The free agent market for right fielders offers a few solid options, such as Jayson Werth and Magglio Ordonez. With the Tigers, Angels, Phillies, Nationals, Pirates, Cardinals, and Giants potentially looking for help at the position, let's survey the trade landscape.
Are They Available?
Jose Bautista, David DeJesus, and Carlos Quentin are three names to watch this winter. Though there were a few rumors in the summer, it's difficult to picture the Blue Jays trading Bautista coming off a 54 home run campaign. With DeJesus, we mentioned earlier that it may be wise to let him establish good health after his season ended in July with a torn thumb ligament. Though it's pure speculation, Quentin seems the most likely of the three to be dealt this winter. The Daily Herald's Scot Gregor examined his stock four days ago. At one point, the Nationals showed interest.
Three Under Contract
Bobby Abreu, Kosuke Fukudome, and Milton Bradley are three well-paid right fielders who could be on the move if their teams assume salary. Abreu is owed $9MM next year and another $9MM in 2012 if he reaches 433 plate appearances in '11. Abreu or Juan Rivera could be dealt if the Angels add a free agent outfielder. Fukudome was useful given his .263/.371/.439 line, but at $13.5MM next year the Cubs might prefer to trade their first-ever Japanese player and recoup some payroll space. Bradley at $12MM is nearly immovable, but I like listing him anyway.
Deemed Expendable?
The Giants' Nate Schierholtz, 27 in February, could be sent packing after failing to produce in the bigs the last few years. The non-tender candidates, discussed here, are so heavily favored to be cut loose that it doesn't make sense to trade for any of them.
Summary
There are several useful bats potentially joining the right field trade market. Players like DeJesus and Quentin require injury risk tolerance, while most of the others require a willingness to assume part of an oversized contract. Also consider that some clubs may be open to tolerating a left field type in right field for a year, adding names like Josh Willingham, Raul Ibanez, and Luke Scott to the mix.
With his power, the Braves would definitely be interested in Carlos Quentin if he were to become available.
Jake – Ken Williams here – Make me an offer but he might only play 80 games.
Is it bad that his 80 games would give us more production that we got out of LF all of this past season?
Any chance that the Bravos trade Derek Lowe?
At two more years and $30MM more? The Braves would love to get out from under that deal.
Jake – Kw – I forgot to add he can’t field or throw.
I’m sure the Red Sox wouldn’t mind moving JD Drew…. they’d likely have to eat some salary, but if you listed someone like Milton Bradley, why not Drew?
Theo Epstein and the BoSox love what Drew brings to the table. I don’t think anyone out there even likes Bradley.
Quentin doesn’t really fit the mold of what the Braves would be looking for. Now if he was healthy and the risk was more about production than playing time they may take a real look at him. Not to mention you would be putting the worse fielding outfielder into an already weak OF defensively speaking.
He fits exactly what the Braves would be looking for: a productive right-handed power bat for LF. It’s not like we’ve gotten good defense out of LF in years anyways, and Quentin is vastly superior to anyone we’ve had out there in a while.
Not that I really care about Quentin or the Braves, but Carlos is superior to nobody defensively. He’s in a class with Adam Dunn, somewhere below Manny being Manny.
I mean offensively, of course. There’s no denying he’s a statue in the OF.
Braves of must be a sad group.
The Abreu numbers are not correct (according to Cots). They list his salary as:
2 years/$19M (2010-11), plus 2012 option
signed extension with LA Angels 11/5/09
10:$9M, 11:$9M, 12:$9M option ($1M buyout)
option guaranteed with 550 PAs in 2011 or 1,100 PA in 2010-11
Not a huge difference but the total liability on Abreu is 1/$10 or 2/$19.
He has a better line than Fukudome, likely to steal 20+ bases, and comes at a $4m or so discount. Of course Abreu’s defense is putrid.
I’d be surprised if the Angels couldn’t find a taker if they were willing to eat $3m or so off the 2011 salary. I sure hope they go this route.
I see the Angels making a hard push for Crawford, or Werth as a backup, moving Bobby to DH, and letting Matsui go. I’m not even sure they offer arby to Godzilla, for fear that he would accept.
Oops, not sure why my 9s became 11s. His line this year seems a touch worse than Fukudome’s.
If you are going to make $13.5 million, you better be more than just . . . “useful”! At that price, the Cubs won’t find anyone interested in acquiring the “useful” Fukodome unless the Cubs eat a hefty percentage of the contract. You can find “useful” outfielders who will come with much cheaper price tags than Fukodome.
Ha! Thanks Tim for not sparking up any ludicrous Andre Ethier to Boston rumors! 😀
I think Luke Scott would make a nice RF for the Buccos. I wonder what it would cost the Pirates to acquire him?
Cody Ross pretty much ended Nate Schierholtz brief career in SF.
Nick Swisher needs to be added to this list.
No the Yankees will NOT and repeat will not trade Swish. He is loved here in NY , He is A guy who turn that clubhouse into a fun atmosphere along with AJ but Swish has a great attuide and hes a good player i dont see that happening
what about the phillies who will they get this offseason?