This piece was originally published on SportsReelBoston.com.
********************************
You can check me out on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @historianandrew
The 2014 MLB season is a little bit past its first third,
with plenty of excitement having already transpired. While there is still
untold action and drama left to unfold, it’s never too early to discuss the
future, especially when it comes to impending free agents.
Here’s a look at what some of the best 2015 free agents are
doing leading up to what they hope will be a bountiful offseason leading to
rich contracts that will keep them and their families buying brand name only
for generations to come.
Outfielder Nelson
Cruz- .308 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs for the Baltimore Orioles: The
right-handed slugger lost out on his first big contract last offseason after
serving a 50-game
suspension in light of the Biogenesis investigation. Settling on a one-year
deal with the Orioles, he seems determined to show his baseball skills remain
intact, leading the American League in homers and RBIs. He should see plenty of
multi-year offers, but his abysmal defense and age that is creeping into the
mid-30s will keep teams from extending anything too foolhardy.
Starting Pitcher
Jorge De La Rosa- 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA for the Colorado Rockies: One of the
most underrated pitchers in baseball, the southpaw rebounded from injuries in
2011-2012 to regain his steady form. His career record of 38-13 with a 4.09 ERA
in the notorious pitcher graveyard known as Coors Field is a testament to his
abilities. If the Rockies don’t bring him back, any number of teams would be
pleased to bring him aboard to lock down the middle of their rotation.
Shortstop Stephen
Drew- .000 with 0 home runs and 0 RBIs for the Boston Red Sox: After
failing to land a long-term deal to his liking last offseason, Drew resigned
with Boston only recently on a pro-rated basis. His steady glove will be a
plus, but his age (32 next season) and having not hit better than .253 since
2010 will hold him back from getting a monster deal. Regardless, some team with
a hole at shortstop (hello New York Yankees?) will go after this veteran now
that he will no longer be tied to qualifying offer compensation.
Starting Pitcher Jon
Lester- 6-6 with a 3.15 ERA for the Boston Red Sox: Seemingly the most
natural fit to return to his current club because of all he has been through
with them, that is far from being a lock right now. After a down 2012, the lefty
returned to elite status last season, and is pitching even better in 2014. He
is on pace for a career high of 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings, and at the
age of 30 is in the prime of his career. A reported
extension offered earlier this year by Boston seemed surprisingly light in
both years and dollars, and was rejected. Nevertheless, it will be somewhat of
a shock if he is pitching in a different uniform next year.
Designated Hitter
Victor Martinez- .332 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs for the Detroit Tigers: The
definition of a professional hitter, the veteran is the heir apparent to David
Ortiz for the title of best DH in baseball. Able to play first base (or even
catch) in a pinch, Martinez is best-suited for a team looking to exploit his
potent bat. The switch-hitter will be 36 next season but is showing no signs of
slowing down, currently standing second in the league in batting average and
posting a .976 OPS that is on pace to shatter his previous career high. He will
be a fantastic addition for any team lucky enough to get him to sign his name
on the dotted line.
Starting Pitcher
Justin Masterson- 3-4 with a 4.72 ERA for the Cleveland Indians: One of the
nicest guys in the game, it appeared the tall righty was turning into an ace
with his work over the past few years. However, he has taken a bit of a step
back in 2014, especially with his control, as he leads the league in walks and
is on pace for a career-high 4.5 free passes per nine innings. Death on
right-handed hitters (career .590 OPS permitted), he is a welcome sight to
lefties, who have tuned him up for a .786 OPS. Although he may find it
difficult to get paid like an ace, he will have no shortage of suitors who will
covet what he does bring to the table and the 200 innings he has averaged over
the past four seasons.
Shortstop Hanley
Ramirez- .258 with 9 home runs and 35 RBIs for the Los Angeles Dodgers:
Never known for stellar defense, Ramirez’s potent bat will earn him his money
this offseason. With a career .300 batting average, the 30-year-old
right-handed hitter can still swing the stick and has power, but has lost some
of the speed that saw him swipe 32 bases as recently as 2010. A near-lock to be
signed as a third baseman, he is still a strong candidate for a deal that
reaches nine figures.
Third Baseman Pablo
Sandoval- .247 with 8 home runs and 26 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants:
It’s feast or famine (figuratively, not usually literally) with the big
slugging corner infielder who has famously struggled with fluctuating
weight. After a horrendous start to this season that saw him hitting .177
with two home runs through April, the 27-year-old switch-hitter has batted .299
with six homers since. Interested teams will have to reconcile the possibility
maintaining his conditioning with his .294 career batting average and being a
key member of two World Series winning teams in his first seven seasons.
Starting Pitcher Max
Scherzer- 6-2 with a 3.20 ERA for the Detroit Tigers: The 29-year-old
flame-throwing righty bet on himself when he turned down a reportedly
huge contract extension from the Tigers this spring. Last year’s Cy Young
Award winner has made at least 30 starts in each of the past five seasons and seems
to have surpassed his more celebrated rotation-mate Justin Verlander. If
Scherzer can’t elicit the largest contract next offseason on his production
alone, he may be able to mesmerize one on the strength of his two-toned
peepers.
Starting Pitcher
James Shields- 6-3 with a 3.68 ERA for the Kansas City Royals: Appearing
well on his way to eclipsing the 200-inning mark for the eighth consecutive
season, the right-handed Shields is a durable workhorse. Still an extremely
effective pitcher, teams may want to exercise caution when vetting his contract
demands. He will be 33 next season and there have to be questions about how
much longer he can remain so durable. Additionally, his hits allowed per nine
innings have been on the rise in each of the past three years, while his
strikeouts per nine have declined during that same time. He should be a
valuable addition to any rotation, but betting the farm on him heading a
rotation for a long stretch may be a dangerous proposition.
Statistics via BaseballReference.com.
********************************
You can check me out on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @historianandrew
No comments:
Post a Comment