MLB Free Agency: A look at some big outfield targets
By David Miniel
With the major league regular season slowly coming to an end, players who are in the last year of their contracts are going to be getting ready to either sign a deal with their current team or find a new home.
Right now I’m going to go ahead and focus on the outfield. Now the New York Mets are a team who are already eyeballing soon to be free agents in hopes of adding more power in their lineup. They are already targeting Shin-Soo Choo but may not go past four years for the 31 year old outfielder.
Other big names who are currently set to hit the market are Jacoby Ellsbury, Hunter Pence, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Beltran and Nelson Cruz.
Let’s start off with Ellsbury since he started off the list. This season Ellsbury has eight homers (career high 32 in 2011) with 52 RBI’s through 132 games with a batting line of .299/.357/.424. His numbers have fallen off and will turn 31 next season. He signed a 1 year contract with the Red Sox last winter and could probably pick up another one year deal from the Red Sox unless they choose to move on.
Hunter Pence is having an amazing season for the defending champions. So far through 159 games he’s launched 25 home runs (tied career high) with 93 RBI’s with a .282/.338/.476 batting line. With him being set to become a free agent, he could very well work himself into a big contract. It’s pin point who could use him this early, but if I would have to guess, he could very well end up with the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees.
Curtis Granderson has been plagued with injuries this season and has only played through 58 games so far. He’s only hit seven home runs with 14 RBI’s with a .236/.326/.422 batting line. I’m not sure if the Yankees are ready to give up on him just yet after what he was able to do with the club in the last two seasons after hitting 40+ (career highs) home runs and 100+ RBI’s (also career highs) so he could stay put.
36 year old Carlos Beltran could be on his way to retirement as he could seek the final contract of his career. A 15 year veteran of the league hit 24 long balls last season with 84 RBI’s on a batting line of .296/.338/.493. St. Louis loves this man and he loves St. Louis right back, he may end up staying right where he is until he decides to walk away from the game.
Nelson Cruz, a man who will get some negative attention after being connected with this scandal that has him suspended. The 33 year old outfielder will more than likely test the free agent market like his former teammate Josh Hamilton did before he landed with the Angels. Before his suspension he hit 27 home runs with 76 RBI’s on a .269/.330/.511 batting line. Despite being apart of this scandal, he could very well still get some buzz from the market and land himself a decent size contract.
Alright now baseball fans, which one of these players would you like to see your team go after/sign? Or if these guys are already on your favorite squad, should they keep them or let them go? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!