MLB Rumors: Updating the Latest Suitors for Top 25 MLB Free Agents
Since free agency began the day after the World Series, the conversations around MLB have been lively.
True, the players are in a “quiet window” right now, where formal contract offers can only come from the club they spent the 2014 season with. Offers from other teams will have to wait until 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday morning.
During this year's quiet window, however, qualifying offers have been extended to several players, and some prominent options for the 2015 season have been declined, while others have been picked up. In Adam Lind’s case, the Toronto Blue Jays picked up his $7.5 million option for next season and then promptly traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers for Marco Estrada.
Like we said—lively.
So what’s new on the potential suitors for the top 25 MLB free agents as the market gets set to open up for no-holds-barred business? Let’s take a look.
For the record, the players listed here were pulled from B/R's 2014-15 free-agent tracker and are listed by WAR, as calculated by FanGraphs. This is not a player ranking, but a list of possible destinations.
25. Adam LaRoche, 1B
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When word broke that the Milwaukee Brewers had acquired Lind from the Toronto Blue Jays for Estrada, via the Brewers' Twitter feed, Adam LaRoche suddenly had one fewer potential suitor. See, up until that point, many, including Todd Rosiak from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, surmised that the Brewers would be in hot pursuit of the first baseman.
Alas, the Brewers went in a different direction, opening the door for other clubs rumored to be interested in LaRoche’s services.
The Chicago White Sox, for example, need a lefty who can get on base and provide power behind Jose Abreu. More to the point, CBS Chicago’s Bruce Levine mentioned LaRoche as a fit on the South Side.
There are also the Miami Marlins to consider. Yes, they have Garrett Jones under contract, but as Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald pointed out, LaRoche is one of a “handful of first basemen of interest to the Marlins in free agency.”
One final team to keep an eye on is the Detroit Tigers—for two reasons. First, they may end up losing Victor Martinez to free agency. Also, Miguel Cabrera had screws inserted into his right ankle. That may limit the amount of first base he can play, making LaRoche an attractive option.
24. Francisco Liriano, LHP
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Francisco Liriano is an interesting case.
He walks far too many hitters and didn’t have a winning record in 2014, but over the past two seasons, he is pitching to a 3.20 ERA and a 3.26 FIP in 323.1 innings pitched. Stats like those last two are hard to argue with.
One of the handful of columnists who sees Liriano returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates is the New York Daily News’ Andy Martino. He wrote that “he has been a good fit” in his two years in Pittsburgh.
Now, Martino noted that Liriano’s “overall market could be depressed by a qualifying offer,” and the Pirates made just such an offer Monday.
That said, there is a market for him.
The Los Angeles Angels could certainly use a guy like Liriano, but general manager Jerry Dipoto will only be able to add payroll if he sheds some salary along the way.
To that end, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal recently noted that “the team is likely to trade either second baseman Howie Kendrick or third baseman David Freese.” The idea is that by trading away payroll, the Angels will be able to get active, and Liriano could be one of those targets.
Another option is the New York Yankees. Doug Williams from the YES Network wrote toward the end of October that general manager “Brian Cashman and the Yankees would view him as an addition to their rotation, but not a main piece.”
Well, yeah, Liriano isn’t an ace anymore, but he is a fine No. 3 or No. 4 starter. And considering that Masahiro Tanaka should be ready to roll next season, Liriano makes quite a bit of sense in the Bronx.
23. David Robertson, RHP
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Whichever team signs David Robertson is going to have to have deep pockets and, with the exception of the New York Yankees, has to be willing to part with a draft pick.
Flat out, Robertson is the best closer on the market, and while there are numerous ninth-inning men available this season, none have Robertson's track record from a peripherals standpoint.
As far as destinations go, the Detroit Tigers are a possibility, but general manager Dave Dombrowski “confirmed” in his end-of-season presser that “he expects beleaguered reliever Joe Nathan to open the season as the team’s closer in 2015,” via James Schmehl from MLive.com.
The Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs are also options, per Tim Dierkes from MLBTradeRumors.com. And while each team has a need at the back end of the bullpen, it is hard to see either organization dropping roughly $50 million on a closer.
Either way, everything is on hold until Robertson decides what to do with the qualifying offer the Yankees have put forth, per Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. Likely, it will be turned down, giving the Yankees relief in the way of a compensatory draft pick should he leave.
Don’t be surprised, however, to see Cashman work something out to keep Robertson in the Bronx.
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22. Pat Neshek, RHP
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Over the past three seasons, Pat Neshek has put up a 2.26 ERA, 3.43 FIP and a 0.974 WHIP over 140 contests. And thanks to those numbers, he has more than a few suitors, starting with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Outside of the Cards, the Houston Astros are a potential destination and were recently mentioned by Evan Drellich from the Houston Chronicle (subscription required).
The Washington Post’s James Wagner noted that Neshek would be a fine addition as the right-handed setup man in front of newly minted closer Drew Storen.
The list goes on to include just about every MLB club, including the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers.
The Blue Jays, in particular, are a club to watch for. Not only did they trade Lind to the Brewers on Saturday, freeing up some significant salary room, but former closer Casey Janssen is a free agent. Brendan Kennedy from the Toronto Star mentioned Neshek prior to Lind’s trade as a target.
21. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B/SS
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The Toronto Blue Jays went to work this past weekend, making multiple roster moves, including trading Lind. Even before the deal, however, Brendan Kennedy from the Toronto Star wrote that “whatever happens with Lind, the Jays’ bigger hole is at second base.”
Theoretically, that makes Asdrubal Cabrera an ideal match given how well he acquitted himself at second base following his trade to the Washington Nationals.
Another club rumored to be interested in Cabrera is the Washington Nationals—with a caveat. According to NatsInsider.com’s Mark Zuckerman, “the price would need to be right—Cabrera could command a three-year deal in the range of $25 million to $30 million—and the club would need to feel like there were no better options available either via free agency or a trade.”
The 28-year-old was also mentioned briefly by MLB.com’s Jane Lee as an option for the Oakland A’s should Jed Lowrie leave, although she did note that he comes with question marks.
20. Jake Peavy, RHP
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Two teams dominate the conversation when it comes to Jake Peavy.
First, of course, are the San Francisco Giants. After all, he pitched to a 2.17 ERA and a 1.042 WHIP in 12 starts following his acquisition from the Boston Red Sox in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Nick Cafardo from The Boston Globe posited not too long ago that because of his efforts, he will receive a “multiyear deal and it’ll probably be with San Francisco.” Given Peavy’s relationship with Buster Posey and manager Bruce Bochy, the Giants have to be considered the favorites to land the right-hander.
Don’t count out the Chicago Cubs, however. Peavy had this to say about the chance that he will be on the North Side of Chicago next season, via the Chicago Sun Times’ Gordon Wittenmyer:
"Me and Jon [Lester] are obviously very close. If there was ever a fit with both of us on the team, certainly that would interest me. I know what he brings to the table. We have a crazy good friendship, and I know how bad he wants to win, and I know he’s not going to go to a situation for however many years he signs [for] to lose.
You never know what free agency brings. I’ve certainly talked to Jon Lester because we’re buddies. So I have a feel for what he does. And I certainly know that Chicago would interest him and interest me.
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Frankly, after Brandon McCarthy, Peavy is the best second-tier right-hander available in free agency. Expect more clubs to have rumored interest in the coming days.
19. Jed Lowrie, SS/2B
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Jed Lowrie enters the free-agent process with plenty of options.
There are the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners to consider. Each needs a shortstop who can provide power, cover ground and get on base.
He may not sign as a shortstop, though. That is at least what he intimated when discussing his free agency with MLB.com’s Jane Lee. “I'm not going to go into the offseason saying I'm only going to play shortstop,” Lowrie said, “but what I do want is the chance to play the same position, whether that's shortstop or whether that's second base.”
With that as a backdrop, the Blue Jays could look to Lowrie to play second. And they just cleared up some significant salary space with the trade of Lind to the Brewers.
One club you can take off the board is the New York Mets. Andy Martino from the New York Daily News wrote early last week that Lowrie “is not a target of the Mets right now, according to sources.”
18. Emilio Bonifacio, OF/IF
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Truthfully, there isn’t a lot of chatter regarding Emilio Bonifacio.
There are multiple reasons for this, of course, starting with the fact that he isn’t particularly great at any one thing. He does have considerable value, however, thanks to his ability to play all over the diamond and his baserunning.
The Brewers would seem like a fine fit. They could use a platoon partner for Scooter Gennett at second base, and the added versatility Bonifacio brings to the 25-man roster would surely give manager Ron Roenicke options.
Another club that needs depth on the infield and in the outfield is the Mariners, but general manager Jack Zduriencik may target a bit more pop coming out of the gates.
Expect Bonifacio to find a home later on in the process.
17. Andrew Miller, LHP
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Who doesn’t need a left-handed reliever like Andrew Miller setting the table?
Consider: Since 2012, Miller is averaging 13.6 strikeouts every nine innings and has put together an impressive 2.57 ERA, 1.050 WHIP and a fine 2.37 FIP. He has been nothing short of dominant.
Now, as far as where Miller will be pitching in 2015, there are many options. The Boston Red Sox, for example, wouldn’t mind a reunion.
In fact, it sounds like the club has already been in contact. “[H]e’s one of a number of free agents that we will talk to now in the quiet period of free agency—these five days where you can start to have conversations,” general manager Ben Cherington said, according to NESN.com’s Ricky Doyle.
The Tigers also figure to be in the conversation, seeing as how multiple reports noted that they tried to land him at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline this past season.
Other teams that may pursue Miller are the White Sox, Cubs, Astros, Mets, Rangers and Blue Jays, per MLBTradeRumors.com’s Tim Dierkes.
16. Yasmany Tomas, OF
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Yasmany Tomas is the latest in a long line of Cuban sluggers to send tongues wagging across MLB.
Most recently, Tomas had a workout at the Boston Red Sox’s academy, and according to his agent, Jay Alou, “balls were punished over trees to all fields.”
Not that he needed to prove anything to anyone, of course.
The Philadelphia Phillies have a strong interest in him. So much so that Andy Martino from the New York Daily News wrote that sources “involved in the process now identify the Phillies as strong contenders for Tomas.
Martino went on to add that the San Diego Padres, who have long been linked to Tomas, and the Los Angeles Dodgers “are far less likely” to end up signing him.
Other clubs to keep an eye on are the New York Mets and the Detroit Tigers, according to David Murphy from the Philadelphia Daily News.
15. Aaron Harang, RHP
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Frankly, Aaron Harang’s future may hinge on what happens with Ervin Santana.
Just ask David O’Brien from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Losing Santana," O'Brien wrote, "might increase the appeal of re-signing Harang, 36, who provided valuable experience and leadership for a youthful pitching staff while going 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 204.1 innings. He has said he’d like to return to Atlanta.”
Now, outside of a return to the Braves (which could very well happen), Harang has options with the Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates, per MLBTradeRumors.com’s Zach Links. He was also mentioned by Nick Piecoro from AZCentral.com not too long as a potential target for new Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart.
All things being equal, the Pirates seem like a fine destination for Harang.
After all, they figure to have a contending club next season, even if they lose catcher Russell Martin, and the right-handed Harang would seem to fit into general manager Neal Huntington’s budget in 2015 and 2016.
14. Nick Markakis, OF
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Nick Markakis is durable (147 games every season save 2012) and gets on base with the best of them (.358 career on-base percentage), making him a very attractive outfield option.
Where he lands next year is anyone’s guess.
To start, the Orioles declined his 2015 option, and word was that the two sides would be working out a new deal during the quiet window. As Eduardo Encina from The Baltimore Sun noted, however, Markakis and the Orioles “have yet to agree to terms, and it’s unclear whether they will come to an agreement before Markakis hits the open market” Tuesday morning.
Now even though things aren’t where the two sides want them to be, manager Buck Showalter noted that he believes they're “going to keep working on it until we get something done,” per Encina.
To be sure, a return to the Orioles is highly likely, but ESPN.com’s Doug Mittler (subscription required), opined that the right fielder “will be tempted to test the waters given the crop of available free-agent outfielders is not overwhelming.”
Two organizations stand out as ideal fits should Markakis not work something out with the Orioles. First, the Mariners would certainly benefit from his presence in the lineup. And let’s not overlook the Rangers. He would slide right into the potential spot vacated by free-agent Alex Rios.
13. Melky Cabrera, OF
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The ball is squarely in Melky Cabrera’s court after the Toronto Blue Jays extended a qualifying offer to the left fielder on Nov. 1, as noted by the Blue Jays' Twitter account.
True, the move is just a formality, but it's also part of the larger attempt to bring him back into the fold next season. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman has more on contract negotiations between the two sides:
"Talks are seen as preliminary thus far. ... Considering his big comeback and improving reputation (he was said to fit in well in Toronto in the two years since his PED suspension), plus an oddly weak outfield market, industry insiders wouldn't be surprised if Cabrera were to seek a five-year deal.
...
He seems to have regained a large part of his rep, and is said to have fit beautifully into Toronto's clubhouse.
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Other than returning to the Blue Jays, the Orioles are rumored to be interested.
True, they would like to have Markakis back, but they declined his option for next season, and if a new deal can’t be worked out, Cabrera is a fit. Back at the end of August, Nick Cafardo from The Boston Globe opined that the O’s will have interest.
In addition to the Orioles, MLBTradeRumors.com’s Steve Adams listed a slew of clubs, including the White Sox, Twins, Phillies and Rangers.
Each of those teams needs a corner outfielder in the worst way and has a protected first-round pick. That is crucial since Cabrera was given a qualifying offer. Expect the bidding to get intense as the days turn into weeks.
12. Ervin Santana, RHP
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For Santana, the Atlanta Braves hold all the cards right now.
See, the Braves have extended him a qualifying offer, per MLB.com's Mark Bowman, meaning that there will be an obligatory sacrificing of a draft pick by whichever club signs him. It could limit his field considerably.
Now, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien thinks Santana may have learned a valuable lesson last offseason when he had a qualifying offer from the Kansas City Royals. He “probably has a better grasp,” O’Brien wrote, “of what a reasonable asking price is and would thus not scare away teams like he did” last year.
If he is indeed realistic in his demands, he will draw a lot of interest, perhaps from the Rangers.
It must be noted that general manager Jon Daniels said his club would be focusing on the trade market “early on” this offseason, via Jeff Wilson from the Star-Telegram. But the longer Santana is on the market, the more attractive he becomes.
After all, Santana had his best back-to-back seasons with the Royals in 2013 and the Braves this past year. He could be a sleeper for the Rangers.
The Royals are another club that would seem to be a fine fit for the right-hander. He’s found success with them in the past, and they certainly need someone to fill the void that will be created should James Shields exit stage left.
11. Brandon McCarthy, RHP
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The trade from the Diamondback to the Yankees was the best thing that could have happened to McCarthy. Not only did he get to pitch in a pennant race, but in doing so, he increased his value considerably. That is what happens when a pitcher puts up a 2.89 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 1.151 WHIP and a 6.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 14 starts. He was that good.
When it comes to where McCarthy is going to pitch next season, the conversation has to begin with the Yankees. And you can bet Cashman is going to see if he can work out a reasonable contract. Andy Martino from the New York Daily News has him returning on a three-year deal.
Outside of the Yankees, almost every club would seem to have a need for McCarthy.
He was briefly mentioned by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Biertempfel as a potential target of the Pirates. As Biertempfel noted, however, McCarthy’s expected salary is likely too high for Huntington, although Tim Dierkes from MLBTradeRumors.com predicted the Pirates would indeed land the righty.
And you can bet the Angels will have a conversation if they can clear up some salary.
Whichever club looks to add McCarthy should come prepared with its best offer. As he told Roger Rubin from the Daily News, “I feel if I got the right offer, I'd be willing to sign early in the process."
10. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
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At one point, Pablo Sandoval was in on the Boston Red Sox. He went so far as to tell associates that “Boston would be a preferred destination” should he not reach an accord with the San Francisco Giants to stay with the only franchise he’s ever known, per Nick Cafardo from The Boston Globe.
That the Red Sox’s interest would be mutual makes sense. They need help at third and, eventually, at designated hitter.
In addition to the Red Sox, there’ve been articles written about numerous potential landing spots, including the White Sox, Cubs, Blue Jays and a host of other teams.
Well, thanks to a fantastic run this past postseason, wherein he put up a .366/.423/.465 slash line with seven doubles and five RBI, Sandoval has suddenly gone from "unlikely to be back with the Giants" to "it may only be a matter of time."
First off, Sandoval was quoted by Janie McCauley of The Associated Press saying, “I want to wear that jersey for the rest of my career.” He was, of course, referring to a Giants uniform.
To be sure, the club may be willing to work something out. As Jon Paul Morosi from Fox Sports noted, “the Giants repeatedly have shown a willingness to pay big dollars in order to keep their most identifiable players.” He cited the contracts doled out to Tim Lincecum and Hunter Pence as examples.
Cafardo noted that per “a team source” general manager Brian Sabean doesn’t “feel comfortable offering more than three years.” Sandoval is said to be looking for $100 million, per CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.
Finally, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal chimed in late Sunday evening. He wrote that the Giants' push to re-sign Panda will have to come after he tests the open market.
In all that, one thing is certain: If Sandoval is going to be with the Giants next season, both sides are going to have to budge on what they would like to see happen.
9. Hiroki Kuroda, RHP
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According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Yankees are weighing their options regarding Hiroki Kuroda. As in: Should they give him a qualifying offer or not?
Truth be told: It may not matter.
Per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, Kuroda could be on the verge of calling it a career. “I'm just relieved I was able to finish the season without getting hurt,” Kuroda said. “If—and this is a big if—there are such talks, then I'd have to ask myself and think deeply whether I'd be able to produce.”
If he does return, it stands to reason that many clubs would be interested given his production since signing with the Dodgers prior to the 2008 season.
If there is a qualifying offer in place, however, the return on investment may not be enough for most of those teams to sign him.
See, unlike Santana, who signed with the Braves last offseason after receiving a QO from the Royals, Kuroda’s new team likely won’t be able to recoup the draft pick by giving Kuroda a QO next year the way the Braves are likely doing with Santana.
While nothing on the topic is official, expect the choices for Kuroda to be limited to the Yankees and the Dodgers. But again, that is only if he pitches in 2015.
8. Hanley Ramirez, SS
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Many columnists, including the Los Angeles Times’ Steve Dilbeck, believe that Hanley Ramirez's time at shortstop is coming to an end. He is simply not a very good at fielding the position anymore.
Look no further for proof than the fact that in his 10 MLB seasons, he has been worth a negative ultimate zone rating (UZR) seven times.
As Bleacher Reports Jason Catania noted, however, since “the supply [of available shortstops] is low and the demand high, Ramirez is going to find himself sitting pretty this winter as he chooses between a number of teams jockeying to fork over nine-figure salaries his way.”
The interesting thing is that while Ramirez is assuredly getting paid, there aren’t any clubs that have legitimate rumors associated with landing him.
As an aside, Ramirez would be best served opening himself up to the possibility of playing third base or being a designated hitter. If he does that, the market for him will increase considerably. If he insists on signing as an everyday shortstop, things could get cagey.
More will be revealed in the coming weeks, but for now, Ramirez is in limbo.
7. James Shields, RHP
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Shields is another guy who would seem to have his pick of destinations, but one club may have jumped to the top of the list—the Cubs.
As Gordon Wittenmyer from the Chicago Sun-Times noted, “Shields could be the first fallback position if the bidding gets beyond the Cubs’ comfort level, insiders say. Shields, who is well aware of the plan on the North Side and has similar experience in two other markets, smiles when it’s suggested the Cubs like him.”
And that was written before the Cubs hired Shields’ former manager, Joe Maddon, to be the skipper. Talk about things lining up.
To be sure, the Cubs are going hard after Jon Lester, and Peavy may also be an option for general manager Jed Hoyer, but Shields and the Cubs are a fine pairing. They also have a protected first-round pick, mitigating some of the concerns about the qualifying offer the Royals have extended Shields’ way, per Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star.
With the quiet window closing, expect formal offers to roll in and for Shields to pick an environment he is comfortable in.
6. Nelson Cruz, DH
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Nelson Cruz may continue to pay for past transgressions, even though he has seemingly distanced himself from all things performance-enhancing-drug related.
Not only did ownership for the Mariners nix a deal last offseason that included a club option for 2015, but a deal this offseason is also unlikely.
As Bob Dutton, writing for The Olympian, noted, “the Mariners would likely need to offer at least three years at close to $50 million and lose their first-round pick next year to bring Cruz to the Northwest. Seems unlikely.”
And the Rangers, who would benefit with Cruz in the lineup, are now looking at exploring the trade market during free agency’s early stages, per the Star-Telegram’s Jeff Wilson.
Even the Baltimore Orioles have their limitations. Per Dan Connolly from The Baltimore Sun:
"The Orioles would love to keep him for two years. A club that needs power and a positive-thinking, solid clubhouse guy surely will go to three. If someone goes to four, the Orioles are definitely out.
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It’s shaping up to be another interesting offseason for a guy who has done all he can to set himself up for a large payday.
5. Chase Headley, 3B
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It is well known that Sandoval is high on the Red Sox's list of targets. Apparently, so is Chase Headley, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.
To be sure, the idea that Cherington would be interested in bringing in the best defensive third baseman on the open market, who has a career .347 on-base percentage, isn’t far-fetched. Some, including Tim Dierkes from MLBTradeRumors.com, have the Red Sox actually landing Headley.
Heyman also notes in his piece that the New York Yankees have an interest in the third baseman. “The Yankees,” Heyman wrote, “are said to want to re-sign Headley in what is an indication they have doubts whether Alex Rodriguez can return as a starting third baseman.”
Other clubs that could look at Headley are the White Sox and Giants.
The Brewers were an option before Aramis Ramirez picked up his end of the mutual option on his contract next season, per ESPN.com. And Headley would only interest the Giants if they lose Sandoval to free agency.
4. Victor Martinez, DH
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The Detroit Tigers took the first step in their attempt to retain Martinez on Friday when they extended him a $15.3 million qualifying offer.
Truth be told, there are many who believe that there is no way Dombrowski lets his designated hitter walk. Buster Olney from ESPN.com (subscription required) cited an MLB executive who “said recently that considering the Tigers' win-at-all-costs approach and Martinez's importance in the Detroit lineup, he cannot see them being outbid for the” designated hitter.
Given current payroll obligations, however, Dombrowski needs to tread cautiously with the number of years and overall dollar amounts he hands out this offseason. Making matters more difficult is the fact that “Martinez will try to capitalize on a monster season with a four-year deal as a free agent, according to sources,” per CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.
There are also the White Sox and Mariners to consider.
Both clubs have a need for a left-handed presence in the lineup and a star for him to hit behind. With the White Sox, Abreu desperately needs protection, and for the Mariners, Robinson Cano would assuredly benefit from a guy like Martinez hitting fourth.
One thing to keep in mind is that Martinez could use the three-year, $50 million deal the Yankees gave to Carlos Beltran last offseason as a benchmark. To that end, Anthony Fenech from the Detroit Free Press cited an unnamed agent who “expects him to get more” than Beltran did.
3. Russell Martin, C
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When it comes to potential suitors and Martin, there are only three clubs that seem to get the most press—the Pirates, Cubs and Dodgers.
Not that other teams couldn’t use the best catcher to hit the open market for some years, of course. It’s just that Martin is going to command an extravagant commitment, and those three have certain advantages.
For the Pirates, they have the advantage of being the club that Martin went to the last two postseasons with. Unfortunately, the number of years Martin is likely to get is an obstacle to bringing him back, as the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Travis Sawchik recently told CBS Pittsburgh’s Bob Pompeani:
"I think that’s a big dilemma. It’s not so much the short-term dollars, because the Pirates are going to make him that qualifying offer. It’s those third, fourth, and maybe someone’s even going to five him that fifth year in free agency, and that’s why I think it’s unlikely that he’ll be back.
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The Pirates have extended a qualifying offer to the right-handed hitter, per ESPN.com, which will afford them at least some level of protection should he leave.
Now, the Cubs would seem to be an ideal fit. As ESPN.com’s Buster Olney noted (subscription required):
"They have a need at catcher; Martin could fill that. They are rebuilding their pitching; Martin could be a part of that. They have a lot of young players being integrated into the majors; Martin could help with that, as he did in Pittsburgh. The Cubs have payroll flexibility, and Martin will be expensive.
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Finally, the Dodgers make sense since that is where he got his start, and the Dodgers desperately need production behind the plate. Yes, A.J. Ellis is a fantastic backstop, but his bat doesn’t get the job done.
Sure, Martin left on very poor terms following the 2010 campaign, but as Olney noted, there is new ownership and a new general manager in place. That could make all the difference in the world.
2. Max Scherzer, RHP
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The first thing that must be addressed when discussing Max Scherzer and potential suitors is his future with the Detroit Tigers.
We’ll go backward.
The Tigers gave Scherzer a qualifying offer Friday, but it is merely a formality aimed at securing an additional draft pick. After all, Dombrowski likely won't have the financial means to bring him back.
Simply put, even with Scherzer’s salary off the books, the Tigers are woefully top-heavy from a fiscal standpoint, making the right-hander’s return unlikely, per Matt Mowery from The Oakland Press.
And Dombrowski is on record wondering how the Tigers are going to compete once Scherzer hits the open market, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck. “Why would they [the chances of re-signing Scherzer] improve,” Dombrowski asked, “if we have one-on-one ability to speak with you, compared to having 29 other clubs speak with you?”
All told, it’s safe to assume that the right-hander is in a different uniform next season. Where, though?
Well, you can count the Rangers out.
Not that they were ever serious contenders, but word now comes that Daniels is going to explore the trade market—for the time being. “We’ll probably be more trade-focused than free-agent-focused, at least early on,” Daniels said just before the World Series ended, per Jeff Wilson from the Star-Telegram.
As far as clubs with the resources to add Scherzer, the Red Sox, Cubs and Yankees are all capable of assuming a contract that pays well over $20 million annually.
1. Jon Lester, LHP
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Signs all point to one of two clubs for Lester.
First of all, the Red Sox would love to have him back, and Cherington had a few things to say on the matter on Friday, Oct. 31. Per MLB.com’s Ian Browne:
"Again, we're going to try to build the best team we can, and that is one of the areas we need to add to, the rotation. We know him well and hope we get a chance to talk to him. I'm sure he'll talk to others and I'm sure we'll talk to others. We just have to get into the offseason and see what comes of it.
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And seeing as how Lester and the Red Sox parted on good terms, there should be no doubt that given the right offer and the right moves by Cherington, Lester could return.
And how sensational would it be if Cherington re-signed Lester to a contract just over three months after trading him to the Oakland A’s along with Jonny Gomes for Yoenis Cespedes? In essence, he got an All-Star outfielder from the A’s and would still have Lester starting Opening Day in 2015.
The other club in on Lester is the Cubs.
Now, there has been a lot written about the two, but a couple of interesting things have happened recently regarding Lester and the Cubs.
First of all, the Chicago Sun Times’ Gordon Wittenmyer quoted Peavy saying the following:
"Me and Jon [Lester] are obviously very close. If there was ever a fit with both of us on the team, certainly that would interest me. I know what he brings to the table. We have a crazy good friendship, and I know how bad he wants to win, and I know he’s not going to go to a situation for however many years he signs [for] to lose.
You never know what free agency brings. I’ve certainly talked to Jon Lester because we’re buddies. So I have a feel for what he does. And I certainly know that Chicago would interest him and interest me.
"
Well then.
The other thing that went down is that the Cubs hired Maddon to manage the club. Not only does Lester have a relationship with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and GM Hoyer, but now the club went out and hired the roster whisperer to call the shots from the dugout.
That certainly has to help the Cubs’ chances.
Unless otherwise noted, all traditional, team and historical statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference. Contract information pulled from Cots Contracts. Transaction, injury and game information are courtesy of MLB.com.
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