The best buys among free agents
Posted: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 3:05 PM
With a few exceptions (the major one being Pedro Martinez), the winter shakeout is finished, and many of those who hit the open market have landed with new teams.
But baseball’s free agents felt the economic hit. A few players made out quite well, but most had to settle for less than they expected. For the teams, the elite shopped Park Avenue, while the rest went to Sam’s Club.
So who were the best buys the offseason?
RAUL IBANEZ (Phillies, 3 years, $31.5 million): A consummate professional hitter, who fits perfectly into both the Phillies’ lineup and clubhouse. He finally emerges from AL obscurity to play on a bigger stage for a winning team. While defense is not his forte, the Phillies have survived without great defense in left field in the past.
PAT BURRELL (Rays, 2 years, $16 million): Speaking of which, the defensively-challenged Burrell ditches his glove he wore with the Phillies to become the DH in Tampa Bay. Check out his advanced statistics, and you will find that Burrell was one of the game’s most productive offensive players last season. He’s an absolute steal for Tampa Bay in its search for an effective DH.
ORLANDO CABRERA (A’s, 1 year, $ 4 million): He is simply a winner. Mercurial stories from Chicago last summer hurt Cabrera’s market value, as did his compensation status. But Oakland waited and will benefit. No greater difference in signings than Bay Area shortstops -- San Francisco inked Edgar Renteria for two years at $18 million.
BOBBY ABREU (Angels, 1 year, $5 million): His defense has slipped as has his conditioning. But at this price, this was like finding an off-year bottle from a premier winery in one of the Sam’s Clubs bins. What the Angels need from Abreu is enough production to offset their double loss offensively -- the departures of Garret Anderson and Mark Teixeira.
IVAN RODRIGUEZ (Astros, 1 year, $1.5 million): Same as with the Angels and Bobby Abreu. Houston found a legendary catcher in the discount aisle. Warning signs appeared last summer when Yankees’ starting pitchers made known their dislike in throwing to Pudge. Still, Houston has little to lose. With a rotation that is full of question marks behind ace Roy Oswalt, the Astros hold hope that Rodriguez can nurture along arms both young and old (Mike Hampton).
FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (Mets, 3 years, $37 million): Notice a trend? The analysts have used a tool called “replacement value” to shoot the cost of starting pitching into the ozone while depressing the value of relievers. So, the Mets, with a screaming need for a closer, signed K-Rod off his record-setting saves campaign for half of what the fragile and average starter A.J. Burnett secured from the Yankees (5 years, $82.5 million).
KERRY WOOD (Indians 2 years, $20.5 million): Slotted behind K-Rod in the closer’s financial freefall, Wood wound up with the Indians, which is a terrific gamble on Cleveland’s part. Wood mentally proved he could handle being a closer last year. Now, he needs to prove he can handle the physical demands of the job for a second year.
JON GARLAND (Diamondbacks, 1 year, $7.25 million): Now to the overpriced starters. Garland had a poor year for the White Sox at an insanely high salary. This year, he slots in as Arizona’s No. 4 starter at a reasonable cost. His durability makes this a strong short-term gamble.
LIVAN HERNANDEZ (Mets, 1 year, $1 million minor-league deal with $1 million in performance bonuses): It’s the same story as Garland except he slots in as the Mets No. 5 starter. This could be a perfect marriage. Hernandez will shut no one down, but he won’t shut himself down either. He is reliable for 30-plus starts, and will more often than not, fulfill today’s credo of “keeping his team in the game.” As a No. 5 starter for a contending team, that is more than enough. Or ask yourself this: Which No. 5 starter would you rather have, the Mets’ Hernandez or the Phillies’ Chan Ho Park?
