Talking Sports: Free agent thoughts, predictions: Part III

In a typical offseason for Major League Baseball, the free agent market is the hot topic of discussion. After all, it’s usually said that wealthy pro franchises would rather dish out money to acquire star players rather than top tier prospects.

This winter’s free agent market has already started to open up, with the Toronto Blue Jays making the biggest splash so far, reeling in catcher Russell Martin on a five-year, $82 million payday. The Detroit Tigers brought back DH Victor Martinez on a four-year, $68 million deal.

The market is staring to get a little thin but there are still talented players up for grabs. Today, I’m looking at three more of the market’s most coveted free agent bats. Don’t think your team has any interest in any of these guys? Take a look at the trade market, where the likes of Matt Kemp, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Yoenis Cespedes might be available. But mind you, their price tags will be exponentially higher.

Melky Cabrera – OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Jays’ GM Alex Anthopoulos might have the deepest pockets of any GM in the league. He already inked Martin – albeit possibly to an unfriendly team deal – and he has several other lines in the market’s waters right now. There have been no reports that Toronto is interested in re-upping with the recently emerged outfielder Cabrera, however.

Since his PED suspension in 2012, the 30-year-old Cabrera has been one of the game’s best contact hitters. Over the last three seasons, he has an impressive batting average of .308 and an on-base percentage of .354. In each of those three years, he’s struck out 67 times or less, an indicator of his elite control of the strike zone. He has particularly appealing offensive value because of his ability to cover the plate very well as a switch hitter. Cabrera hit .301 with 16 homers and 73 RBI in 2014. Defensively, he’s only average – he has some speed, but he doesn’t maximize it in the outfield or on the base paths--and lacks a strong throwing arm.

Reports indicate that the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles are among the teams with the most interest in Cabrera.

Prediction: Call it wishful thinking, but Cabrera signs with the Rangers on a four-year deal for around $48 million. Texas needs another outfielder after declining former right fielder Alex Rios’ club option last season. Leonys Martin is already one of the best defensive center fielders in the game and plugging in Cabrera in left would allow Shin-Soo Choo to move back to his natural habitat in right. Cabrera can hit anywhere from leadoff to the three hole and Texas could also use a potent switch hitter.

Torii Hunter – OF, Detroit Tigers

Don’t let Hunter’s old age fool you. He may be 39, but his numbers aren’t dropping completely off the table. He hit .286 with 17 homers and 83 RBI in 142 games for the Tigers last year – so the durability is still there in spades for a guy who’s almost 40.

He’s looking for a lucrative one-year deal and, although he isn’t the defensive sensei of old, Hunter is still a threatening bat and a vet who’s seen it all. Most teams that would be interested in signing him likely see him as a DH rather than a full-time outfielder. But for the right price, he could be a nice signing.

The Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals are reportedly the most aggressive suitors for Hunter’s services. The Rangers and Blue Jays are also said to have interest.

Prediction: Hunter lands with the Royals on a one-year deal worth around $10 million. Royals GM Dayton Moore just lost Billy Butler to the Oakland A’s on a three-year $30 million payout, so he needs a legit bat to replace Butler as the team’s primary DH. Hunter seems to fit that mold perfectly and in a lot of ways, is actually an upgrade over Butler for KC at that spot.

Asdrubal Cabrera – SS, Cleveland Indians/Washington Nationals

Cabrera is one of the most sought-after middle infielders on the market. His slick fielding, combined with his ability to pick up timely hits with a dose of pop on the side, make him particularly attractive. In split time with the Indians and Nats last season, the 29-year-old hit .241 with 14 homers and 61 RBI. That’s a small dip in production from past offensive seasons, but Cabrera is one of those do-it-all handyman type players that any team would want.

He’s better than a utility player, but not quite a star every-day shortstop. He’s also been able to stay healthy for the most part over the last four seasons, playing in at least 136 games in each of them.

The A’s, San Diego Padres and the New York Yankees are said to have the most interest in the shortstop. New York – despite whatever GM Brian Cashman spouts out to the media – is in dire need of a shortstop to replace the departed hall-of-famer Derek Jeter. For the skill set, Cabrera represents the best value at the position on this market. San Diego has a fixture at short with 2013 all-star Everth Cabrera, while Oakland just spent a lot of its available money on Butler.

Prediction: Cabrera puts on the pinstripes at a cost of around three years and $39 million. Is it ideal for the Yankees? No. They’d love to have Texas’ Elvis Andrus if they didn’t have to take on his full eight-year, $120 million contract. But the Rangers appear unwilling to eat a significant portion of Andrus’ deal, or even trade him at all based on recent reports. It basically comes down to Cabrera or Jed Lowrie for New York and Cabrera is the better value.