These aren't the best free agents out there, but there's plenty of upside for teams willing to roll the dice on these free agents in the 2009-10 offseason:
The best infielder on the market that nobody has heard of. He's spent most of his career as a utility guy, but showed he was better than that the last two years in Toronto. He hit .282 with 12 homers and 60 RBI this past season, and only had 10 errors in 143 games at shortstop.
Remember him? He started the All-Star Game in 2008 and was a free agent after last season, and never was signed, as teams were scared off by a bum elbow that needed surgery. How many other four-time All-Stars who are just 31 years old are out there? If he checks out medically, he's a great pickup.
See Sheets above, but just not quite as good. Escobar went 18-7 in 2007, didn't throw in 2008 and pitched in just one game in 2009 because of a torn labrum in his shoulder. He'll be 34 in April, and could be a risk-reward pickup for somebody.
He said he wanted to retire just after the Red Sox were eliminated, but the lefty's agent begs to differ. Wagner didn't come all the way back from Tommy John surgery just to be a setup reliever for two months in Boston, right? When healthy, he was a top closer. He is sixth all-time in saves, is 38 years old and might still have the stuff to be a closer for somebody.
He was an emerging star two years ago when he was dealt to the Mariners, and was never the same as he looked as a young ace for the Orioles. Bedard went 11-7 in 30 starts over two seasons. Now he's a free agent, coming off a shoulder injury, and could be had for a bargain price. If a team can get the 2007 Bedard (13-5, 221 Ks in 182 IP), they will have a great deal.
