Angie's List presents : SLOP Free Agents for 1841

[Young Drachma]

So SLOP (tm) partnered with Angie's List to bring you some of the top free agents for this upcoming free agency period.


OF Kelvin Boyd
The defending NL MVP, he's been languishing in obscurity for the past three years in Columbus. GMs across the league have been salivating for years at his impending arrival to the open market and they will pay handsomely for the honor of inking him. Initial reports indicate that he's looking at over $35m a year. There's a question as to whether the 27-year old lefty hitter will be worth it -- remember how badly that Jerry Price thing worked out for New York -- but if there's something close to a sure offensive thing in this league, it's probably Kelvin Boyd.

Pay up.

OF Justin Gorman
Also wasting away in Columbus was Justin Gorman who at 25 is just entering the prime years of his career. If there's anyone better than Boyd, it's Gorman who has three straight 100+ RBI seasons under his belt, a career VORP average in the 80s and an ability to hit for average to boot.

So what's the downside? You probably won't be able to afford him and Boyd in the same outfield as Columbus did for three years meaning breaking up the most productive tandem of hitters that we'll probably see in this league.

Gorman is a bonafide superstar, the only question is whether he'll command a larger salary than his former teammate. All bets assume he will, given that at 25, he's going to offer a team a great deal of value. It'll be fun to see where he finally lands.

CL Logan Becker

The 34-year old Becker has 80 career saves, the ability to strike batters out and is arguably the best closer in the game. For years he's been wasting away in Pennsylvania, but like the aforementioned hitters, he's joining the rest of us on earth looking for a big payday and a chance to contend. Whether he'll get that opportunity at his reported $20m per year rate is another story. He could be a nice land for a team in need a closer to put them over the top, but it's a question to what team that might be.

SS Arthur Strickland

This young man is interesting because he's only 22 years old and has spent the three years playing for the successful Blue Ribbons in Milwaukee. He boasts the ability to play four infield positions, has some power and can hit for average to boot. He won't come cheap -- reportedly looking at a deal in the $18-22m per year range -- but if you ink him, you'll be paying for a premium prospect that's showing his capabilities on both sides of the field.

C Travis Sanders

The best free agent catcher this year is 24-year old Travis Sanders. He has a 26 VORP last year in a full-season with Toronto and claimed a Silver Glove this past year at catcher. While he's not come close to matching his numbers during his first year in San Diego (28 HR/106 RBI), he's still clearly capable of helping a team that needs a solid, young backstop.

Check him out.

3B Alex Monroe

A solid hitter who can cover the corner infield position or play the outfield, the 24-year old Morgan is fresh off a title with the Firebirds. He had his best year offensively in '40 with 108 runs scored and has demonstrated in the past that he knows how to get on base (10 triples in '38, .421 OBP that season) and so, with him you'd be picking up a dependable middle of the lineup hitter. Whether you'll pony up what he wants is another issue all together.

CL Luis Muniz

The anchor of those Vulcans teams over the last three years has been none other than Luis Muniz. With a sub-2.00 ERA for his career and 89 saves, he's as lights out as they come. At 30, you know you'll get more years out him as he's shown no signs of stopping. Whether you believe that is worth reportedly $13-16m per year is a decision your front office will have to make.

[ShoelessJ03]

Nice feature.

These damn free agents are asking for my left arm, right leg, both eyes and my left testicle to sign a contract!