1. Charlie Borders, 30, SS
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 35+ HR
each of the last 4 seasons
Possible Destinations: El Paso, Durham, Austin, Minnesota
Salary Over/Under: 4
years, $65 million
Signed with Detroit - 5 years, $80 million
Signed with Detroit - 5 years, $80 million
Granted he was playing in hitter friendly Durham, but
Borders power numbers over the past several seasons are impressive. What gives him the #1 spot (albeit in a fairly
weak FA class) is his across the board 80+ fielding ratings. He can play a passable, although not great
SS. Given his age, this may only be
possible for 2-3 more seasons, but after that he’ll still be a great 3B. Borders will definitely boost the lineup
wherever he lands.
2. Jo-jo Strickland, 31, SP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.70
Career ERA
Possible Destinations: Vancouver, Boston, Detroit, Colorado
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $50 million
Signed with Cleveland - 5 years, $53 million
Signed with Cleveland - 5 years, $53 million
Although not as impressive as last year’s top Free Agent
starting pitchers, many of whom had won multiple Cy Young awards, Strickland is
still solid as this season’s top SP free agent.
He’s pretty strong across the board, although his splits aren’t
elite. He’ll still be a nice add for
whoever signs him, although he won’t have the impact that some of last season’s
free agent hurlers. He project him to be
a nice #3 starter.
3. Stubby Shaw, 29, 1B
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 30+ HR
100+ RBI each of the last 4 seasons
Possible Destinations: El Paso, Los Angeles, Syracuse,
Minnesota
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $40 million
Signed with Boston - 5 years, $97.5 million
Signed with Boston - 5 years, $97.5 million
Shaw is a great slugger with a keen batting eye, and should
bolster the lineup wherever he lands. We
have him listed as a 1B, but could play LF or RF as well in a pinch. Wherever he plays, he’ll get on a base a ton
and hit a nice number of homers, as his past history indicates. At only age 29, he still has several great
years ahead.
4. Valerio Macias, 29, SP
Type B Free Agent
Key Stat: 4.04
Career ERA
Possible Destinations: Durham, Detroit, Dover, Colorado
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $27 million
Signed with Vancouver - 5 years, $73 million
Signed with Vancouver - 5 years, $73 million
Macias is an interesting free agent, to say the least. He never has really been given the chance to
start full time, probably because of suspect stamina. He’s probably only good for 160 or so innings
per season, but if you have a strong bullpen, Macias can help your
rotation. At age 29, he shouldn’t
decline any time soon, and has nice, although not elite, ratings across the
board.
5. Edgar Castro, 28, 3B
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 20+ HR
each of the last 5 seasons
Possible Destinations: Colorado, Pittsburgh, Texas,
Cleveland
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $42 million
Signed with Colorado - 3 years, $15.6 million
Signed with Colorado - 3 years, $15.6 million
Castro is only a decent hitter, more so against lefties than
righties, but his value lies in his great fielding ability and his age. At only 28, he’ll maintain his ratings for
several more seasons, providing a decent bat and excellent
fielding ability. Locking down a plus
fielding 3B that can hit 20 homers a season will be a nice coup for the team
that signs him.
6. Arthur Camilli, 34, RP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.33
Career ERA
Possible Destinations: Vancouver, Colorado Springs, Dover,
Pittsburgh
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $33 million
Signed with Colorado Springs - 5 years, $40.5 million
Signed with Colorado Springs - 5 years, $40.5 million
Camilli is a lights out reliever capable of throwing 100+
IPs with his excellent durability. It’s
hard to pinpoint any weaknesses in his arsenal, with his excellent control,
splits and pitch make-up. He should
still be elite for the next 3-4 seasons, given his age of 34.
7. Carlos Pena, 33, RP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.58
Career ERA
Possible Destinations: Kansas City, El Paso, Detroit, Dover
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $30 million
Signed with El Paso - 5 years, $35 million
Signed with El Paso - 5 years, $35 million
Pena has been a closer the past several seasons, although he
could make waves as a setup A, given his potential to throw 100+ IP a
season. His ratings are very comparable
with Camilli, you really can’t go wrong with either one. Again, he does not have many weaknesses to
speak of, and will definitely make any bullpen stronger.
8. Yorvit Ortiz, 31, DH/C
No Designation
Key Stat: .872
career OPS
Possible Destinations: Boston, Burlington, New York,
Cleveland
Salary Over/Under: 2 years, $13 million
Signed with Minnesota - 3 years, $14.7 million
Signed with Minnesota - 3 years, $14.7 million
Ortiz has done well the past several seasons in a part time
role, and looks as if he could maintain similar numbers as a full time
player. He has excellent contact, good
splits and an elite batting eye to go with some power. He could player catcher in a pinch, but is
probably more suited for DH. Still, he
should be a solid one if that is a need.
9. Sammy Nelson, 32, C
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 40+ HR
4 out of the last 5 seasons
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Syracuse,
Texas
Salary Over/Under: 2 years, $12 million
Signed with Syracuse - 3 years, $11.8 million
Signed with Syracuse - 3 years, $11.8 million
Nelson is more of a pure power hitter than Ortiz, but doesn’t
have the same level of batting eye or contact.
His numbers are impressive, nonetheless.
Last season was the first in the last five he hasn’t slugged 40 homers, and
even though he is in the latter stages of his career, he still should be a
powerful slugger for a few more, and can play some catcher if need be.
10. Jumbo Almanzar, 34, LF
Type B Free Agent
Key Stat: .879
career OPS
Possible Destinations: Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Burlington
Salary Over/Under: 1 year, $5 million
Signed with Minnesota - 2 years, $28.4 million
Signed with Minnesota - 2 years, $28.4 million