Updating the Latest 2014-15 MLB Free-Agency Rumors, Speculation
For the eight teams that are still playing meaningful baseball this October, the 2014 MLB regular season is but an afterthought. They have a bigger prize in mind.
For the other 22 teams, however, the shortcomings of the past summer will figure heavily into the offseason. One of the avenues to improve a club is via free agency.
So what new rumors and speculation have there been in the past week? Who’s talking about some of the bigger names set to cash in on large paydays or switch teams?
As a usual note, we will not be covering all of the top targets set to hit free agency, nor will the main speculation come from ideas posited earlier in the season. Older rumors and speculation may be used as supporting information but will not be central to the premise.
The names presented here have all been discussed since last Friday by prominent writers from around the country. That way, we can keep the conversation driven by credibility.
Here are some updates on the latest MLB free-agency rumors and speculation.
Is Koji Uehara Going Back to the Boston Red Sox?
1 of 5
Following a blown save to the New York Yankees on Sept. 4, Boston Red Sox right-hander Koji Uehara intimated to Makoto Morimoto from the Kyodo News that he was “mentally tired,” via Maureen Mullen from The Boston Globe.
The effort against the Yankees came on the heels of two blown saves and a loss in three out of his previous four outings. He didn’t pitch again until Sept. 12 but finished the season strong, compiling six strikeouts while allowing only one baserunner over his final three appearances.
Late-season struggles aside, Uehara had another fine season, posting a 2.52 ERA and a 0.917 WHIP with 26 saves in 31 opportunities. And because of those metrics along with his dominance last season, he enters free agency as one of the top arms available.
That's if he makes it, which from the sound of it, may not happen.
“It’s no secret we’d like to retain Koji,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He’s the guy we want to anchor the back of our bullpen,” via the club’s official Twitter feed.
That said, the Red Sox would be wise to sign Uehara to a contract in the coming weeks. If they don’t, they could be forced to tender him a qualifying offer, “which is expected to be between $15 and $15.5 million,” per ESPN’s Buster Olney (subscription required). That's an awful lot of money for a closer.
Another thing adding urgency is that the Red Sox also face the prospect of losing Burke Badenhop to free agency. Losing both simply can’t happen.
Could the Chicago Cubs Pursue Jon Lester and Another Veteran Starter?
2 of 5
When the conversation turns to what the Chicago Cubs are going to do this offseason, the name that is typically mentioned is Jon Lester.
CSN Chicago’s Patrick Mooney, for example, argued that Lester would “set the tone for their pitching staff, help establish a clubhouse culture and take the ball for Game 1 of a playoff series.” Mooney is just one of many who see the Cubs pursuing the left-hander.
Well, Steve Adams from MLBTradeRumors.com added another dimension to the conversation. When asked in a recent chat about what it would take for the Cubs to contend for a wild-card spot next season, he added that in addition to Lester, Hoyer needs to add “a second-tier option like [Brandon] McCarthy or [Francisco] Liriano.”
Adams is on the right track.
See, while the Cubs have a wealth of position talent in the major leagues and on the farm, the rotation has a few holes. Yes, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks are fine pitchers, but if the club wants to contend next season, two quality veterans are needed, and McCarthy and Liriano certainly qualify.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Cubs president Theo Epstein recently said that his club was “going to be competitive while” they “develop young talent” in 2015, via ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers. And from all accounts, the team has the financial flexibility to add Lester and a second arm.
What better way to dramatically improve the rotation than with two swift signings? It may be the perfect play.
Will Colby Lewis Even Hit the Open Market?
3 of 5
Last Sunday, Jeff Wilson from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweeted that the Texas “Rangers could come to a quick resolution on Colby Lewis.”
In theory, bringing Lewis back makes sense. After all, he went 32-29 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.175 WHIP from 2010 through 2012. The fact of the matter is that he was a very effective pitcher.
After coming back from hip resurfacing surgery, however, he went 10-14 with a 5.18 ERA, 1.521 WHIP, gave up 11.1 hits every nine innings and finished with a minus-0.7 bWAR this past season. And in 13 of his 29 starts, he gave up at least four earned runs.
Now if Daniels can get Lewis to sign a modest one-year contract built around performance incentives, bringing the right-hander back is a shrewd move. He would be a cheaper alternative at the back of the rotation who has the ability to put up solid numbers.
If, however, Lewis is looking for a multiyear commitment, Daniels may want to focus his energies elsewhere.
.png?w=256)
Torii Hunter to the Texas Rangers?
4 of 5
In the middle of September, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan posited that “right fielder Alex Rios most likely won’t be back with the [Texas] Rangers next season.”
If that’s true, the Rangers are going to need someone to fill his role in the lineup. Now the Rangers have options in the system, but until guys like Joey Gallo and Nick Williams are ready, “veteran Torii Hunter might be a nice addition” as a short-term solution, according to Jeff Wilson from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Sullivan noted that Shin-Soo Choo “is expected to shift from left to right field next season,” so the need to sign a defensive replacement is not the primary motivation. It is Hunter’s bat that makes Wilson’s idea a fine one.
Hunter is still very capable at the plate. In 549 at-bats this year, he put up a .286/.319/.446 slash line with 17 home runs, 83 RBI, 33 doubles and scored 71 runs for the Detroit Tigers. Those numbers would fit in nicely in the No. 6 or No. 7 spot in the Rangers' batting order.
It must be noted that Hunter is not very good in the field. In fact, he’s pretty terrible, posting a minus-24.7 defensive rating this past season, per FanGraphs, but, again, Hunter would be added as a cost-effective bat, not as a Gold Glove outfielder.
Either way, Hunter could be the guy that Rangers general manager Jon Daniels targets this offseason.
Should the Oakland A's Target Asdrubal Cabrera?
5 of 5
It’s no secret the Oakland A’s will undergo significant roster turnover. And while it is a foregone conclusion that Jon Lester is on his way out, the status of shortstop Jed Lowrie is unknown.
There is a chance that he could be back, but Lowrie said that “money is a factor” in his decision, per Susan Slusser from the San Francisco Chronicle. That means that if the contract that general manager Billy Beane offers isn’t up to par, he could just as easily walk.
If he ends up elsewhere, Slusser offered up three names—Stephen Drew, Cliff Pennington and Asdrubal Cabrera—as potential replacements.
Of the three, Cabrera is the one that makes the most sense should the need arise.
First off, Drew is woeful at the plate, while Cabrera has the ability to drive the ball and is solid on the basepaths. And for a club that is mercurial at the dish, there simply isn’t a spot for an infielder who can’t hit.
Second, Cabrera proved capable of being a big league second baseman following his trade to the Washington Nationals at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. In other words, he is versatile, much like Lowrie.
It must be noted that the 162-game averages for Lowrie and Cabrera are eerily similar and they are both solid fielders, meaning that Cabrera wouldn't necessarily be an upgrade. That said, Cabrera is almost 17 months Lowrie’s junior. And when it comes to doling out multiyear contracts, age certainly matters.
Unless otherwise noted, all traditional, team and historical statistics are courtesy of Baseball-Reference and are accurate as of game time Thursday, Oct. 2. Transaction, injury and game information are courtesy of MLB.com.
Follow @MatthewSmithBR
.png?w=480)
