Bronx, NY (AP) - On the off-day between games 2 and 3 of the deadlocked Subway Series, Yankees GM Goose Goslin did not rest. He met with Thomas Romero, the agent for NL Cy Young Award (and Game 2) winner Haywood Towers. The two were able to iron out a contract that could keep Towers in the pinstripes through the end of season 9. Towers is guaranteed $13.05 million over the next two seasons in the deal, and player and club have a mutual option of $8.7 million for season 9.
Said Towers, "I really wanted to stay in the Bronx. The Yankees have been good to me, and this is the greatest city in the world. I realize I could have signed a bigger deal elsewhere, but there are more important things, like winning championships. This team is in the playoffs every year, and we have a great group of guys. Management has shown a commitment to winning, bringing in Andres (Silva) and Juan (Gonzales) this year are great examples of that commitment.
Goslin added, "We wanted to get this done before the off-season and we're beyond excited that Haywood is likely to retire as a Yankee now. I'd also like to congratulate him on his well deserved Cy Young Award."
The Subway Series now moves to the Bronx for 3 games. Goslin was non-committal on whether or not original Yankee Tommy Liverman or Paul Pearson would be signed before the off-season. "We're talking with their agents, but even the Yankees have a budget," was as far as he would go.
Showing posts with label FA watch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FA watch. Show all posts
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
FA Watch: Potential Free Agents, Pitchers (Season 7)
Starters:
Haywood Towers: Don't get your hopes up. The likely season 6 NL Cy Young winner is almost certain to stay with the Yankees, which means this free agent class won't have any true aces in it.
Ruben Crespo: Everybody knows about Crespo's rubber arm, but his performance has generally been quite good until his 5.02 ERA this season. He has perfect control, decent splits and four pitches that range from above average to very good. It will be interesting to see whether the Fatboys decide to keep him.
Tommy Liverman: Liverman may end up being the best starter available. He's not an ace, but he's posted an ERA of 3.60-3.70 in four of his six seasons. He has good control, good splits, a good curveball and a decent fastball, but his other three pitches are mediocre. Considering how much money they have tied up in their top three starters, you can't blame the Yankees for letting him walk.
Sammy Manuel: The other potential free agent in Minnesota, Manuel doesn't have Crespo's ceiling, but he's been more consistent in his career. Manuel has posted an ERA between 4.10 and 4.70 every season. He has fantastic control, pretty good splits, a phenomenal changeup, two other pretty good pitches and a usable fourth pitch. He'll be 38 next season and just sustained a shoulder injury, so a big factor in how much interest he receives will be how much his abilities dip in the offseason and how many years he's looking to get.
Erubiel Sanchez: Considering how far his abilities have fallen since the beginning of the world, it's amazing how good Sanchez has been the past two seasons, going 29-14 with a 3.70 ERA in 408 innings. He's not excellent in any area, but he's at least decent across the board, at least for now. But he's going to be 40 next season, and even if he can still get people out, he may not be capable of starting regularly any more.
Mo Greer: Another of the many aging Jayhawk pitchers eligible for free agency, Greer was a big surprise with his 3.72 ERA this season after struggling mightily the previous two years. The biggest things in his favor are his control and his ability to handle lefties. But he's not very good against righties and his array of pitches is only decent at best. With him turning 37 next season, it's unlikely he's got a lot left in the tank.
Joe Harper: Harper's career path has been a bit disappointing. He was great in season one, then mediocre (mid-4 ERAs) for four seasons, then he had his worst campaign (5.09 ERA) in season 6. Still, he's got good control and an excellent set of pitches (all five above average, including a very good fastball and good curveball). It seems as though his mediocre splits are what slow him down. He'll only be 32 next season, and somebody will sign him and hope he can turn his career around.
Jorel Shaw: Shaw is another player who has been surprisingly effective even as he's gotten older, posting an ERA below 4.70 every season and a 4.35 mark for his career. He doesn't have great control, but it's not terrible either. He's just OK against lefties but excellent against righties. He also has a good set of pitches with a very good fastball, a good changeup and three other usable pitches. However, it's already a stretch for him to start regularly with his stamina/durability combo, and it's not going to get easier for him when he turns 38.
Nolan Rose: Rose moved to the bullpen for the first time in season six and he was terrible, posting a 6.06 ERA. Before this season, however, he had a decent 4.50 career ERA, almost exclusively as a starter. Rose has fantastic control and a nice set of pitches, but his splits leave a lot to be desired, especially against lefties. Still, he'll only be 31 next season and he's had some success in the past.
Patrick Doster: Doster has had some very bad stretches in his career, but he also has more upside than many of the pitchers on this list. He has a 4.08 career ERA and he'll only be 32 next season. Doster has fantastic control and a very nice set of pitches, including a phenomenal fastball, a very good changeup and three other above average pitches. He's decent against lefties, but he does struggle against righties.
Pascual Ozuna: Ozuna hasn't really been good since season one, but he hasn't been terrible either. He has very good control, is very good against righties and has a very good sinker and a good curveball. However, he struggles against lefties and only has three pitches, the third a mediocre changeup. He also has poor durability, which makes it hard to give him a regular turn in the rotation, and he'll be 38 next season.
Others: Kent Faulkner, John Parker, Fernando Castilla, Ben Cox, Harry Rivas
and Dorian Hansen are all pitchers with good control who struggle because of bad splits (Rivas), bad pitches (Castillo) or both (Faulkner, Cox, Parker and Hansen).
Relievers:
Tim Stark: Stark is easily the best reliever eligible for free agency, despite the fact that he's been all-or-nothing the past four seasons. He was terrible in seasons 3 (6.22 ERA) and 5 (5.40 ERA) but excellent in seasons 4 (1.87 ERA) and 6 (2.00 ERA). Stark has outstanding control, great splits, a perfect changeup and a very good slider. The only thing he lacks is velocity on his pitches.
Pat Velarde: Velarde has been very consistent over the years, posting a 3.67 career ERA that's been even better than that since his 4.84 mark in season one. He didn't pitch a lot this season because of because of elbow surgery. Even with the injury and his advancing age, he has very good control, solid splits and two very good pitches.
Omar Benitez: Benitez posted his second sub-3.00 ERA this season, giving him a 3.94 career ERA. He'll be 38 next season, but he still has great control, a great slider and a solid curveball. His splits, especially against righties, are not good and a big offseason decline could really hurt his effectiveness next season.
Hamlet Helling: He's only pitched 31.1 innings the past two seasons, but that's mostly because the Mets don't really need him to do more. He'll be 39 years old next season, but he still has excellent control, two good fastballs and good stuff against lefties. He does struggle against righties and his stamina/durability combo limits how much he can pitch, but he can still be useful.
Paul Pearson: Pearson is a dual risk. First, you risk him performing poorly, as he has in four of his six seasons. Second, even if he pitches well, you risk him getting hurt. But he definitely has upside, as he has good control, pretty good splits, a very good cut fastball and two other above average pitches.
Pete Hernandez: Hernandez has been a terrible reliever in his career, with his best season a 4.68 ERA in season three. However, he has excellent control, pretty good splits, a very good fastball, a good slider and two other above average pitches. If he pitched well in season 7, he wouldn't be the first reliever to stink for a long time before finally figuring it out. Unfortunately, even if he does pitch well, he can't pitch more than 50 or so innings.
Endy Suzuki: Suzuki has been an absolute rollercoaster ride in his career, posting the following season ERAs: 6.61, 3.19, 7.05, 3.86, 5.19, 1.83. He has good control, he's pretty good against righties and he has three pitches that range from above average to quite good. His biggest weakness is against lefties. He will be 35 next season and is already showing signs of decline, so that could be an issue.
Howard Knight: After two seasons as a good starter, Knight has been an up-and-down reliever the past four seasons. He's had ERAs below 3.75 twice and above 4.95 twice. Like Suzuki, he has good control and is good against righties while struggling some against lefties. His best pitch is slightly better than Suzuki's, but his second and third are worse. He also doesn't throw hard at all, and his stamina/durability combo, especially as he gets older, limits his innings.
Dann Henry: Henry probably isn't a good bet to be a quality reliever, but he picked a nice time to have a career year and post a 3.83 ERA. He doesn't have good control, but it's not terrible, either. His splits are decent and he has an excellent fastball and two other quality pitches. Of course, even is he does pitch well, staying healthy is a concern.
Kevin Lee: Like Henry, he didn't show very much until season six, when he posted a 3.21 ERA. His control and splits are both a touch worse than Henry's. He has a phenomenal fastball, a very good changeup and three other usable pitches.
Joe Hernandez: Hernandez doesn't look very good, but he's posted a sub-4.00 ERA three times in six seasons. His control is shaky and his splits, especially against lefties, aren't good. He has a very good fastball, a good sinker and a usable slider. He's another guy where poor performance isn't the only risk you're taking because of his health.
Others: Otis Stein has some impressive ratings but a 6.10 career ERA. Ellis Dawley and Cy James have good control but mediocre splits and only one good pitch. Omar Rincon and Julio Rojas have good control and decent splits, but none of their pitches really stand out. Oswaldo Lugo has good control, but he's only had an ERA below 4.20 once (in season 2). Hal Parrish has good control, but his splits and pitches leave a lot to be desired.
Haywood Towers: Don't get your hopes up. The likely season 6 NL Cy Young winner is almost certain to stay with the Yankees, which means this free agent class won't have any true aces in it.
Ruben Crespo: Everybody knows about Crespo's rubber arm, but his performance has generally been quite good until his 5.02 ERA this season. He has perfect control, decent splits and four pitches that range from above average to very good. It will be interesting to see whether the Fatboys decide to keep him.
Tommy Liverman: Liverman may end up being the best starter available. He's not an ace, but he's posted an ERA of 3.60-3.70 in four of his six seasons. He has good control, good splits, a good curveball and a decent fastball, but his other three pitches are mediocre. Considering how much money they have tied up in their top three starters, you can't blame the Yankees for letting him walk.
Sammy Manuel: The other potential free agent in Minnesota, Manuel doesn't have Crespo's ceiling, but he's been more consistent in his career. Manuel has posted an ERA between 4.10 and 4.70 every season. He has fantastic control, pretty good splits, a phenomenal changeup, two other pretty good pitches and a usable fourth pitch. He'll be 38 next season and just sustained a shoulder injury, so a big factor in how much interest he receives will be how much his abilities dip in the offseason and how many years he's looking to get.
Erubiel Sanchez: Considering how far his abilities have fallen since the beginning of the world, it's amazing how good Sanchez has been the past two seasons, going 29-14 with a 3.70 ERA in 408 innings. He's not excellent in any area, but he's at least decent across the board, at least for now. But he's going to be 40 next season, and even if he can still get people out, he may not be capable of starting regularly any more.
Mo Greer: Another of the many aging Jayhawk pitchers eligible for free agency, Greer was a big surprise with his 3.72 ERA this season after struggling mightily the previous two years. The biggest things in his favor are his control and his ability to handle lefties. But he's not very good against righties and his array of pitches is only decent at best. With him turning 37 next season, it's unlikely he's got a lot left in the tank.
Joe Harper: Harper's career path has been a bit disappointing. He was great in season one, then mediocre (mid-4 ERAs) for four seasons, then he had his worst campaign (5.09 ERA) in season 6. Still, he's got good control and an excellent set of pitches (all five above average, including a very good fastball and good curveball). It seems as though his mediocre splits are what slow him down. He'll only be 32 next season, and somebody will sign him and hope he can turn his career around.
Jorel Shaw: Shaw is another player who has been surprisingly effective even as he's gotten older, posting an ERA below 4.70 every season and a 4.35 mark for his career. He doesn't have great control, but it's not terrible either. He's just OK against lefties but excellent against righties. He also has a good set of pitches with a very good fastball, a good changeup and three other usable pitches. However, it's already a stretch for him to start regularly with his stamina/durability combo, and it's not going to get easier for him when he turns 38.
Nolan Rose: Rose moved to the bullpen for the first time in season six and he was terrible, posting a 6.06 ERA. Before this season, however, he had a decent 4.50 career ERA, almost exclusively as a starter. Rose has fantastic control and a nice set of pitches, but his splits leave a lot to be desired, especially against lefties. Still, he'll only be 31 next season and he's had some success in the past.
Patrick Doster: Doster has had some very bad stretches in his career, but he also has more upside than many of the pitchers on this list. He has a 4.08 career ERA and he'll only be 32 next season. Doster has fantastic control and a very nice set of pitches, including a phenomenal fastball, a very good changeup and three other above average pitches. He's decent against lefties, but he does struggle against righties.
Pascual Ozuna: Ozuna hasn't really been good since season one, but he hasn't been terrible either. He has very good control, is very good against righties and has a very good sinker and a good curveball. However, he struggles against lefties and only has three pitches, the third a mediocre changeup. He also has poor durability, which makes it hard to give him a regular turn in the rotation, and he'll be 38 next season.
Others: Kent Faulkner, John Parker, Fernando Castilla, Ben Cox, Harry Rivas
and Dorian Hansen are all pitchers with good control who struggle because of bad splits (Rivas), bad pitches (Castillo) or both (Faulkner, Cox, Parker and Hansen).
Relievers:
Tim Stark: Stark is easily the best reliever eligible for free agency, despite the fact that he's been all-or-nothing the past four seasons. He was terrible in seasons 3 (6.22 ERA) and 5 (5.40 ERA) but excellent in seasons 4 (1.87 ERA) and 6 (2.00 ERA). Stark has outstanding control, great splits, a perfect changeup and a very good slider. The only thing he lacks is velocity on his pitches.
Pat Velarde: Velarde has been very consistent over the years, posting a 3.67 career ERA that's been even better than that since his 4.84 mark in season one. He didn't pitch a lot this season because of because of elbow surgery. Even with the injury and his advancing age, he has very good control, solid splits and two very good pitches.
Omar Benitez: Benitez posted his second sub-3.00 ERA this season, giving him a 3.94 career ERA. He'll be 38 next season, but he still has great control, a great slider and a solid curveball. His splits, especially against righties, are not good and a big offseason decline could really hurt his effectiveness next season.
Hamlet Helling: He's only pitched 31.1 innings the past two seasons, but that's mostly because the Mets don't really need him to do more. He'll be 39 years old next season, but he still has excellent control, two good fastballs and good stuff against lefties. He does struggle against righties and his stamina/durability combo limits how much he can pitch, but he can still be useful.
Paul Pearson: Pearson is a dual risk. First, you risk him performing poorly, as he has in four of his six seasons. Second, even if he pitches well, you risk him getting hurt. But he definitely has upside, as he has good control, pretty good splits, a very good cut fastball and two other above average pitches.
Pete Hernandez: Hernandez has been a terrible reliever in his career, with his best season a 4.68 ERA in season three. However, he has excellent control, pretty good splits, a very good fastball, a good slider and two other above average pitches. If he pitched well in season 7, he wouldn't be the first reliever to stink for a long time before finally figuring it out. Unfortunately, even if he does pitch well, he can't pitch more than 50 or so innings.
Endy Suzuki: Suzuki has been an absolute rollercoaster ride in his career, posting the following season ERAs: 6.61, 3.19, 7.05, 3.86, 5.19, 1.83. He has good control, he's pretty good against righties and he has three pitches that range from above average to quite good. His biggest weakness is against lefties. He will be 35 next season and is already showing signs of decline, so that could be an issue.
Howard Knight: After two seasons as a good starter, Knight has been an up-and-down reliever the past four seasons. He's had ERAs below 3.75 twice and above 4.95 twice. Like Suzuki, he has good control and is good against righties while struggling some against lefties. His best pitch is slightly better than Suzuki's, but his second and third are worse. He also doesn't throw hard at all, and his stamina/durability combo, especially as he gets older, limits his innings.
Dann Henry: Henry probably isn't a good bet to be a quality reliever, but he picked a nice time to have a career year and post a 3.83 ERA. He doesn't have good control, but it's not terrible, either. His splits are decent and he has an excellent fastball and two other quality pitches. Of course, even is he does pitch well, staying healthy is a concern.
Kevin Lee: Like Henry, he didn't show very much until season six, when he posted a 3.21 ERA. His control and splits are both a touch worse than Henry's. He has a phenomenal fastball, a very good changeup and three other usable pitches.
Joe Hernandez: Hernandez doesn't look very good, but he's posted a sub-4.00 ERA three times in six seasons. His control is shaky and his splits, especially against lefties, aren't good. He has a very good fastball, a good sinker and a usable slider. He's another guy where poor performance isn't the only risk you're taking because of his health.
Others: Otis Stein has some impressive ratings but a 6.10 career ERA. Ellis Dawley and Cy James have good control but mediocre splits and only one good pitch. Omar Rincon and Julio Rojas have good control and decent splits, but none of their pitches really stand out. Oswaldo Lugo has good control, but he's only had an ERA below 4.20 once (in season 2). Hal Parrish has good control, but his splits and pitches leave a lot to be desired.
Monday, April 21, 2008
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.
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.
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