Juan Uribe, Austin Jackson among top available bargain free agents
This is the point of the offseason when teams begin to look for bargain free agents. Here are four possibilities, including Juan Uribe and Austin Jackson.
By
Mike Axisa
•
4 min read
With spring training only a month away, we've reached the point of the offseason when teams begin to look for bargain free agents. At this time last winter Colby Rasmus and Chris Young (the pitcher) were still available, and both wound up paying huge dividends in 2015.
Clubs are currently scouring the free agent market for similar low cost free agents to help fill out their bullpen or round out their bench. Yeah, there are still plenty of big name free agents on the board, but the lower profile guys help build depth, and depth is a critical part of any championship team. Here are four unsigned players who could prove to be bargains in 2016.
RHP Joe Blanton
2015 Stats: 7-2, 2.84 ERA (142 ERA+), 2.92 FIP, 1.12 WHIP, 0.9 WAR
2016 ZiPS Projection: 3.92 ERA (93 ERA+), 3.47 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, 0.6 WAR
Yes, that Joe Blanton. Blanton made two Triple-A starts in 2014 before hanging up his spikes and retiring. Then, when spring training rolled around last year, he got the itch to pitch, and the Royals scooped him up on a minor-league deal. He was traded to the Pirates at midseason.
Blanton, now 35, made four spot starts for Kansas City, but it's his work in relief that really stands out: 2.04 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP in 57 1/3 innings. He struck out 27.0 percent of batters faced while walking only 5.2 percent, both well-above-average rates. His ground ball rate was a healthy 48.4 percent as well.
In a very under-the-radar way, Blanton was an excellent reliever last season. The year away seemed to help recharge the batteries a bit -- his fastball averaged 91-92 mph in 2015, up from 87-88 mph back in 2013 (moving to relief contributed to the velocity bump) -- and the move to the bullpen allowed Blanton to focus on his fastball and slider, his two best pitches.
I have no idea whether Blanton can repeat that kind of performance, but isn't it worth $2 million or so to find out? Heck, Blanton might even take another minor-league contract at this point. He was excellent in relief and teams always need bullpen help. Someone's going to give Blanton a chance to show 2015 was no fluke.
UPDATE: Report: Blanton, Dodgers agree to 1-year, $4 million deal
OF Austin Jackson
2015 Stats: .267/.311/.385 (95 OPS+), 9 HR, 17 SB, 1.6 WAR
2016 ZiPS Projection: .259/.317/.376 (91 OPS+), 7 HR, 12 SB, 1.0 WAR
It wasn't long ago that Jackon appeared to be on the cusp of stardom. He racked up 15.4 WAR from 2010-12 before his bat started to slow down. After hitting .278/.344/.416 (105 OPS+) from 2010-13, Jackson has hit only .261/.310/.364 (91 OPS+) the last two seasons.
At this point there's no real reason to play Jackson against right-handed pitchers. They've chewed him up for years. Jackson has managed to hit .290/.345/.408 (113 OPS+) against lefties the last two seasons though, so he remains a viable platoon bat. Plus he still plays outstanding defense.
Jackson is still only 28 years, so he's in what should be the prime years of his career. If nothing else, his defense and ability to hit lefties make him a quality fourth outfielder. He's still young enough that he could get his career back on track and return to being an everyday player as well.
1B/OF Steve Pearce
2015 Stats: .218/.289/.422 (91 OPS+), 15 HR, 1 SB, -0.4 WAR
2016 ZiPS Projection: .249/.328/.460 (114 OPS+), 13 HR, 2 SB, 1.2 WAR
An oblique injury really threw Pearce's 2015 season out of whack. He missed six weeks in the middle of the summer and never did seem to get back of track. Remember, Pearce hit .293/.373/.556 (157 OPS+) as recently as 2014. This dude can hit when healthy.
Pearce, 32, has hammered left-handers the last three years -- he owns a .260/.344/.495 (129 OPS+) line against southpaws since 2013 -- and he's capable of playing first base and the two corner outfield spots. The Orioles even played him at second base in 18 games in 2015, and Pearce was surprisingly capable. Here he is turning a double play (GIF via FanGraphs):
I can't imagine anyone would want to play Pearce at second base full-time, but last year he showed he can handle the position in a pinch. That little bit of versatility is a big plus. Pearce can play three positions, fake a fourth, and crush southpaws.
The true Steve Pearce is likely somewhere between the 157 OPS+ monster he was in 2014 and the 91 OPS+ disappointment he was in 2015. He's reportedly seeking a two-year contract this offseason, though his market has been very slow to develop, so he may have to settle for a one-year deal. Pearce could wind up being a real nice low key bench pickup.
IF Juan Uribe
2015 Stats: .253/.320/.417 (105 OPS+), 14 HR, 2 SB, 1.7 WAR
2016 ZiPS Projection: .267/.312/.411 (103 OPS+), 11 HR, 1 SB, 2.3 WAR
Three years ago Uribe looked done. Like done done. He hit .199/.262/.289 (54 OPS+) from 2011-12 and the Dodgers were on the verge of releasing him in 2013 when he rebounded to hit .278/.331/.438 (116 OPS+). Uribe's been quite productive ever since.
At age 36, Uribe probably isn't someone you want to play at third base full-time anymore. Righties limited him to a .246/.310/.373 (86 OPS+) batting line in 2015, but he did punish lefties to the tune of .272/.350/.543 (140 OPS+), so he remains a viable platoon bat.
Uribe is also a shockingly good defender. He doesn't really look the part -- he's listed at 6-foot-0 and 245 lbs., and he defines barrel-chested -- but Uribe is a very good athlete with quick reflexes and a very strong third base arm. The Mets even used him at second base last year.
Age-related decline is an obvious concern -- Uribe will turn 37 during spring training -- and that figures to be reflected in the contract. Uribe is likely looking at a one-year deal worth $4 million or so, which is a steal even if he gets only halfway to that projected 2.3 WAR.
