They've been sitting on the lot for much of the winter, untouched, as the economy has gone from bad to worse. Some more used than others. Some in need of a slight tune-up. Even a few whose mileage is surprisingly low.
All of them in need of being moved.
Poor Bobby Abreu is waiting for someone to scrape the thick layer of ice from his windows. Moises Alou needs an oil change. Orlando Hudson, a jump start.
And
"It's kind of crazy what's going on out there," one major league scout says.
You think?
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| One of the bigger surprises is Orlando Hudson remaining unsigned. (Getty Images) |
"It would be like having old-time actors trying out for a part in a movie," said one big-league executive, who doesn't think the idea would be particularly helpful. "I think most of those guys are pretty familiar. It's a matter of budgets.
"Some guys are just going to have to take minor league contracts, and then try to make the team. It's tough.
"You could put together a pretty good team right now."
At least, a team that probably could whip, say, the Pirates and the Nationals. But outside of Manny, there really aren't many true impact players on the list. Maybe -- maybe -- Adam Dunn. Perhaps Hudson. Abreu might have a few impact days left.
The list of big names is longer than the list of those who remain true game-changers. The best the Island of Misfit Players has to offer, for all of those last-minute shoppers:
First base: Nomar Garciaparra. But at 35, the six-time All-Star is brittle as a piece of crisp bacon. Garciaparra played in only 55 games last year, so you'd need lots of depth here. And, fortunately, there's plenty to choose from. For the defense lovers, there's 2001 Gold Glover Doug Mientkiewicz. For admirers of sharp wit and Cowboy Up humor, there's Kevin Millar (20 homers last year, .323 on-base percentage). Veteran Rich Aurilia is out there. So is perennial tease Richie Sexson -- though aside from the fact that he whiffs about once every three at-bats, batted .221 last year and, as one scout said this week, "Guys tell me he doesn't even like baseball." In case you're wondering why he's still unsigned.
Second base: Orlando Hudson. He's a three-time Gold Glove winner and his lifetime on-base percentage is .346 (including .367, .376 and .354 in each of the past three years). What's not to like (aside from the fact that he has suffered injuries in each of the past two years)? "I thought somebody would jump on Orlando Hudson," one NL executive says. "He's a pretty good player." The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to talk with him as a backup piece if conversations with Ramirez fall flat. Ray Durham also remains unsigned.
Shortstop: Orlando Cabrera. Won a Gold Glove as recently as two years ago, and Boston still hasn't found a shortstop as steady at the plate and on the field as Cabrera, who helped them win the 2004 World Series. He helped steady Mike Scioscia's infield in Anaheim through 2007 (the season of his second Gold Glove). Did his falling out with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen last summer tarnish him? Oakland might sign him if his price continues to plummet.
Third base: Joe Crede. Any interested team will review about 3,000 different angles on his back X-rays. One of those teams should be Minnesota.
Left field: Manny Ramirez. The price of gas is up and so is the price of Manny? Not so much. Man-Ram's most likely landing spot remains the Dodgers, just not for the four or five years he wanted.
Dunn is a big donkey in the field, but he has thumped 40 homers in each of the past four seasons and owns a lifetime .381 OBP. He also made $13 million last year, and that, combined with his iron glove, seems destined to put him in the Pat Burrell category (a nearly 50 percent paycut, from $14 million last year in Philly to $8 million this year in Tampa Bay).
Then there's Alou (good bat, injury waiting to happen) and Garret Anderson (.293, 15 homers, 84 RBI, .325 OBP in '08, and the back of a 50-year-old man).
Center field: Andruw Jones. This time, he promises to stay away from Dunkin' Donuts! Jim Edmonds is also prowling the grounds for those looking to maybe borrow one of those eight Gold Gloves he owns.
Right field: Bobby Abreu. A .371 OBP last year, with 20 homers and 100 RBI? And a .405 lifetime OBP? At 35, maybe he no longer fits into the Yankees' plans. But somebody, anybody? Not for the $16 million Abreu earned last year, or the $15 million he earned in '07.
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| Pudge Rodriguez: 'Whoever gets me, it's going to be a lot like hitting the lotto.' (Getty Images) |
Ken Griffey Jr. is still lurking, too.
Catcher: Pudge Rodriguez. He's 37 and hasn't played in more than 136 games in a season since 2003, when he became a folk hero in Miami by leading the Marlins to a World Series win. But he plans to play in the World Baseball Classic (Puerto Rico) and is set on recapturing past glory.
"I'm in great shape," he told CBSSports.com colleague Danny Knobler late last month. "Whoever gets me, it's going to be a lot like hitting the lotto. I'm back in the shape I was in 2004. I'm at 195-200 (pounds), and I'm ready to go."
For those not bothered by names on the Mitchell Report, there's Paul Lo Duca.
Starting pitchers: Braden Looper. Pedro Martinez. Ben Sheets. Randy Wolf.
The Dodgers are expected to land either Wolf or Looper. Pedro's name is bigger than his game at 37. Sheets is, in insurance-company terms, high-risk.
Setup man: Joe Beimel.
A lefty who appeared in 71 games and posted a 2.02 ERA last season for the Dodgers, Beimel's availability at this point might be the biggest surprise of all. He's the perfect bullpen complimentary piece for a contender.
Closer: Eric Gagne.
OK, so here's hoping everyone who needs a closer has one by now.
