While it can be exciting, the off-season is a tough time for fans of Major League Baseball. It can certainly be a long winter without the game, but rumors and costless agent news will certainly keep the hot stove going. The anticipation and lack of knowledge in the off-season is almost as exciting as the season itself. To further explain the details behind this years costless agents some of the MLB staff at VAVEL USA have banded together to bring you up to speed with the 2015 costless agent class. Week by week, the team will publish a new piece details the top available players at each position:
Liam McMahon:
Mark Ellis
Age: 37
2014 Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals
2014 Stats: 202 PA, .180 BA, 0 HR, 12 RBI, -0.3 WAR
Analysis: Ellis had a truly poor season in 2014. He has been a very good, consistent player in the past but he was nowhere close to the player who batted .276 with 19 HR and 76 RBI back in 2007. For the first time in his career, he wasn't even close to being an everyday player. Ellis struggled all season long, and it is hard to fathom who might take a chance on the veteran.
Prediction: Ellis will retire. At 37, he would be among the oldest players in the bigs, and given his struggles last year it would be very surprising to see any team pick him up.
Rickie Weeks
Age: 32
2014 Team(s): Milwaukee Brewers
2014 Stats: 286 PA, .274 BA, 8 HR, 29 RBIs, 0.2 WAR
Analysis: Weeks' numbers are deceptive. He and young Scooter Gennett were platooned for the majority of the season with Gennett getting the reps against right-handed pitching and Weeks getting the lefties in addition to pinch-hitting. Therefore, it is no surprise that his numbers improved some. However, he is still nowhere near the player he was in 2010 and in 2011 before the high-ankle sprain that derailed his career. Weeks has not been the same player since, and as such it was no surprise to see the Brewers decline his $11.5 million option. The best thing for Weeks to do is find a team without a settled second baseman where he can attempt to return to the player he was four years ago.
Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks. Last season, starter Aaron Hill struggled batting only .244 with 10 HR and 60 RBI to go along with a WAR of -1.2. Weeks' 0.2 is vastly superior to that, and he is a cut price option who could be a bit of a stop gap solution until Arizona finds a long term solution.
Missy Metz:
Kelly Johnson
Age: 33
2014 Season Stats: 106 games, 7 HR, 27 RBIs, .215 AVG.
Last Seasons Team(s): New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles
Analysis: Kelly Johnson is an utility player that can mostly play the infield. He's spent his last three years with all the teams in the American League East. He could be a starter if needed or he could be a bench player. He provides you with a solid pitch hitter with good defense. He can play some outfield positions of needed like LF.
Prediction: Kelly Johnson needs to end up on a team that is looking for a bench player. This man could be a starter but the bench is more suited for him. I think the Miami Marlins will sign him. He's a cheap but reliable player. He also provides some veteran leadership and could help this young team. The Marlins could mostly use him as a pitch hitter or as somebody to give someone else a day off.
Rafael Furcal
Age: 37
2014 Stats: 9 games, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .171 AVG
2014 Team(s): Miami Marlins
Analysis: Rafael Furcal has been on the decline over the last few years. He's also been injury plagued that's kept him basically out the entire season. The Marlins signed Furcal to fill their needs. Clearly, he didn't as he only played in nine games. If Furcal could get healthy again he could be a valuable asset to any team.
Prediction: Rafael Furcal will sign with the New York Mets. The Mets have shown interest already. They would be looking for someone who can play second base well like Furcal. Furcal could help this young Mets team out and could fill a need. Also, Furcal would be cheap and if healthy it's a good risk for the Mets to take.
Ricky Salvatore:
Brandon Hicks
Age: 24
2014 Team(s): San Francisco Giants
2014 Stats: .162 BA, .280 OBP, .319 SLG, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 204 PA, 0.6 WAR
Analysis: 2014 was Brandon Hicks’ first season as an everyday first baseman. Before being designated for assignment on July 11, Hicks played in all but seven of the games of 2014. Although he batted just .162, he showed exemplary power as a second baseman. If he kept up his home run production throughout the season before being released, he would have hit 18 home runs, more than every second baseman except for Brian Dozier (23) and Neil Walker (23). Hicks also did an excellent job getting on base, drawing 32 walks in his 2014 tenure with the Giants.
If he played in every game of the season, he would have been walked 73 times, just behind Ben Zobrist (75) and Brian Dozier (89). Prior to 2014, Hicks played in just 45 games between 2010 and 2012 with the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics, and did not appear in the majors in 2013. He did an excellent job filling in for injured Marco Scutaro, despite 2014 being his first season as a starter.
Prediction: New York Yankees. The Yankees are desperately in need of a middle infielder, as their current starting second baseman for 2015 is Martin Prado and their shortstop is Brendan Ryan. Ryan played in just 49 games last season, but the spotlight is on shortstop in the absence of Derek Jeter. He batted a poor .167/.211/.202 with a 30/4 K/BB ratio and just eight RBI. He is also the Yankees’ back up shortstop, in case Prado becomes injured. The Yankees could use the cheap Brandon Hicks to platoon with Brendan Ryan at shortstop, and Hicks can also provide depth and security at second base.
Raymond Bureau:
Jonathan Herrera
Age: 30
2014 Team(s): Boston Red Sox
2014 Stats: 104 PA, 0 HR, 9 RBI, .233 BA, .309 OBP, .596 OPS, -0.1 WAR
Analysis: After a trade from the Colorado Rockies last offseason, Herrera figured to fit in as a valuable utility man, but that did not pan out. He played in only 42 games before the Red Sox demoted him to Triple-A Pawtucket. After two weeks there, his season ended when he needed surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
Trying to come back from surgery is tough enough, but for a light-hitting utility man, it gets even tougher. His track record of a .985 fielding percentage in 380 games in the field (at SS, 2B, and 3B) will help him find a job even with career totals of .263/.324/.329 with 8 HR and 75 RBI in parts of six seasons, his first five with the Rockies.
Prediction: Colorado Rockies. Herrera had his best offensive season in 2013 with the Rockies, so they know his capabilities. The Rockies could also trade Troy Tulowitzki at some point, so having an extra glove that can play both middle infield positions well will certainly help.
Ed Lucas
Age: 32
2014 Team(s): Miami Marlins
2014 Stats: 179 PA, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .251 BA, .283 OBP, .580 OPS, 0.0 WAR
Analysis: Lucas has played a total of 163 games in his career for the Miami Marlins in the past two seasons. He has totals of .255 with 5 HR and 37 RBI, which is decent for a utility man who has played all four infield positions and both corner outfield spots. He is in the Majors more for his glove and versatility.
The Texas Rangers claimed Lucas off waivers from the Marlins on October 10 and then granted him costless agency on November 4. The Rangers have plenty of infield gloves on their roster and waiting in the Minor Leagues.
Prediction: Boston Red Sox. With Jonathan Herrera likely gone, Boston will need a good glove man who can play multiple positions for late-inning defense. Ben Cherington and John Farrell like versatility, and Lucas can provide it for a minimal salary. He made just over the league minimum in 2014.
Byran Schwartz:
Emilio Bonifacio
Age: 29
2014 Team(s): Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves
2014 Stats: 426 PA, .259 BA, .305 OBP, .345 SLG, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 47 R, 85 SO, 26 SB, 1.0 WAR
Analysis: Though he is still a fairly young player, it seems like Emilio Bonifacio has been around forever. The 29-year-old has played for seven teams in eight seasons, most notably four years with the Marlins. Bonifacio has never been outstanding, but he is a player that most teams would love to have. He is a great 10th man off the bench, who can play almost everywhere. In his career, he has played all over the diamond except pitcher, catcher and first base. Bonifacio brings speed on the bench, and above-average defense.
Prediction: 1 year, $3 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. Every World Series contender needs players like Bonifacio, which is why he would fit in perfectly with the Tigers. The Tigers have Jose Iglesias at shortstop who was out for last season because of injury, and have holes in the outfield. Bonifacio would provide depth for Brad Ausmus’ group in the infield and light outfield.
Ramon Santiago
Age: 35
2014 Team(s): Cincinnati Reds
2014 Stats: 214 PA, .246 BA, .343 OBP, .324 SLG, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 20 R, 38 SO, 0.6 WAR
Analysis: Ramon Santiago got extended playing time this year because of Brandon Phillips’ injury, but further proved that he is nothing but a backup infielder. There is nothing special about Santiago, except that he is a quality bench player. He has almost nothing in the power or speed department, but plays good defense in the middle infield. He could be a key veteran to a team who signs him.
Prediction: 1 year, $2 million deal with the Miami Marlins. Santiago is a great fit with a young Miami Marlins team. The Marlins signed Rafael Furcal last year as a veteran infielder, though he was never able to stay healthy. Santiago could be that same veteran influence on the Marlins inexperienced squad. With Donavan Solano and Adeiny Hechavarria as their projected middle infielders, Santiago would get some playing time, as well as being a leader in the clubhouse.
Colton Swanson:
Chris Valaika
Age: 29
2014 Team(s): Chicago Cubs
2014 Stats: 131 PA, .231 BA, .282 OBP, .339 SLG, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 10 R, 0.1 WAR
Analysis: Valaika is not the most successful player in the bigs. In fact, he has accumulated only 99 games in 4 seasons of service between the Cubs, Marlins and Reds. Valaika is a guy that can man the bench. He is more of a defensive second baseman as the offense has never been there. 3 home runs in 131 ABs is not a terrible number, but it is not likely to land a big league deal.
Prediction: Chicago Cubs. Valaika is a good fit in Chicago as a bench player behind Starlin Castro and Javier Baez. At the very least, Valaika would sign a minor league deal somewhere.
Josh Wilson
Age: 33
2014 Team(s): Texas Rangers
2014 Stats: 72 PA, .239 BA, .271 OBP, .299 SLG, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 0.4 WAR
Analysis: Josh Wilson was not much of a factor for the Rangers in 2014. After all, who was? Wilson has never found his place in the bigs. Some may remember his crazy double play a few years back with the Diamondbacks, but other than that, the 33 year old has not made much of a name for himself. He has never played in more than 110 games in a season and it seems that he will stay a bench player at best.
Prediction: Kansas City Royals. Wilson seems like the kind of player that would be a Royal. All defense and no offense. He would serve as a decent bench player and backup with some average speed on the base paths. Retirement is always an option, but this writer does not see that in 2015 for Josh Wilson.