FA Watch: Potential Free Agents, Position Players (Season 7)

Catchers:

Josh Wagner: A career .285/.386/.512 hitter, he's also an adequate defender at the position, rare for someone with that kind of bat. He's excellent against lefties, and holds his own against righties. He also has an amazingly discriminating eye at the plate, along with very good power; this might be an odd comparison, but he's a similar hitter to Ray Lankford in his prime, minus the speed. However, he's never had as many as 500 plate appearances in any season. But as a 29 year old slugging catcher with solid defense, he'd be a sought-after commodity in a free market. Sources close to the Anaheim organization say he's fairly likely to re-sign with the Anteaters.

Will Carter: Carter's calling card is his defense; he's thrown out 29% of prospective basestealers over his career, and has a catcher ERA of 3.88. Now granted, four of those seasons were with an excellent Chicago pitching staff, but he's likely been a big part of those sparkling ERAs. Carter's bat is also surprisingly solid; he's a career .289/.336/.442 hitter. There are warning signs, however; Carter is 33 years old, and his arm strength and bat speed have both been affected. He's also a significant injury risk. It's unclear as to whether Chicago will let him walk this season.

Vic Hardtke: Hardtke isn't so different from the aforementioned Josh Wagner. They're both 29 year old catchers that have significant platoon splits, excellent batting eyes, and playable, but unspectacular defense. That said, Hardtke doesn't have Wagner's power or throwing arm. He does, however, have the ability to play almost every day. Despite being a right handed hitter, he fares better against righties than lefties. Carter's chances of reaching free agency aren't too bad, but Syracuse may be comfortable letting him platoon against righties, at least for a few more years.

Others: Brian Wilson's power is all but gone, but he can still get on base against righties, posting a .394 OBP last season. His arm is shot, however, making him a less than ideal platoon candidate. Albert Javier, Cy Byrne, John Nakamura, and others make up the "good defense, no bat" population of free agent catchers. Lawrence Bryne (or William Benes) and Horacio Morales might make a palatable platoon. Tom Williams' bat would be fine if he were a good defensive catcher. He's not.

First Basemen:

Wiki Perez: Your classic take-and-rake slugger, Perez has drawn no fewer than 89 walks in any full season, including a career high 113 BB's during Season 6. All's not roses, though; Perez's 36 homers was also a full-season low, and his power is steadily waning. Still just 31 years old, and given strong marks for his makeup, one would think Perez would get plenty of attention as a free agent. Unfortunately, that looks unlikely; as the best hitter on a playoff team, he'll probably return for another few seasons with the Twang.

Rickey Dixon: Like Perez, Dixon is also a switch-hitting 31 year old first baseman with an excellent batting eye, very good power, and excellent durability. Dixon is a bit more well-rounded than Perez as a hitter; while Perez draws a few more walks, Dixon makes up for it by hitting for a significantly higher average (he's a lifetime .314 hitter). He's been with Chicago his entire career; if it weren't for whispers that the Jayhawks might "blow the whole thing up" and try to rebuild, Dixon would have no chance of leaving. Right now, however, it's a possibility.

Jesus Reynoso: Reynoso's power and patience aren't at the same level as Dixon or Perez. He's drawn as many as 80 walks exactly once, and has fewer homers than either Dixon or Perez in more at bats. That said, his power is still very good, and he's a lifetime .312 hitter with excellent contact skills, especially for a slugging 1B. He's been a great fit for Albuquerque's lineup, but he's not a legitimate MVP candidate; the other major candidates have put up equally good or better numbers in more neutral parks. Regardless, he's still a great hitter, and unlikely to leave.

Lee Roundtree: Roundtree isn't as accomplished as the other three hitters on this list; he's the least patient hitter of the quartet, and his power is clearly on the decline. That said, he still hit .304/.364/.532 on the season. That's good enough to start for most teams in the league. He's somewhat vulnerable against quality righties, and needs a rest once a week. He also doesn't look like a good long-term bet, either, especially if his power continues to decline at the same rate. One would guess Philly would keep him if they plan to contend next season.

Others: John Cho has a well-rounded offensive game, but it has yet to translate into big league success. Furthermore, he's 30 years old, has terrible makeup, and gets hurt easily. All-or-nothing sluggers like Sammy Pinzon and Aramis Plata might make it as backups or pinch hitters, or they'll be stuck at AAA, waiting for their next chance. Julius Thomas was once a very good player; he'll still make a decent backup at this point in his career. Douglas Gordon could always hit for average against RHP, but doesn't have the requisite power or patience to hack it as a major league 1B.

Second Basemen:

Charlie Ratliff: A career .283/.356/.447 hitter, Ratliff doesn't seem like the type to make $47,500,000 over the last 5 seasons. Yet he did, mostly playing as a 2B for the Comics. His range is below average for the position, but his glovework is solid, and his arm is far overqualified for the position; one might think his talents are better suited for 3B. He's fast, but a poor base-thief. Just last season, he stole 31 bases, but was caught an astounding 26 times. He's very durable, capable of playing every day, and has yet to hit the disabled list in 6 years, missing only 13 games total. Ratliff was "made available" via trade several times over the past couple of seasons; since he's guaranteed to get Type A consideration, he's likely to be granted free agency.

Matty Mitchell: Once an excellent hitter, Mitchell's bat is still good enough to start at 2B (he hit .272/.344/.445 last year). The problem is that his glove no longer plays there; his rapidly deteriorating range and throwing arm made him a liability at any position save for 1B and LF. Nevertheless, the Tackleberries tried him out as a Swiss Army knife, playing every position but catcher and pitcher, with mixed results. Mitchell is fairly likely to hit free agency, but it remains to be seen if there's any interest in a present-day Jose Vidro type.

Micah Moehler: Despite a career .264/.333/.420 line, he's made $32 million over the last four seasons. Furthermore, his defense has been mediocre at best; he's made 18 minus plays over his career at 2B (as opposed to 7 plus plays), and sports a below-average .980 FLD% at the position. Similar to Ratliff, he runs fast but lacks any baserunning IQ, stealing 35 bags but getting thrown out 16 times. He's durable, and always healthy, and a relatively young potential free agent at 29. Still, it looks like a lock that he won't make as much money as he did in the past when he signs a new contract.

Others: There's not much else to look at; Einar Fernandez can still get on base, but doesn't have the glove to stay at 2B or the bat to move down the defensive spectrum. Victor Lopez's bat is a bit light for the position, and his range is well below average.

Third Basemen:

Tony Cortes: Cortes is an excellent defensive 3B. He played a capable SS for the Jayhawks from seasons 2-5 before switching over to 3B, where he made only 5 errors while making 4 plus plays and 0 minus plays. He has a career OPS of .826 as well; while his performance last year was 80 points below this, it looks more like an anomaly than a trend. Cortes is very durable; he's missed a grand total of 16 games in 6 seasons. He'll likely re-sign with the Jayhawks, but should he find the free agent market, he'd make an adequate SS with an excellent bat, or an excellent 3B with a decent stick.

Robin Service: A serviceable (sorry about that) starter, Service can plug a hole, but he's not a star. His soft hands and accurate throwing arm more than make up for his average range and arm strength, making him a solidly above-average defender at the hot corner. He's got enough power to hit 20 homers, and enough bat to get on base at a league-average rate. His availability will all depend on the new owner; sche0707 is on his way out, so no one knows if Service will hit the FA market.

John Hardy: Cut from the same mold as Service, Hardy combines an adequate bat with a very good glove. However, Hardy's arm strength is starting to go; it's questionable as to how much longer Hardy can handle third base, if at all anymore. That said, Hardy is above average in every other aspect of the position, with excellent hands, outstanding accuracy in his throws, and solid range. He might make a competent 2B, although the same concerns as his play at 3B still apply, this time to his range. Service projects similar to Hardy offensively, although Hardy might get on base at a slightly better rate. The Mets have shopped Hardy all season long; he'll be a free agent come Season 7, although it's questionable if other teams are willing to pick him up as a Type A.

Wade Green: The question with Green is whether his bat will rebound. After a successful year during Season 4, Green's numbers have been disappointing for two seasons in a row. His defense is still good; his range, while slipping a bit, is still an asset, and his glovework and arm are still above average. He's a switch hitter as well. While he's already 33 years old, he gets high marks for his coachability and work ethic, and he's able to play every day. It remains to be seen whether the Devil Rays choose to dangle him for Type A compensation, or re-sign him to another contract.

Others: Max Huff is just below league average as a hitter, and just below average at fielding his position. That makes him a fringy starter, but a nice backup. Ditto for Albie Lopez, except that he looks slightly worse than Huff on both ends. Victor Nunez can play third, and he's not a completely awful hitter, but he's be lucky to ever start again at the ML level. R.A. Young should be in right field, but his .301 career OBP won't help him stick there. Peter Embree might be okay platooning against LHP, but nothing more at this point in his career. Brian Matthews has enough power to stick, but should be moved to an outfield corner, as should Roberto Rivera and Nicholas Shields. Of course, unlike Matthews, Rivera and Shields can't really hit anymore, either. Buddy Leonard swings a wet noodle, and never walks. Average defense won't make up for his deficiencies.

Shortstops:

Dale Howry: If he enters free agency, he'd be the only shortstop available with average or better defense and offense. While his arm is starting to go, his range and glovework are still very good. At the plate, he's a rare breed of shortstop, using a take-and-rake approach you'd see more often from a first baseman or corner outfielder. He's only a .266 hitter, but it's not an empty .266; he's hit at least 20 homers in 5 of the last 6 seasons, and he's drawn 330 walks during that stretch. That's not amazing or anything, but it makes him a legitimate bat at a position where finding such a thing is very difficult. However, his poor makeup and health concerns make him a riskier choice than your average 30 year old.

Taylor Smith: There's little doubt that Smith can hit. Between seasons 3-6, he's put up an OPS above .800 every year. The problem is that he's not really a shortstop; he has a lifetime FLD% of .949 at the position. Now, granted, fielding percentage is hardly the only criterion of fielding aptitude, but Smith's range doesn't help him either. Since his glovework is considered above average at SS, the problem has to be his arm, which has been described as "mediocre at best." The Mets don't look likely to retain Smith; whoever ends up with him should not be signing him to play SS, and even CF would be a bit of a stretch. He'd make a fine 2B or 3B, if given the opportunity.

Others: Troy Stern is clearly the best defensive shortstop on the market. That said, he's a career .249/.313/.272 hitter. Starting him would create a huge hole in the lineup. Charles Cox's defense would be superb if Father Time didn't rob him of his range. Of course, he's not really that much better of a hitter than Stern. Buddy Hermansen can also play the position quite capably, but sports a sad .270 career ML OBP. Esteban Mateo can outhit the other 3 listed above him, but his lack of range or arm strength would make him a questionable choice at SS. Andre Beimel's defense is actually not too far off from Stern's, and he actually even possesses legitimate power. However, his batting eye would make Reggie Abercrombie blush; he's drawn 66 walks in over 2300 at bats, for an ML OBP of .260. Finally, there's Nick Teut, who's a classic tweener: not enough glove for SS, not enough bat for 3B.

Corner Outfielders:

Preston Grieve: Grieve possesses excellent power and sees the ball very well against right-handers. He could use a little more patience, but he's hit a solid .269/.344/.510 for his career. He's a sure handed left fielder as well. He holds his own against lefties, but isn't great against them, and doesn't make consistent contact at the plate, depressing his batting average. He's also got some injury concerns. Nevertheless, he'd be a nice add for a team looking for an everyday left fielder. There looks to be a good chance that he'll be allowed to walk.

Vance Phillips: Phillips has excellent range and glovework for a left fielder. His arm is very weak, but playing LF, it's not really a concern. Offensively, he doesn't have much power, but has one of the best batting eyes in the game; his career .403 OBP and 571 BB's in 6 seasons rank him among the league's best at both. He's also capable of playing every day, and rarely ever gets injured. He's 32 years old, but figures to age relatively well, since his defense is still well above average for the position, and his primary skills (contact, batting eye) are maintainable through a relatively old age. His availability is still in question; depending on what direction the Jayhawks go, he could either re-sign, or net Chicago a couple of picks through free agency.

Dave Rupe: A true power hitter, Rupe has spent his last 6 years with the Hangars, slugging .557, mostly playing first base, although he can certainly play a passable left field. However, he's very much a free swinger, much like an Alfonso Soriano-type; his career high in walks for a season is 40, and his career OBP is a less than stellar .329. Despite his strong makeup, his power has steadily declined over the last two seasons, and Season 6's total of 32 homers was a career worst. Still, Rupe is only 30 years old, and capable of cranking out a few more productive seasons. The Hangars are clearly in a state of rebuilding, so he's a good bet to change teams during the offseason.

Rusty Meadows: One of the most one-dimensional hitters in the league, Meadows can't hit for average (.242), doesn't walk (224 in over 3,000 at bats), and doesn't run well (0-6 in stealing bases). What he can do, however, is hit the long ball; he's hit over 50 homers in three different seasons, including a career-best 64 in Season 3. His defense in right field is also very good; he can even play some 3B in a pinch. He's no gym rat, and he doesn't look like he'll age gracefully, but he's only 29 years old. The Hangars grabbed him off the waiver wire this season; while it doesn't look like LA will sign him to a contract, it's not out of the question.

Scott Watkins: Watkins is capable of playing a solid LF or a shaky RF. He has middling power, decent contact skills, and a solid but unremarkable batting eye. However, he sees the ball very well against right handers, and very poorly against lefties; he might make an ideal platoon candidate. He's coming off of a .304/.367/.477 season; if he can duplicate that, he could be a bargain. Given Richmond's current state, he's likely to hit the market this season.

Others: Peter Li is a career .271/.332/.540 hitter, but is 33 years old, coming off of a season where he barely cracked a .700 OPS, and is known as one of the least-motivated players in the league. He might be done a lot sooner than you think. Vin Hernandez runs well, and could make a living at the plate against lefties a la Jason Michaels a few years back. Luis Marichal is blazing fast, an intelligent baserunner, and an excellent bunter, but that's about all he offers; he's a zero at the plate.

Center Fielders:

Nigel Whang: A true centerfielder that's posted a career .364 OBP, .451 SLG, and stole 330 bases in 6 seasons at an 86% success rate, Whang should get plenty of attention if he finds his way to free agency. He's 31, though, and his range is rapidly declining; it won't be too long until his range is no longer acceptable at the position. For at least one more season, though, he promises to be a quality starter at a hard-to-fill position.

Eduardo Castillo: His career OPS is a hair under .800, which looks impressive until you consider that Boston had an .839 team OPS, and allowed a .820 OPS. Nevertheless, he's a solid hitter for the position, one that'll draw his share of walks and occasionally go deep. He's pretty fast, but a horrendous baserunner; his SB success rate doesn't even reach 60%. His defense is fine at CF; his range is still good enough where it'll play for at least a couple more seasons, and he's still just 30. There are whispers that Boston will look elsewhere for a centerfielder next season.

Others: Josh Martin has excellent range; he can adequately play any position outside of the battery. His bat, of course, is suspect; a .663 career OPS screams "backup utility player." Butch Cintron and Vic Chase can both hit a little, but neither can actually play centerfield; they're basically your classic tweeners. Ditto for Julian Galvez; although Galvez has the range to be acceptable, his glovework for the position is awful.

Designated Hitters:

Lewis Stephens: He doesn't have the classic power stroke of your typical DH, but he gets by instead by peppering line drives everywhere. A career .315 hitter, he's especially dangerous against same-handed (RHP) pitchers, but is solid against lefties as well. He's already 34, and his power, never his strength, could be completely gone sooner than later. He could still provide good value for a season or two.

Earl Quantrill: He's 37 years old, and two seasons removed from his last successful season. He's probably done.

Robert Hurst: He's 29 years old, and drives the ball well against lefties, but doesn't really have much power. He could make a quick fix for a team needing a platoon partner on the cheap, but he's no more than a band-aid.