Shopping for FA bargains for Red Sox
By Earl Nash
PLAYS ALL POSITIONS, BUT CATCHER, SS, CF….279/.360/.545… KILLS LHPS
PRICE TAG: 1 year, $2.5 million, OR 2 YEARS $5 million.
His playing time was minimal throughout the season, but he made the most of his time on the field, hitting .279/.360/.545 with eight doubles and 11 home runs in 154 at-bats.
He wears out left-handed pitching, hitting .314/.407/.667 with 10 of his 11 home runs in 105 at-bats against LHPs in 2013. Could play 3b, LF, RF, 1b.
2013 Stats
G
BA/OBP/SLG
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
R
SB
fWAR
rWAR
74.279/.360/.54543 8 011 2121 1 0.4 0.7
"JEFF BAKER"
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SPEEDSTER, PLAYS ALL THREE OF POSITIONS…STOLEN BASE ACE…
PRICE TAG: 1 year, $2.5 million, OR 2 YEARS $5 million.
Since the start of 2009, the first season he got more than 300 at-bats, he has stolen 216 bases–second only to Michael Bourn [239], who did it with 1,000 more plate appearances. As far as the speed goes, no free agent is a bigger asset.
Although only a .268/.316/.377 career hitter, he has averaged 403 at-bats per season over the past five years.
If Ellsbury leaves, he would be a dynamic speed threat atop the order.
Leadoff hitter, PH, Pinch-runner, 4th OF, can play all fields.
2013 Stats
G
BA/OBP/SLG
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
R
SB
fWAR
rWAR
108.260/.312/.3758616 2 6 244945 1.2 1.8
"RAJAI DAVIS"
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Strikes out 37% ABs…BA .225…20-30 HRs? Dave Kingman clone…ONLY 1B
PRICE TAG: 1 year, $6 million, OR 2 YEARS $12 million.
He whiffed 1,276 times in 3,418 career at-bats, or just over 37 percent of the time, but he also provides some of the best raw power in baseball—projects 20-30 HRs.
He hit .301/.368/.651 with eight home runs and 22 RBI over the first month of the season, but just .187/.287/.282 over his next 252 at-bats through the beginning of August before being released on Aug. 12.
2013 Stats
G
BA/OBP/SLG
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
R
SB
fWAR
rWAR
135.220/.306/.3939814 021 6755 3 0.4 -0.3
Like Ortiz, plays only 1b and DH.
"MARK REYNOLDS"
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PROVEN SET-UP MAN IN AL; POTENTIAL CLOSER…DL BOUNCE BACK BARGAIN
PRICE TAG: 1 year, $3.5 million, OR 2 YEARS $7 million.
One of the best setup relievers in baseball over his 10-year career, he has a 3.05 ERA and 1.231 WHIP in 532 career appearances.
The 32-year-old was in the middle of the best season of his career in 2013 with a 0.74 ERA and 11.3 K/9 over 38 appearances to earn a spot on the AL All-Star team, when a shoulder injury put him on the DL June 29. Recovered. 440/206 K/W ratio, 3.05 ERA.
10 Yrs
45
30
.600
3.05
532
0
116
0
0
4
532.0
449
205
180
44
206
27
440
18
3
14
2221
143
1.231
7.6
0.7
3.5
7.4
2.14
6
4
.600
3.05
68
0
15
0
0
1
68
57
26
23
6
26
3
56
2
0
2
284
143
1.231
7.6
0.7
3.5
7.4
2.14
MIN (7 yrs)
33
21
.611
3.42
376
0
94
0
0
3
382.0
339
165
145
32
141
20
264
16
2
10
1607
128
1.257
8.0
0.8
3.3
6.2
1.87
CHW (3 yrs)
12
9
.571
2.10
156
0
22
0
0
1
150.0
110
40
35
12
65
7
176
2
1
4
614
206
1.167
6.6
0.7
3.9
10.6
2.71
Potential closer, but reliable set-up man.
"JESSE CRAIN"
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