Free Agency Watch: Attention Bargain Shoppers
Stan McNeal - SportingNews.com
Nov 11, 2010
In an industry with a minimum salary of $400,000, true bargains are about as difficult to find as a seat on the Giants' bandwagon in San Francisco.
Last offseason, the Giants paid first baseman Aubrey Huff $3 million and he led them in homers, runs, RBIs and games played. By baseball standards, that was a deal. Juan Uribe made $3.25 million and was second in homers and RBIs and first in postseason hitting heroics. Uribe was another value signing, which is not all he has in common with Huff.
Both are seeking hefty raises this offseason, meaning they have played themselves off this list of potential bargains for 2011:
1B/DH Lance Berkman. Of all the veteran first basemen on the market facing reality checks (Derrek Lee, Carlos Pena, Lyle Overbay), Berkman has the best chance to be an impact producer next season. He will be a year removed from a knee surgery that resulted in a career-worst season after he tried to return too soon. He turns 35 before next season and is unlikely to get a long-term deal, which will add to his motivation. Lest we forget, Berkman is a potential Hall of Famer
DH Jim Thome. He hit 25 homers -- many of them big -- in 276 at-bats and helped save the Twins when slugger Justin Morneau (concussion) missed the second half. Double his $1.5 million salary and Thome is still a bargain.
SP Jon Garland. He will be looking for more than $7 million after turning down his portion of a $6.75 million mutual option. If a team can get Garland for a little more than that and give him two years, it should. Garland, 31, doesn't have blow-you-away stuff, but he is a solid middle-of-the-rotation guy who has made at least 32 starts in each of the past nine seasons.
2B David Eckstein. The Padres couldn't wait to re-sign him for 2010 but have shown no inclination to bring him back. Like many others teams, San Diego must doubt his offense and his range. But Eckstein, 35, is far more than numbers, especially considering that he played for $1 million last year. "A contending team needing a veteran second baseman could do a lot worse," an N.L. scout said. "He has made a believer out of me."
RP Joaquin Benoit. The 33-year-old righthander was one of the AL's best relievers (1.34 ERA in 63 appearances) at any price last season, when he made just more than $1 million. After his 2010 season, Benoit is worth at least three times that much and a two-year deal.
C Rod Barajas. Catchers change clubs so often that it is difficult to know where they are unless their name is Joe Mauer (or Buster Posey). In this winter's game of musical chairs, Barajas could be a find. He slumped in June, was injured in July/August and finished the season with the Dodgers. But he had 11 homers in the first two months and was lauded for his guidance of the Mets' young pitchers. Barajas played for a $500,000 salary and incentives and because of his age (35), he figures to settle for about the same in 2011. That is significantly less than one of the market's hot names, John Buck, will command, even though Buck finished with only three more homers.
2B Orlando Hudson. For eight consecutive years, he has signed a one-year contract. Soon to turn 33, Hudson is certainly worthy of another one.
3B Melvin Mora. He hit .285 with a .358 on-base percentage and played four positions while earning $1.275 million from the Rockies. Because Mora will turn 39 in February, he is unlikely to get a raise. But he should get some offers.
OF Andruw Jones. When he was at his puffiest a few years ago, Jones looked like he was well into his 30s. But he is only 33, and the puffiness is long gone. While Jones is unlikely to hit 50 homers again, he has become a solid backup outfielder who has signed for affordable, one-year deals the past two seasons.
OF Jeff Francoeur. The David DeJesus trade paves the way for Royals general manager Dayton Moore to bring in a player he has liked since they both were with the Braves. Despite Francoeur's free-swinging ways, there is plenty to like: He has a strong arm, is only 26 and is a clubhouse leader. Moore can offer playing time, which Francoeur might value more than a raise. He would, in fact, need to take a cut from his $5 million salary to earn his spot on this list.
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