Thursday, March 10, 2016

So Who Hasn't Signed Yet? The Hitters




I mean to get to this yesterday; sorry.  Here are the as-yet-unsigned hitters, and we’re now halfway into spring training.  So they’d better find something soon.

No catchers are unsigned.

Infielders

  • David Freese – Of all the guys that haven’t gotten a contract, to me this is the real headscratcher.  He’s the youngest of the position players (32), and he hit a reasonable .257/.323/.420 last year with the Angels.  He’s not going to set the world on fire, but he’s a reasonable option.  I’m guessing the contenders have better choices, and the rebuilding teams are saving their money.  I’m assuming Sandy Alderson, the Mets’ GM, has his agent on speed dial in case/when David Wright gets hurt again. 
  • Corey Hart – He may be done.  He’s had a ton of injuries the last couple of years (missed all of 2013, just 57 plate appearances last year with Pittsburgh).  Still, he slugged over .500 three years in a row from 2010-2012, so an American League team in need of a right-handed DH could take a chance on him.
  • Justin Morneau – Another guy who may be done, primarily due to concussions.  He stands a good chance of going into management if that’s the case.
  • Dan Uggla – Almost definitely done.  He’s 36, he’s been under the Mendoza line the last three years, and the only position he plays is second base (and he doesn’t play that particularly well). 


Outfielders

  • Marlon Byrd – Another guy who could be useful as a righty bat/DH/good guy to have around the clubhouse, even though he’s 38.  Hit .247/.290/.453 in 544 plate appearances between the Reds and the Giants last year, so it’s a bit odd he’s not with somebody right now.
  • Nate McLouth – Probably done.  He missed all of 2015 after undergoing surgery on his shoulder, and hit .173/.280/.237 in 162 plate appearances with the Nationals in 2014, so I doubt there’s much of a market for him; it would be just as easy to pay a veteran minor leaguer the MLB minimum.
  • Alex Rios – his OPS numbers the last four years:  .850, .756, .709, .640.  Apparently no one’s interested in finding out what the next number in that sequence will be.
  • Grady Sizemore – He’s only 33, but he missed all of 2012-2013 and most of 2010-2011 due to injury, so he’s probably older in baseball years.  Did hit .257/.318/.429 with the Rays last year after Philadelphia dropped him, but he can really only play left and right field at this point, which hurts his value.


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