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Jeff Francoeur Becomes A Free Agent

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 10, 2010 at 2:41pm CDT

Jeff Francoeur has hit free agency after clearing waivers and declining an outright assignment to the minors, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The 26-year-old split the 2010 season between the Mets and Rangers, batting .249/.300/.383 in 503 plate appearances. 

Francoeur earned $5MM last year and would have been eligible for arbitration again, so the Rangers were expected to non-tender him. This move is essentially an early non-tender, as it allows Francoeur to explore the free agent market a month early. He has said he'd like to play every day, but a part-time role may be more likely given his struggles against righties (.699 career OPS) and success against lefties (.824 career OPS).

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47 Comments

  1. Brandon Woodworth

    15 years ago

    Hope he can return to form. If he can hit .270/20/90 again with his defense and arm, the low OBP won’t be as unbearable. Philly looks like a certain landing spot, and anyone who has ever worn a Braves jersey, even the ones bought at the clubhouse store, should expect Dayton Moore to come knocking.

    Reply
    • bbxxj

      15 years ago

      I know he has a reputation for defense but its really all predicated on his arm. His range is actually pretty poor.

      I remember when for a few games in 2009 we had no healthy bodies left to play CF and Bobby put Diaz in CF over Francoeur for two games. That should tell you something.

      Reply
      • Brandon Woodworth

        15 years ago

        I believe that was after Francoeur had been traded, but I know what you mean. Francoeur does have a couple of appearances a few years ago in CF.

        Reply
    • richphillies

      15 years ago

      Again? Oh, you mean that one single time he did it? Jeff is Dave Kingman without the unbelievable power. His first few years he did ok, but once the league figured him out, he’s been flat out awful. I’m not trying to be a snarky Phils fan either. In fact, I’m worried the Phillies might sign him.

      Reply
  2. j6takish

    15 years ago

    Good riddance, he apparently single handedly holding the Mets back. Now Jason Bay can do what he was brought in for, save the franchies

    Reply
    • $3866193

      15 years ago

      lol wut

      Reply
    • MBull

      15 years ago

      The Mets are a disaster

      Reply
    • jimboslice9

      15 years ago

      Francoeur didn’t get that much playing time toward the end of his time as a Met, and was no means stealing any playing time from Bay. Bay got off to a slow start, and then suffered a season ending concussion, and neither of those were Francoeur’s fault.

      Reply
  3. Faceman937

    15 years ago

    Dayton Moore & the Royals will come calling!

    Reply
  4. 14 Rocks

    15 years ago

    Jeff has said repeatedly that he wants to play where he can start every day…..so why did he decline an outright assignment to the minors? That’s the only place where he could start. Jeff has yet to figure out that he isn’t as good as he thinks he is.

    Reply
  5. O971

    15 years ago

    Thanks for 05 and 07, Jeff. I don’t think there’s a Braves fan out there who didn’t want you to put it all together.

    Reply
    • NYBravosFan10

      15 years ago

      couldn’t have said it better. I still get sad whenever I see my Francoeur jersey t-shirt

      Reply
  6. Ian_Smell

    15 years ago

    I can see him signing with the Pirates or Royals. If he comes to the Pirates, he has to shave that awful beard.

    Reply
    • SteelCityResident13

      15 years ago

      Guarantee they make some calls to his agent. I can see him out in RF battling for the starting spot with Lastings. I think it will make both of them excel with the pressure of winning the job. Now I know you like that idea!?! Two players who have the talent, have shown signs of it, need to be pushed in order to prove it!

      Reply
      • $1529282

        15 years ago

        I’m baffled as to how anyone can like the idea of Jeff Francoeur wearing their team’s uniform.

        Reply
        • SteelCityResident13

          15 years ago

          Baffle these nuts. The kid has skills. He is 26 years old. He needs a new opportunity to prove himself. He was introduced to the league early. Surrounding him with young energetic men can potentially allow him to find some fun in the game once again.

          Reply
          • $1529282

            15 years ago

            “Baffle these nuts.” Classy.

            Francoeur had skills as a raw 21- and 22-year-old player, but he has yet to mature or grow or build on them. He has no plate discipline or strike zone recognition.

            Francoeur didn’t suddenly become bad because he stopped having fun or something ridiculous like that. He fell off a cliff because he’s a player with some big, exploitable holes in his swing that’s never made the adjustment.

            Reply
            • SteelCityResident13

              15 years ago

              Jeff’s stat line for the past 4 years…..

              2007 – 19 HR 105 RBI .293 AVG
              2008 – 11 HR 71 RBI .239 AVG – dealt with hamstring injuries
              2009 – 15 HR 76 RBI .280 AVG
              2010 – 13 HR 65 RBI .249 AVG

              See a trend??? His two low average seasons were due to injury and relocating mid season. He will have a great year next year, then we will talk.

              And he won a GG in 2007 to go along with that rocket arm.

              The guy is due for a better year. I hope he ends up in Pittsburgh and we benefit from his talent. Would be great in the 6-7 hole and that is where he would be anyways. Yeah he strikes out, but he is still productive.

              Reply
              • $1529282

                15 years ago

                Sorry, I hadn’t thought to use stats like batting average and RBI in a predictive manner. I completely retract my statement.

                Reply
              • BentoBox

                15 years ago

                2007 – .338 OBP (16th lowest among OF) *Min – 500 PA
                2008 – .294 OBP (2nd lowest among OF) *Min – 500 PA
                2009 – .309 OBP (5th lowest among OF) *Min – 500 PA
                2010 – .300 OBP (2nd lowest among OF) *Min – 500 PA

                This is not productive.

                Reply
              • thurman15

                15 years ago

                Guys!
                I have watched Francoeur ply his trade for many years now. He will NEVER develop beyond where he is now unless someone tutors him who can get through to him. He is a former all-star prodigy athlete from high school who is convinced his newspaper clippings make him great. He also has a HUGE hole in his swing. Anyone who watches 1/2 dozen at bats will see it.

                Reply
          • The Nicker

            15 years ago

            I disagree with you completely, yet, I want to have a drink with you for telling someone to “baffle these nuts.”

            Reply
          • HerbertAnchovy

            15 years ago

            I’m definitely going to have to remember that expression. I like it.

            Reply
          • richphillies

            15 years ago

            Jeff’s only skill is occasionally hitting a meatball from a left-handed pitcher. Beyond that, he’s worthless.

            Reply
      • Slopeboy

        15 years ago

        Lastings Milledge..? That’s not a competition that’s an elimination.

        Reply
        • SteelCityResident13

          15 years ago

          Dudes got skills, needs to get his head right and understand he isnt bigger than the game. He is almost there.

          Reply
          • Slopeboy

            15 years ago

            Dude had skills when he came up to the Mets, then he had skills that needed a change of scenery, so off he went to Washington. Then his skills were thought to translate better where they could be used everyday in Pittsburgh. Now his skills will be brought out to their fullest with a little competition. Yeah right!
            Dude reminds me of the song that was sung by the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz…
            “If I only had a brain”

            Reply
          • mrmet128

            15 years ago

            Lastings Milledge. i remember when he was the Mets’ top prospect, and some people said he was the best outfield prospect in the MLB. he got called up in 06, hit a go ahead two run shot one day, and the next inning when he was going to take the field in left he high fived the fans in the seats. a lot of people hate him for that, but i think it was pretty boss. then, at the end of the season someone (no one ever figured out who) put a note on his locker that said “know your place, rookie” and everyone made a big deal out of that. anyway, we could of packaged him in a ton of big time deals (Manny, Zito), but Minaya decided to hold on to him. i cant say i blamed him at the time, but we just traded him to Washington for Ryan Church and Brian Schnidier before 08. anyway, he is good and REALLY cocky.

            Reply
      • bucs_lose_again

        15 years ago

        I actually hate that idea.

        Reply
    • Infield Fly

      15 years ago

      I can see him flipping burgers – with or without the beard.

      Reply
      • Ian_Smell

        15 years ago

        Probably without, it’d be a drag to wear a hair net on your face.

        Reply
  7. gigantes2425

    15 years ago

    smart move rangers

    Reply
  8. $1529282

    15 years ago

    The next Francoeur headline we see will read:

    “Francoeur, Royals Agree To Inexcusable Seven-Year Pact”

    Reply
    • jwsox

      15 years ago

      with full no trade protection…

      Reply
      • $1529282

        15 years ago

        The only no-trade protection he needs is the fact that his name is “Jeff Francouer.” That should effectively block a trade to all 29 other teams anyway.

        Reply
  9. Patrick

    15 years ago

    Jeff Francouer should not start. I can’t believe how effective he seemed to be once he got to Texas. Either way, it was just a hot streak. At the very best he could be effective in a platoon – exclusively starting vs lhp’s and pinch-hitting vs them too.

    Reply
    • guest_54

      15 years ago

      Maybe he just needs to be traded every year . . . seemed to have motivated him in NY and Texas? Agree on the platoon.

      Reply
  10. Michael C

    15 years ago

    Classy move by the Rangers

    Reply
  11. RoyalsandCubs

    15 years ago

    Dayton Moore is sitting on the floor somewhere drooling over this news. I assume both sides will reach a deal within a week. Four years-12 million dollars sounds about right. I don’t know why DM loves the guy so much. I don’t have a problem signing him, but the only person truly excited about the opportunity is Mr. Moore himself.

    Reply
  12. myname_989

    15 years ago

    His splits against lefties will land him a major league job somewhere… I’m just hoping it’s not here.

    Reply
  13. nick1538

    15 years ago

    He can still hit lefties and has a powerful arm in the OF.
    I would like to see the Twins take a shot at his as a RH DH option to platoon with Jim Thome (if he is re-signed) and solid defense off of the bench as a 4th OFer.

    Reply
    • Slopeboy

      15 years ago

      What those skewed figures don’t say is that he hits only mediocre lefties. The good lefties get him out just like most righties. The guy’s played for three teams in two years and then got released because he would not take a demotion to the minors. If those figures carried any weight, wouldn’t he still be in the majors?

      Reply
      • Camden P

        15 years ago

        I was thinking the same thing about the Twins. They need a cheap righty bat on the bench and not only is he that but he has a cannon for an arm.

        Reply
  14. NYBravosFan10

    15 years ago

    If either he or Andruw Jones is willing to be the 4th outfielder, I wouldn’t mind having either of them back

    Reply
    • bosoque

      15 years ago

      Both Jeff and Druw’s numbers sound just like Atlanta’s current outfielders (minus the phenom).

      Reply
  15. mrmet128

    15 years ago

    like bbxxj said, francoeur’s defense is overrated. he has a great arm, and thats it. he can’t hit. everyone once in awhile he’ll go on a two week tear and make everyone think he’s putting it all together, then he hits an 0-30. but, just wait for Moore to give you a call. i hope he can find a way to get back to his 05 or 07 self in KC because i really do wanna see him do good. it seems like he brought a lot to the clubhouse while he was in NY.

    Reply
  16. piratesbaseball46

    15 years ago

    Jeff Franceour and John Bowker will platoon in RF to start next season for the Pirates

    Reply

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