With many teams in bargain mode, aging veterans aren't as needed as they used to be. Here are five free agents who could find the going tough this offseason, or are just plain overrated:
He isn't the same "Vladdy" as a few years ago, with rickety knees and a free-swinging attitude. And he's just a DH at this point, which obviously limits his market value. He did have a decent run in the playoffs, getting a hit in every game. But he only drove in 50 in 100 games in 2009. His stock is falling.
It isn't that Valverde is a bad pitcher. He's probably the best closer on the market, but that also means he'll almost certainly be overpaid. He's a big guy, 6-4 and pushing 260 pounds. That's a warning sign on a long-term deal. But he's been productive over the past three seasons, saving 116 games. He's 31 years old. He'll likely get a nice deal, but probably a little too nice. Closers are easy to overpay.
He picked a bad year to get injured, as a bum shoulder ended his season in early August. Beltre plays decent defense and has good power, but his numbers have diminished in each of the past three years, and shoulder issues cause concern for any power hitter. He should have plenty of years left, however - he will turn 31 in April.
The White Sox hold an option for $12 million, but with Alex Rios now in Chicago, it appears they'll let one of their cornerstones walk away. It's easy to see why: Dye isn't worth $12 million these days. He can still hit, though - 27 homers - though his average tumbled to .251 in 2009, which is 23 points below his career average. He'll also turn 36 before spring training.
5. The aging DH brigade
Pick your poison - Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome, Mike Sweeney... they're all on the market and all will probably contemplate retirement when they realize how little they'll make on the free agent market this season. All three have obviously seen better days. If the Yankees re-sign Hideki Matsui and the Angels keep Vladimir Guerrero, there just aren't that many teams in the market for a designated hitter.
