The 2014 Free Agent Bargain Bin

[Little Slide Rooter]

Could be a good crop;

 

Tim Lincecum (29, 30 in June)

2013 To Date 4.50 ERA, 1.341 WHIP, 172 IP 59/172 BB/K

Doing better than I'd thought, but he's young enough that he might want to opt for something team friendly and incentive laden to rebuild his value in hopes of something big in 2015.

 

Josh Johnson (30)

2013 6.20 ERA, 1.660 WHIP. 81 IP. 30/83 BB/K.

Worse than I thought. Been broken on and off for a bit now. Should be cheaper than Lincecum.

 

Johan Santana (35)

2013: Broken.

Mets have a $25M team option, 5.5MM buyout.

Very tempting at the right price.

 

Nelson Cruz (33)

2013 27 HR .269/.330/.511.

Far from bargain bin numbers, but the suspension is likely to knock the price down quite a bit, maybe enough so that he could be worth sniffing around for some much needed power.

 

Corey Hart (32-33)

2013-Broken

Will have to sign a team friendly deal with somebody to rebuild value. At the right price, we could be that someone.

 

Again, none of these are guys that you bet the farm on, but with 1 year, incentive heavy deals they'd all be worth a look. Or dare I say, a flier.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I think other teams understand peripherals and a lot of these guys won't be as bargain-y as is generally thought.

[davell]

Giants are likely to put QO on Timmy. That would keep him there.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think between peripherals and history, Lincecum gets paid. Johnson's surface numbers will outweigh his K/BB numbers (and worries about his suddenly awful HR rate)and he'll wind up with a 1 yr deal

[UMFan83]

I'm stunned this thread was made by SCS.

[Cubswin11]

Santana isn't tempting to me at any price. Mid-30's coming off a second shoulder surgery in the span of like 30 months, no thanks

[davell]

Hart would be interesting. With the scarcity of hitting available, he'd be a nice stopgap before some of our guys get to the majors.

[Careless]

35 and played 60% of one season in the past three years [santana] is pretty scary.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Hart would be interesting. With the scarcity of hitting available, he'd be a nice stopgap before some of our guys get to the majors.

 

Sort of agree, but I'd be a bit worried. He hasn't played the OF in a few years and wasn't very good when he did. Add in a few more knee surgeries and a couple years to his age, and it might not turn out great.

 

If I was betting, I'd say he's going back to the Brewers on a one-year deal assuming they are interested and don't want to go with Morris at first next season.

[mul21]

Hart would be interesting. With the scarcity of hitting available, he'd be a nice stopgap before some of our guys get to the majors.

 

Sort of agree, but I'd be a bit worried. He hasn't played the OF in a few years and wasn't very good when he did. Add in a few more knee surgeries and a couple years to his age, and it might not turn out great.

 

If I was betting, I'd say he's going back to the Brewers on a one-year deal assuming they are interested and don't want to go with Morris at first next season.

 

Don't they have one of their heralded prospects coming off ACL surgery to play 1B next year? Gamel maybe?

[MWV]

Is Mat Gamel still a prospect?

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Hart would be interesting. With the scarcity of hitting available, he'd be a nice stopgap before some of our guys get to the majors.

 

Sort of agree, but I'd be a bit worried. He hasn't played the OF in a few years and wasn't very good when he did. Add in a few more knee surgeries and a couple years to his age, and it might not turn out great.

 

If I was betting, I'd say he's going back to the Brewers on a one-year deal assuming they are interested and don't want to go with Morris at first next season.

 

Don't they have one of their heralded prospects coming off ACL surgery to play 1B next year? Gamel maybe?

 

I don't think they are counting on him anymore. It would be Hunter Morris if they decided to fill from within and not sign Hart. I'm not a huge Morris fan, so I'd think they'd want Hart back if they think he's reasonably healthy and will sign a one-year deal.

[bukie]

I'm glad we finally have one location where we can toss every SCS post.

[champaignchris]

I don't think he'll be cheap, but I've been thinking Phil Hughes seems like a very Theo-esque signing.

[davell]

I really don't see us signing another mid to back of the rotation type. If we add a SP, I think it'd be Tanaka or a trade for a TOR arm. We've got the numbers currently to throw out a 5 man rotation(with depth). I guess they could talk themselves into believing Josh Johnson could reclaim his former stuff, but outside of him, it's Tanaka or bust for FA. Unless they think Suk Min Yoon is more than a back end type.

[Guest]

I'm glad we finally have one location where we can toss every SCS post.

 

hahahaha

[Guest]

feldman again, maybe on a 2 or 3 year deal this time.

[TruffleShuffle]

I really don't see us signing another mid to back of the rotation type. If we add a SP, I think it'd be Tanaka or a trade for a TOR arm. We've got the numbers currently to throw out a 5 man rotation(with depth). I guess they could talk themselves into believing Josh Johnson could reclaim his former stuff, but outside of him, it's Tanaka or bust for FA. Unless they think Suk Min Yoon is more than a back end type.

 

i tend to agree, in that there are a lot of candidates for the back of the rotation, although it wouldn't surprise me to see them sign someone for depth. tanaka is a really obvious target; hopefully the financial issues and the need to pay a sizeable posting fee up front doesn't stop them from making a big run at him.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think between peripherals and history, Lincecum gets paid. Johnson's surface numbers will outweigh his K/BB numbers (and worries about his suddenly awful HR rate)and he'll wind up with a 1 yr deal

 

Probably right on Lincecum, but with JJ, it's a combo of his awful 2013 and injury concern. Again, wouldn't be at an all out reclamation price, but it's not unrealistic that he'd a take an incentive heavy 1 year deal with an option. At age 30, he's still young enough that 1 healthy, vintage season at a bargain price could land him a 4-5 year deal from somebody the following offseason.

[davell]

Pirates just DFA'd James McDonald. He's making 3 mill, is supposedly healthy again and would have two years of control remaining. Kind of wish we had room for him, just don't see it though.

[Clem Fandango]

Pirates just DFA'd James McDonald. He's making 3 mill, is supposedly healthy again and would have two years of control remaining. Kind of wish we had room for him, just don't see it though.

 

I know his minor league numbers were rough this season but we've got less promising arms in AAA than James McDonald. I'd snatch him up, personally.

[Little Slide Rooter]

He no doubt fits the reclamation bargain bin flier criteria. We should have second crack at him after the Marlins.

 

He has more big league success then the rest of the options for the 4-5 spots in the rotation. I say grab him.

[neely crenshaw]

We seem to be set on back of the rotation guys but I do see Johnson as the type that they may take a flyer on, and the bats do also.

I would think Baker comes back- he certainly owes the organization, and may not have many suitors yet. We have Villanueva, Arrieta, Russin, and Jackson. We need someone out in front of Wood and Samardzija. Tanaka may be the best, but he has questions marks, and most scouts put him as a possible number 2 but he isn't a can't miss thing like Darvish. Adding in the potential cost of even winning the bid(since there isn't much depth out there) we may have to pay more to just negotiate with him than texas did for darvish.

[Smack]

Is Mat Gamel still a prospect?

 

No. Back to back season ending knee injuries and he's 28.

[sneakypower]

illiniguy still prefers him to Andrew McCutchen though