Reese Kaplan -- Value Picks in the FA Marketplace

It’s easy to look at the list of available free agents (and trade candidates) to identify the sparkling gems like Manny Machado, Bryce Harper and Craig Kimbrel.  As the cliché goes, all it takes is money (though the top tier guys also have compensation attached to them having turned down QOs from their previous teams.

Where a GM earns his paycheck is in identifying the players with potential to play above their paygrade.  A good example of this type of deal is the contract extended to Jed Lowrie who provided in excess of $28 million per season of value the last two years, yet was signed for $10 million per year.  Another good example on the even lower tier is the minor league contract extended to lefty reliever Luis Avilan who has pitched to a 3.09 ERA for his entire career.  Many fans probably had to look him up when this deal was announced, but it’s this astute attention to the periphery of the marketplace that can lead to great value.

As I perused the list of still available free agents one name that jumped out at me immediately is the Seattle Mariner’s righty Nick Vincent.  I’ll wait while you all shout in unison, “Who?” 

Vincent has been a solid performer in the Mariners pen since making his debut in 2012.  The now 32 year old has a career ERA of just 3.17, a WHIP of just 1.108, strikes out a batter per IP and has a better than 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio.  Last year was a bit of a letdown for a guy who established such high standards for himself, pitching to a 3.99 ERA.  The Seattle braintrust felt he was not worth whatever he might earn in arbitration and set the $2.7 million man loose.  Ummm….that’s the very definition of looking for quality at low cost.  (For a point of comparison, the Mets obtained the inferior pitching of Jerry Blevins for more money and everyone considered it a stroke of genius). 

On the outfielder front most of the usual suspects are already well known and debated fiercely due to questions of cost, health or contract longevity.  There are, of course, some lesser known commodities who might make for an interesting addition.  One is a bit more well known having plied his craft for the Braves and the World Champion Astros before becoming a free agent, slugger Evan Gattis.  Now last season taught us that home runs are not valued nearly as highly as they once were, but Gattis is a guy capable of 30+ HRs while batting from the right side.  The only time he’ll sniff a gold glove is if he goes to an exhibit in Cooperstown but he could hold down a corner OF slot and serve as an emergency catcher as well.  Last year he hit 25 HRs and drove in 78 but only batted a Todd Frazier-like .226.  Wait, that’s BETTER than Frazier.  He last earned $6.7 million but I’m guessing a short-term deal for about $5 million might get it done and allow him to be a placeholder for Yoenis Cespedes.  Think of him as a right handed version of the mostly despised Jay Bruce.

A much better defensive player not often connected to the Mets is former Brave Nick Markakis.  The man can hit, plays well above average corner outfield defense and at age 36 during the 2019 season probably wouldn’t require more than a one-year deal with an option.  Last year he quietly hit .297/14/93 with a 2.6 WAR for the modest price of $11 million.  Think of him more Jeff McNeil with the bat than Yoenis Cespedes – a solid player who gives you solid ABs but won’t wow you with his home run power.  He might be obtainable in the $9 million or so price range given his age.  Considering you’re paying more than that for a backup outfielder in Juan Lagares, that’s not bad.

For a starting pitcher perhaps it’s worth taking a flyer on the oft-injured Clay Buchholz.  The long-time Red Sox hurler had an abbreviated injury-riddled stay with the Phillies in 2017 and then came back late in the year with the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching to a 2.01 ERA over 16 starts.  There’s a big red flag as he experienced some discomfort in his surgically repaired arm in September, but the sample he produced in the desert should be enough for someone to roll the dice.  He is the very definition of the type of pitcher to whom you would offer a MiLB contract with an invitation to the big league camp.  If he proves healthy, that’s quite a coup.  If not, cut him loose or stash him in the minors.  He would probably cost close to minimum despite having made as much as $13.5 million per season in the past. 

Any hidden gems you think BVW should be considering to fill some of the identified roster gaps?