It’s that time of the year again boys and girls! Sound the alarms, wake your neighbors and run down the street screaming at the top of your lungs because the first day to sign free agents is finally here. This is the special time at the end of a Major League Baseball season when teams assess their needs and spend top dollar on the missing pieces which will hopefully allow them to make a serious run at the playoffs in the upcoming year.
To put it in words that everyone will understand, it’s kind of like when you’re a kid and your parents are franticly trying to buy you the missing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle to help bring balance to your collection. For some it’s Donatello, for others it’s Shredder.
But everyone knows that if the Technodrome is waiting under the tree come Christmas day, you’ll be the coolest kid on the block. So get out your pencils and a sheet of paper because there’s roughly 100 days to go until teams are made up and headed for Spring Training. With that, these are the top-10 free agent outfielders on the market and the best places to suit their talent.
Honorable Mention Raul Ibanez
Most people thought that Ibanez going back to the Seattle Mariners was a last ditch act of desperation on both ends; however, opinions changed in a hurry when Ibanez cranked 29 home runs and played in one the deepest-walled stadiums in the Majors. To give you a perspective, the last time Ibanez hit at least 20 home runs was when he was with the Phillies in 2009. At 41-years-old it’s a bit of a risk, but only a one-year risk. If anything the Mariners should give it another go or possibly even the New York Yankees for a second round.
10. Chris Young
Young has had a bit of a rocky road in the Majors. He’s been injury prone, he goes on long slumps, but at the same time he’s made some big plays and had some great offensive games. Young can legitimately hit at least 25 home runs per season on top of at least 25 stolen bases. He fast, he has a great glove, but his only problems seem to be hitting for consistency and getting on base. Yes, those are huge problems. If he can land somewhere where he will be the primary focus of attention there is no doubt that he can get the help to unleash the All-Star potential that he showed with the Arizona Diamondbacks back in 2010 once again. The best fit for him would be with the Houston Astros. He’s from there plus he always has unbelievable games at Minute Maid Park. He’d also come with a reasonable price tag.
9. Corey Hart
Even though he’s been used as a first baseman by the Milwaukee Brewers the last few years, Hart broke out in right field, taking the starting spot of the great Geoff Jenkins in 2007. Hart is the kind of guy that can hit 30 home runs and 100 RBI with at least a .275 average in the middle of the lineup. His defense may not be as stellar as it used to be, but isn’t that why the worst player on the team is typically placed in right field? Hart could still be a stud for the Brewers, but the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds might want to look him over.
8. Marlon Byrd
Byrd turned 36-years-old on August 30th and had one of the most memorable post-birthday months of his career.
Byrd was already having a rebound season with the New York Mets after his 50-game suspension in 2012 for performance enhancing drugs, but as soon as he found himself with the Pittsburgh Pirates he provided the offensive power numbers the team was so desperately missing.
Byrd and Pittsburgh made for good partners and they should really give it another go for two more seasons. If not, the Mets, Phillies, Miami Marlins and Yankees should consider it.
7. Nate McLouth
McLouth just turned 32-years-old, but still has the speed of someone seven years younger. McLouth stole 30 bases for the Baltimore Orioles, the most of his career, along with a decent 12 home runs and 31 doubles in his first full season since 2009 when he played in 129 games with the Atlanta Braves. McLouth has proved to be a great leadoff/bottom of the order commodity in the American League and should continue his services with the O’s. Based on what he can produce he could be picked up for a long-term deal on the cheaper end as he only made $3.75 million over the last two seasons. The Yankees should really look into him, as should the Boston Red Sox, Royals and Minnesota Twins.
6. Michael Morse
Morse had a harsh 2013 that started out amazing, but fell of the Earth as soon as he sustained a wrist injury, much like Josh Reddick with the Oakland Athletics. It was no doubt a fluke year, but a telling year which proved that he should not be with an AL team. After all, he hit .294 with 67 home runs and 208 RBI in his previous four seasons with the Washington Nationals. Morse will be turning 32 by the time the 2014 season starts up and this offseason will give him plenty of time to heal up and get back to 100%. With that, it’s not likely the Nationals will be able to afford him, but if they can they should get him back immediately. If not there, the Phillies, Mets, Chicago Cubs, Reds and Colorado Rockies should give him a peek.
5. Nelson Cruz
Cruz has a bit of a dark cloud over his head after his 50-game suspension for PEDs; however, the one thing teams should recognize is that he didn’t deny it or make excuses.
It could be a sign as an isolated incident, but we’ll never know. What is known is that Cruz is a mediocre right fielder who can hit the ball far and with some regularity.
The one problem he does have is that he gets hurt a lot (back and hamstrings), but when he’s healthy he’ll make you happy he’s in your lineup.
It’s not looking likely that the Rangers will re-sign him even though they should.
The Phillies would be a great fit for him as well.
4. Carlos Beltran
Beltran finally made it to the World Series for the first time in his career. Unfortunately it came with a loss to the Red Sox. Still, Beltran continued to be a force to be reckoned with in 2013 behind his .296 average, 24 home runs and 84 RBI. He also added to his postseason legacy with two additional home runs and 15 RBI. Beltran will be 37-years-old in April, but still has at least three more good seasons left in him to solidify a Hall of Fame career. Obviously he would be great with the St. Louis Cardinals again, but the Red Sox and Phillies may be calling his name as well.
3. Curtis Granderson
Granderson will be turning 33-years-old by the time the 2014 season rolls around and it would certainly be odd if he wasn’t in pinstripes again. Granderson’s 2013 campaign was cut short due to a broken arm sustained in the first game of spring training, but he still came back and clubbed seven home runs, 13 doubles and two triples in 61 games. His average was only .229, but his .261 career average isn’t that far off. The Yankees should re-sign him, but it’s more than likely he’ll be on the other side on New York with the Mets come spring training.
2. Shin-Soo Choo
It’s kind of funny that the top two free agent outfielders are both represented by Scott Boras, so really it’s going to be a “one guy or the other” type of a deal for most teams. Shin-Soo Choo had a career year in some aspects, even though his batting average (.285) took a slight dip in his first year with the Reds. Either way, his on-base percentage skyrocketed to a career-high .423 as he drew 112 walks and he was still able to swipe 20 bags and club 21 home runs. Choo did what leadoff hitters should do and only one person did it better than him. The Reds should hang on to Shoo, but the Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Mets and Yankees.
1. Jacoby Ellsbury
You have to take World Series rings and experience into consideration when trying to pick up some new outfielders, especially the kind who can still hit for at least .300 and steal 50 bases. Ellsbury is some kind of special who personifies what it takes to be a five-tool player. Ellsbury probably should have won the AL MVP in 2011, but his second place finish behind career-highs in home runs (32) and RBI (105) were solid. Ellsbury has the ability to knock the ball out of the park, but 2011 was the only time in his career he has hit more than nine home runs in a season. Ellsbury has also missed almost two seasons due to injury, so that might be something to keep an eye on. The Red Sox fans would love to keep him, but it’s more than likely that he’ll be going the way of Johnny Damon and donning pinstripes in 2014.