Destination Predictions for MLB's Top 15 Remaining Offseason Targets
The finish line is in sight, baseball fans!
In just over a month, we will hear those sweet, beautiful words coming from the mouths of those in baseball circles: pitchers and catchers!
But before we get to spring training and ultimately Opening Day, there's still work to be done on the free-agent front. While many players have inked contracts with new organizations for 2015, plenty of useful pieces remain in need of homes for the season ahead.
That includes two of the diamonds in this free-agent class in Max Scherzer and James Shields, relievers like Casey Janssen, Rafael Soriano, Burke Badenhop and Francisco Rodriguez and dependable veteran bats like Nori Aoki, Ichiro Suzuki and Colby Rasmus.
Based off of speculation and rumors, we'll try to locate the best possible landing spots for the top players left on the market. Some teams have evident holes that they need to fill, while others may be hoping to strengthen already potent units.
Regardless of the situation, the following transactions will go a long way in deciding which teams will end up enjoying October baseball.
But enough chitchat, let's get to it!
Max Scherzer to the Detroit Tigers
1 of 15
Why It Will Happen
Jon Morosi of Fox Sports has reported that Scherzer and his agent Scott Boras are seeking a contract in excess of $200 million. While the 30-year-old hurler may have to lower his price tag in order to get a deal done, he'll still likely receive a King Felix-type of deal that spans multiple seasons and is worth around $175 million to $180 million.
Teams have shied away from picking up Scherzer's tab thus far this offseason, but that shouldn't take away from the former AL Cy Young's resume. Scherzer is 82-35 with a 3.52 ERA in 161 starts while in Detroit. In MLB since 2010, the right-hander ranks fourth in strikeouts per nine innings and sixth in WAR.
With Scherzer's reported contract demands, his market has diminished as the winter has progressed. The New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals have been linked to the righty, but Scherzer's former club makes the most sense.
The Tigers will be good with or without Scherzer next season, but pairing Scherzer with David Price, Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Alfredo Simon would create one of the best staffs in baseball. Combine that rotation with an elite lineup, and Detroit would be the favorite in the AL.
Tony Paul of The Detroit News quoted a source within the Tigers organization as saying that the club has "to have" Scherzer in free agency. The report cites Price's cloudy future and Verlander/Sanchez's health as factors.
Other Possible Suitors
St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees
James Shields to the Boston Red Sox
2 of 15
Why It Will Happen
Since the beginning of free agency, James Shields has been a perfect fit for the pitching-needy Boston Red Sox. And although a league source has told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal that the Red Sox are "highly unlikely" to sign the right-hander, I still believe Shields will end up in Boston before the end of the offseason.
The Red Sox have added multiple impact players this winter, signing Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to multiyear deals. With Ramirez and Sandoval joining the likes of David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli in the Boston lineup, the club's offense looks like it will be playoff-worthy in 2015.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the rotation, as Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Wade Miley, Justin Masterson and Joe Kelly fail to inspire much confidence in the Boston faithful. The addition of Shields at this juncture is a necessity for a team in desperate need of a dependable front-of-the-rotation starter.
Shields will cost much less than Scherzer, but the 33-year-old has been one of the most dependable arms in baseball since his first full year as a starter in 2007. He's logged over 200 innings in every season over that time, and his 1,785.2 innings during that span is the most in baseball.
Other teams remain interested in Shields' services, but no team needs him more than the Red Sox.
Other Possible Suitors
St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins
Yoan Moncada to the New York Yankees
3 of 15
Why It Will Happen
Yoan Moncada is one of the more coveted Cuban prospects of all time, which is saying something when you consider the track record of the small country just south of Miami.
The 19-year-old infielder still needs to be cleared by the Office of Foreign Assets Control before he can join an MLB roster, but that's not stopping potential buyers from drooling over the teenage phenom.
Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs described Moncada as having "plus bat speed, plus raw power, 65-to-70 speed (6.6 in the 60), the feel and hands to stick in the infield and enough arm to play anywhere on the field." Despite his age and inexperience in American pro baseball, scouts have told McDaniel that Moncada will likely need only one or two years in the minors and that he is a "superior talent" to recent Cuban imports Jose Abreu, Rusney Castillo and Yasmany Tomas.
While every team in baseball would love to bring Moncada to their city, it's looking like two familiar rivals will vie for his services. McDaniel recently tweeted that he believed the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees would be "heavy favorites" in the Moncada sweepstakes.
B/R's Zachary Rymer believes the Yankees have the upper hand over the Red Sox because of more immediate infield needs. Boston has Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts and Pablo Sandoval under contract, while the Yanks would likely overpay to sign Derek Jeter's successor as the franchise's cornerstone.
Other Possible Suitors
Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals
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Colby Rasmus to the Baltimore Orioles
4 of 15
Why It Will Happen
The mystery that is Colby Rasmus needs a new home in 2015 after a subpar campaign a year ago. In an injury-riddled season, the outfielder hit just .225 in 104 games. Despite being benched at the end of 2014, Rasmus' 18 homers remained a silver lining in a lost year.
That inconsistency has been the 28-year-old's modus operandi throughout his career. Since 2010, Rasmus has alternated between good and bad years with averages of .276, .225, .223 and .276 on the back of his baseball card. Despite such fluctuations in production, Rasmus has maintained a certain level of power in his swing. He's hit 116 dingers in his career, including three different seasons with over 20 round-trippers.
Due to the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde nature of Rasmus' career, many pundits like Paul Folkemer of PressBoxOnline.com believe that he's in the market for a "one-year, make-good contract" in 2015. A productive season would allow Rasmus to seek a multiyear deal in next year's free agency.
Jim Bowden of ESPN has reported that his sources believe that the Baltimore Orioles have discussed signing Rasmus and that those talks are "gaining steam." The O's have yet to replace the production of the departed Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, and Rasmus' power would fit nicely in the shallow dimensions of Camden Yards.
Other Possible Suitors
Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland A's
Hector Olivera to the Oakland A's
5 of 15
Why It Will Happen
With Yoan Moncada's arrival in the big leagues likely a few years away, Cuban counterpart Hector Olivera can provide a more immediate impact in the majors.
Olivera is 29 years old, obviously making him more of a short-term option. Craig Goldstein of SB Nation describes the infielder as having "good pop for his position" and being a "plus runner." Goldstein also notes that Olivera is a versatile fielder, capable of performing well at second or third base.
The switch-hitter comes with health concerns, as he missed most of the 2012-13 season with a blood disorder. His age may also be an issue, with his peak playing days possibly behind him.
But his talent and readiness to be plugged into a major league lineup will attract a sizable group of buyers. Any team with an infield void will gravitate toward Olivera, but the Oakland A's would be the best fit. Billy Beane has shown he will splurge on Cuban imports, a la Yoenis Cespedes, plus Oakland finds itself in a quasi-rebuild that warrants the short-term solution that Olivera figures to be.
Other Possible Suitors
New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals
Casey Janssen to the Los Angeles Dodgers
6 of 15
Why It Will Happen
The Blue Jays will look elsewhere for a new closer in 2015, as the club decided to part ways with longtime reliever Casey Janssen after injuries derailed him last season.
Janssen came down with a severe case of food poisoning that caused him to miss substantial time in the second half of the season. When Janssen returned, his atrocious production down the stretch resulted in a demotion from his ninth-inning duties. The right-hander's second-half ERA ballooned to 6.46, while opposing batters mashed at a .287 clip against him.
However, before his second-half downturn, Janssen was producing at an elite level. His 1.23 ERA and .217 average against opposing hitters had many believing that the Jays would lock down the 33-year-old for the next several years.
There's no shortage of teams that desperately need bullpen help, so Janssen could end up at a number of different landing spots. The Los Angeles Dodgers were considered favorites in the NL last season before a shoddy pen led to the club's demise in the NLDS. A healthy Janssen would be the impact reliever the club desires to fill its late-inning holes.
Other Possible Suitors
Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers
Rafael Soriano to the Detroit Tigers
7 of 15
Why It Will Happen
Similar to Janssen, Rafael Soriano's ability to close games makes him a valuable commodity that could still help a bullpen-needy organization.
Soriano has pitched for five teams over the course of his career, performing in a variety of different late-inning roles. The right-hander has closed over 200 games since 2002, including three 40-save seasons in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
The 35-year-old made way for Drew Storen in Washington last season, but Soriano still managed to save 32 games for the Nats. His 3.19 ERA will be of concern to potential buyers, but the veteran raised his strikeout percentage back to its normal level with a 23.4 percent mark.
It's no secret that the Detroit Tigers' bullpen has been the key factor in the club's recent postseason anguish, so the Tigers will likely add another veteran reliever before spring training. With Joe Nathan struggling mightily in 2014 as the closer, Soriano's ability to kill off games would give Detroit multiple options in the ninth inning.
Other Possible Suitors
Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox
Ryan Vogelsong to the San Francisco Giants
8 of 15
Why It Will Happen
The defending World Series champions have used the backs (or arms) of consistently great starting pitching to buoy their recent run of success, as Madison Bumgarner proved with his near-perfect run in the 2014 postseason.
But as the San Francisco Giants approach the upcoming season, a usual position of strength is clouded with uncertainty.
Bumgarner will top the rotation as its unquestioned ace and the steady Jake Peavy will be back, but the rest of the rotation contains plenty of question marks. Tim Hudson and Matt Cain will hope to shake off significant injury issues, Tim Lincecum has become a shell of his former Cy Young self and 2014 was the first time Yusmeiro Petit exceeded 100 innings in a season.
Needless to say, the Giants need to add a proven veteran starter that's capable of bridging a gap if the club's pitching luck runs dry. It just so happens a very familiar face can still be signed to fill that role.
Ryan Vogelsong's career in San Fran seemed destined to end, but the 37-year-old's return to the Bay Area would make sense for the Giants. The right-hander logged 650 innings for San Francisco from 2011-14, while recording a 3.74 ERA.
B/R's Zachary Rymer believes that Vogelsong's reputation as a fly-ball pitcher makes him even more valuable to the Giants because of the lengthy dimensions at AT&T Park.
Other Possible Suitors
Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres
Nori Aoki to the San Francisco Giants
9 of 15
Why It Will Happen
According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, Nori Aoki is an attractive candidate for both the Baltimore Orioles and the San Francisco Giants.
The outfielder would be a nice fit in San Francisco due to his high-contact stroke and solid on-base numbers. Aoki is a career .287 hitter and sports a steady .353 career OBP. He's never recorded a strikeout percentage of higher than 10 percent in his career, including a 5.9 percent mark in 2013 with the Brewers. In fact, Aoki has walked 143 times in his big league career and struck out only 144 times.
Those numbers would make him a valuable addition to any lineup.
San Francisco will enter the season with Gregor Blanco in left, Angel Pagan in center and Hunter Pence in right. Adding Aoki would allow the club to make Blanco its fourth infielder, a role that suits his talents well.
Maggie Pilloton of FanSided believes that manager Bruce Bochy would use Aoki in a platoon with Blanco: "Bochy could decide to start Aoki most of the days and use Blanco as a defensive replacement. Bochy could also decide to start some days and use Aoki as a valuable pinch hitter off the bench."
Other Possible Suitors
Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs
Burke Badenhop to the Cincinnati Reds
10 of 15
Why It Will Happen
If not for the Colorado Rockies, the Cincinnati Reds would have "touted" the worst bullpen in the National League in 2014. The unit's collective WAR ranked 23rd overall.
The good news for Cincinnati is that it doesn't have to worry about its closer. Aroldis Chapman was arguably the best reliever in the NL last season, sporting a 2.00 ERA and fanning a remarkable 17 batters per nine innings.
Most of the sexy late-inning options are off the board as the season rapidly approaches, but the Reds would do well to sign right-hander Burke Badenhop to aid a woeful pen.
Badenhop has played on three different teams over the last three seasons, but really broke through with the Boston Red Sox last season. Badenhop appeared in 70 games for the Sox, posting a 2.29 ERA in the process.
Although his career FIP suggests his ERA may creep back up to closer to 3.00, Badenhop's biggest attribute is his ability to induce groundouts. The 31-year-old boasts a career ground-ball percentage of 55.6 percent, and his 61 percent mark was good for seventh-best in all of baseball.
The Reds are set at closer, so adding Badenhop as a double play specialist in the middle innings would provide Cincinnati with another reliable arm to help preserve victories.
Other Possible Suitors
Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers
Geovany Soto to the Texas Rangers
11 of 15
Why It Will Happen
Aside from Russell Martin, the market for catchers was quite thin in this free-agent class. But Geovany Soto remains a reasonable option behind the plate.
Soto was traded from the Texas Rangers to the Oakland A's last August, after spending most of the season on the disabled list. The 31-year-old hit .250 with 11 RBI in 24 games. He's a career .248 hitter, flashing decent pop at times with several double-digit home run seasons.
Soto's value comes from his reputation as an above-average defensive catcher. In his last full healthy season behind the dish in 2011, Soto ranked seventh in baseball in extra strikes earned for his pitching staff, according to Baseball Prospectus. He's also thrown out 37 percent of potential base stealers in his career, including 10 out of 13 in 2014.
Robinson Chirinos would be penciled in as the Rangers' starting catcher if the season began today. The 30-year-old only hit .239 for Texas last season, although he did manage to go deep 13 times.
With highly touted prospect Jorge Alfaro likely taking over the catching duties in 2016, a Soto-Chirinos unit behind the plate would be a sensible stopgap in 2015. Soto's familiarity with the Texas staff only increases his value in a potential reunion with the Rangers.
Other Possible Suitors
Oakland A's
Jonny Gomes to the Chicago Cubs
12 of 15
Why It Will Happen
No fanbase is oozing with more excitement than that of the Chicago Cubs. With a bevy of young talent and the arrival of manager Joe Maddon, the Wrigley Field faithful can taste postseason baseball once more.
Whether that is to occur in 2015 remains to be seen, but the Cubbies would be in much better shape if a veteran leader was added to the clubhouse. Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune believes that veteran may be none other than Jonny Gomes: "One potential addition is outfielder Jonny Gomes, who has played in the postseason four times in the last five seasons. The Cubs have made no secret of their search to add veterans to assist with the mentoring of their young players, and Gomes fits several needs."
Gomes is familiar with producing in a part-time role, as he hasn't been a full-time starter since 2010. Yet the 34-year-old has remained productive, reaching double-digit totals in homers eight times in his career. The outfielder's former work with Maddon in Tampa Bay should help seal a potential deal.
Gonzales mentions that Gomes could split time in left field with Chris Coghlan, but would really impact the Cubs' bench. Chicago's pinch hitters managed only a .184 average and one measly homer in 2014.
Other Possible Suitors
Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants
Francisco Rodriguez to the Toronto Blue Jays
13 of 15
Why It Will Happen
The Toronto Blue Jays chose to let Casey Janssen walk in free agency this winter, opening the door for a new closer to join the club in 2015.
CBS Sports' Jon Heyman believes that the Jays may look to add a closer via trade first, but that free agent Francisco Rodriguez is now believed to be on the club's radar.
Rodriguez may not be the dominant stopper of old, but K-Rod remains a capable late-inning option at this juncture of his career. The 33-year-old performed well in a contract year last season, saving 44 games and fanning over 23 percent of opposing batters.
In 2014, Toronto's bullpen ranked 25th in ERA with a 4.09 mark. Aside from the returning Brett Cecil and Aaron Loup, the Jays lack the bullpen arms necessary to legitimately compete in the competitive AL East.
K-Rod's 348 career saves ranks 10th all time in MLB history, and his wealth of experience would help the Toronto bullpen get back on track in 2015.
Other Possible Suitors
Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies
Ichiro Suzuki to the Miami Marlins
14 of 15
Why It Will Happen
Although maybe not equipped with the plethora of young talent of the Chicago Cubs, the Miami Marlins have plenty of reason to be excited for 2015.
After extending Giancarlo Stanton to the largest contract in MLB history, the Fish created even more ripples in the free-agent pond by acquiring Dee Gordon, Mat Latos, Martin Prado and Michael Morse.
Miami improved its 2014 record by 15 games on the backs of Stanton and its other young talent. After a busy offseason, the Marlins will face rare preseason expectations this spring.
Joe Frisaro of MLB.com doesn't think the Marlins are quite done yet, as he believes the club is exploring a number of options to fill the role of fourth outfielder. Ichiro Suzuki headlines that list of potential fits.
Ichiro at 41 is not the player he once was, but the left-handed hitter can still be a valuable piece in a limited role. Age was not a factor for Ichiro last season, as he hit .284 in 143 games with the New York Yankees. Suzuki has stayed healthy virtually his entire career, and is closing in on the coveted 3,000-hit benchmark.
His left-handed bat would be a welcome addition to a relatively young Miami outfield and his ability to play each outfield spot is an important trait for a fourth outfielder.
Other Possible Suitors
Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays
Kyle Kendrick to the Colorado Rockies
15 of 15
Why It Will Happen
Nobody expects the Colorado Rockies to be among the league leaders in ERA, but the starting rotation's 4.89 mark in 2014 ranked 29th in MLB.
The Rockies have yet to truly address their staff, as Jorge De La Rosa remains the only dependable starter on the roster. De La Rosa was the lone Colorado pitcher to toss over 150 innings, logging 184.1 last season.
Back in December, Thomas Harding at MLB.com reported that the Rockies were interested in bringing on a veteran starter, with former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick included on that wish list. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick echoed that sentiment on Twitter, citing Kendrick's high ground-ball rate as reason for a potential union between Kendrick and the Rockies.
Kendrick has also completed three straight seasons with over 150 innings pitched, something the Rockies desperately need. As Crasnick mentioned above, the 30-year-old right-hander has constantly induced groundouts, a trait that would come in handy in the open air at Coors Field.
Other Possible Suitors
Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals
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