The Red Sox, Twins, Athletics, Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals, Rockies, Padres, and Giants could explore the market for right fielders this year, which mostly consists of a variety of free agents.
Starting Right Fielders Available In Free Agency
Three potential right fielders who will land starting jobs are Carlos Beltran, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel. Beltran is a middle-of-the-order bat, but he'll be 35 in April and missed much of 2009-10 with knee issues. Signing him will not involve the loss of a draft pick, but it may take three years and a salary of at least $13MM. Cuddyer can't match Beltran's bat, but he is younger, more versatile, and presumably cheaper. Signing him probably will require the loss of a draft pick though. Kubel is a similar hitter to Cuddyer aside from handedness, but Kubel's outfield defense is a minus.
Four more free agents may be vying for a role that sits between starter and reserve: David DeJesus, Magglio Ordonez, J.D. Drew, and Kosuke Fukudome. DeJesus, 32 in December, brings defensive value and seems the best bet. Fukudome doesn't have the power desired of a corner outfielder, while Ordonez and Drew bring significant health risk and may be limited to AL teams.
Thinking Outside The Box
Brad Hawpe, Ryan Ludwick, Josh Willingham, and Cody Ross played little or no right field this year, but they've done so in their careers. Grady Sizemore has never played right field as a pro. Agent Joe Urbon says Sizemore prefers center but will consider corner outfield opportunities. After missing significant time due to injury the last few years, Sizemore will be a wild card on an incentive-laden deal.
Quality Backups
Reed Johnson is likely to secure a Major League deal, while Scott Hairston, Mark Kotsay, and Corey Patterson have a shot.
Non-Tender Candidates
The Rockies could non-tender Ryan Spilborghs, who was productive in 2010. Garrett Jones probably won't be non-tendered, but the Pirates could move him if they don't consider him worth $2.4MM or so. Former top prospect Jeremy Hermida could be cut by the Padres; he hit .319/.400/.524 in Triple-A this year.
Other Trade Candidates
Carlos Quentin's name is often bandied about in trade rumors as he enters his final year of team control, but there's no guarantee the White Sox will move him. The Rockies' Seth Smith could be dealt if the team signs someone like Cuddyer.
Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti isn't inclined to trade Andre Ethier, he told ESPN's Jim Bowden in October.
Check out our full free agent list, as well as our articles on the markets at catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, and center field.
I’d imagine Swisher could be available too.
he’s swishalicious in regular season but is he worth $10M..not
10 MM is pretty reasonable, although his value probably drops a bit if he leaves New York (stadium, lineup). But hes a good OBP guy with good power. Solid complementary player.
nyy would happily pay his salary anyway if it meant getting back better talent
Yup. But I don’t really see any teams that are contending now, have to keep payroll down AND has talent to give.
Considering there are around 90 regular everyday OF in baseball and Swish ranked top 25 in WAR I would say otherwise.
IMO Ethier becomes a likely trade candidate if the Dodgers pull of Fielder or Ramirez.
You can’t do better than Reed Johnson for a 4th OF. On the other hand, every team in baseball should have a AAA guy who can fill that role better than Corey Patterson.
In summary, very slim pickin’s
Ryan Sweeney could be a trade candidate
I imagine he is more of a non tender candidate than a trade candidate
Cuddyer would be a great signing for the Braves.
Bobby Abreu. We’ll kick in $5m. You can have him for just picking up the other $5m.
Yeah. If Morales is healthy, where is Abreu going to play anyway? Someone’s gotta go, and there’s no way to trade Wells or Hunter without eating $10M+.
Exactly – if Morales is healthy then you have:
1B/DH/OF – Trumbo, Morales, Abreu, Wells, Hunter, Bourjos. That’s 6 guys for 5 spots. not a terrible situation but you’ll have at least one high priced guy riding the pine every day. Through Trout into the mix and you’ll force two of those guys to the bench.
Abreu at $5m on a one year commitment would be a great addition for a lot of clubs.
dejesus could be a nice pickup for someone while his value is low
Think the Cubs could make a run at Nick Markakis?
who would they give up?? that system is awful and Theo isnt going to want to make it any worse
Why would they need to give up anybody?
Markakis has 3/$44m guaranteed left on his deal. To justify that he would need to generate approximately 3 wins. Over the last 3 years he has been incredibly consistent in obtaining WAR values of 2.2, 2.3, and 2.6.
Markakis is not a very good ballplayer (not a bad one either though). A corner outfielder who gives you little power, OK baserunning and a middling avg is nothing to get excited about.
If he were a FA this year I doubt he would come close to 3/$44m.
thats a interesting one, he would thrive at Wrigley and his defense is great and hes left handed. what what would the o’s want?
I think Theo will view the Cubs prospects different than what everybody else has. I say they get what they can for pitchers and see what is left to get Markakis. I could see the Orioles giving him fairly cheap as a salary dump.
David Murphy nontender/trade candidate
Ryan Raburn seems entirely expendable now that Delmon Young is in the Tigers fold.
when can MLB teams begin to make trades?
The other day the Braves and Indians exchanged Lowe. Game on!
Teams can make trades at any time. However, there are times when the league asks that trades not be announced.
I bet Ordonez retires…
You see, the rockies are in very desperate need of a right fielder. So much so that they are willing to trade seth smith (Age 28, 2011: 284/347/483 -5.8 UZR) and throw large commitment/cash at michael cuddyer (Age 32, 2011: 284/346/459 -0.7 UZR)
This, is why, they will always be basement dwellers in the NL West
carlos quentin could be had for the rox…a AAA pitcher or maybe even ian stewart..for carlos…fair deal either way for both teams.
Putting Grady Sizemore in RF seems like a rather unwise strategy. Teams would figure to run wild on him. If he’s capable of playing the OF at all, my guess is it will be in LF.