As America witnessed Giancarlo Stanton ink the largest deal in North American sports, Wednesday afternoon, the top free agent had been taken off the market. The Miami Marlins locked up their young slugger with a 13-year/$325 million deal to hopefully turn the Marlins into contenders for many more years to come. Now as Stanton is back with the fish, we focus on who else is out on the market.
We’ll start with the pitching heavy market which includes the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. Most people may think that Scherzer had a down year in 2014 compared to his stoic 2013 campaign where he tallied a 21-3 record to the tune of a 2.90 ERA with 240 strikeouts while pitching over 200 innings.
In 2014 Scherzer did nothing but the same as he ended up with an 18-5 record and a 3.15 ERA while striking out 252 batters and once again going over 200 innings.
Detroit offered Scherzer a $144 million deal at the end of last season which he respectfully declined and pitched in the 2014 season as the “$144 million bet” loomed in the wings. With the acquisition of former Cy Young Award winner David Price at the trade deadline, it seems as if Detroit will let Scherzer walk and explore his options.
Where will Scherzer end up? Boston is the top contender at this point but is still rather shady as they would rather go after Jon Lester whom they had traded to Oakland at the deadline in 2014. If Boston isn’t where the Mizzou alum lands, then look for him to end up in a big money market such as the Cubs, Rangers or Yankees.
Jon Lester looks to be another top pitching prospect this year on the market. He flourished in 2014 with Boston before being traded to Oakland to help the Athletics make a playoff push. Lester and the A’s didn’t fare well in the postseason as the surprising Royals flushed them out in the wild card game.
In 2014 Lester tossed a 2.46 ERA with a record of 16-11 while striking out 220 batters and eclipsing 200 innings for the third season in a row, showing his durability. The outlook for Lester is torn between rejoining his former club in Boston or teaming up again with former Red Sox President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein, who is now showing off his talents and his bank account with the Cubs. However, there have been talks about the Royals wanting to join in the mix as they will be losing James Shields.
Big Game James? James Shields pitched well in the regular season and down the stretch to insert Kansas City into the playoff picture for the first time since 1985 but he struggled on the mound in the playoffs. During the regular season Shields went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA with 180 strikeouts while tossing 227 innings. In the postseason he struggled by tossing a 6.12 ERA but his leadership abilities led the Royals to the World Series after a 29-year drought.
Arizona and Miami are pursuing Shields heavily as the D-backs are in need of a decent right hander after their disaster season in 2014. Miami on the other hand is looking to build around their $300 million slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, and compliment their young flame thrower Jose Fernandez. Miami is a young team with little to none playoff experience and having Shields could turn them into contenders quickly just like what happened in Kansas City.
Moving on to the sluggers now as there are three that really stick out above the rest of the free agents currently on the market. Hanley Ramirez is probably the best bat on the market and it is pretty safe to say that he will not be returning to the Dodgers as they are pursuing Alexi Ramirez to become their shortstop for 2015. A season ago Hanley batted .283 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI’s in just 128 games. Hanley hasn’t played a full season since 2012 when he was traded from the Marlins to the Dodgers.
Is it possible that Hanley will return to the Fish? They’re looking to compliment Giancarlo Stanton with another middle of the order bat and have publicly stated saying that they are not done making moves this offseason. The more realistic outlook for Hanley might be in Seattle as he could team up with Robinson Cano and make a deadly three-four combination in the Mariners lineup in pursuit to an AL West crown.
Baltimore struck gold last offseason when they signed Nelson Cruz to a 1-year/$8 million contract after he had been suspended 50 games in 2013 for the use of performance enhancing drugs. All Cruz did a season ago was lead the MLB in home runs with 40 and knocked in 108 runs to go along with it.
Cruz could return to Baltimore this offseason although they will have to pay him a significant larger amount of money than a year ago. With the exit of right fielder Nick Markakis it makes it more likely for Cruz to re-sign with the O’s.
The last and most intriguing hitter on the market this offseason has to be the panda, Pablo Sandoval. The panda has made a home in San Francisco by winning three World Series titles as a Giant. He has been beloved by Giants fans his whole career and if he leaves AT&T Park he may not find another place like it ever again.
Sandoval took a visit to Boston just recently and has been in serious talks with the Red Sox but the Giants certainly would like to get him back if they can. The asking price for Sandoval would be something long term in the five to six year range with the dollar amount being anywhere from $90 to $100 million. Regardless where Sandoval ends up he will be a force for any team at third base and possibly a DH down the line if he signs with an AL club.