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By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of '10 Bounceback Hitter Candidates Still Available In Free Agency' to a friend
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BigGrumpki
Is it weird that most of these guys were Mariners at one point? ..Nah…
24TheKid
Well, how it goes is that when great players come here they suck, but when the players that suck leave they become great.
yeahhhjeets
First person in mind…. Adrian beltre
jakeperrow
Was thinking the same thing haha, 5 former mariners
whereslou
Beltre didn’t suck as a Mariner he didn’t hit as many HRs because of the ballpark but his D was just as good.
Ry.the.Stunner
His slash line with SEA was .266/.317/.442. His slash line with TEX has been .308/.358/.516. That’s a big difference and a lot more than just hitting more HR in TEX.
altuve2017mvp
Didn’t realize valbuena was a free agent. Shame he got hurt. I’m sure he will bounce back with a strong year. Have at him boys
nookster
After maybe Valbuena & Plouffe, this is really scraping the bottom of the barrel. I mean like leaning all the way over with just what God gave ya sticking out. Like your trying to make a peanut butter & jelly but man that jar was too low even the last time you used it. Bounce back from what? And Beane got a promotion, meanwhile his hire can’t even stay on the roster. Alternate universe.
astrosfan4life
Rasmus has the most value of the bunch. He hits for power, is a very good runner, has a great arm, and can play all OF positions above average. This past season was a loss due to the ear issues and hip, but he has the highest ceiling/value here.
I do agree that Valbuena and Ploufe have value, just not really as regulars. I like Valbuena a lot, but if he’s a regular on your team, your team has issues.
toby312
Why pay rasmus , who batted .206 and .238 last 2 years? He’s going to want fairly significant $, agent and players ego won’t take a paycut which is what he has deservedly earned. Teams would be better off bringing up one of their prospects to see what they have at a more manageable salary
astrosfan4life
Says who? He made a ridiculous amount last year because he was the first person ever to accept the qualifiying offer. You can’t blame him for taking money he knew he wasn’t worth.
EndinStealth
He was the second.
astrosfan4life
Wrong, but good try. Even a simple google search would’ve helped you avoid being wrong.
EndinStealth
Ah what an age we live in. Instead of simply correcting someone when they were wrong, and I obviously was, people have to demean someone. Well if your self esteem needs the boost by putting others down I guess I shouldn’t complain. I feel sorry for you.
astrosfan4life
What an age indeed, where everyone is super sensitive about everything and they fail to see the forest for the trees. I didn’t “demean” you, I simply had an unnecessary response to your unnecessary comment.
Even if I was wrong, there was no need for you to comment about the particulars when they weren’t even the main point. You felt the need to show how incredibly knowledgeable you are and just had to correct someone to show them how they were wrong. Since you felt like getting on a soapbox, I felt the need to kick it out from under you. Ultimately, you were still wrong.
EndinStealth
Four words constitutes a soap box? Lmao
liamsfg
You’re in the wrong for the way in which you corrected him. It’s up to us as peers to educate each other constructively and not with arrogance.
With humility and respect, we as a baseball fandom, can become much more informed and pleasant.
cardinalfanforever
Rasmus was decent with the Cards, but rumor had it him and La Russa locked horns frequently
claude raymond
His best numbers were in St. Louis. So maybe he performs better for Ahole managers?
bluecard
He has not panned out to be anything what he was projected/ expected to become. Most criticized trade the cards have made in years, yet, looking back it worked out great for them.
EndinStealth
Who criticized it? I remember everyone being happy he and his dad were gone.
RussellTiger
I remember hallucinations over this. Wow, that trade was…..
66TheNumberOfTheBest
I’d take Adam Lind over Jaso.
ronnsnow
Why?
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Bucs have no power or threat of power.
I love Starling Marte but he is not a cleanup hitter.
Bell is theoretically their best power bat but they intend to hit him in the 2 hole, evidently.
Lind or Carter or any first base addition would require dealing Cutch first, though.
davidcoonce74
I don’t see why Pittsburgh would deal for a first baseman. Bell’s only real position is first.
The Oregonian
I wonder if the Blue Jays would consider releasing Smoak and taking a one-year flyer on Lind?
layventsky
Doubtful, seeing as they gave Smoak a 2 year extension in July. Though if they don’t re-sign Bautista, they could sign Lind to DH or potentially platoon with Smoak.
Whyamihere
platooning smoak with a lefty makes no sense
jakeperrow
2 lefties is no platoon
JaysSK
Technically, Smoak is a switch hitter but he can’t hit lefties, just like Lind
HaloShane
Chris Iannetta a bounce back? Dude has a .229 AVG. in 11 years…. Sure he walks a few times a year, but come on!
torontobluejays
I would love to get lind, sell smoak and get bautista, check linds numbers in the past, he is so underrated, he has a strong obp and batting average with pretty good power and clutch rbi hitting, have lind play 1st and bautista play RF, but have them switch sometimes, sign lind to a 2 year contract and bautista to a 1 year contract, then, sell upton and have pearce and carrera platoon, that will be real good, after sign 2 decent bullpen arms with the money you have left and the money you have after selling upton and probably even smoak, I would think that this lineup would be better then the 2016 lineup, I would take morales and lind over edwin any day
whereslou
Yeah and after watching Lind for a month you will want to beat your head into a wall. That guy is going to have to be made of superball material to have a bounce back year he was awful. It seemed when we needed a clutch hit he was walking up to the plate then 4-5 pitches later walking back with a look of confusion on his face. The only time hee swing the ball wasn’t close to the strike zone.
A bit exaggerated I know but it sure felt like that.
SuperSinker
Why trade Upton, he’s an above average fielder who can hit LHP well. Just sign Brandon Moss to platoon with him and you’ve got ~2-3 wins of production out of an outfield spot, maybe more.
You would take Morales and Lind over Edwin? Am I taking crazy pills.
champsummers
Surprised Dustin Ackley didn’t make the list… speaking of former Mariners.
AddisonStreet
You have to have been good before to ever bounce back. He’s never been good.
whereslou
He was good for a few months many years ago.
notin
Chris Iannetta was never good as a hitter, yet he made the list. .
stymeedone
Catchers have a lower ceiling to the term “good” when it comes to hitting.
jdgoat
Iannetta ranged from average to above average for 4 straight years with the Angels. Like Stymeedone says, their definition of good is lower than all the other positions since the defense they provide is much more important
astrosfan4life
See Jason Castro, who this site claims is a league average hitter for a catcher. That’s a scary thought when you have to watch him hit day in and day out.
oaklandathletics116
I’m still seeing Ramsus signing with Oakland for 2 years 15 million (predictions bleacher report) and going for a trade with jed for dyson
astrosfan4life
Rasmus has been very vocal about his desire to play in the south, and his strong desire to not play on the west coast or back in St Louis. I still think he will end up back in Houston on a 1 yr deal as a backup, or possibly even in Atlanta.
pd14athletics
Not doubting you here, but do you have any links to where he has said he wouldn’t want to play on the west coast? I tried googling it but didn’t see anything other than he wants to stay with the Astros (quotes from this time last year) and that he didn’t see himself playing too much longer (to spend more time with family, so I can see playing closer to family being important). Clearly you are an Astros fan so I’m figuring maybe it’s something he’s said on local feed interviews.
Anyways as an A’s fan I was hoping we could get a good deal on him with Desmond Jennings as a fallback. Basically I’d be bummed if he wrote us off based on location (that seems to be what cost us the chance to sign EE). A’s are probably a couple of years off, but it would be nice to field a decent team and see how the season plays out. Our current CF I believe would be Smolinski. Gulp.
astrosfan4life
Yes, it was local feeds/interviews. I actually think he’d be a great fit in Oakland and if he is open-minded it would probably be a great destination for him to try to continue his career. Preference is one thing, but we all know money talks.
And for what it’s worth, he wants to play/live somewhere where he can drive his “big truck” around and have plenty of average for his outdoors passions. That’s why he prefers somewhere in the south.
davidcoonce74
Apparently then Rasmus has never been to Northern California or looked at a map. He can drive an hour north of the Bay Area and be in some of the most secluded forests on earth. Plenty of room for his “big truck”.
stymeedone
In Detroit, they currently have to chose between Collins, Presley and Gose. I am keeping my eyes open on Jennings, Gentry, and Bourjos. I am hoping they will avoid Rasmus, who is probably out of their price range.
GarryHarris
I agree with the idea. These WERE fast players and HAD a reputation as good defensive CF. None of these players hit and although they appeared to be good defensive CFs, their defensive statistics weren’t that good, even at their peak.
The Tigers could use a fast CF with high defensive range. They need to start looking within first as a rule. I think the Tigers should be patient and work with Anthony Gose more. He’s young, fast, good defensively and bats left handed. If the Tigers give up on him, we will watch him excel on his new team. Alex Presley won’t make it past spring and I never want to hear about Tyler Collins again.
cgallant
Valbuena makes a lot of sense for the Red Sox. Insurance for Panda if he can’t get his act together and he’s a lefty that the Sox could use to balance their righty dominant lineup.
astrosfan4life
Not a bad idea.
badco44
Hello.. they call it platoon for a reason.. righty needed against the lefties
OCTraveler
Plouffe to the Angels seems like a good fit – maybe even to the Padres. Improvement for either team at third, plus some insurance at first.
oaklandathletics116
I can see plouffe going to the Padres especially since the market drop on 1B/3B this offseason.
davidcoonce74
Not really sure why the Padres would want plouffe. Doesn’t really fit on a rebuilding team that already has an extra third baseman on the roster in Spangenberg (or Schimpf). But maybe as a depth piece for a Solarte trade. Padres have to spend some money on payroll this year, I suppose.
GeoKaplan
I’ve long been advocating signing Valbuena for 3B and flipping one year of Escobar for whatever he might bring. The defense would improve, a reduction in offense, but another LH bat is added to the lineup.
Can sign Valbuena for 2 yrs, and if a better choice for 3B is found for 2018, then Valbuena represents bench depth at 2B and 3B.
Escobar is to make $7M on the last year of his deal, which would enhance his trade value for a team needing a bat in the lineup, and Valbuena can probably be signed for $10M/2 given how long he has sat on the sidelines this offseason.
astrosfan4life
I think Valbuena could be had for that price, and he will be well worth the money. He gets dogged for defense, but I actually think he’s pretty solid defensively. He has one of the best “bat flips” in baseball too!
davidcoonce74
I’m surprised there isn’t more movement on Hundley; he would seem to be a better option than Ianetta. Unless hundley’s defense is really as bad as it seems.
ccsilvia
How the hell is Billy Butler still just 30 years of age? I had to double check that, thought for sure it was a mistake. A lot of country breakfasts, I guess.
costergaard2
because he’s been in the league forever. 1st round pick in ’04 and didn’t stay in the minors more. If NYY wasn’t in such a youth movement, they should have asked him back.
ccsilvia
Still, Billy Butler and Desmond Jennings both on this list, both the same age? Took me by surprise for sure.
stymeedone
Yes Matt Holliday sure fits the youth movement better than Butler.
bleacherbum
Desmond Jennings makes sense as a minor league signing for the Padres, he could be a less expensive Jon Jay. With 4 young outfielders competing for 3 spots & Possibly wanting to delay Manuel Margot’s clock, it could make sense to bring in the veteran Jennings for flexibility.
Heck, for depth & incase of an injury to the current group as well. He would come cheap & would be a flip at the deadline candidate if he performs well & they are ready for Margot to come up.
raltongo 3
I know it’s been a while since Morrison played a significant amount of innings in the outfield (2011-2012 maybe?), but if he still can, I could see the Phillies goin after him… They need a corner OF lefty bat in the lineup with power potential, so at least sign this guy and see how he does in Spring Training. If he can stick it in the OF, they can move Kendrick to 2B (keeping an open OF spot for youngsters Quinn/Alterr/Williams?), and trade Caesar Hernandez while his trade value is relatively decent…
whereslou
He played some for Seattle a couple years ago and he wasn’t the worst but not what you would want out there a lot. It got interesting a few times. He was coming off his knee surgeries though so he might be better but I don’t think he would be one I would count on to be an everyday OFer.
reflect
Who’s the ogre in the cover picture for this article? Yeesh. Less chocolate cake more haircuts bro.
bleacherbum
It’s Adam Lind
arp7241
Honestly forgot Jennings existed…
Nnnjjjjjhhjj
Rasmus: isn’t he always a bounce back candidate? I’m not sure what he’s bouncing back to- maybe league average? He’s got to be one of the whiniest guys in the league. I was entertained by his thoughts on young players not flourishing under Larussa because he was hard on them-I guess he never met Pujols, Molina, or Wainwright-not to mention others. I wonder if his dad is still part of his signing package.
SuperSinker
LaRussa is human garbage.