MLB Free Agents Getting a Raw Deal This Offseason

James Shields is having an awful offseason.

The veteran starter posted a 3.21 ERA in 2014 and has racked up at least 200 innings of work in eight consecutive seasons, and yet he is still looking for a new employer as spring training rapidly approaches. Shields is by far the most prominent MLB free agent left scrambling for a job, but he's not the only quality contributor on the market who remains unsigned. 

There aren't a lot of bats on the free-agent front, but there's still an array of pitchers—especially late-inning relievers—who have been overlooked this offseason. 

Francisco Rodriguez, RP

Morry Gash/Associated Press

2014 Stats: 5-5, 3.04 ERA, 69 G, 44 SV, 68 IP, 49 H, 18 BB, 73 K

Francisco Rodriguez was an All-Star in 2014. 

Right now, he's unemployed.

Last year for the Milwaukee Brewers, the 33-year-old right-hander saved 44 games for the National League Central club. A return to Milwaukee would make a ton of sense.

The team is looking to add a bullpen arm and has even explored the idea of trading for Jonathan Papelbon of the Philadelphia Phillies, per Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Papelbon is still owed $13 million next season and has a vesting option for the same amount in 2016. 

One factor that is likely hurting Rodriguez's stock this winter is that he tailed off in the second half of 2014. After posting a 2.58 ERA in the first half, the right-hander checked in with a 3.97 ERA following the All-Star break.

Rickie Weeks, 2B

2014 Stats: .274 AVG, .357 OBP, .452 SLG, .809 OPS

Last season, Rickie Weeks had a higher OPS (.809) than Ben Zobrist, Chase Utley, Howie Kendrick and Dustin Pedroia. That's an impressive accomplishment even though he only totaled 252 at-bats for the Milwaukee Brewers.

The 32-year-old second baseman offered all sorts of pop when he faced left-handed pitching, as he posted a .504 slugging percentage and an .865 OPS. 

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Toronto Blue Jays are one potential landing spot for Weeks. Wherever he ends up, the right-handed hitter will be due to take a major pay cut from the $11 million salary he earned in 2014. 

Casey Janssen, RP

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

2014 Stats: 3-3, 3.94 ERA, 50 G, 25 SV, 45.2 IP, 47 H, 7 BB, 28 K

Casey Janssen's contract season didn't exactly go to plan. After putting up a 1.23 ERA in the first half of 2014, the right-handed reliever posted a 6.46 ERA following the Midsummer Classic.

Janssen's recent track record suggests that his train wreck of a second half was more of a fluke than an indicator of what's to come. Entering 2014, the 33-year-old had recorded a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the past three seasons. 

Last year, Janssen earned 25 saves for the Toronto Blue Jays, but a setup gig could be in his future. The reliever could take on just such a role with the Washington Nationals, who recently traded eighth-inning ace Tyler Clippard to the Oakland Athletics. According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the NL East club has "checked in on" the veteran.

Rafael Soriano, RP

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

2014 Stats: 4-1, 3.19 ERA, 64 G, 32 SV, 62 IP, 51 H, 19 BB, 59 K

Rafael Soriano is in a similar situation to the one that Janssen finds himself in. 

Soriano has a strong late-inning resume, but the 35-year-old endured a nightmare second half in 2014. After putting up a 0.97 ERA at the All-Star break, the right-handed reliever was battered to the tune of a 6.48 ERA in his final 27 outings, and he lost his spot as the closer of the Washington Nationals. 

After that showing, Soriano likely isn't going to be guaranteed the closer's job with whichever team he ends up joining. Still, on a one-year deal in the range of $5 million, he could prove to be a shrewd signing for a club looking to add one more established reliever.

James Shields, SP

Elsa/Associated Press

2014 Stats: 14-8, 3.21 ERA, 34 GS, 227 IP, 224 H, 44 BB, 180 K

James Shields is this winter's forgotten free agent. 

All of the other big-name targets are off the board, but Shields is still waiting to see just where he'll be pitching in 2015. The starter has been remarkably consistent throughout his major league career, but it's possible that his reliability is actually counting against him. 

Thanks to his streak of eight consecutive seasons of pitching at least 200 frames, Shields has piled up 1,910.1 innings of work. There's also the draft-pick compensation angle to consider. Since Shields rejected the Kansas City Royals' qualifying offer, the next team that signs him will have to forfeit its top pick in this year's draft. 

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, the nine-year veteran originally set his price tag at more than $100 million. As one executive explained to Stark, he might have to lower his expectations.

"I can't imagine he gets less than $80 million over four [years]. There's someone out there. You know that. I just have no idea who that is."

Shields had better hope that unnamed executive is right, because the starter's negotiating power is dwindling with every day that passes. 

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All videos courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.