Some Surprising Names Remain On The List Of Unsigned Free Agents

Just because spring training camps are open does not mean the free agent market is closed. In fact, dozens of players – some of them former All-Stars – are still hoping to find jobs, even as late arrivals after injuries create vacancies.

According to FanGraphs, the most loaded positions are designated hitters and relief pitchers – perhaps because both are widely considered part-time jobs that won’t cost teams as much. In addition, almost all the players still available were victims of injuries, illness, or such poor seasons last year that the 30 teams filled their rosters without them.

Only one of them, Elvis Andrus, carries a WAR [wins against replacement] as high as 1.5, though fellow shortstop Jose Iglesias is right behind him at 1.2. Gary Sanchez, a catcher capable of hitting with power, stands at 1.1.

Players who find themselves among the Great Unsigned might be willing to take one-year deals for the major-league minimum of $720,000 but many are banking on past reputations to secure contracts longer in both years and dollars.

Former closer Will Smith, a 6’5″ left-hander who averaged 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings and improved dramatically after a mid-season trade from Atlanta to Houston, has pitched for world champions two years in a row.

Though left off Houston’s World Series roster last fall, he pitched 11 scoreless innings for the Braves in the 2021 post-season. On the other hand, he turns 34 in July and and has a past history of yielding too many walks and too many home runs – not good for a relief pitcher. A 10-year veteran, Smith started last season with a $13 million salary but ended it when the Astros paid him $1 million to buy out his option and make him a free agent.

Trevor Rosenthal, a 2015 National League All-Star who finished that season with a club-record 48 saves for the St. Louis Cardinals, has had a myriad of injuries since: a torn UCL in his right elbow in 2018, then thoracic outlet and torn labrum surgery three years later.

He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2020 but signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Oakland Athletics just before 2021 spring training and a one-year, $4.5 million pact with the San Francisco Giants on July 21, 2022. He was traded to the Milwaukee Braves 10 days later. He’s actually pitched for five teams but none of the three that signed him over the last two years.

Rosenthal is hardly the only rehab project remaining on the FanGraphs free agent list. Other comeback candidates include infielders Yuli Gurriel, Mike Moustakas, and Miguel Sano; starting pitchers Mike Minor, Chris Archer, and Alec Mills; and relievers Archie Bradley, Zack Britton, Corey Knebel, and Will Harris, among others.

Moustakas, released by the Reds last year, is one of many familiar names who remain unsigned. A 34-year-old left-handed hitter who came up as a third baseman but can also play second, he’s hit at least 35 homers in a season twice – once as recently as 1999. That earned him a four-year, $64 million contract – the largest ever awarded by the Reds – that didn’t pan out.

He played only 44 games, hitting .230 with eight homers, in 2020, then suffered a devastating right heel contusion. Cincinnati released him on Jan. 5, 2023.

Age is the biggest handicap to Gurriel’s contract quest. The first baseman, most recently with Houston, will be 39 in June. But he did lead the NL in hitting two years ago, when he also won a Gold Glove, and hammered a career-best 31 homers for the Astros in 2019. He injured his knee during the 2022 World Series, however, and had to be removed from the Houston roster.

Justin Upton also could be at a career crossroads despite 325 lifetime homers. The veteran outfielder, who turns 36 this season, hasn’t had a solid season since hitting 30 homers for the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.

On other hand, first baseman Luke Voit hit 22 homers in 135 games while dividing last year between San Diego and Washington. He led the American League in home runs during the virus-shortened 2020 campaign. At 32, he should have something left – if he comes to agreement on a contract.

So should Jurickson Profar, who spent last season as San Diego’s left-fielder. The switch-hitting Profar is still only 30 years old, so youth is on his side.

Teams that want defense might consider veteran shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who has four Gold Gloves, or fellow free agent Jackie Bradley Jr., a gifted center-fielder whose trophy shelf includes a Gold Glove and a World Series ring.

The problem for both is offense – or lack of it. Simmons has seen his offense shrink suddenly after a career-high .297 for the 2020 Angels, while the lefty-hitting Bradley has been flirting with the Mendoza Line for the last two seasons. Both are 33 and have considerable mileage.

Others who could be had for the right price are infielders Didi Gregorius, Jed Lowrie, Donovan Solano, and Jonathan Villar; outfielders Kole Calhoun, Ben Gamel, Odubel Herrera, and Tyler Naquin; catcher Robinon Chirinos; starting pitchers Dylan Bundy, Dallas Keuchel, Michael Pineda, and Anibal Sanchez; and relievers Ken Giles, Brad Hand, Sergio Romo, Bryan Shaw, and Joe Smith.

Some of the unsigned players might be willing to sign minor-league contracts, coupled with invitations to major-league spring training, or to ink split contracts, promising a certain amount for making the majors but substantially less for serving as potential call-ups from Triple-A.

After the 30-game exhibition season starts later this week, teams will start getting a better handle on their areas of need.