Every MLB Team’s Most Likely Free Agent Target This Offseason
Every MLB Team’s Most Likely Free Agent Target This Offseason
Major League Baseball’s offseason is built upon the ever rising cost of free agency. Once upon a time a great season for a MLB player just meant that they were achieving the best of their potential. Now that is largely ignored and a good season just means more money when the player hits the free agent market. MLB GMs are not simply ignorant however and they know to build their teams with both expensive and bargain priced free agents. This is a look at each MLB team’s most likely free agent target this offseason.
Not every need for a MLB team is filled through free agency of course. A great many teams prefer the trade market and will only sign one player at the most in free agency. Still others will look to rebuild entire sections of their roster from the free agent market. Regardless of the aim of the GMs from each team, they all have one more likely first target in free agency. That is what we’ll look at here.
This is based upon rumors and facts about what the teams are looking for and what they clearly need. Some GMs have clearly spelled out their free agent targets while others are quiet on the issue completely. They will be listed in alphabetical order by team name with A’s first and the Yankees last. The comments section below begs your opinion on each and every one of these slides.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
Related:
Minnesota Twins Rumors: Bigger Free Agents Could Mean More Success in 2014
Kansas City Royals Right to be Cautious About Offer to Ervin Santana
Kansas City Royals: Explaining Ervin Santana’s Free Agency Situation
Oakland Athletics – Kevin Gregg
With the expected loss of Grant Balfour to free agency, the A’s are bound to find a replacement either in a cheaper free agent option or from within. Either way, Gregg would provide a very substantial boost in the bullpen. Given his last few weeks in Chicago Cubs uniform, he might look to have something to prove in a closer role.
Los Angeles Angels – Grant Balfour
The Angels need a strong and reliable closer for their ninth inning now more than ever. With the struggles this team went through in 2013, every game they lead in the eighth needs to be one they win. Balfour could give them this certainty for a little less than Joe Nathan.
St. Louis Cardinals – Jhonny Peralta
The Cardinals are basically set in a lot of places but have proclaimed a large need at shortstop. Peralta isn’t the best defensive option but the Cards have said specifically that they want an offensive boost from the position. For all the available men at that spot, Peralta likely provides the best option for a boost.
Chicago Cubs – Nate McLouth
The Cubs offseason has been consumed with a managerial search but with Rick Renteria filling that void, they can turn their attention to free agency. They aren’t actually likely to do a lot on the open market but might look for some outfield pop and consistency which McLouth could provide if they can pry him away from the standard Orioles spot he keeps.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Mike Morse
Morse is certainly no guarantee to compete for a gold glove in the outfield but he absolutely is a threat offensively which this year seems to be what Kevin Towers wants most. Morse could be a good one year deal to fill that temporary need for less.
San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez
It is rumored that the Giants want Lopez bad enough that they were willing to let Ryan Vogelsong go to free up the necessary funds. Lopez certainly would prove worth the price in a postseason run if the Giants are able to achieve that goal in 2014.
Cleveland Indians – Tim Hudson
In addition to the Braves, the Indians could be a serious potential suitor of Tim Hudson. They have a strong clubhouse atmosphere and Terry Francona has already been in contact with Huddy. Grabbing Hudson would be a strong way to offset likely losing Ubaldo Jimenez to free agency.
San Diego Padres – Bronson Arroyo
The Padres need a little bridge building in the starting rotation and Arroyo could be a surprisingly good addition to this staff. The front office is mum on all dealings right now but don’t be surprised if someone like Arroyo or even he himself arrives in San Diego.
Pittsburgh Pirates – A.J. Burnett
For all the young promising pitching the Pirates have, they really need another season from their resident veteran ace. Burnett has kicked around the idea of retirement but look for the Bucs to push very hard to bring him back for another season.
Tampa Bay Rays – Fernando Rodney
Rodney refurbished his entire career in the last couple of seasons with the Rays and might be likely to re-sign for less there than he would demand elsewhere. The Rays would have to grab at a few straws if he left so they really would be better off by re-signing him for a decent deal. Look for them to go for this hard.
Boston Red Sox – Mike Napoli
Napoli is one of quite a few free agents that the Red Sox have on their World Championship hands but he is more valuable than the others because he would be much harder to replace. The first baseman market in free agency isn’t great and Napoli is doubtlessly at the top. Re-signing him would make the most sense for them.
Cincinnati Reds – Shin-Soo Choo
The Reds won’t do a lot in free agency but they are probably going to try to bring back Choo. They won’t do what some others will do but it is very possible that they could make a much bigger play for his return than some think. I think in the end he’ll go elsewhere but not for lack of effort on the Reds part.
Colorado Rockies – Brian Wilson
The Rockies could really use a fun adventurous personality like Wilson in the clubhouse. No matter how I feel about his hair and beard, he brings that and a top of the line closer ability to the Rockies. He could setup or close either one and probably prove successful for slightly less than his worth because he is largely unproven since surgery.
Kansas City Royals – Dan Haren
There has been rumored interest from the Royals in Haren and he would seem to be a very good option to solidify the rotation. Though his success is not a guarantee, he is a proven competitor and could rebound with a huge season at virtually any time.
Minnesota Twins – Ubaldo Jimenez
The Twins have repeatedly been interested in free agent pitching this offseason already. Though they are probably just out of the sweepstakes of the higher priced guys, Jimenez might fall perfectly. His draft pick compensation status will keep some teams away while the Twins have a protected first round pick. He is likely the biggest name they have chance at.
Chicago White Sox – Curtis Granderson
The White Sox are prepared to make a bigger splash in the outfield free agent market than many probably think. If they could sign Granderson who they have been rumored interested in, it would obviously be a huge burst in the outfield for them.
New York Yankees – Ervin Santana
Though the Yankees likely will have to throw a lot of money at Robinson Cano, they are probably the only ones willing to pay his price. That brings us to starting pitching and they would probably look at Santana’s price as a bargain assuming he continues performing the way he did recently for the Royals.