Available Impact Hitters

The offseason hasn't even begun, but already we're hearing all sorts of teams are anxious to open their pocketbooks/prospect vault to acquire an impact hitter.  The Angels, Cubs, Astros, and a host of others have money to burn.  Let's take a look through all of the available impact hitters, whether via trade or free agency.  The players are ranked by their 2006 VORP.  VORP is a good stat to use as it takes a player's position into account when ranking offensive performance.

5. Miguel Cabrera - And next year is his age 24 season.  Miggy made $472K in 2006 but will reach arbitration for the first time this winter.  His salary could jump to the $7-10MM range.  My feeling is that the Fish will choose to build around Cabrera, a Hall of Fame talent.

12. Miguel Tejada - The other Miggy makes $12MM in '07, $13MM in '08, and $13MM in '09.  He'll be 31 next year and will never shake off the steroid rumors.  His age and related possible decline are worrisome, but his durability is rare.  If the Orioles sign Alfonso Soriano, will that compel them to keep Tejada or trade him?

14. Manny Ramirez - Owed $39MM over 2007-08, Manny is no bargain.  But if anyone deserves that kind of cash, it's a guy who hits .300/.400/.600 every year.  He'll be 35 next year and may be best served at DH.  Still, Manny would make a huge difference for any club.  The Red Sox would have a hard time replacing that offense.

19. Vernon Wells - What's best for the Blue Jays - to try to get a couple of young studs for Wells, or to just let him play out the string for a mere $5.6MM and take the draft picks?  Ricciardi could always wait until June or July to make that decision.

29. Alex Rodriguez - What more can be said about A-Rod?  Recent rumors have the Cubs in the game because of A-Rod's man-love for Lou Piniella.  A new team would be on the hook for about $16 mil annually over the next four seasons, and Rodriguez is worth it.  Most folks think any deal would require a slew of Major League-ready talent.  There's really no good reason for the Yankees to trade him.

30. Alfonso Soriano - Sori has been labeled the Cubs' #1 target.  They'd like to use him as a center fielder, an idea I like.  We all know the price tag will be massive for whoever gets Soriano for his age 31-35 seasons.  At least you don't have to trade your best young players for him.  A lot of players start taking more walks as they get older, so last year was a good sign.

32. Andruw Jones - Jones's situation is kind of similar to Wells, but Jones isn't underpriced at $13.5MM next year.  Boston tried to trade for Jones this summer, but now Jones has veto power.  One facet of his game that shouldn't be overlooked is his durability - he's played at least 153 games each year since 1997.

33. Gary Matthews Jr. - Matthews could be a relative bargain considering that he plays center field well and might be had on a three-year pact.  Red flags: he's 32 next year, '06 was a career year, and he may be less than durable.

37. Ray Durham - That's right, Ray Ray was more valuable than Barry Bonds in 2006.  The Giants would like to bring him back for his age 35-36 seasons.  He's always got aches and pains but stayed pretty healthy the last two seasons.  His .538 SLG this year was by far a career high.

37.5. Carlos Lee - Combining El Caballo's VORPs from the Brewers and Rangers puts him here, 10th among available impact hitters.  He'll be 31 next year, and has been connected to the Cubs for some time.  Lee is not quite the offensive beast his recent RBI totals would have you believe, but he'd be an upgrade in left for a lot of teams.

38. Barry Bonds - Not many players can get on base 45% of the time.  An offseason of rest might allow Bonds to remain in the NL...or maybe that's just his agent talking.  A big plus here is the low commitment of years.

40. Ichiro Suzuki - Consider him a full-time CF for '07, and he'd move several ranks upward on this list.  Ichiro is a fine leadoff man and defender, but is he really even available?

41. Aramis Ramirez - Is Aramis lazy, or does he just kind of look that way?  What do we really know about his work habits?  Jim Hendry hopes to retain him, as the free agent market for 3Bs is slim otherwise.  He's still on the right side of 30.

44. Michael Young - Miscast as a shortstop, but Young has very good power for an infielder and gets on base decently.  He's also been durable.  He'll be 30 next year, and Jon Daniels could deal him to shake things up.

46. Carl Crawford - Plenty of teams would love to have him for his age 25 season, especially the Mets.  The Devil Rays have an outfield surplus, so a trade for young pitching makes sense.

49. Frank Thomas - The A's offered two years, $8MM, not all guaranteed.  Frank scoffed.  His resurgence was impressive, but he'll be 39 next year.

Just missed: Mark Teixeira, Rocco Baldelli, Julio Lugo, Todd Helton, Rich Aurilia.

Comments

[Jerry]

Regarding Ichiro and his availability:

I am a big M's fan, and I am definitely in the minority in that I think that M's should seriously consider moving Ichiro.

However, I have to admit that the M's would have to be blown away. Ichiro is the face of the organization, and the ownership is very unlikely to deal him.

I wouldn't mind seeing it happen, but there is a very small chance of it happening.

As a side note, Ichiro in CF is more valuable than many of the players you have listed there. He is a much better player than Gary Mathews Jr.

[Dev0]

I also think Wells likely isn't moving most say the Salary increase the jays were givin was to resign wells.

[c j]

VORP is kind of misleading in terms of impact because it is so PA dependent. Two Giants are way understated in terms of potential impact on an AL team as a DH. Bonds and Alou (who was 84th) could perhaps reach 600 PA in the AL.

[Tak]

If Ichiro gets traded, that would be because Ichiro himself requests to be traded. It is unlikely but could happen if the M's fail to assemble a contending team.

Even regards to his move to CF, the American press are making it sound like he loves playing CF, but he actually would much rather play RF, and he said he would play CF if the M's are going to find a good player to fill in that RF spot. (or at least that is what the Japanese press is saying) He is moving to CF for the team, and if things do not get better, he is gonna get fed up pretty soon...

[Jerry]

RE Ichiro,

What type of trade value do you guys think he might have?

I would imagine that clubs would give up an arm and a leg for him. Not only is he an excellent defensive CFer and a great hitter, but he is a hugely marketable personality. I think that clubs would be likely to overpay for a guy with that icon status.

I was thinking that the Cubs could go after him. Rich Hill, Felix Pie, and Donald Veal?

The White Sox would be a good match as well. Ryan Sweeney, Brandon McCarthy, and Aaron Cunningham?

The Dodgers have an openning at CF, and are always looking to add big-name players. Scott Elbert, Andre Eithier, and Blake DeWitt?

The Red Sox are also a great match. Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and Jon Egan?

The Angels would also be a great match - Nick Adenhart, Kendry Morales, and Joe Saunder? - but the M's are not likely to deal within their own division.

[RotoAuthority]

CJ - yes, but health is a skill.

[Baseballfan79]

My question is, what prospects are worth it for Seattle to give up the elite amount of money that Ichiro brings in?

Isnt his value there higher then his value in talent that could be acquired? Baseball is a business after all.

[Neifi_Chicken]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Whoever gets Bonds next year will be getting a 1.100+ OPS player

[Eddie]

Miguel Tejada's durability is rare? Isn't that the same guy who has played every game for the past six seasons?

[MadMatt15]

I would be happy as anyone in the world to see Ichiro randomly come to boston but theM's aren't gonna move him.
baseball fan has a good point to