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers, Duke has put up a 2.54 ERA, 1.147 WHIP and is averaging 11.3 strikeouts every nine innings. And the fact that he is holding right-handed hitters to a .250/.297/.308 slash line against in 120 at-bats, per Baseball-Reference, only increases his value.
More will be revealed, of course, and the direction the franchise will take this offseason is unknown thanks to the recent termination of Frank Wren. Looking over the roster, however, Duke is a fit on multiple levels.
Baltimore Orioles
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The Baltimore Orioles figure to look a bit different next season.
J.J. Hardy, Delmon Young, Nelson Cruz and Kelly Johnson are all scheduled to hit free agency after the end of the season. True, Hardy and Cruz could return, but at the very least, the team’s depth figures to take a hit, making Emilio Bonifacio an attractive option.
In 378 at-bats this season with the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves, he is slashing out at .265/.310/.347 with 17 doubles and 26 stolen bases. His ability on the basepaths will be of particular benefit to the Orioles, who aren’t exactly the best baserunning group in MLB.
Another thing that Bonifacio brings to the table is the ability to play multiple positions.
This season, for example, he has appeared in 63 games in center field, 29 games at second base and four games at shortstop. For a club like the Orioles who have battled injuries all season, that is an attribute that will certainly be useful.
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Boston Red Sox
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Simply put, the Boston Red Sox need help at third base and Pablo Sandoval, who was recently mentioned by John Tomase from the Boston Herald, would be an ideal fit.
On the season, Sandoval has a .277/.324/.416 slash line with 16 home runs, 69 RBI and 26 doubles. And given the fact that the collection of Red Sox third basemen are only slashing out at .211/.269/.302, per Baseball-Reference, his addition would significantly improve the lineup on many levels.
From a monetary standpoint, adding the premier third baseman on the market isn’t a stretch. True, they already have over $105 million committed for next season, per Cots Contracts, but that still leaves quite a bit of room in their substantial coffers.
More importantly, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner is on record saying that his team has “a lot of money to spend,” per WEEI’s Jerry Spar. It must be noted that the club is going to need to add a starting pitcher as well, but Sandoval should be at the top of the list of acquisitions this offseason.
Chicago Cubs
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Earlier this month, ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers was one of several prominent writers who offered various reasons why the Chicago Cubs should target Jon Lester.
Rogers was careful to point out that there are other options and the Cubs would be wise to pursue the left-hander “on their terms,” but wrote that “if there was any 30-year-old, free-agent pitcher who you could predict success for in a Cubs uniform—at potentially the right price—Lester might be it.”
As far as payroll is concerned, the Cubs only have $31.16 million committed for the 2015 season, per Cots Contracts, and will be able to absorb what is sure to be a contract in excess of $140 million with relative ease.
Either way, the one area that the Cubs need a significant upgrade in is the rotation. They seem to be set at almost every position with guys like Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Soler and Javier Baez in place for years to come. And let’s not forget that Kris Bryant and Addison Russell are taking care of business in the minor leagues.
Lester is the ace who will anchor the rotation for years to come.
Chicago White Sox
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Citing Avisail Garcia as his source, CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes wrote that “Victor Martinez could at least entertain playing for the [Chicago] White Sox next season.” “He likes Chicago,” Garcia said, adding the smallest amount of legitimacy to the idea that general manager Rick Hahn is going to pursue the designated hitter this offseason.
Any way it’s looked at, the White Sox need to add another bat in front of and behind first baseman Jose Abreu. Simply put, Abreu could be even more devastating at the plate if he had more men on base in front of him and a feared hitter waiting in the on-deck circle.
Starting with the latter makes perfect sense.
A three-year contract could be enough to land Martinez, who has a .335/.408/.564 slash line with 31 home runs and 100 RBI in 546 at-bats this season.
Cincinnati Reds
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As Bob Nightengale from USA Today noted, the Cincinnati Reds have had more than their share of injuries this season and “have used their projected Opening Day lineup in only 12 games.” That is not the recipe for success at any level.
And while he isn’t the most intriguing name set to hit free agency, outfielder Chris Denorfia would be a fine addition for next year. He won’t be expensive, can play multiple positions in the outfield and seems better suited to succeed in the National League.
True, Denorfia has struggled since getting traded to the Seattle Mariners, but he put up a .283/.339/.409 slash line in 1,128 at-bats with the San Diego Padres from 2011 through 2013, via splits at Baseball-Reference. In essence, he is capable of delivering the type of results that will help the Reds return to the playoffs.
It must be noted that there are other areas that need attention, including shortstop, but adding a versatile outfielder with some savvy on the basepaths would go a long way toward giving manager Bryan Price the type of flexibility he’s lacked at times this season.
That is, of course, if injuries don’t take a ferocious toll on the club yet again in 2015.
Cleveland Indians
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Going into action on Wednesday, the Cleveland Indians rotation had a 3.86 ERA and a rather nice 3.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio, per splits at Baseball-Reference.
For as good as Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and T.J. House have been, however, a left-handed veteran makes sense as the club prepares for the 2015 season, and Francisco Liriano is that guy.
True, he had a rather rough start, but the poor results had more to do with bad luck and control problems than with getting hit hard. To that end, ESPN.com’s Mark Simon and Justin Havens noted that “through June 10, Liriano had a 4.60 ERA, but only a 12 percent hard-hit rate, which ranked 10th-best in the majors in that span.”
And since June 10 (when he left a start and subsequently landed on the disabled list with an oblique strain), he has a 2.22 ERA with 93 strikeouts and a .188/.287/.272 slash line against in 85.0 innings, per Baseball-Reference.
On the season, Liriano is only 7-10, but is pitching to a 3.32 ERA, 3.56 FIP and is striking out over nine batters every nine innings for the fifth season in a row. Flat out, Liriano still has it.
A two- or three-year contract for under $10 million per season could be enough to secure his services, and that is a steal for a pitcher like Liriano.
Colorado Rockies
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When healthy, Colorado Rockies first baseman Michael Cuddyer has been one of the best first basemen/outfielders in MLB over the past two seasons. And thanks to that, there are several clubs that will likely make a run at acquiring him this offseason.
If he is lost to free agency, a realistic replacement is Mark Reynolds.
True, he doesn’t get on base often enough and strikeouts all too often, but he is still capable of knocking the ball out of the park and can play multiple positions on the infield and in the outfield.
As is important for the cash-strapped Rockies, Reynolds will be inexpensive. Currently on a one-year, $2 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, Reynolds has a .196/.287/.394 slash line with 22 home runs, 45 RBI and has 122 strikeouts.
All told, the composition of the 2015 Rockies is entirely unknown.
As Patrick Saunders from The Denver Post wrote, “the window to win with” Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez “is closing faster than the Rockies anticipated.” There are rumors of discontent between the front office and manager Walt Weiss. It is not an ideal situation.
No matter what your take of the situation, however, one thing is clear: An overhaul is in the offing. Reynolds can be a bridge at multiple positions that will provide occasional highs in addition to the many lows.
Detroit Tigers
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It is no secret that the Detroit Tigers need to upgrade the relief corps. True, general manager Dave Dombrowski has tried to do just that through multiple channels, but the work is not done.
That makes the acquisition of Andrew Miller more than realistic—it makes it a must.
On the season, the Tigers bullpen is 13th in the AL with a 4.21 ERA and last with a .269 batting average against, per splits pulled from ESPN.com. And while the unit as a whole has underperformed, the two lefties with the most appearances—Ian Krol and Phil Coke—have been woeful at times.
It must be noted that Blaine Hardy and Kyle Ryan have pitched well as of late, but there can be no mistaking the impact a pitcher of Miller’s caliber would have on the group’s ability to protect the leads that David Price and company hand them next year.
Between the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, Miller is 5-5 with a 2.07 ERA and is averaging an incredible 10.67 strikeouts every nine innings.
Houston Astros
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The future of Melky Cabrera is very much in doubt.
See, there is a school of thought that believes the Toronto Blue Jays have to bring him back on a multiyear contract. Then again, the offer will have to be substantial since many clubs could use an outfielder with Cabrera’s skill set.
Consider the Houston Astros among them.
They certainly have the money to offer Cabrera a contract in excess of the four-year, $53 million deal the St. Louis Cardinals gave Jhonny Peralta last offseason. They also have a desperate need for a hitter who can drive the gaps and leave the yard.
Before undergoing surgery to repair an avulsion fracture to his right pinky finger, Cabrera put up a .301/.351/.458 slash line with 16 home runs, 73 RBI, 35 doubles and swiped six bags in 139 games. His signing would be the type of impact addition general manager Jeff Luhnow needs to make in order to improve a largely inconsistent offense.
And can you imagine a batting order that includes George Springer, Jose Altuve and Cabrera? That would be something to watch.
Kansas City Royals
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This isn’t the most far-fetched postulation, but the Kansas City Royals would be wise to let Billy Butler walk and re-sign Josh Willingham to a one-year deal to be the club’s designated hitter. He has been that impressive since his acquisition from the Minnesota Twins this August.
Over that stretch, he has put up a .243/.361/.400 slash line with two home runs and six RBI. And while those numbers may not pop off the stat sheet, his true value resides in his ability to get on base, which is something the Royals have struggled with all season.
For his career, Willingham is only a .253 hitter, but he has a .359 on-base percentage and is slugging .465 over 11 seasons.
Los Angeles Angels
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Currently pitching to a 1.65 ERA and a 1.041 WHIP with the Kansas City Royals, right-hander Jason Frasor would be a fantastic fit for the Los Angeles Angels.
Consider: Not only has the Angles bullpen compiled a 4.37 ERA with a 1.371 WHIP this month, per Baseball-Reference, but Jason Grilli and Joe Thatcher are both free agents after this season.
True, Thatcher has struggled since his arrival from the Arizona Diamondbacks, but Grilli has pitched fairly well on the whole. Regardless of production, though, there is going to be more than one spot open next season, and Frasor will capably fill one of them.
A guy like Frasor would be an effective bridge to closer Huston Street for manager Mike Scioscia. For his career, he is 34-35 with a 3.60 ERA, 3.73 FIP and a 1.306 WHIP.
Now the Angels have other needs that will need to be addressed by general manager Jerry Dipoto, but Frasor is a nice start.
Los Angeles Dodgers
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Ryan Vogelsong is a guy who isn’t often discussed as one of the better free-agent pitchers, but that belies how valuable he has been to the San Francisco Giants. In three of the last four seasons, he has put up an FIP in the 3.00's and has started at least 28 games. Those are the type of results that managers covet.
And it is that production that makes him a realistic get for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
True, general manager Ned Colletti can go out and outbid the rest of MLB for a guy like Jon Lester or Max Scherzer, but that wouldn’t be the wisest decision.
Consider: Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke will combine to make almost $57.6 million next season, per Cots Contracts, and the $10 million option on Dan Haren just vested after he threw seven innings against the Giants on Monday. So unless, Colletti wants to have roughly $90 million locked up in his rotation, finding another option to replace Josh Beckett is in order.
Either way, Vogelsong would look great as the club’s No. 4 starter.
In 31 starts heading into action on Thursday, Voglesong is 8-12 with a 3.96 ERA, 3.89 FIP and a 1.271 WHIP. He’s struggled lately, yielding 14 earned runs in his last four starts, but he is a fine pitcher and would complement the rest of the Dodgers rotation well.
Miami Marlins
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True, the Miami Marlins aren’t made out of money, and James Shields is sure to require a substantial investment. That said, he is a realistic offseason acquisition for two reasons.
First, he is an exceptional pitcher. Going into action Wednesday, for example, he was 14-8 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.181 WHIP. Another thing to keep in mind is that he has tossed at least 200.0 innings for the past eight seasons.
Second, the Marlins need a veteran complement to Jose Fernandez and Henderson Alvarez. Fact is, a rotation that features Shields, Fernandez and Alvarez would immediately give the Marlins one of the better groups in the National League.
And adding Shields wouldn’t hurt the chances of keeping Giancarlo Stanton in a Marlins uniform. If you recall, Stanton told Tim Brown from Yahoo Sports earlier this season that the success the team found this season “doesn’t change five years” of futility.
Signing Shields might.
Milwaukee Brewers
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It appears that the National League is an environment that right-hander Jake Peavy can thrive in. Is there any other way to explain his return to dominance with the San Francisco Giants?
Sure, he'd pitched better that the results indicated with the Boston Red Sox, but he's been lights out since his acquisition just prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, posting a 2.20 ERA with a 1.018 WHIP and a 2.98 FIP in 11 starts.
And when he hits free agency, it would be a good idea for the Milwaukee Brewers to make every effort to sign him.
True, Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza, Wily Peralta and even Mike Fiers have had nice seasons. And even if Yovani Gallardo's $13 million option is picked up, the Brewers rotation could use another veteran arm.
Yes, the club needs to improve at first base and there may be a hole at third, but adding Peavy makes a lot of sense. A two-year deal with incentives based on health and productivity could be enough to land him.
Minnesota Twins
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“Things got so bad with the [Minnesota] Twins starting rotation last year,” Phil Miller from the Minneapolis Star Tribune wrote that general manager “Terry Ryan basically junked the whole thing and started over. How many teams can say this? Not a single pitcher who started a game after Aug. 20 a year ago is on the team’s active roster today.”
Well, it didn’t work.
True, Phil Hughes has pitched admirably, but other than him, the rotation has largely been a disaster. So while Ryan won’t be shelling out another contract akin to the four-year, $49 million deal he gave Ricky Nolasco last December, he can pick up a guy like Kyle Kendrick for a relatively bargain price.
It should be acknowledged that Kendrick’s peripherals (4.63 FIP, 2.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio) aren’t anything to write home about, but he’s thrown at least 159.1 innings in four out of the last five seasons. And with guys like Jose Berrios and Alex Meyer (assuming he’s healthy) likely in the mix next season, Kendrick’s ability to pitch into the seventh inning will pay dividends.
New York Mets
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The New York Mets appear set in the starting rotation for years to come. Led by Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Jon Niese and Jacob deGrom, they will be an above-average unit for the next several seasons. The lineup is a completely different matter, but that will likely be addressed via trade.
The bullpen could use another arm, however, and a man who needs to sign a one-year contract to get his value back in line is Rafael Soriano.
It’s not that his overall numbers are terrible, but going into action Wednesday he’d put up a 7.90 ERA and has a .333/.388/.533 slash line against since Aug. 15, per Baseball-Reference. In the process he’s lost his job as the Washington Nationals closer and said goodbye to a $14 million option that could have vested had he remained in his former role.
It doesn't help Soriano that there will be a flood of pitchers with experience closing on the market, including LaTroy Hawkins, Casey Janssen, Koji Uehara and Sergio Romo. The Mets should take a flyer at a modest base with incentives.
New York Yankees
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To be clear: Signing Max Scherzer to a contract in excess of the seven-year, $180 million deal Justin Verlander signed with the Detroit Tigers prior to last season would be a mistake for the New York Yankees.
There are too many holes on the 25-man roster for general manager Brian Cashman to sink that much money into one player, but Scherzer’s acquisition is realistic given Cashman’s tendency to throw cash at whatever ails the team.
On the season, the right-hander is 17-5 with a 3.19 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 1.166 WHIP and is striking out 10.2 batters every nine innings. And for as bad of an idea as it is, there is no doubt that he and Masahiro Tanaka would form a ferocious one-two punch at the top of the rotation for the next several years.
Oakland A's
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Adam Dunn hasn’t been the prodigious slugger the Oakland A’s hoped he would be when they acquired him in an August waiver trade from the Chicago White Sox, but he’s been getting on base (.350 on-base percentage) and has proven to be a fine fit in the clubhouse.
So while the A’s 25-man roster in 2015 isn’t going to look like the one that is limping its way into the postseason, bringing back the left-handed hitter is a realistic idea.
It must be noted that prior to his trade, Dunn hinted at retirement, but as John Shea from The San Francisco Chronicle shared, he may have changed his tune. “I owe it to myself to put that on the back burner for at least a couple months,” Dunn said.
From all accounts, it sounds like he’s found a home. And given the chemistry he’s developed with the A’s, a one-year deal at a reasonable price is a realistic option.
Philadelphia Phillies
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Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is already a busy man.
That isn’t said because he was recently in Japan and the Dominican Republic on scouting missions, as Jim Salisbury from CSN Philly recently noted. Rather, Amaro must find a way to improve a roster that is laden with veterans, yet can’t find a way to win.
One realistic option for Amaro is Jason Hammel.
True, Hammel has struggled since getting traded to the Oakland A’s, but he is a fairly good pitcher when he is in a National League park. In 104 career starts in the NL, he is 35-35 with a 4.35 ERA, but has a fine 3.92 FIP with a 1.337 WHIP.
If you aren’t sure how those peripherals stack up against what the Phillies currently have on the roster, consider this: Based on FIP and WHIP, Hammel would be the No. 2 pitcher in manager Ryne Sandberg’s rotation among pitchers with at least 20 starts.
Pittsburgh Pirates
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The Pittsburgh Pirates need a few things this offseason, including starting pitching, but right-hander Luke Gregerson is a realistic option to solidify the back end of the bullpen, which has been an Achilles heel all season.
See outside of Marc Melancon, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes, and now John Axford and John Holdzkom, the rest of the bullpen has underperformed. Look no further for proof than the fact that Jeanmar Gomez, Brandon Cumpton, Stolmy Pimentel and Justin Wilson all have a WHIP over 1.340 and rather significant control problems.
So far this season, Gregerson has a 2.06 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 1.014 WHIP and a 3.87 strikeout-to-walk ratio over the course of 70 appearances.
San Diego Padres
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“It would be hard to find a better fit than here,” Brandon McCarthy recently said regarding his experience with the New York Yankees, via Roger Rubin from the New York Daily News.
The Yankees may have their sights set on a larger prize, however, and if he doesn’t return to the Bronx, the San Diego Padres should welcome him with open arms.
Consider: If McCarthy were to join Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashman and Tyson Ross, manager Bud Black would have a rotation with a nice blend of power and finesse. In turn, that would help keep opposing batting orders off-balance. In other words, it is a good situation for everyone involved.
And let’s not forget that new general manager A.J. Preller was with the Texas Rangers when McCarthy was with the team. Between the Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks, McCarthy is 10-15 with a 4.05 ERA in 200.0 innings pitched.
San Francisco Giants
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San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean will have several holes to fill this offseason.
After all, Mike Morse, Ryan Vogelsong, Jake Peavy, Sergio Romo and Pablo Sandoval are all free agents at the end of the year. Now one or more of them could be returning, but there is still a substantial amount of work to be done.
One realistic option to fill multiple needs is Jed Lowrie.
Sure, he isn’t going to hit 25 home runs or drive in 100 runs, but Lowrie is more than capable at the plate. On the season, he has a .243/.318/.351 slash line with six home runs, 46 RBI and has drawn 51 walks in 482 at-bats.
What really makes Lowrie valuable to a club like the Giants, however, is his defensive versatility. See if Pablo Sandoval leaves via free agency, Lowrie could slide into his spot at third. And if either Joe Panik or Brandon Crawford misses any time, he could easily take over for them at their respective position.
There simply isn’t a whole lot that Lowrie can’t do on an MLB diamond.
Seattle Mariners
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The Seattle Mariners have a few positions that need attention, including shortstop and designated hitter. None, however, are more important than improving the play behind the plate.
True, Mike Zunino has come up with a few big hits and has 21 home runs, 20 doubles and 57 RBI in 423 at-bats, but his .254 on-base percentage and 153 strikeouts aren’t doing manager Lloyd McClendon any favors.
That makes Russell Martin an attractive candidate for the Mariners.
Adding Martin will likely cost the M’s a first-round pick as the Pittsburgh Pirates are sure to extend him a qualifying offer, per ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (subscription required). That shouldn’t dissuade general manager Jack Zduriencik from doing what he needs to in order to secure Martin’s services.
Something else that makes this a realistic proposal is that Zduriencik is in this for the long haul. And after coming so close to making the postseason in Robinson Cano’s first season with the club, he will do whatever it takes to improve his roster at those positions that are most in need of an upgrade.
On the year, Martin is hitting .294 with a .842 OPS, 11 home runs, 67 RBI and has significantly cut down on his strikeouts.
St. Louis Cardinals
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When it comes to lefties in the bullpen, the St. Louis Cardinals have Sam Freeman (2-0, 2.43 ERA) and a bunch of other guys.
That makes targeting a left-handed reliever a priority this offseason for general manager John Mozeliak, and who better to fill that role than Tom Gorzelanny.
Gorzelanny, who opened the season on the disabled list, has a 0.44 ERA, 2.55 FIP, 1.306 WHIP and is striking out 10.0 batters every nine innings over the course of 22 appearances. He hasn’t pitched in many high-leverage situations this year, but there is no doubt that if he joined Freeman in the bullpen, the Cardinals would have a better relief corps.
Gorzelanny also has 121 career starts under his belt, and if manager Mike Matheny runs into a jam, he would be another guy who could jump in for a spot start.
Tampa Bay Rays
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If there is one thing the Tampa Bay Rays need, it’s a little pop in the lineup, and Michael Cuddyer is the guy to give it to them.
True, he has battled injuries much of the season, but there is no mistaking what he can do at the plate. In limited action this season, Cuddyer is slashing out at .326/.373/.584 with 10 home runs, 14 doubles and 30 RBI.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a return to the American League is in Cuddyer’s best interest. Simply put, the days where he is able to play the field on a regular basis are behind him.
So while Fox Sports’ Andrew Astleford notes that manager Joe Maddon is considering ways to improve the peripheral vision of his lineup, perhaps general manager Andrew Friedman can just go ahead and add Cuddyer’s bat to the middle of the batting order.
Texas Rangers
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Adding a guy like Nelson Cruz is only realistic because we are talking about the Texas Rangers. See, the Rangers have several moving pieces that will make Cruz’s acquisition feasible.
First, it appears that Alex Rios’ time with the club is coming to an end. As T.R. Sullivan from MLB.com recently noted, “the Rangers have a $14 million option on Rios for 2015, but it appears increasingly likely they will not pick it up and instead pay the $1 million buyout.”
Second, the Rangers own one of the 10-worst records in MLB, and as a result won’t have to surrender a first-round pick to the Baltimore Orioles should they extend a qualifying offer to Cruz that is turned down.
Finally, as Jeff Wilson from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram recently alluded to, Cruz could be the guy who puts the Rangers lineup over the top in 2015.
To be sure, Cruz is a big name and there are mitigating circumstances, but if and when he hits free agency, you’d better believe that general manager Jon Daniels will have a meeting scheduled with Cruz’s representatives.
Toronto Blue Jays
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It is no secret that Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos needs to improve the play on the infield, specifically at second base and third base.
Thankfully, he has Brett Lawrie who can play both, but let’s not kid ourselves, he is one of the best third baseman in MLB, and the Blue Jays are better defensively with him at the hot corner. So who could Anthopoulos bring in that has a big enough bat at second base?
Asdrubal Cabrera (.242/.308/.390) should be the first name that comes to mind. Not only does he have the ability to drive the gaps and possess ample speed, but he is a solid bottom-of-the-order hitter, which is exactly what the Blue Jays need.
And for those who think he is a shortstop, you are only partly correct. Since his acquisition from the Cleveland Indians, he has appeared in 43 games at the keystone position and has a .995 fielding percentage.
Washington Nationals
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When the 40-man roster is examined, the Washington Nationals don’t need very much.
As a matter of fact, an argument can be made that general manager Mike Rizzo could probably make do with what he has in the system and still field a playoff team next season.
From a practical standpoint, adding a right-handed reliever may be a wise move, considering that Rafael Soriano is on his way out of town. To that effect, Jason Grilli will likely be available for a cheap enough price.
On the season, Grilli is pitching to a 4.10 ERA and a 1.310 WHIP, but since joining the Los Angeles Angels in the trade that sent Ernesto Frieri to the Pittsburgh Pirates, he has put up a 3.62 ERA with a 2.11 FIP and a 1.113 WHIP.
Unless otherwise noted, all traditional, team and historical statistics are courtesy of Baseball-Reference and are accurate as of game time Wednesday, Sept. 24. Transaction, injury and game information are courtesy of MLB.com. Contract information taken from Cots Contracts.
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