Notice: Trying to get property 'display_name' of non-object in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-seo/src/generators/schema/article.php on line 52
keyboard_arrow_uptop

The frequent questions concerning when Team X will bring up Player Y is a difficult one to answer as, during the season, injuries and productivity issues in the big leagues can play as large a role in determining a call-up as the prospect's performance can. That changes in the off-season, however, when free agency can create sudden and glaring holes. Here are some big name free agents whose departure could create some opportunities, as well as some not-so-big ones who could nonetheless clear a path.

Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
While there is every indication that the Cardinals will do everything within their power to keep the three-time MVP, what if somebody throws him more money than the Cardinals are willing to match? While the Cards system is not known for their power hitters, one name generating significant buzz this year is Matt Adams, who has hit .310/.368/.583 at Double-A Springfield with 31 home runs in 109 games. A massive presence who is closer to 300 pounds than 200, Adams draws physical comparisons to Jason Giambi, and there is no questioning his power, nor an ability to hit, as his strikeout rate is quite low for a power hitter.

Prince Fielder, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
While the current RBI leader is stepping to the plate with Pink Floyd's “Money” in the background, the Brewers might be left scrambling to figure out what to do in 2012 should his money be coming from somewhere other than Milwaukee. There are a variety of options available here, as the Triple-A Nashville squad featured a pair of producing corner infielders, with recently called up Taylor Green hitting .336/.413/.583 and perennial prospect Mat Gamel at .321/.383/.563. Gamel likely gets first crack at the job, but he's done so little with nearly 200 big league plate appearances (.222/.309/.374) that scouts wonder if the 26-year-old is more of a 4A type.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
While it's hard to imagine Rollins leaving the team he's spent his entire career with, he's now aging, injury prone, and a far cry from the 2007 MVP, which could lead to a big gap between what he's asking for and what the Phillies are willing to pay. While losing his bat would unquestionably be a blow, the Phillies have a defensive upgrade available in Freddy Galvis, a 21-year-old Venezuelan who is among the best defensive players in the minors. Always seen as a great-glove/no-hit type, Galvis has had a shockingly good year with the bat (for him), batting .280/.327/.396 between Double- and Triple-A while showing occasional power. He'd hit eighth for the Phillies, but with teams leaning more and more on defense, Philly pitchers would at least not have to worry about a negative effect in the field.

Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Chicago Cubs
While the Cubs don't have an obvious replacement lined up, invoking Ramirez' $16 million option does nothing for a team that should be entering rebuilding mode. Treating 2012 as more of a discovery season than one to compete, the Cubs could go with a multi-headed monster of existing players Jeff Baker and Blake DeWitt and future utility man prospects like Ryan Flaherty or D.J. LeMahieu in order to take one more year to figure out if former first-round pick Josh Vitters can be the answer. While a .283/.323/.442 season represents progress, he remains almost too good of a hitter for his own good, swinging far too often at bad pitches and generating poor contact. With just 52 strikeouts in 428 at-bats and outstanding hands, scouts hold firm to their belief that with a tempered approach, Vitters would hit .300.

Alex Gonzalez, SS, Atlanta Braves
While Alex Gonzalez is a steady defender with occasional power, his .227/.225/.341 line likely means the end of his road in Atlanta. While a one-year fill-in option (including Gonzalez himself) will certainly be considered, the Braves could also be entertaining a long look at Tyler Pastornicky next spring. Acquired with Gonzalez in last year’s Yunel Escobar deal, Pastornicky has hit .315/.360/.416 at the upper levels and profiles as a .280 hitter with limited power but solid defense and the ability to steal a base.

Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel, OF, Minnesota Twins
On pace to finish lower than third in the American League Central for the first time in more than a decade, the Twins are expected to see a major shuffle in their roster during the winter, beginning with two longtime members of the lineup in Cuddyer and Kubel. Their departure could clear way for Joe Benson, who has made tremendous progress in turning his obvious tools into baseball skills over the last two seasons, including a .281/.384/.495 line for Double-A New Britain this year. With above-average power and speed, as well as a good arm, Benson has big league athleticism, and while he'll always rack up a high strikeout total, he does enough around those to be an everyday player.

Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, SP, New York Yankees
It's not news to anyone that the Yankees are an old team, but the first wave of a youth movement could begin in 2012. Garcia and Colon have done yeoman's work in the Bronx this year, but the future of the Yankees rotation was on display Monday night when both lefty Manny Banuelos and right-hander Dellin Betances threw seven-inning complete games in a double-header for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It's hard to see the notoriously conservative Yankees opening the season with two rookies in the rotation, but that should be the case at some point in the 2012 season.

Jorge Posada, DH, New York Yankees
Posada has made some recent statements that he's open to playing elsewhere in 2012, but his Yankee career almost assuredly comes to an end come October. That means Jesus Montero might finally get his chance in New York while falling just short of getting his 1000th Triple-A plate appearance. Yankees fans could get a taste of his bat in September, and with the designated hitter slot opening up, he can play a position he can handle defensively.

Mark Buehrle, SP, Chicago White Sox
Another one of the rare players who has spent a long career with just one team, Buehrle has never made his desire to pitch for the Cardinals a secret, and now that the prime of his career is in his rear view mirror, that becomes a distinct possibility. The White Sox have no obvious prospect candidate for the rotation, but the loss of Buehrle could create a tide of changes that begins with Chris Sale sliding into a starting role and this year's pop-up relief prospect, Addison Reed, moving into a late-inning role in the bullpen. A third-round pick in 2010, Reed has pitched for every full-season league team in the system this year, compiling 111 strikeouts over 78.1 innings while allowing just 43 hits and 11 walks thanks to plus command and control of a fastball that can get into the upper 90s and a vicious breaking ball.

Bruce Chen and Jeff Francis, SP, Kansas City Royals
We end with a quick lesson on the volatility on prospects. Five months ago, any talk about Royal pitching prospects began with how left-handers John Lamb and Mike Montgomery could be in the rotation by mid-season. Lamb had early-season Tommy John surgery and Mike Montgomery saw his mechanics (and therefore his command) go downhill, leading to a 5.44 ERA at Triple-A.  As a result, Chen and Francis went from placeholders to rotation stalwarts. They'll likely be pitching elsewhere, but the Royals are suddenly out of ready-to-go replacements, and a great system is no guarantee of instant greatness.

Thank you for reading

This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.

Subscribe now
You need to be logged in to comment. Login or Subscribe
kringent
8/31
Big Papi also a free agent. Shift Youk to DH and promote Will Middlebrooks?
SGreenwell
8/31
I think it would be much more likely that Ryan Lavarnway is installed as the DH, given the knocks on his defense at catcher, and because he is a beast of a human being.
mhmosher
8/31
With a tremendous porn stache.
drewsylvania
8/31
Actually, he really needs that stache...the no-facial hair look really doesn't work for him.
AlexHoefer
8/31
They will bring Papi back on a one year he isn't leaving yet.
mhmosher
9/01
No doubt
SGreenwell
9/01
That would be my guess as well - Ortiz for a year, maybe two. If he wants a lot more or refuses to sign a short-term contract, then maybe they go with Lavarnway or someone else. Still, I wonder if they look at what the Yankees did with Montero and worry if he'll just stagnate if left at AAA for a year.
antonio
8/31
The Jays under AA have thus far avoided handing out big free agent contracts, preferring to build from within and through trades. What are the chances that changes this off-season? Signing Pujols or Fielder seems unlikely, as either player would require a huge financial commitment over at least six years. However, Lind has been mediocre this year and there doesn't appear to be a solid internal option for 1B. Do the benefits of signing a late-20s Fielder or an early-30s Pujols outweigh the risk?
MJA3488
8/31
KG - Any other guys in AA or AAA that you think might start at any position next year that haven't come up yet this season? Looking for long term fantasy keepers in a league where you cant keep guys who have played in the majors already this season. Thanks!
ScottBehson
8/31
Rollins in 2007 was a far cry from the 2007 MVP!!!
Sacramento
8/31
Why do I get the feeling that Brian Sabean is going to go all-in for another aging shortstop? Especially since he was born and raised in the Bay Area.
rweiler
8/31
That was my first thought as well. Rollins is exactly the sort of player Sabean would go after.
jhardman
8/31
No CJ Wilson?
gandriole
9/01
Martin Perez
beeker99
8/31
News out of NY is that Montero will be called up tomorrow, so you can change that "might" to a "will".
mhmosher
8/31
Also, Jose Reyes with possible replacements Ruben Tejada and Jordany Valdespin.
ScottBehson
9/01
Well, Tejada is technically not a prospect, owing to his considerable playing time these past two years. He's the obvious in-house replacement at short, and could even be the 2b (if he wins the Murphy/Turner/Tejada steel cage match) if Reyes is resigned.
mhmosher
9/01
Good point.
doctawojo
8/31
Alex Gonzalez is terrible, but the typo in his batting line makes it seem worse than it is -- in real life, his OBP is not actually lower than his BA.
onegameref
9/01
Lincecum is listed as only contracted through this year in baseballreference.com. Is that true? If so wouldn't he be a plum in the list?
rweiler
9/01
Lincecum is still has one more arbitration year.
onegameref
9/01
How about Beltran? Is he not an impact guy anymore?