Chapman to the Yankees for 4 top prospects.

Not quite. For Yankees' No. 6 prospect and three who don't make the NY top ten.

Kind of the equivalent of the Indians trading Mike Clevinger, Shawn Morimando, Erik Gonzalez and Yandy Diaz.

Ranking MLB's 10 best starting rotations

ANDREW GAUG

11:05 AM

10. Texas Rangers

Cole Hamels, Yu Darvish, Colby Lewis, Chi Chi Gonazalez, Martin Perez, Derek Holland

9. Houston Astros

Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Lance McCullers, Mike Fiers, Scott Feldman

8. Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brandon McCarthy, Alex Wood

7. Arizona Diamondbacks

Zach Greinke, Shelby Miller, Patrick Corbin, Robbie Ray, Chase Anderson

6. Cleveland Indians

Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer, Cody Anderson

5. Washington Nationals

Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark, Joe Ross

4. Chicago Cubs

Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Jason Hammel, Kyle Hendricks

3. San Francisco Giants

Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Jake Peavy, Chris Heston

2. St. Louis Cardinals

Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Jaime Garcia, Mike Leake, Carlos Martinez

1. New York Mets

Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Bartolo Colon

That No. 5 ranking puts us ahead of rotations led by Kershaw and Grienke. Our No. 2 is probably as good as anyone of the 9 other teams' and the depth continues, where our No. 5 is more valuable in this decade than the No. 1 Mets' Bartolo Colon. [Speaking of Bartolo, his longevity is darned impressive; the equivalent would have us talking about Cody Anderson in 2033, when we're all dead.]

It puts us #1 in the AL.

Only 3 of those are AL teams.

Which is why I'd prefer to "settle for" Urshela at 3rd so we can have top notch infield defense. Napoli will help at first, Kipnis is good though not great, Lindor and Urshela are superb. Gomes fine defender.

Outfield defense will feature a very good LF when Brantley is back. I guess Davis is pretty good defender; Almonte likewise. Chisenhall was rated a good defender during his RF debut but he doesn't inspire confidence. If we want a solid defender in right we could try Naquin.

WHO NEEDS A BIKE

ColonFit: 42-year-old Bartolo Colon is the latest MLB player to reveal offseason training
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BA rates the Tigers farm system and top prospects:

After winning the American League Central division four years in a row, the Tigers plummeted to last place with a 74-87 record in 2015.

Where they go from here remains uncertain. The World Series-champion Royals are now the favorites in the AL Central, and while the rest of the division isn’t insurmountable, the Tigers look like a team whose window for contention has closed, without the young talent on the farm system to help turn things around.

Since 2010, the highest the Tigers’ farm system has placed on the talent rankings is No. 22, so a thin prospect crop has never hampered them before. Shrewd trades and one of the game’s top payrolls were key during the organization’s stretch of division titles from 2011-14, but the architect of those deals is no longer in the organization. The Tigers fired general manager Dave Dombrowski in August and promoted Al Avila from assistant GM to take over, with the rest of the front office mostly remaining intact.

Now the Tigers are at a crossroads. Owner Mike Ilitch doesn’t want a full tear-it-down rebuild, so the Tigers continue to focus on 2016 instead of taking a step back.

A lot of things would have to go right for the Tigers to return to the postseason. Their offense ranked third in baseball with a .748 team OPS. The pitching staff, however, allowed the third-most runs in baseball.
David Price anchored the rotation, but he’s now gone. Justin Verlander looks more like a mid-rotation arm than an ace, while Anibal Sanchez’s ERA swelled to 4.99.

After losing Max Scherzer following the 2014 season and trading Price in 2015, the Tigers signed righthander Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million contract. They also signed No. 5 starter Mike Pelfrey and reliever Mark Lowe while trading for bullpen arms Francisco Rodriguez and Justin Wilson.

The Tigers will need breakout seasons from the pitchers they acquired in 2015. Lefthanders Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd arrived from the Blue Jays in the Price deal. Norris has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter if he can improve his command. Righthander Michael Fulmer, acquired from the Mets for Yoenis Cespedes, is now the organization’s top prospect. He could get to the big leagues by midseason.

A handful of relief prospects with low ceilings could help in 2016, but the best talent in the system still is at least a couple of years away. Top arms Beau Burrows and Kevin Ziomek and outfielders Mike Gerber and Christin Stewart have promise, but they won’t be factors in 2016.

In a perfect-world scenario, veterans such as Verlander and Miguel Cabrera stay healthy and produce at close to peak levels, third baseman Nick Castellanos takes a step forward and the bullpen outperforms expectations, while young pitchers like Norris and Fulmer contribute in a hurry. More likely, the Tigers might find their 2016 record will look a lot like it did in 2015.

And the Royals:

In the summer of 2011, Royals general manager Dayton Moore and scouting director Lonnie Goldberg were in a car riding back from a meeting with their most recent first-rounder Bubba Starling. As they drove away, Moore described to Goldberg his dream: one day he wanted to see kids walking down Kansas City, Mo., streets wearing Bubba Starling jersey T-shirts, Eric Hosmer jerseys and Royals caps.

He was dreaming of the day that the Royals would capture the city, the area and the region the way they had when Moore, born in Wichita, was a kid.

Mission accomplished. An estimated 800,000 attended the Royals’ World Series victory parade in November. Now, manager Ned Yost has gone from giving a false name at Starbucks early in his Royals career to avoid scrutiny to receiving standing ovations the moment he walks into any Kansas City-area restaurant.

“As we’re starting the parade, I look to my left and there is a row of kids . . . and they are wearing different Royals T-shirts,” Goldberg said. “There’s a (Lorenzo) Cain, a Hosmer, a Salvy (Perez) . . . That was really cool.”

Kansas City hats have begun popping up all over the nation, and this next sentence might seem even crazier: the Royals have become the best team in baseball. It’s not just their World Series win. It’s 95 wins in 2015. It’s a trip to Game Seven of the 2014 World Series. It’s a team that has averaged 90 wins per season since 2013, the most in the American League.

The Royals said they were going to build through player development. And though it took seven years from Moore’s first full draft in 2007 until the club’s first playoff appearance, that’s exactly what they did, helped by a few trades and free-agent signings.

Now comes the hard part. The Royals know they have to plug the free-agent holes left by Johnny Cueto, Ben Zobrist and possibly Alex Gordon on the fly. They will be doing so with a thinner farm system that has been weakened by trades that sent away lefthanders Cody Reed, Sean Manaea and Brandon Finnegan, a trio that would rank Nos. 2 through 4 on this ranking.

The deals for Cueto and Zobrist thinned the system, so Kansas City’s success in 2015 will cost the franchise a little going forward.

That’s not to say that the Royals’ window is yet closed. Even with the free agent losses, Kansas City brings back the core of the 2015 champs. Even if the Royals don’t win 95 games again, they should be in the thick of the 2016 playoff hunt, especially if Moore and his front office again succeed in finding free-agent bargains.

Kansas City’s window with this core will close after the 2017 season. At that point, center fielder Cain, third baseman Mike Moustakas, shortstop Alcides Escobar, first baseman Hosmer and closer Wade Davis will reach free agency at the same time. But for now, the Royals and their fans are too busy enjoying the parade.

and the Sox


While the White Sox improved their record by three games in 2015, they didn’t come close to meeting preseason expectations and did not spend one day with a winning record after mid-May.

Chicago ended its season at 76-86 and on the outside of the postseason for the seventh straight year. What’s worse, the White Sox watched as yet another Central Division rival flew the American League pennant. The Royals represented the AL in the 2014 and 2015 World Series after the Tigers had done the same in 2012.

The White Sox positioned themselves for contention in 2015 based on a number of positive developments in 2014. Ace lefthander Chris Sale recorded his lowest ERA and highest strikeout rate, while Cuban import Jose Abreu mashed 36 homers and unanimously won the AL rookie of the year award. Meanwhile, the White Sox scored a potential coup in the 2014 draft when North Carolina State lefthander Carlos Rodon fell to them at No. 3 overall.

With a projected core of Sale, Abreu and hotshot rookie Rodon in place for 2015, general manager Rick Hahn aggressively pursued free agent talent, signing closer David Robertson, left fielder Melky Cabrera, first baseman Adam LaRoche and lefty reliever Zach Duke for a combined $128 million.

Hahn also traded four upper-level prospects to the Athletics for righthander Jeff Samardzija, and three of those prospects—shortstop Marcus Semien, righty Chris Bassitt and catcher Josh Phegley—served as regulars or semi-regulars in Oakland in 2015. Meanwhile, Samardzija bombed in Chicago, allowing the most hits, home runs and earned runs in the AL before leaving as a free agent to sign with the Giants.

The plan failed miserably. The five key imports contributed fewer than two wins above replacement (1.8) collectively in 2015—but they had help. The White Sox ranked last among AL teams in runs, home runs and slugging in 2015.

The club’s outlook for 2016 improved when Hahn orchestrated offseason trades for veteran third basemen Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie, the latter of which is set to play second base.

Hahn sacrificed five prospects in the two trades, first sending lefthander Zack Erwin and reliever J.B. Wendelken to the Athletics for Lawrie, then parting with a trio of Top 10 Prospects—righthander Frankie Montas, outfielder Trayce Thompson and second baseman Micah Johnson—to acquire the Reds’ Frazier.

Chicago’s infield needed the talent infusion badly because it received the worst offensive production in the AL in 2015 at both second base (Carlos Sanchez) and third base (Tyler Saladino). Similarly, they addressed poor offensive production at catcher by signing free agents Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro to one-year contracts.

With a reconfigured lineup, a little luck and a rotation fronted by Sale, Rodon and Jose Quintana, the White Sox appear poised for a bounce-back season in 2016.

2016 Prospect Watch: Top 10 left-handed pitchers

Dodgers' Urias again takes top spot, but Rays' Snell closes gap

1. Julio Urias, Dodgers
He doesn't turn 20 until August, and he's already knocking on the door. Urias has an outstanding combination of stuff and pitchability well beyond his years. He has three plus pitches with outstanding command. The only thing he doesn't have is innings. Urias has yet to top even 90 innings in a season, but that shouldn't hold him back for too long.

2. Blake Snell, Rays
Few prospects in the game improved their stock more than Snell did in 2015. It was a true breakout for the projectable lefty, one that started with a streak of 46 consecutive scoreless innings. It kept going as he dominated across three levels and led the Minors in ERA. He's ready to help out with the Rays now.

3. Steven Matz, Mets
It hasn't been the most direct path for Matz, who missed nearly three years of competitive pitching coming back from injuries. The wait was worth it, as Matz pitched his way to the big leagues and even into the postseason in 2015. The further removed from injury he gets, the more the concern about his durability dissipates. Matz is the only one on this list with big league time.

4. Sean Newcomb, Braves
The 2014 first-rounder is exactly what teams look for in a starting pitcher: Big, strong, durable and with plus stuff to boot. That's why the Braves wanted him in the Andrelton Simmons deal. He needs to improve his control, but when he does that, he has front-line starter written all over him. Those Jon Lester comparisons aren't too far-fetched.

5. Tyler Jay, Twins
Jay, the first 2015 draftee on the list, went No. 6 overall to the Twins. A reliever at Illinois, Jay has the repertoire and the command to be a starter, and that's how Minnesota plans to develop him. He could have at least four Major League average pitches with above-average control when all is said and done. The transition to starting might slow Jay's progress a bit, but it's also nice to know that if it doesn't work, he could have an impact in the bullpen in a hurry.

6. Josh Hader, Brewers
Hader's pure stuff has been in such high demand, he's been traded twice, first from the Orioles to the Astros, then from the Astros to the Brewers in the Carlos Gomez deal at the Trade Deadline last July. Milwaukee has him right as he's peaking after a huge 2015 season and an absolutely dominant performance in the Arizona Fall League. Once thought to be a future reliever, Hader now looks like he can be much more.

7. Cody Reed, Reds
Another on this list who took a huge step forward with his 2015 campaign, he's also one who was traded, this time in the Johnny Cueto deal with the Royals. Thought of as a projectable lefty when drafted, Reed has come a long way, with two plus pitches in his fastball and slider and a third average pitch (his changeup). Improvement in his command has him looking like a very solid big league starter in the near future.

8. Sean Manaea, A's
The big Indiana State product could've been the top pick in the 2013 Draft, but he slid because of injury concerns. Manaea missed the first half of 2015 with an unrelated injury, but he pitched his way to Double-A and was sent to the A's from the Royals in the Ben Zobrist Trade Deadline deal. He's a mid-rotation workhorse, at the very least.

9. Amir Garrett, Reds
A two-sport star who spent a couple of years shuttling between college basketball and the Reds' system, Garrett has started to take off since he turned to baseball full-time. Big, strong and athletic, the 2015 Futures Gamer still has considerable upside and a fresh arm because of his split focus in the past.

10. Kolby Allard, Braves
The second 2015 draftee on this list, Allard had the chance to go at the top of the Draft, until a back injury allowed him to fall to the Braves in the middle of the first round. He had surgery this offseason, and if he can put the back issue behind him, he has the chance to be a front-line starter, with an exciting combination of stuff, athleticism and feel for pitching.

2016 Prospect Watch: Top 10 right-handed pitchers

Giolito remains atop list, while Glasnow moves up to No. 2

1. Lucas Giolito, Nationals
Giolito could have been the first high school righty drafted No. 1 overall, but he injured his right elbow as a senior in 2012 and required Tommy John surgery. That didn't deter Washington from spending a first-round pick and $2,925,000 on Giolito, and the payoff has been an almost-certain ace with no discernible flaw. Giolito has a fastball that can reach 100 mph, a wipeout curveball and a promising changeup, not to mention command, size and smarts.

2. Tyler Glasnow, Pirates
Hitters never seem to square up Glasnow's fastball, which sits in the mid-90s with life and arrives on a steep downhill plane because he's 6-foot-8. It has taken Glasnow some time to grown into his large frame, but he has continued to improve his curveball, changeup and control each year, and he eventually should slot in behind Gerrit Cole as Pittsburgh's No. 2 starter.

3. Alex Reyes, Cardinals
Reyes gained little exposure as a New Jersey high schooler, so he moved to the Dominican Republic before his senior year and saw his stock skyrocket when he became a full-time pitcher. Reyes is still a bit raw, but he can hit 100 mph with his fastball and back it up with a hammer curveball. He was clearly the best prospect in the Arizona Fall League this offseason, though he also got suspended for 50 games after a second positive test for a drug of abuse that he says was marijuana.

4. Jose Berrios, Twins
Despite contending until season's end and needing rotation help, Minnesota curiously didn't promote Berrios, who led the Minors with 175 strikeouts and started his second consecutive SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. The highest-drafted (32nd overall) Puerto Rican pitcher of all-time, he has the potential for three plus pitches and throws them all for strikes.

5. Jose De Leon, Dodgers
De Leon has skyrocketed from his lowly Draft status and a 6.96 ERA in his pro debut to leading the Minors with 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings and reaching Double-A in 2015, just two years later. De Leon's stuff and command have gotten a lot better since he improved his conditioning and mechanics, giving him a riding 92-96 mph fastball, a plus changeup and an effective if inconsistent slider.

6. Jon Gray, Rockies
The lone member of this list to have reached the Majors, Gray may have the best pure stuff in franchise history, with a heavy fastball that has been clocked at 102 mph, a nasty slider and a sinking changeup. Also the highest-drafted righty in the Top 10 (No. 3 overall in 2013), he'll need to refine his command to become a front-line starter and survive Coors Field.

7. Robert Stephenson, Reds
Cincinnati went with an all-rookie rotation in the second half of the 2015 season, and its most promising arm has yet to arrive but is on the verge. Stephenson has knockout stuff -- with a mid-90s fastball, a curveball that's devastating at times and a much-improved changeup -- though he doesn't dominate as much as he should because he's still figuring out command.

8. Dillon Tate, Rangers
The highest-drafted player to have come through MLB's Urban Youth Academy, Tate progressed from pitching just three innings as a UC Santa Barbara freshman in 2013 to the No. 4 overall pick last June. With his live 92-98 mph fastball, sharp upper-80s slider and athleticism, he could advance very quickly.

9. Carson Fulmer, White Sox
The ace of Vanderbilt teams that won the 2014 College World Series and finished runner-up in '15, he topped NCAA Division I with 14 victories and ranked second with 167 strikeouts last season. The No. 8 overall choice in last year's Draft, Fulmer has a mid-90s fastball, a power curveball and off-the-charts makeup, so he's on the fast track to Chicago, like Chris Sale and Carlos Rodon were.

10. Anderson Espinoza, Red Sox
The consensus best pitcher on the 2014-15 international amateur market already looks better than expected. Signed for $1.8 million -- doubling the Venezuelan bonus record set by Francisco Rodriguez 16 years earlier -- Espinoza advanced to low Class A at age 17 in his pro debut, hitting triple digits with his fastball and showing advanced secondary pitches and command.

2016 Prospect Watch: Top 10 catchers

Cubs' Contreras tops list, Yanks' Sanchez leaps to No. 2

1. Willson Contreras, Cubs
One of the top breakout prospects of 2015, Contreras led the Southern League in both batting (.333) and extra-base hits (46), and he set personal bests in most offensive categories. Signed out of Venezuela as a third baseman in 2009, he moved behind the plate in 2012 and has continued to make strides defensively. Contreras' athleticism and arm strength give him a good chance of sticking at the position, though his receiving still needs work.

2. Gary Sanchez, Yankees
Sanchez resuscitated his prospect stock last season between the Double-A and Triple-A levels, and he made his big league debut in early October. He then showcased his huge power and cannon arm in the Arizona Fall League, pacing the circuit with seven home runs and a 62 percent caught-stealing rate. Despite Sanchez's improvement as a blocker and receiver last season, questions remain about whether he will be able to catch every day in the big leagues. However, there's little doubt that he's ready to make an impact at the plate.

3. Jorge Alfaro, Phillies
Alfaro's 2015 season was derailed by ankle surgery in June, but the injury didn't stop the Phils from acquiring him at the Trade Deadline as part of the Cole Hamels blockbuster. Signed by the Rangers for a Colombia-record $1.3 million bonus in January 2010, Alfaro stands out for his raw power and arm strength, and he's arguably the best athlete on this list. His game still needs a lot of refinement -- he's overly aggressive at the plate and raw as a receiver -- but there's still time for him to develop into an everyday catcher.

4. Reese McGuire, Pirates
McGuire's defense still ranks ahead of his offense at this point, but the 14th overall pick of 2013 he made strides with his approach during the regular season and finished with a strong showing at the plate in the Arizona Fall League. He has good bat-to-ball skills as well as a knack for using the entire field, and the gap power he's shown thus far should improve as he becomes more selective. Even if the bat doesn't develop, McGuire's defensive chops alone could make him a big league regular behind the plate.

5. Tyler Stephenson, Reds
Regarded by scouts as the top catcher available in the 2015 Draft, Stephenson, whom Cincinnati took 11th overall, flashed his upside on both sides of the ball last summer during an impressive pro debut in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. A 6-foot-4 right-handed hitter, his hit and power tools have the chance to be at least average, and he already displays an advanced approach. Defensively, Stephenson possesses a plus arm and moves well for his size, though he has a ways to go with his footwork and receiving.

6. Elias Diaz, Pirates
Signed out of Venezuela back in 2008, Diaz, after parts of seven seasons in the Minor Leagues, finally made his big league debut with the Bucs in 2015. The 25-year-old profiles as a plus defender at the highest level thanks to his high-end blend of athleticism, receiving skills and arm strength, and he's widely praised for his ability to handle a pitching staff. Once viewed as an offensive liability, Diaz is now pegged by scouts for an average hit tool based on the huge strides he's made in recent years.

7. Dom Nunez, Rockies
The recipient of an above-slot $800,000 signing bonus as a sixth-round pick in 2013, Nunez has a gorgeous left-handed swing and mature approach, which highlight his potential to hit for average and power once developed. He played both middle-infield spots during his pro debut before becoming a full-time catcher in 2014. The athleticism and agility Nunez showed in the infield have helped him make strides as a blocker and receiver in a short period of time, and his catch-and-throw skills should improve with experience.

8. Jacob Nottingham, Athletics
The 2013 sixth-rounder emerged as one of the top offensive catchers in 2015, hitting .316 with 17 home runs and 33 doubles across the Class A and Class A Advanced levels. The breakout performance put him on the A's radar, and they acquired him from the Astros at the Trade Deadline in the Scott Kazmir deal. Nottingham has good bat speed and generates above-average power from the right side of the plate, driving the ball with authority across the whole field. His defense lags well behind his bat, though, and his blocking and receiving skills will need to improve considerably for him to stick behind the plate.

9. Max Pentecost, Blue Jays
The Blue Jays made Pentecost the highest-drafted player in Kennesaw State history in 2014, selecting him with the 11th overall pick. Unfortunately, he's played only 25 games since signing, as surgery to repair a partially torn right labrum in October 2014 and a subsequent cleanup procedure the following spring cost him the entire 2015 season. It's unclear at the moment how the injury might affect his projection as an everyday catcher, but Pentecost is a good athlete and can move to another position, possibly corner outfield, if he can't stick behind the plate.

10. Aramis Garcia, Giants
A second-round pick out of Florida International in 2014, Garcia has some natural hitting ability and showed more power last year during his full-season debut in the Class A South Atlantic League. The 23-year-old backstop has work to do defensively, especially with his blocking and receiving, but the catch-and-throw skills are there, and his average arm strength consistently plays up because his throws are accurate.

UP NEXT FIRSTBASEMEN

Bat Pack: Top swingin' quartets ranked

Addition of Upton gives Tigers' offense one of baseball's hardest-hitting cores

1. Chicago Cubs (96.8 Off)
Anthony Rizzo: 143 wRC+, 31.2 Off
Kris Bryant: 137 wRC+, 29.1 Off
Jason Heyward: 123 wRC+, 20.2 Off
Kyle Schwarber: 124 wRC+, 16.3 Off

2. Washington Nationals (76.5 Off)
Bryce Harper: 164 wRC+, 48.7 Off
Anthony Rendon: 116 wRC+, 11.9 Off
Daniel Murphy: 114 wRC+, 9.0 Off
Jayson Werth: 112 wRC+, 6.9 Off

3. Toronto Blue Jays (75.3 Off)
Jose Bautista: 137 wRC+, 25.2 Off
Josh Donaldson: 131 wRC+, 23.9 Off
Edwin Encarnacion: 135 wRC+, 21.5 Off
Troy Tulowitzki: 110 wRC+, 4.7 Off

4. Los Angeles Angels (73.0 Off)
Trout: 175 wRC+. 59.1 Off
Kole Calhoun: 108 wRC+, 6.9 Off
Albert Pujols: 116 wRC+, 6.3 Off
C.J. Cron: 103 wRC+, 0.7 Off

5. Detroit Tigers (70.2 Off)
Cabrera: 151 wRC+, 32.6 Off
Upton: 127 wRC+, 21.8 Off
J.D. Martinez: 119 wRC+, 12.3 Off
V. Martinez: 113 wRC+, 3.5 Off

On those prospect lists, Brady Aiken could place himself in the Top lefties if he's healthy; we'll know by the end of the summer if he was a steal. Among the catchers, those last three don't impress me any more than Francisco Mejia who at age 20 will be in High A and unlike Nottingham who can hit great but can't catch has a fine blend of offensive and defensive skills.

I would have to agree with you on the catchers Civ. I also like Mejia and wished that he could have gotten in some playing time this winter.

10 bargain free agents still on the table

Sleeper signings have chance to be difference-makers down the stretch

By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com |

1. Mat Latos, RHP
He has a reputation for being a bit temperamental in the clubhouse, and that alone is enough to pull some teams from the bidding. But at a time when teams are paying through the nose for pitching, the 28-year-old Latos is an affordable bounce-back candidate whose 2015 numbers were eerily similar to those of $90 million man Jeff Samardzija. For whatever it's worth, the Bill James Handbook projects a 3.36 ERA over 174 innings for Latos in '16. Compare that to the 3.79 ERA in 175 innings projection for Yovani Gallardo, the last remaining free-agent pitcher tied to Draft-pick compensation.

2. Pedro Alvarez, 1B
It will take the right situation -- and the right manager -- to bring out the best in Alvarez, a player who, in addition to his questionable defense, has developed a reputation for being somewhat sensitive and aloof. But there is definitely boom in this bat, and, entering his age-29 season, Alvarez can bring his career .473 slugging percentage against right-handed pitching to a club (preferably an American League club) in need of a boost.

3. Domonic Brown, OF
No, Justin Upton wasn't the last 28-year-old free-agent position player standing. Of course, Brown is only a free agent because not even the rebuilding Phillies wanted to retain him after two straight seasons with a .634 OPS. But time is still on his side, and some club will convince itself that it can coax another .272/.324/.494 (Brown's stat line in his All-Star season in 2013) out of him.

4. Cliff Lee, LHP
Realistically, the odds that Lee reinjures his elbow (he didn't have surgery to address a torn flexor tendon) significantly outweigh the odds that he recaptures his old Cy Young Award-winning form. But teams are certainly monitoring his market in hopes that he can make a meaningful contribution in 2016, and his past performance merits including him here. This is one of the game's most ruthless competitors.

5. Matt Joyce, OF
The Angels were hoping he could help them replace Josh Hamilton's production. Instead, he had a .174/.272/.291 slash line in 284 plate appearances and even had to be scratched from one start because he didn't realize it was a day game. But in his career, the 31-year-old Joyce has a respectable .795 OPS against right-handers. And because the majority of human beings (and pitchers) are right-handed, this bodes well for him contributing solidly somewhere.

6. Byrd, OF
The late Byrd signing worked out well in 2013. Let's do it again. Actually, Byrd, despite being 38, is coming off a season in which his homer/fly-ball rate was the best of his career and his isolated power mark climbed 25 points. As a pure power guy with a low OBP, he's a sort of a cheap substitute for Yoenis Cespedes. Come to think of it, maybe the Mets should bring back Byrd!

7. Dae-ho Lee, 1B
Let's hear it for "The Big Boy," a 286-pound, 33-year-old South Korean who hit 31 homers in the Japan Pacific League last season and wants to play in the States. Even if the power doesn't translate particularly well, you'd have to imagine there are at least marketing opportunities aplenty here.

8. Brandon Morrow, RHP
His is a career screaming for a move to the bullpen, as Morrow has been healthy enough to make just 42 starts over the past four seasons. He had a shoulder cleanup procedure near the end of 2015, and he'll always be considered an injury risk. But you would think Morrow's power arsenal could play up in an extended relief look.

9. Tim Lincecum, RHP
Maybe it's because I spent an afternoon in the Arizona sun with his father, Chris, last February as he discussed -- and even demonstrated -- in great detail the work the two men had put in to repair Lincecum's mechanics, but I'm a sucker for a Timmy comeback story. The truth is, Giants fans spent the past four seasons fruitlessly pining for him to recapture his old glory, and, with the exception of two magnificent starts against the Padres, it just didn't happen. But you'd have to think the degenerative left hip condition that required season-ending surgery last year was having an impact on Lincecum's diminished stuff, and if he can get that old life on his fastball and get his strikeout rate back above league average, he could turn out to be a steal on a one-year deal.

10. Jonny Gomes, OF
We could talk about his offensive attributes against lefties. But really, for the purposes of this list, all that matters is that four of his past six teams have made the playoffs. You might as well latch on and hope history holds.