We're weeks into Spring Training now, so few notable free agents remain. But some players (min. 50 PAs) and pitchers (min. 20 IP) remain unsigned. Here's a look at the remaining free agents who will play the 2011 season while no older than 32:
- Willy Aybar (28) – The Rays declined Aybar's option and non-tendered him, but he can play first, second and third and has a career .341 OBP. He wouldn't be in line for more than a minor league deal if he signs.
- Jeremy Bonderman (28) – Bonderman may sit the season out, but you have to think he can help someone (the Cardinals?) despite the 5.53 ERA he posted in 171 innings last year. He's only 28 and he has recovered from shoulder surgery.
- Manny Corpas (28) - Corpas will miss the 2011 season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. He posted a 4.62 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 62 1/3 innings last year, and defense independent pitching stats suggest his ERA should have been lower, so he would have drawn interest if healthy.
- Hank Blalock (30) - Blalock averaged 29 homers per season from 2003-05, when he made two All-Star teams. That power was nowhere to be seen last year, when he posted a .254/.319/.349 line in 69 plate appearances for the Rays. Blalock just turned 30 last fall, but he probably needs to rebuild value in the minor leagues to make a complete comeback.
- Bobby Crosby (31) – Three teams were interested in the former AL Rookie of the Year earlier in the winter, but he remains on the open market. In 189 plate appearances for Pittsburgh and Arizona last year, Crosby hit .220/.294/.298 and played all four infield positions.
- Ryan Church (32) - Church, who was traded with Crosby from Pittsburgh to Arizona last summer, also struggled in 2010. He posted a .201/.265/.352 line, though he had 59 extra base hits as recently as 2007.
- Ben Sheets (32) – If he wasn't going to miss the season with flexor tendon surgery, Sheets would likely have found a team by now. He won't sign this year.
Rumor has it that Corpas underwent Tommy John surgery in September and will miss the entire 2011 campaign. True?
That’s what I heard, otherwise I can’t see him still being unsigned.
Good call. I added the note about TJ.
– BNS
What a sad bunch. Ah well, good luck to them.
It could be worse … they could have made the list of Oldest Remaining Free Agents. Not too many clubs would be interested in a 98-year-old reliever.
No need to worry about that, Jamie Moyer is out for the year.
I think that Nippert signed with a team in Korea
Yeah RotoWire says he signed with the Doosan Bears.
Wasn’t there some rumor about Blalock going to Japan?
I think he’s still available.
hank blalock meet kobe beef
I’m suprised a few of these guys didn’t sign minor league deals. Aybar and Blalock should have gotten minor league deals.
agreed my friend , Aybar being able to play every infield position competently should have merited at least an invite to spring training
Too bad for sheets. Dude used to be lights out. But much like rich harden, he just can stay healthy.
It’s really been an unfortunate turn of events for an amazing pitcher. I’ve always questioned his work ethic as far as getting in shape goes…maybe that has something to do with his injuries? I’d love to see him come back at the age of 33 and finish a solid career with a lucky team.
A whole lot of bad luck goes into that, too.
so does bad mechanics and throwing as hard as you can
Bonderman is one of the more puzzling names on this list. I understand he kind of priced himself out of a job, but what was he expecting? He may not be the stud he was in 06 anymore, but he can probably eat 200 innings
speaking of 06 my ps3 decided it was going to die after a little over a year so i cracked out the ps2(which has lasted me over 12 years and played the only game i have left for it…mlb the show 06….bonderman is my guy in that year of the show…him and felix are my 1-2 im unhittable through those two
I liked Hank Blalock and didn’t understand why he never got another ML job in 2010. He wasn’t injured and had some pop in his bat left. I’m thinking Omar Minaya would have signed him if he were still Mets GM.
he cant be any worse than melvin mora in arizona!
Blalock, Chavez, Creede…
That’s a whole lot of bondo & duct-tape at the hot corner.
i would take crede over those two in a heart beat….at least he has more recent legit success in the bigs and only has not played so he could actually give his back time to heal and now is out of a job more than likely because he is waiting for an injury to happen….kind of hoping my whitesox give him an invite…i would rather have crede as a back up 1st/3rd guy than teahan
Either Aybar or Blalock would be ideal bench strength for the Blue Jays. Aybar is a switch hitter and both hit from the left side which is where the Jays sorely lack depth. I would be partial to whichever player could back up Jose Bautista at 3B, as he ideally belongs in the outfield.
Any GM who has shown “interest” in Bobby Crosby should be summarily canned. B-Croz is about as worthless as they come at the plate: a right-handed slap-hitter, with no power and minimal speed. Why is he drawing interest again?
Just look at that triple-slash: 220/294/298. Really? Interest? I could hit 220/294/298 with a wiffle-bat against Tim Lincecum.
How many at-bats would you have against Lincecum? What kind of sample size are we talking about here? That’s a pretty impressive line, especially considering that you’re using a Whiffle ball bat. I’m surprised the bat doesn’t break when it encounters the ball, it doesn’t seem like the plastic would be thick enough to withstand that a collision of that magnitude.
How many at-bats would you have against Lincecum? What kind of sample size are we talking about here? That’s a pretty impressive line, especially considering that you’re using a Whiffle ball bat. I’m surprised the bat doesn’t break when it encounters the ball, it doesn’t seem like the plastic would be thick enough to withstand that a collision of that magnitude.
I am still totally baffled as to why bonderman hasn’t signed with the cardinals. Am I the only one who thinks that going to the national league and and having Duncan help him figure it out is the best possible situation for JB?
Plus, they could use him as of now and he’s not really doing anything else….
I agree, hes 28 and has shown flashes of being a good pitcher. I think Duncan could help him out and he could be a productive starter for them.
He could probably put up 200 innings of 4.5 era ball in the NL, hell Zito is getting paid 126mm to do that!
Have the Cards even made an offer?
nope it has not been the mandated 2 weeks yet
Jeez, remember when Hank Blalock and/or Sean Burroughs were gonna be the next George Brett? My how times change…