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| Will Robinson Cano get the $300+ he wants? Photo credit MLB |
MLB Free Agent Winter Spinning Wheel
by Rodney Fisher
courtesy of Blitz Weekly
Now that the World Series champion has been decided on the field, the front office battle between teams starts. The baseball winter meetings will begin December 9th through the 12th in Lake Buena Vista Florida. This will be every teams chance to add veteran pieces to their roster in hopes that the player is the one piece needed to win it all.
In Nashville in 2012, teams like the Los Angeles Angels made it rain for big hitters like Josh Hamiliton to the tune of $125 million. The club still could not compete for the AL West. Other teams like the Boston Red Sox that added free agent Mike Napoli for a one year $5 million deal were rewarded with a championship. The Los Angeles Dodgers added Zack Grienke and made a nice postseason run, while the St. Louis Cardinals won the national league by sitting on their wallets. Nevertheless, the money fountain will be flowing. Let’s take a look at the top free agents available this winter:
1) Robinson Cano - 2B
2013 MLB Stats: BA .314, OPS .899, HR 27, RBI 107, SB 7
2014 Team: New York Yankees
Once Cano threw up the Roc, meaning joining Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports, he might as well thrown up the $ sign instead. The Yankees have no choice but to pay Cano $300 million for 10 years as he has requested. With no rising superstars in their club system and Alex Rodriguez fighting MLB, Cano is a must re-sign. Get ready to pop bottles at the 40/40 club.
2) Masahiro Tanaka - SP
2013 JPPL Stats: 24-0, ERA 1.27, WHIP .943
2014 Team: Seattle Mariners/ Houston Astros
Yu Darvish was second in Cy Young voting in the American League for this past season adding to the hype for the next Nippon pitcher available. The current bidding system allows American clubs to blind bid against each other to have 30-days to negotiate a contract with the player. This cost the Texas Rangers an extra $51.7 million to talk with Darvish. A team will need some deep pockets and a high concentration of Japanese fans to make this work.
3) Shin-Soo Choo - OF
2013 MLB Stats: BA .285, OPS .885, HR 21, RBI 54, SB 20
2014 Team: Houston Astros
Having a lead-off hitter of Choo’s caliber does not happen very often. His agent Scott Boras will be looking to get him an above average deal in the market, something similar to a Hunter Pence $90 million, five year deal. The Astros hold the #1 pick in the draft and can use it to do many things this year. They have committed to spending money this offseason and this could be a good starting piece if they miss on Tanaka.
4) Brian McCann - C
2013 MLB Stats: BA .256, OPS .796, HR 20, RBI 57
2014 Team: New York Yankees
At the age of 29, he has made the All-Star team seven of the nine years he has played. The Yankees have been conservative by their standards in recent memory, but with A-Rod and Mariano Rivera coming off the books they can spend this year. He would be a good young superstar to rally the pinstripe faithful.
5) Carlos Beltran - OF/DH
2013 MLB Stats: BA .296, OPS .830, HR 24, RBI 84, SB 2
2014 Team: Texas Rangers
Beltran provides power hitting on the cheap, because he is not looking for a long term dealing after ending his 16th major league season. He played DH during the World Series and will be looking join an American League team. Rangers GM Jon Daniels has stated this offseason will be about adding power and Beltran can fit the bill. Beltran averages 28 homeruns a season.
6) Jacoby Ellsbury - CF
2013 MLB Stats: BA .298, OPS .781, HR 9, RBI 53, SB 52
2014 Team: Seattle Mariners
Ellsbury may not be the same player from 2011 that smacked 32 homers and finished second in MVP voting, but his performance for the Red Sox in the ALDS made his stock rise. He batted .500 and had a OPS of 1.137. The price tag for any team will be north of $100 million and with Scott Boras negotiating anything is possible. The Boston Globe has reported the Red Sox front office considers re-signing Ellsbury will be a “long shot”. Many believe the Mariners have specifically target both Ellsbury and Shin-Soo Choo.
7) Nelson Cruz - OF
2013 MLB Stats: BA .266, OPS .833, HR 27, RBI 76, H 110
2014 Team: Houston Astros
Before you consider Cruz to high on the list just hear me out. Sure Melky Cabrera did not do Biogensis players any favors, but Cruz will be different. He not only has a lot to prove, but as always been a constent hitter and good locker room guy. Some team will get him on the cheap with a short incentive laden contract. This will be the bargain steal of the winter meetings. He will add power to the lineup in Houston and hits well in the Ballpark in Arlington.
8) Hiroki Kuroda - SP
2013 MLB Stats: 11-13, ERA 3.31, WHIP 1.162
2014 Team: New York Yankees
The Yankees will need to resign Kuroda even though he declined a qualifying offer from the team this week. He was arguably the most consistent pitcher in their lineup this past season. If he does get away, teams will be looking to scoop up the ground ball pitcher like a slow roller.
9) Curtis Granderson - OF
2013 MLB Stats: BA .229, OPS .723, HR 7, RBI 15 (Only played in 61 games)
2014 Team: Chicago White Sox
After missing a third of the season to injury, Granderson never got to follow up his two consecutive 40 homerun seasons in 2011 and 2012. The Illinois native always played well in colder climates like New York and Detroit. Look for him to return to the Chicago area for around $45 million for three years. This will be his third destination in 10 years.
10) Joe Nathan - RP
2013 MLB Stats: 6-2, ERA 1.39, WHIP .0897, SV 43
2014 Team: Texas Rangers
Although the right-handed pitcher will be 39 when on opening day he is still the best reliever on the free agent market. He had his highest saves total (43) and highest innings pitch total (64.2) since 2009. He is showing no real signs of slowing down. Both his two years in Texas he made the All-Star team and it is not easy to pitch in the Ballpark at Arlington. The Houston Astros have also expressed interest to lure the closer back to his hometown.
Other Players To Watch: Mike Napoli, Ervin Santana, Bartolo Colon, Matt Garza, Omar Infante, A.J. Burnett, and Johnny Peralta
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