2015 MLB Free Agents: Latest Rumors and Predictions for Available Talent
The World Series begins on Tuesday, but every team in Major League Baseball except for the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants has its attention turned toward the offseason and the free-agent class.
There are a number of marquee names, such as Max Scherzer and James Shields, who could hit the open market, but those major signings are likely a ways down the road. That doesn’t mean there aren’t rumors flying around the league in October, though.
With that in mind, here is a look at some rumors and predictions regarding a handful of free agents.
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Jake Peavy Due for a Bigger Deal?
Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe passed along the following on Jake Peavy’s status: “One agent believes Peavy has turned his next contract from a one-year, $7 million deal into a three-year, $36 million deal based on his second half with the Giants. The Giants, who likely won’t re-sign Ryan Vogelsong, will likely have to bite on a Peavy deal.”
Peavy started 32 games during the regular season and finished with a 3.73 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 158 strikeouts. Sure, his record was 7-13, but having a middle- to back-end rotation guy with a sub-4.00 ERA is certainly a recipe for success, as the World Series-bound Giants have found out this season.
What’s more, San Francisco doesn’t have a lot in terms of pitching prospects in Triple-A, and Vogelsong is apparently on the way out. There are certainly some questions surrounding the Giants rotation for next season behind Madison Bumgarner, and Peavy would provide stability as a veteran presence.
Prediction: The Giants, riding high off a World Series appearance, bring Peavy back as a source of stability at the back end of the rotation.
Nelson Cruz Update
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the following regarding the Baltimore Orioles slugger Nelson Cruz: “Word is the team plans to extend a $15.3 million qualifying offer to Cruz.”
Cruz may have been the most valuable player in all of the American League after Baltimore signed him to a one-year, $8 million deal in the offseason. All he did was lead the majors with 40 home runs to go along with his 108 RBI.
Baltimore was able to land Cruz for so cheap because teams were reluctant to take a chance on the slugger given his PED links in the past.
That won’t be the case this winter, and Cruz will almost certainly receive multi-year deals worth more than the eventual qualifying offer. The Orioles will likely have to open their checkbook to keep him around after such a productive season in the middle of their lineup.
The question now is whether Cruz seeks more money on the open market or gives something of a home-town discount to the Orioles after a trip to the American League Championship Series. He is clearly comfortable in the Baltimore lineup and slugged the ball all year in the AL East, and there is something to be said for the Orioles' reaching out to him last offseason.
Executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette discussed Cruz, via Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun:
"He's an excellent leader, he's a very good role model, he led the league in home runs and he had a great year. I really appreciate the veteran leadership that he gave the team. Having said that, he came here to have a platform year to get himself re-established to get him a long-term deal, and that's something we will have to consider.
"
There seems to be some mutual interest in Baltimore.
Prediction: Cruz decides to stick with what he knows and the team that made him an offer when he was struggling to find a home last offseason and stays with the Orioles.
Yasmany Tomas and the Minnesota Twins?
Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com pointed out that the Minnesota Twins appear interested in Cuban prospect Yasmany Tomas:
While the Twins would likely love to have Tomas in their outfield next season, the reality is it will be difficult to compete with some of the bigger-market teams. We are talking about a 6’4”, 240-pound outfielder who brings power, speed and a glove to the table at 23 years old.
His best baseball is still ahead of him.
Fellow Cuban players like Jose Abreu (six years, $68 million) and Yasiel Puig (seven years, $42 million) got respectable contracts, but there are certainly more expensive players on the market. This is the type of impact player who could make a real difference in Minnesota at close to an affordable deal.
However, there are just so many teams that will be interested that it is hard to see the Twins landing him. That is especially the case if and when a number of big-market teams get involved.
Prediction: Tomas signs elsewhere.
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