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| Melky Cabrera won't be getting the payday he once expected this offseason. (US Presswire) |
At some point in the coming months, a team will introduce Josh Hamilton as its newest franchise player. There will be a news conference shown live on MLB Network and local stations, writers will flock to Hamilton's new home to pontificate on the signing. Meanwhile, some other signing will take place that same day, announced only with an email from the team to the media.
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Most free-agent signings aren't the big-budget affairs, but smaller deals. But just because there isn't much fanfare doesn't mean a signing can't be important. Last year, the Rays signed Fernando Rodney to a one-year deal worth $2 million with a club option for 2013. The right-hander only went on to have one of the best seasons ever by a closer -- making him well worth the investment. There might not have been a bigger free-agent bargain in 2012. So who might be the biggest bargain of 2013?
Here's an All-Star team, of sorts, of potential free-agent bargains for the upcoming season.
C -- Kelly Shoppach: The market dictates who is going to be a bargain and who isn't. And while Russell Martin might get the richest free-agent contract for a .211 hitter we've seen, that's more of a reflection of the free-agent pool of catchers (and most other positions) than of Martin. He's one of the few starters available. However, Shoppach offers an alternative for a team looking for a backup. Shoppach hit .233/.309/.425 with eight home runs for the Red Sox and Mets last season. Those are close to his career numbers (.226/.314/.418), so it's unlikely you'll see a huge jump in his production, but you'll know what you're getting. He has some pop -- hitting 21 homers in 2008, the only year that he had more than 400 plate appearances in his career -- making him a little more valuable.
1B -- Lance Berkman: First of all, Berkman has to decide to play in 2013. It appeared he was leaning toward retirement during the Cardinals' playoff run, but there have been other reports he might return for another year. Berkman will turn 37 in February, so there certainly are questions of how effective he'd be for another year. Berkman also has said he wouldn't play if the price isn't right, so he might not quite fit into the bargain category. But there's still a chance the desire to play is high enough to outweigh whatever contract demands he has. Injuries limited him to just 32 games in 2012, despite earning $12 million. Any offer he gets will be for significantly less, but he can still bring plenty to the table for the right team.
2B -- Kelly Johnson: Johnson will enter 2013 at 31 and coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons. He hit just .225/.313/.365 for the Blue Jays in 2012, but he did hit 16 home runs. In the right place, he could provide power at second base. And while a return to his .865 OPS of 2010 seems improbable, he still has the talent to be a starter.
SS -- Alex Gonzalez: Many of the bargains will have to come from the so-called "show-me contracts," which by definition are a type of bargain hunting. A player who has question marks has to take a short-term contract worth less in order to prove to teams he can still play. Gonzalez, 36 in February, had season-ending knee surgery in May and will have to prove to a team he can play at a high level at such an important position at an advanced age and with a surgically repaired knee. In all, it means he'll make less than the $4.25 million that he made in 2012. If he can produce somehwere near his career numbers at the plate (.247/.292/.399) with some home run power and steady defense, he can be a bargain for a team with a need in the middle of the diamond.
3B -- Eric Chavez: Because he was injured so much over the last six years, it's easy to forget Chavez will be just 35 heading into the 2013 season. His price will likely be higher than it has been in recent years (he made just $900,000 last season), he showed he still has value, filling in admirably for Alex Rodriguez. Chavez hit .281/.348/.496 with 16 home runs in 113 games for the Yankees last season. It was the first time since 2006 he played more than 100 games. If he stays healthy, he showed he can still be productive.
LF -- Melky Cabrera: It's rare that a player comes off an All-Star MVP and a walk year that saw him put up a .346/.390/.516 line and ends up as a possible bargain. In most instances, such a player -- especially one who just turned 28 -- would be a candidate to be overpaid. Of course, with Cabrera, there's not only the 50-game suspension for a positive drug test but also the attempt to cover it up. He did his best to try to make good with those inside the game by agreeing to make himself ineligible for the batting title, but a bad reputation, a positive test and the fact the Giants won the World Series without him make him a candidate for a "show-me" contract.
CF -- Nyjer Morgan: Or maybe teams would rather sign Tony Plush. A catalyst for the Brewers' run to the National League Central title in 2011, Morgan was a flop in 2012. The Brewers designated the 32-year-old for assignment at the end of the season, and the left-handed hitting Morgan chose free agency instead. He has a career line of .280/.341/.364, so he has proven he can be productive. But he also rubs many people the wrong way, hurting his marketability within the game. He'll likely have to take a low offer and prove that he can be productive while behaving.
RF -- Reed Johnson: While he's listed as a right fielder here, he can play all three outfield spots. He had just three homers in 2012, but did hit .290/.337/.398. He has never had much power, but he's a versatile player who isn't going to hurt you at the plate. Since he'll be 36 in December, there aren't going to be multi-year deals out there for him. You know what you're getting with Johnson, who is a career .284/.340/.411 hitter; and while it might not be sexy or excite a fanbase, he has his place.
Utility -- Jeff Keppinger: The 32-year-old Keppinger is coming off the best season of his career, hitting .325/.367/.439 for the Rays in 115 games last season after stints with the Mets, Royals, Reds, Astros and Giants. Keppinger isn't much of a glove man, but he did play first, second and third base last season and has 157 starts at shortstop in his career. He has also played in the outfield, even if not extensively. But Keppinger isn't going to be paid for his glove; it's his bat that should bring interest. In 2,705 career plate appearances, he has struck out just 173 times. Although he doesn't strike out much, he also doesn't walk much. He has 179 career walks. Keppinger is especially tough on left-handed pitchers, putting up a .376/.402/.521 against lefties in 2012 and .333/.376/.487 in his career. He has struck out just 29 times in 787 career plate appearances against left-handed pitchers.
DH -- Jonny Gomes: Speaking of those who crush lefties -- the soon-to-be 32-year-old has hit .284/.382/.512 against lefties in his career and hit .299/.413/.561 against left-handers in 2012. He can also play in the outfield and wasn't as bad in left field as his reputation might suggest. He hit 18 home runs for the A's last season and has the reputation of a great clubhouse guy.
Right-handed starter -- Scott Feldman: Feldman, who will be 30 in February, can start or pitch out of the bullpen. However, it's as a starter where he holds the most value (as does any pitcher, really). He throws strikes, doesn't walk batters and gives up ground balls. That's a skill set prized by just about any general manager. Feldman isn't going to be anyone's opening day starter, but he's a very good option for a team looking for a back-of-the-rotation starter, especially in a big ballpark.
Left-handed starter -- Jeff Francis: Francis has pitched most of his career with the Rockies, so it's easy to think that maybe he'd put up better numbers away from Coors Field -- not that the numbers bear that out. He has a career 4.82 ERA at Coors Field and a 4.74 ERA elsewhere. In his one season in a different uniform, he was 6-16 with a 4.82 ERA as a Royal in 2011. Still, he's left-handed and can throw off the mound, so someone is going to take a chance and he might just reward them.
Right-handed reliever -- Koji Uehara: Since moving to the bullpen in 2010, the 37-year-old right-hander has struck out 268 batters and walked 26. In 37 games for the Rangers last season, he allowed just seven runs (1.75 ERA). In his 145 career games as a reliever, he has a 0.772 WHIP and struck out 11.4 batters per nine innings. He could still end up closing.
Left-handed reliever -- Sean Burnett: The 30-year-old struck out 57 batters in 56 2/3 innings in 2012 and walked just 12, picking up two saves for the Nationals. In his 70 games, he put up a 2.38 ERA and held lefties to just a .211/.245/.289 slash line. He struck out 28 of the 95 left-handed batters he faced and walked only one (but did hit three). In his career, lefties are hitting just .225/.291/.337 against him.
Closer -- Ryan Madson: Last season, Madson was considered one of the great free-agent bargains but then didn't pitch a game in a Reds uniform despite making $6 million. That's hardly a bargain. The right-hander underwent elbow surgery during spring training and will likely have to prove himself on another one-year contract. The Reds declined Madson's $11 million option for 2012 but have expressed interest in bringing him back at a much lower rate. The 32-year-old converted 32 of his 34 save opportunities in 2011, his only full season as a closer.
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