In an era when dealing prospects, especially pitchers, to fill holes on rosters is not an accepted practice, free agency still remains the choice of many teams.
This off-season was no different, with some big names out there for the first time in their careers and they were rewarded with some obscene contracts, both in terms of dollars but more importantly length.
1. Albert Pujols | Ten years, $240 million
First base, Los Angeles Angels
The feeling was that baseball’s best player would return to the only organization he has known, especially after winning his second World Series. But in short order, manager Tony LaRussa retired from the St. Louis Cardinals and the big spenders started waving a lot of cash at Pujols. The Cardinals had to walk away from the table once the term dollar amount went out of their range. The Angels have added a monster bat into the heart of their lineup, and a perfect spokesman in the Hispanic community, which will more than justify his salary after his effectiveness begins to wane.
But they better win it all, and not just a couple of times, to make this deal work for all involved.
2. Prince Fielder | Nine years, $214 million
First base, Detroit Tigers
The hefty slugger stayed on the free agent market a lot longer than most thought he would and his final landing place was also surprising. In an off-season in which the top two free agents also play the same position and the deep pocketed teams were already set at that position, the Tigers came out of nowhere to land the perfect left-handed hitting compliment to right-handed reigning A.L. batting champ Miguel Cabrera. With the emergence of young catcher Alex Avila, the Tigers have, by far, the best lineup in the A.L. Central and can swing with the top offensive teams in the game.
3. CJ Wilson, LAA | Five years, $77.5 million
Starting pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Few pitchers have made a more effective transition from closer to front-of-the-rotation starter than this 31-year-old left-hander. In his two seasons in the Rangers rotation, Wilson finished in the top 10 in wins, ERA and opponents’ batting average.
He parlayed that into a nice free agent score and is added to a rotation in Anaheim that already has an ace in Jered Weaver and a solid No. 2 in Dan Haren. Raiding a division-rival for a starter always adds intrigue, especially with the Rangers replacing the hole in their rotation with Japanese sensation Yu Darvish.
If Wilson can bag 15 wins from the three-slot, the Angels might run away and hide.
4. Jonathan Papelbon | Four years, $50 million
Closer, Philadelphia Phillies
Few closers, this side of Mariano Rivera, have pitched in more high-pressure save situations than Papelbon. Since taking over as Boston’s ninth-inning man in 2006, he has been entrusted with the lead an average of 41 times a season and converted the save 88.7 per cent of the time. Now he packs up his glare and fastball and joins an organization that is on a run of five straight trips to the post-season, and not always with a dependable closer. And with the deepest rotation in the Majors, fronted by Roy Halladay, there’s a good chance that Papelbon could push the 50-save envelope this summer.
5. Heath Bell | Three years, $27 million
Closer, Miami Marlins
Beginning in 2009, the 34-year-old right-hander salvaged an average relief career by turning himself into a closing machine, leading the Majors over the past three seasons with 132 saves. While it was expected that there would a bidding war for Bell’s services, the Marlins, suddenly flush with cash due to an expected revenue bump by moving into a brand new stadium in downtown Miami, swooped in early and did not have to overpay.
Trying to reel in the Phillies won’t be an easy task, especially with them adding a top closer of their own. But closing their own hole in the ninth should lessen the gap.
6. Jose Reyes | Six years, $106 million
Short stop, Miami Marlins
This signing of the reigning N.L. batting champion sent a ripple through the Marlins clubhouse, most notably by moving incumbent short stop Hanley Ramirez to third base. This signing is a bit of a gamble with Reyes having missed 191 games over the course of his career due to a variety of leg and muscle strains. Factor in how much of an absolute joke the Mets were on the field and there was no real reason for Reyes to hustle his way back into the line-up.
The Marlins have made a serious commitment to the 28-year-old, switch-hitting speedster and the might end up regretting the length of this deal.
7. Mark Buehrle, MIA | Four years, $58 million
Starting Pitcher, Miami Marlins
The former Chicago White Sox ace followed his old manager to South Florida. There’s something to be said about familiarity. Buehrle has never made fewer than 30 starts in a season since joining Chicago’s rotation as their feature left-hander in 2001, averaging 14 wins over his last 11 seasons.
Never a strikeout pitcher — his best attribute — getting ground ball outs, should make him very successful in the non-DH league. The 32-year-old will slot in quite nicely behind ace Josh Johnson and his veteran savvy should be a welcome addition to this youngish staff.
8. Carlos Beltran | Two years, $26 million
Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals
It’s been quite a run for the switch-hitting outfielder who burst onto the scene in 1999 with his first of eight 100+ RBI seasons. Since then, injuries and playing on bad teams such as the Mets have lessened his effectiveness.
The Blue Jays went hard after the 34-year-old but the artificial playing surface at the Rogers Centre was a non-starter for him so he signed instead with the defending champion Cardinals and will patrol right field for them this season. No longer a speed threat, Beltran is still an effective run producer but can’t be expected to do it all on his own anymore.
9. Hiroki Kuroda | One year, $10 million
Starting pitcher, New York Yankees
The Yankees stayed on the sidelines for most of the off-season, kicking the tires on several free agents. Then in the span of 72 hours, they upgraded their starting rotation by trading top prospect Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for starter Michael Pineda and then they took a $10 million flyer on Kuroda with a one-year free agent contract.
The Japanese right-hander went 41-46 in four seasons with the Dodgers, posting a solid 3.45 ERA and 1.187 WHIP. It be will be interesting to see if he can post similar numbers is the vastly more offensive A.L., where several teams feature lineups with few resting spots.
10. Edwin Jackson | One year, $11 million
Starting pitcher, Washington Nationals
He first burst upon the scene as highly touted 19-year-old with the Dodgers but in nine Major League seasons he has bounced around, going 60-60 with a 4.46 ERA with six different organizations.
But apparently, average numbers like those can land a guy an $11 million deal from the Nationals, who have never finished higher than third in the N.L. East since moving from Montreal in 2005. Jackson is slotted in the No. 4 hole of the Nats’ rotation behind the likes of phenom Stephen Strasburg and the newly acquired Gio Gonzalez. Durability has never been a problem for Jackson, having not missed his turn in the rotation since becoming a regular starter in 2007.
