Prospectus Today: The ... (11/19)
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November 22, 2009 Prospectus TodayInfield Free Agents Review
There are currently 170 free agents. John Grabow was the 171st, but that was before signing with the Cubs right after the list became official. Over the next couple of days, I'll cover every single one of the 170, with the infielders coming first. Players are listed by position, and ranked within their position subjectively by how good a value I think each can be as a free agent. First Basemen Nick Johnson: His lack of power and frequent injuries hide the fact that Johnson is probably the fourth-best position player on the market, with a career .402 OBP and three straight seasons above .410. His power didn't come back after his injury, and he's one of the slowest players in baseball—a trait that has bled into his defense—so he's something of a one-trick pony, but it's the best trick. He fits something like half the teams in baseball, with the Mets, Braves and Giants being among the best spots for him. It's like signing a starting pitcher: give him a three-year deal and hope he gives you two back. Adam LaRoche: Given how well he hit the year before he was dealt and his two months of channeling Mark Teixeira last summer, Braves fans could be forgiven for thinking LaRoche is a star. He's actually a mid-level first baseman, someone whose 2009 overall line or career (.274/.343/.491) accurately peg his skills. Middling first basemen tend to fall fast and hard around 31 or 32, and LaRoche has that Pete O'Brien feel to him, so any deal should be two years, max. He's likely return to Atlanta. Carlos Delgado: He was on his way to another strong season when a torn labrum in his hip effectively ended his season in May. Surgery gave way to rehab, during which he suffered a strained oblique. He's a mystery at this point, because while he clearly possessed the skills of a middle-of-the-order hitter when he went down, his rehab was slow and triggered a second injury. This may be a spot for a team like the Orioles to roll the dice, getting a short-term upgrade and potentially a high-caliber trade chip if it works out, and not damaging any playoff hopes if it doesn't.
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Team Health Reports: Washington Nationals
Blalock can't play third base anymore with his jacked up shoulder -- he's a first baseman, not a third baseman.
and he doesn't slug enough to be a regular at 1B. Someone will sign him, maybe to part-time DH/1B, though.