85 players made our list of non-tender candidates, but a few fell short of our subjective 25% chance cutoff. These are guys we can't quite envision being cut loose on December 2nd, but we can picture trades if the player's old team isn't keen on paying up.
- Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox. Papelbon might be looking at $12MM in his final arbitration year. Most likely the Red Sox will just overpay a bit and keep their closer. But if they decide to go in a different direction they might find an interested club or two, if the price in players is low.
- Mike Napoli, Angels. The Red Sox claimed him in August; certainly there will be trade interest. We used Napoli's arbitration case as an example in this post; he could shoot for $6-7MM.
- Rajai Davis, Athletics. The A's could employ a low-power outfield of Davis, Coco Crisp, and Ryan Sweeney, or they could shop Davis to a team seeking a center fielder.
- Carlos Gomez, Brewers. The Brewers could turn to Lorenzo Cain and Chris Dickerson in center, making Gomez expendable.
- Leo Nunez, Marlins. Clay Hensley might be able to close for the Marlins in 2011 at several million less than Nunez. Though Nunez had eight blown saves this year, he had appealing peripheral stats.
- Jesus Flores, Nationals. Flores will remain cheap despite being arbitration eligible, but Wilson Ramos may have pushed him aside.
- Josh Willingham, Nationals. As Willingham's salary continues to climb, the Nationals could try to get more athletic in an outfield corner with Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth. If they feel comfortable trying Mike Morse and/or Roger Bernadina in the other corner, Willingham could be trade bait.
- Lastings Milledge, Pirates. He could be a quality fourth outfielder for the Pirates or another team.
- Jason Bartlett, Rays. Trading Bartlett would save the Rays millions, and they could use Reid Brignac or Sean Rodriguez at shortstop. Bartlett would definitely draw interest on the trade market.
- Carlos Quentin, White Sox. Certainly there are teams willing to tender Quentin a contract for 2011. Similar to the Willingham situation, the Sox could look for more athleticism in right field.
Devern Hansack
It would be a brilliant idea for the A’s to shop Davis, given the lack of center field options available this offseason.
deere5800
Jays maybe? Move Wells to right, Bautista at third, and gives you some speed and athleticism in the order
roberty
Trade him to the Braves! We could use a leadoff/CF type.
TapDancingTeddy
I think his career .330 OBP isn’t going to bring back much value. Also as a CF, he’s not bad, but he’s not Paul Blair.
Ian_Smell
If the Pirates could trade for Bartlett without giving up a lot I’d be all for that. Although I’d hope he’d be better than the last middle infielder the Pirates acquired from the Rays.
bigpat
Bartlett wouldn’t be bad, though I’d really be interested in getting one of their starting pitchers. I would take any of Shields, Garza, Niemann, or Davis. Davis or Niemann would probably be the best to pick up. Garza will be getting a big deal very soon and Shields had a rough year even though may think he just was unlucky. Davis and Niemann could probably put up some decent numbers in the NL and they will have many years of control.
Ian_Smell
I would like them to acquire one of those pitchers too, I just suspect that it would take a lot to get them which I don’t really think would be good for the Pirates’ semi-limited farm system to begin with.
bigpat
True, in a perfect world, the Pirates would be able to trade Doumit and Maholm for a player who fills a greater need, but I don’t see many teams giving up an established player for one of them, unless it’s a bad contract guy or just someone who they don’t have a need for.
bigpat
Bartlett wouldn’t be bad, though I’d really be interested in getting one of their starting pitchers. I would take any of Shields, Garza, Niemann, or Davis. Davis or Niemann would probably be the best to pick up. Garza will be getting a big deal very soon and Shields had a rough year even though may think he just was unlucky. Davis and Niemann could probably put up some decent numbers in the NL and they will have many years of control.
Slopeboy
Before they trade, check to see Bartlett doesn’t wear a knee brace
pastlives
Carlos Gomez is pretty useless, I can’t believe they traded JJ Hardy for him when they turned down half a season of AJ Burnett before he opted out, when he was dominant down the stretch…I also seem to recall the Brewers going out in the playoffs early that year due to pretty much no pitching. Well played, brew crew.
pastlives
not to mention the two picks that Burnett brought back.
Ian_Smell
What do you mean by the AJ Burnett comment? I never heard of that before.
pastlives
The Brewers turned down JJ Hardy for AJ Burnett at the deadline the year that Burnett was obviously going to opt out of his contract.
Coreno
all three players stink. sooo, not important.
pastlives
uh Burnett didn’t stink at the time genius, remember him getting an 80M deal the following offseason?
coachofall
just because a player gets 80 mil from the Yankees doesnt mean he is excluded from the suck list.
pastlives
because the yankees were the only team trying to sign him, right? what a dumb comment, regardless. Burnett went 14 starts in the second half of 2008 with a 2.86 ERA, 10 k/9, and a 1.17 WHIP in the al east..the brewers turned down that production + 2 picks for JJ hardy, who they gave away basically shortly after. Then Sheets’ arm blew up and Sabathia was garbage in the playoffs. Now that this post is discussing non-tendering Gomez, it’s pretty relevant to discuss how stupid it is that the Brewers even had Gomez to begin with.
BrocNessMonster
The Dodgers would love to put Quentin in LF. They LOVE DH’s playing defense for them.
rockfordone
Quentin is a horrible outfielder – that being said – Martin for Carlos and Flowers
coachofall
Martin is a horrible catcher inline for a raise in arbitration…..very little value. Carlos for Martin would be a lot closer and though i don’t see him as a big league starting catcher, Flowers would have more value than just a throw in
lakersdodgersyankees4life
are you serious? Martin was rated the #2 defensive catcher in the game behind Y. Molina by BA… passed balls/wild pitches do not reflect only the catcher.
coachofall
Yeah, very serioius….he is awful. Don’t know where you got the data as the number 2 rated C but every source I looked at has him out of the top 10 in the NL let alone all of baseball. Guy hasn’t had a good overall year in 2 seasons. Blame injuries, blame a decline, blame obama I Don’t really care…reality is he has little to no trade value and has been a marginal starting catcher in the bigs for the last 2 seasons.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
What are your sources. Because BA is one of the most respected groups in baseball…
coachofall
Go to Fangraphs and look up his info over the last three years he is a very replaceable commodity that won’t get much on the trade market.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
You dont realize how bad catchers usually are, do you? Russell Martin, while missing 65 games, had a 2.1 WAR and was +4 in fielding, worth $8.3M according to fangraphs. But please, tell me who you would like to see replace Martin. Im willing to bet they are worse… way worse… than Russ is
TwinsVet
I’d be amazed if any of these guys were non-tendered.
Except Milledge. The Pirates will non-tender anybody…
Ian_Smell
It’s not like the Pirates would really miss his nonexistent five tools. Though I would like for them to keep him.
Slopeboy
Milledge does have 5 tools. Good glove, good speed , good pliers, good wrench and excellent screwdriver.
Slopeboy
Milledge does have 5 tools. Good glove, good speed , good pliers, good wrench and excellent screwdriver.
RedSoxDynasty
I want Napoli in Boston belting 25-30 bombs with Salty as his backup! And Papelbon doesnt deserve much of a raise after last year. 10 mil tops Theo!
bobrewer
Frank Wren- Go get Willingham. Now.
woadude
How about the Red Sox trading Papelbon to the Angels for Mike Napoli, Angels could use a closer and the Sox would probably go for Napoli over V-mart, just a thought….
coachofall
12 Mil for a relief pitcher isnt going to be easy to move.
coachofall
12 Mil for a relief pitcher isnt going to be easy to move.
start_wearing_purple
If the Angels wanted a high priced closer they would have kept KRod when they had the chance.
melonis_rex
But they signed Fuentes! Who also was an expensive closer.
coachofall
though in hindsight the decision is what it is; Fuentas was for far less years and a lower annual avg salary. Can’t blame them for this move.
woadude
listen, yeah he is priced high but the Angels lacked a closer and it obviously hurt them, they need a guy that can put the nail in the coffin, is 10 million a year bad? sure but its not like hes going to be making 15 to 20 million a year because he isnt Mariano, but he will close out your ballgames and he obviously doesnt like being in Boston, i am sure Arte Moreno can pay him 10 million a year and not be affected in other FA.
penpaper
Um, I hope you’re joking. Rodney is our closer, and that’s only because he’s getting overpaid. Otherwise, we have at least three relievers who can easily be closers(Walden, Jepsen and Kohn). Why would the Angels want another overrated, expensive closer when they already have one?
Much less for Napoli. He’s a commodity in this league. If you want to get rid of Papelbon, give us $5 million and him, and we’ll give you Rivera.
woadude
that seems fair actually, Paps and cash considerations for Napoli would work out, im not a Sox fan but i see that a change in scenery can be a good thing for Papelbon and I bet he would be awesome for the Angels and there isnt a place for Napoli on the team with Mathis getting the bulk of starts, that makes good sense, better than using the oddball prospects right?
woadude
How about the Red Sox trading Papelbon to the Angels for Mike Napoli, Angels could use a closer and the Sox would probably go for Napoli over V-mart, just a thought….
moonraker45
Jason Bartlett is so overrated. 2 years of an obp over .350 1 year ops over .800.
moonraker45
Jason Bartlett is so overrated. 2 years of an obp over .350 1 year ops over .800.
lakersdodgersyankees4life
You could probably put Loney on here too. He won’t get non tendered, but may get moved
SalvadorM
Jesus Flores for the Padres