USA TODAY International Edition
Remaining free agent pool offers promise, production
Wieters heads list; Wood has value on mound
As the sporting world ponders the aftermath of a thrilling Super Bowl, trucks loaded with baseball equipment are making their way to spring training sites in Arizona and Florida. Pitchers and catchers, soon followed by position players, also are trickling in ahead of the opening of camps next week.
But even after Jason Hammel ( Kansas City Royals) and Sergio Romo ( Los Angeles Dodgers) found new homes over the weekend, several well- known players are trying to figure out where they will spend their spring and beyond.
They include two players with an MVP award on their résumés and two who have won a Cy Young Award.
A look at some of this offseason’s stragglers and where they might land:
Matt Wieters: Catchers with 20- homer potential and four AllStar Game invites on their résumés can typically name their price when they hit the free agent market at 30. Not so for Wieters, whose performance declined after he had Tommy John elbow surgery in June 2014.
Wieters proved his durability by starting 111 games behind the plate last season, after totaling 77 over the previous two years. He played well defensively while batting .243 with a .711 on-base- plusslugging percentage ( OPS), third lowest of his eight- year career.
Wieters is seeking a long- term deal after accepting the Baltimore Orioles’ qualifying offer the previous year. The Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks are among clubs that need a catching upgrade, so there’s a market. The question is which team will meet his asking price. Travis Wood: A starter during his first five seasons in the majors, Wood excelled out of the
bullpen for the Chicago Cubs last season, leading them with 77 appearances and registering a 2.95 ERA. Wood, 30, stands to get a better payout as a starter — he had a 4.11 ERA over those five years in the rotation — and will have at least a couple of options for that role. Teams such as the Houston Astros, Rockies, Twins and Cincinnati Reds could be suitors.
Justin Morneau: The 2006 American League MVP has not been the same player since enduring concussion symptoms that forced him to miss large chunks of seasons. The last time he reached the 20- homer mark was in 2009. But Morneau, 35, won a batting title with the Rockies in 2014 and could be a DHbench contributor for a team looking for a left- handed bat.
Doug Fister: Uncharacteristic struggles with his control contributed to Fister’s elevated ERA ( 4.64) with the Astros last season, when he delivered 1801⁄ innings 3 in 32 starts. It was his second season in a row with an ERA north of 4.00 after remaining below that figure for six consecutive years. At 33, Fister can still serve as a solid fifth starter, perhaps for the Pirates, Rockies or Twins.
Joe Blanton: After sitting out the 2014 season, Blanton remade himself as a reliever and enjoyed an excellent year in 2016 with the Dodgers, going 7- 2 with a 2.48 ERA in 75 appearances as their prime setup man. By agreeing to terms with Romo, the Dodgers appear to have closed the door on Blanton, 36, who is likely seeking a multiyear deal. He won’t go without a job this season.
Ryan Howard: A rookie of the year ( 2005) and MVP (’ 06) with the Philadelphia Phillies, Howard became an anvil on the rebuilding team because of his onerous contract. Now 37, Howard was encouraged to keep playing by his strong second half last season — a
.932 OPS with 13 homers — and would be much less burdensome as a DH- first baseman at a low salary.
Jered Weaver: The former Angels ace averaged a 16- 8 record, 205 innings and a 3.12 ERA from 2009 to 2014. But his velocity dipped, and he became extremely hittable over the last two seasons. Weaver, 34, said toward the end of the season he intends to pitch in 2017. He was linked early in the offseason to the San Diego Padres, who desperately need starters and play in his native Southern California.
Pedro Alvarez: Defensive struggles limit the options for the 2013 NL home run champion, who played mostly as a DH and occasional third baseman with the Orioles last season. He can still pound right- handed pitchers, as evidenced by his 21 homers and .848 OPS in 334 plate appearances against them. Much like last year, when he signed with the
Orioles in March, Alvarez might have to wait until his opportunity materializes.
Jake Peavy: The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner with the Padres, Peavy is believed to be seeking a return to his original team, which could benefit from his veteran savvy and mound intensity. Peavy, 35, battled injuries and ineffectiveness over the last two seasons with the San Francisco Giants, so much of his value these days might be as a mentor.
C. J. Wilson: The former Angels lefty sat out the 2016 season after shoulder surgery and could be done at 36, but he has experience starting and relieving, so he could draw attention if he can prove his arm is healthy. Wilson tweets frequently about auto racing, but on Jan. 18 he posted this: “To # MyFutureSelf : don’t throw so many sliders as a kid, your arm will be a lot better for it. And go run more, it’s good for you. # TeamNB.”