MLB Rumor: Which Mystery Team Offered Vladimir Guerrero an $8 Million Contract?

An integral part of the Texas Rangers' World Series run, Vladimir Guerrero is now a man looking for a team.

Guerrero, who turns 36 next week, has seemingly resurrected his career, once thought to be dead after the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim cut ties with him after the 2009 season.

It’s reported that the Baltimore Orioles have the most interest in Vlad, offering the nine-time All-Star a one-year deal worth in the range of $4.5 million to $5 million, but Vladdy is still looking for more.

As ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported over the weekend, a mystery team has now entered the mix for Guerrero’s services, and the Orioles are being told that team has offered Guerrero an $8 million contract over one year, doubling the Orioles' proposed deal.

Guerrero hasn’t had many suitors over the offseason to begin with, so the fact that there is a "mystery" team out there for an athlete solely looking to DH is puzzling in its own right.

However, he is an attractive player despite his climbing age and poor defense. He hit 29 homers for the Rangers last season, earning him his ninth Sliver Slugger Award, and was a vital acquisition on my championship fantasy team last season—but that’s beside the point.

Though the list isn’t long, his possible suitors, one of which is perhaps this "mystery" team, include the Orioles, Angels, Rangers and Blue Jays.

The Orioles are the most obvious suitor, offering a one-year deal worth around $5 million, as I stated before. Vlad in Baltimore would spell the end of incumbent DH Luke Scott's time at that position and move him to left field, while also protecting new acquisitions Derrek Lee and Mark Reynolds in the Orioles lineup.

The Angels could use the combined efforts of Guerrero and Bobby Abreu in the DH role. This would also be a homecoming for Vlad after playing in Anaheim for six years from 2004 to 2009. Angels GM Tony Reagins has told multiple sources that a Vlad to the Halos homecoming is not out of the question, and the Angels could very well be Guerrero’s mystery team.

Expressing some interest in re-signing Guerrero previously this offseason, the Texas Rangers don’t necessarily have room for Vlad on their roster with the new acquisition of Mike Napoli, but there is still plenty of time to make moves. It’s expected that Napoli and Michael Young will share the DH duties, but with constant speculation towards a Young trade, this could free up room for Vladdy to make his return.

The Blue Jays have been very open about stating they want to strengthen their bench this offseason, and Guerrero could be the key acquisition to make this possible. This contradicts earlier reports that they want to give Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion ample playing time to prove their worth, but if the Blue Jays plan to go a different way with either of these players, then they could very well be the mystery team on Guerrero’s heels.

As spring training quickly approaches, Vladimir Guerrero will eventually catch on with a team, and whichever team signs him will be pleasantly surprised—just like I was surprised to pick him up in the 20th round of last year’s draft.

Guerrero still has the mental edge and physical ability to play at the major league level, but now it’s a waiting game for him to field the multiple offers and decide where to take his talents next.