MLB Hot Stove Special Top 40 Free Agents Part 5 (Ranks 16-20)

As Scott Eastment & Tru School Sports crack the Top 20 MLB Free Agents, just about all of the big-name free agents are still on the market, save for Brian McCann and Jhonny Peralta. With the Baseball Winter Meetings coming up from December 9-12, expect things to really pick up in the next few weeks for the bigger names. This time of year is where the GM’s make their money, so expect the relatively tepid MLB Hot Stove to get turned up a couple notches in the coming weeks. Make sure to check out the previous rankings 36-40, 31-35, 26-30, and 21-25 to see if your favorite team is interested!!


20.) Jesse Crain, RP (2013 stats: 2-3, 0.74 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 46/13 K/BB in 36.2 IP):

This guy is the relief pitcher that nobody is talking about but should be. Jesse Crain has been eating through innings in the bullpen over the past 10 years (532 appearances with a 3.04 career ERA) without receiving much adulation whatsoever. 2013 was looking to be his best year yet until he was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Crain’s loss is a GM’s gain as the reliable set-up man will not be very expensive (expect a one-year, incentive laden deal around $2.2 million) to sign and could provide immense upside to a struggling pen. The signing of Crain will be a no lose situation for whatever teams acquires him, and if 2013 was any indication of his abilities, he could be one of the biggest steals of this offseason. 

                                   Possible Suitors: Red Sox, Rockies, Orioles, Rays

19.) Bronson Arroyo, SP (2013 stats: 14-12, 3.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 124/43 K/BB in 202 IP): 

While his statistics won’t blow you away (and neither will his fastball), Bronson Arroyo has become the model for an inning-eating middle-of-the-rotation starter who never misses a start and relies on changing speeds and precision control (1.7 BB/9 IP) in order to succeed. Consider Arroyo’s proven ability to pitch in both the American League and National League, on top of his playoff experience and veteran presence, this right-hander makes sense for not only contending teams but ones looking to bridge the gap between rebuilding and contending. Current rumors have Arroyo in heavy talks with the New York Mets, along with having received initial offers from several other teams. Expect his deal to likely be in the 1-2 year range and for roughly $8 million per.

     Possible Suitors: Mets, Twins, Reds, Phillies, Dodgers, Angels, Orioles, Giants



18.) Brian Wilson, RP (2013 stats: 2-1, 0.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 13/4 K/BB in 13.2 IP):

One of the less discussed studs on the market this offseason, closer/set-up man and famed beard man Brian Wilson proved in his return from arm surgery that he still has his nasty stuff. With a full offseason to continue to get stronger again, Wilson could sign as somebody’s everyday closer in the next few weeks, however it is more likely that he takes one more season as a set-up man in L.A., while being paid closer money of course. Wilson’s eccentric ways pose potential marketing opportunities for teams, a boost to the locker room, and an electric back of the bullpen-type arm. The Tigers and Dodgers are likely the front-runners right now for Wilsons’ services, but the Yankees have bowed out of the race because the wild man said he would never shave his beard for them.

                  Possible Suitors: Dodgers, Angels, Indians, Rockies, Tigers, Mets, Mariners



17.) Scott Kazmir, SP (2013 stats: 10-9, 4.04 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 162/51 K/BB in 158 IP):

As one of the best young prospects in the game and a key cog in the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays young rotation, Scott Kazmir had some of the most electric stuff in MLB. He posted a 45-34 record over a four-year span in Tampa that saw the team win 70 games only once, but they things started to fall apart. His incredible slider began to flatten out as he lost control of it and his power fastball began to flirt with the high-80s instead of the mid-90s. Kazmir basically fell off the map for a half-decade, but this last season in Cleveland proved he may very well be back. There are several things to really like about Kazmir: he is a lefty who can shoulder a serious innings load, his arm is relatively fresh for his age, he will not be asking for exorbitant contract, and he still feels as if he has a great deal to prove to both himself and his peers. 

      Possible Suitors: Orioles, Athletics, Cubs, Rockies, Twins, Mets, Blue Jays
AS OF 12/2/13, KAZMIR HAS SIGNED A 2-YEAR, $22 MILLION DEAL WITH OAKLAND



16.) Kendrys Morales, 1B/DH (2013 stats: .277 BA/.226 OBP/.785 OPS, 167 H, 23 HR, 80 RBI):

This 30-year-old switch-hitting first baseman will not be one of the more well-known signings of the offseason, but Kendrys Morales will make some GM a very happy man. Not only does Morales have the ability to hit both lefties and righties at a fairly high clip, he also has a better strikeout to home run ratio than either of the other power bats in free agency (Mark Reynolds & Jarrod Saltalamacchia). With a WAR of 2.7 in the 2013 season and his injury issues behind him, Morales could provide a contending team with an additional middle-of-the-order bat as well as reliable play at first base when called upon. He is not going to be the focus of any lineup, but he has all the tools necessary to post a 30 HR/100 RBI type season if put in the right place. 

       Possible Suitors: Rangers, Yankees, Rockies, Marlins, Mariners, Brewers, Twins

Scott Eastment is a MLB/NFL/Sport Business writer for Tru School Sports and MLB contributor for Baseball Hot Corner, as well as a digital sports marketing associate with Beyond Sports Network. He is a former college baseball player at Frostburg State University and has his Masters of Business Administration in both sport business and marketing. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook,Google+, and LinkedIn. 

Fantasy Football Turkey Day Special

So, as you settle in with your family and relatives for a fun-filled and festive Thanksgiving holiday, can you really tell me that the football game going on in the room right around the corner does not have your attention? This 2-part special will break down both the Thanksgiving Day games, as well as the Sunday contests in an effort to help your team either cruise or squeak its way into the playoffs.

While the Turkey Day slate of Green Bay (likely w/o Rodgers) vs. Detroit, Dallas vs. Oakland, and Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore does not scream “exciting football," there are still numerous fantasy football implications. @SportsGeek02 will take a quick look at some players and defenses you should start and sit, as well as a possible breakout sleeper that nobody is talking about. 

Start 'Em

Tony Romo has been a
consistent QB1 all year.

Tony Romo, Cowboys QB (vs. OAK): Tony Romo is just about always a must-start these days considering how skittish his team is to consistently run the football, but this week screams of big-time numbers for the Cowboy signal caller. The Oakland Raiders are ranked 25^th in the league when it comes to giving up fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and with Oakland having learned how to play offense in recent weeks, this game may be a bit more of a shootout than you might think. Considering the fact that Miles Austin is back in the mix and Jason Witten is healthy, expect big things in the coming weeks. Weather played a crucial role in many games last weekend, but have no fear folks as dem Boys come home to play in Jerry’s ‘domed’ World.

Sit 'Em

Its been a rough year for
Ray Rice owners, thats
for sure.

Ray Rice, Ravens RB (vs. PIT): In Week 12, I told you to sit Mr. Biceps, but did you? If you did, you should be thanking me; if not then well maybe I've gained the trust of just a few more of you. While Ray Rice is still a good to great running back, it appears that someone needs to remind offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell that Rice is a top 10 back and Joe Flacco is a bottom 15 QB. While the Steelers do rank 24^th in the league against the rush, they have allowed 78, 80, and 54 yards on the ground respectively since New England torched them for 198 in Week 9. While it will be cold tomorrow night in Baltimore, the wind should not play a big factor, so expect Flacco to keep on chucking it and Bernard Pierce to swipe 5-10 touches from Rice. Bottom line, call your friends who own Trent Richardson and C.J. Spiller, because he's been a bust just like them.

Sleeper

67 yards and a TD for Nate
Burleson in his first game
back from injury. 

Nate Burleson, Lions WR (at GB): After his breakout Week 12 performance, one would expect Nate Burleson to be much more popular choice, however he is only owned in 12.7% of all ESPN leagues as of noon on Wednesday. With teams simply deciding that they will do everything in their power to shut down Calvin Johnson, Burleson is a legitimate WR #2 for most fantasy owners. With Reggie Bush and Joseph Fauria also drawing a decent amount of attention, Nate can easily get lost in the shuffle; and he knows how to make you pay for that mistake. Considering the fact that he is going to be in single coverage all game and that the Green Bay defense is ranked 25^th when it comes to giving up points to opposing wide receivers and this is a pretty simple decision. 

Up in the Air

Even with McFadden back,
Jennings appears to still be
the man in Oakland.

Rashad Jennings, Raiders RB (at DAL): Considering what Rashad Jennings has done in recent weeks, combined with the fact that his Raiders will be going up against the 32^nd ranked run defense in the league, and you would expect him to be a must-start this week. Not so fast, as the man, the myth, the lack of a legend Darren McFadden is back and ready to steal some carries. While Oakland insists they will go with the hot hand, they have also said that Run DMC will get his ‘touches’ and nobody really know what they may lead to.  If you have a week RB core, Jennings is certainly a viable option, however do not come yelling to me when he gets 12 carries for 60 yards and no TDs.

Scott Eastment is a MLB/NFL/Sport Business writer for Tru School Sports and MLB contributor for Baseball Hot Corner, as well as a digital sports marketing associate with Beyond Sports Network. He is a former college baseball player at Frostburg State University and has his Masters of Business Administration in both sport business and marketing. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook,Google+, and LinkedIn.

MLB Hot Stove Special Top 40 Free Agents Part 4 (Ranks 21-25)

As the MLB Hot Stove continues to slowly heat up, GM's and front offices around the league are beginning to become more transparent in terms of their offseason goals and targets. Brian McCann (Yankees) and Jhonny Peralta (Cardinals) are the two most recent big names to find new homes, but there is still a great deal of work left to do in free agency for just about every team. Scott Eastment and Tru School Sports continue their MLB Hot Stove special by cracking the top-25 free agents, along with their potential suitors, and what each of them will bring to the table. While checking to see if your team is in the running to land any of these guys, check back on our previous articles highlighting those ranked 36-40, 31-35, and 26-30. Enjoy!

25.) James Loney, 1B/DH (2013 stats: .299 BA/.348 OBP/.778 OPS, 164 H, 13 HR, 75 RBI):

After resurrecting his career in Tampa Bay, James Loney may have guaranteed himself a relatively lucrative one or two-year deal from his future employer. While not your typical first basemen power-wise, Loney brings a unique skillset to the plate, as well as slick fielding skills at first base which will ultimately save his team runs. As a left-handed hitter, Loney is one of the few players who hit lefties virtually as well as he hits righties (he hit .299 against both). What makes Loney even more intriguing is that at age 30 he is relatively inexpensive when compared with his production (made $2 million in 2012). He should have a decently list of suitors and will not cause any team to really break the bank for him; expect something for either 1 or 2 years at around $4 million per.

                                                 Possible Suitors: Brewers, Twins, Pirates, White Sox

24.) Fernando Rodney, RP (2013 stats: 5-4, 37 SV, 3.38 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 82/39 K/BB in 66.2 IP):

After an absolutely dominant 2012 season, Rays closer Fernando Rodney fell back to Earth this last year, posting far more human-like numbers. When you really look at his statistics, there are certainly red flags out there to go along with the fact that Rodney is 37 years old and likely will only be worth a 2 year deal tops. His 2012 season was an anomaly in the sense that his ‘effectively wild’ approach worked night in and night out. In 2013, his BB/9 IP spiked up to 5.0, which was reflected in a horrific 1.34 WHIP. Having said that, closers certainly do not grown on trees and Rodney will undoubtedly get a considerably lucrative deal (likely around $8 million per) considering the teams that are pursuing him.

Possible Suitors: Tigers, Indians, Cubs, Yankees, Rangers, Astros, Rockies



23.) Stephen Drew, SS (2013 stats: .253 BA/.333 OBP/.777 OPS, 112 H, 13 HR, 67 RBI): 

After a disappointing postseason at the plate, Stephen Drew’s stock may have dropped somewhat in the eyes of his possible suitors. Having said that, he made good on his one-year deal with the Red Sox by showing that he is all the way back from his hamstring injury and is ready to sign a multi-year deal (likely 4 years at $10 million per). The postseason slump was a bit of an eyesore, however with Jhonny Peralta having signed with the Cardinals, Drew is really the only viable shortstop left on the market. Teams know he still provides an above-average bat for his position to go along with solid fielding, so expect him to have several qualifying offers in the coming weeks. 

                        Possible Suitors: Mets, Pirates, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, White Sox


22.) Joe Nathan, RP (2013 stats: 6-2, 43 SV, 1.39 ERA, 0.897 WHIP, 73/25 K/BB in 64.2 IP): 

With the Rangers having declined the 2014 option on him, 39 year-old Joe Nathan is going to be looking for a new home this offseason and it will likely be with an instant contender who is willing to give him a 2-year deal and overpay for his services. Lucky for him, after his extremely impressive 2013 campaign that proved his arm was structurally sound and playing at a position of constant need around the league, Nathan should have no trouble finding what he is looking for. While his age has led to a decrease in his fastball velocity, Nathan is brushing that aside and becoming a more complete pitcher with impeccable control. His 2013 numbers were superior to his career averages and his workmanlike attitude and way of going about his business would be welcome in any clubhouse. Now it is time for the big dogs to start bidding, but expect him to sign in Detroit. 

                            Possible Suitors: Tigers, Yankees, Angels


21.) Joaquin Benoit, RP (2013 stats: 4-1, 24 SV, 2.01 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 73/24 K/BB in 67 IP): 

Getting up there in age, Joaquin Benoit is not the big-name acquisition you can expect fans to get excited about, however he will be a key signing for sure. While he will play second-fiddle to former Athletics closer Grant Balfour on the open market, Benoit will be a quality back-end of the bullpen option for whoever signs him, and he will be relatively cheap (3 years at $5.5 million per most likely). His fastball is starting to lose some of its velocity, but his changeup is a remarkable pitch that keeps hitters off-balance at all times. Combine this with his postseason experience and the fact that he continues to keep his WHIP hovering around an impressive 1.00 and you have a reliable bullpen guy for the next few years. 

Possible Suitors: Cubs, Orioles, Yankees, Indians, Mariners, Phillies, Brewers

Scott Eastment is a MLB/NFL/Sport Business writer for Tru School Sports and MLB contributor for Baseball Hot Corner, as well as a digital sports marketing associate with Beyond Sports Network. He is a former college baseball player at Frostburg State University and has his Masters of Business Administration in both sport business and marketing. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn.