MLB

Top 25 Available MLB Free Agents Remaining to be Signed in January

Top 25 Available MLB Free Agents Remaining to be Signed in January

Justin Turner Excited
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

While January on the MLB hot stove is typically when the heat starts to dissipate, many front offices are still scrambling to fill holes on their rosters. Some holes can still be filled with stars. Others will be filled with journeymen, like the Dodgers did with Justin Turner in 2014. If you're lucky, such investments can pay big dividends. Turner hit .340 in 2014. Here are the 25 best free agents left in baseball.

25. Johan Santana

Johan Santana
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

25. Johan Santana

Johan Santana
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The odds are stacked against Santana ever contributing to a major league roster again. However, he has expressed an interest in a comeback, and the bottom line is his track record can't be ignored. Last time we saw him, he posted a 4.09 FIP with an 88.4 MPH fastball in 2012. Having said that, he managed to throw a no-hitter for the Mets. Is there anything he can't do?

24. Josh Johnson

Josh Johnson Stock
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

24. Josh Johnson

Josh Johnson Stock
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

It's been a while since Josh Johnson pitched in the bigs, but he wasn't as bad as many remember, as his 4.58 FIP and 3.58 xFIP (which computes FIP assuming the percentage of fly balls that become home runs is 10.5 percent, due to the irregularity of the stat) were well below his 6.20 ERA. He has a lot to prove but is worthy of one last chance to do it.

23. Andy Dirks

Andy Dirks At Bat
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23. Andy Dirks

Andy Dirks At Bat
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Dirks produced a 1.7 WAR season his last full go-round in the majors in 2013, as well as a 1.5 WAR season in 2012. Dirks could provide a moderate power/speed combo off the bench for a budget-minded contender. Back surgery contributed to his failure to log a major league at-bat in 2014, so there is some risk here. Nothing more than a minor league contract with an invite for Spring Training should be needed to bring him on board.

22. John Mayberry

John Mayberry Swings
Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

22. John Mayberry

John Mayberry Swings
Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

While Mayberry can hit the ball far, making contact is an issue that is unlikely to ever be fixed. He could fit for a team looking to play the lottery with his power late in games off the bench.

21. Alexi Ogando

Alexi Ogando Throws
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21. Alexi Ogando

Alexi Ogando Throws
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

While health is an issue, Ogando didn't pitch as poorly as his 6.81 ERA suggests in his limited time in the bigs last season, as his FIP was a respectable 3.81. But his xFIP was 5.17, indicating he didn't give up as many home runs as he should have. His fastball is down about 3 MPH from his peak, so nothing more than a minor league contract should be offered. Upside does exist, though.

20. Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Cages
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

20. Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Cages
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Ichiro may be nothing close to the player he was in his prime, but he's still about average as a major league player, posting a 0.4 WAR last season. He's likely headed to a fourth outfielder role for a good team if he decides to play in 2015.

19. Eric Young

Eric Young Runs Bases
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

19. Eric Young

Eric Young Runs Bases
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Speed never slumps, and Young has plenty of that. He can play all three outfield positions and has played some second base as well, aiding his versatility. A bench role would suit him best.

18. Casey Janssen

Casey Janssen Pitches
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

18. Casey Janssen

Casey Janssen Pitches
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

While Janssen posted an awful 5.52 K/9 in 2014, he posted K/9 rates over 8.5 between 2011 and 2013. Some bounce back is likely. Even with the low K/9, Janssen kept his FIP at a usable 4.14. For teams that value saves and experience in the ninth inning, Janssen is likely to be an affordable option.

17. Brandon Beachy

Brandon Beachy Throws Pitch
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

17. Brandon Beachy

Brandon Beachy Throws Pitch
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off his second Tommy John surgery, Beachy is not a sure thing to ever return to the form his showed with the Atlanta Braves. However, there are success stories of excelling after a second Tommy John, including Kris Medlen and Joakim Soria. Get lucky with Beachy and you win a terrific back of the rotation starter at least.

16. Juan Francisco

Juan Francisco Batting Stance
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

16. Juan Francisco

Juan Francisco Batting Stance
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

While about all Francisco does is hit the ball hard, doing it while being able to play third base aids his versatility. Francisco could be another lottery ticket off the bench or a dark horse candidate to land a starting spot if a team believes they can get the 27-year-old to make more contact or take more walks.

15. Joe Thatcher

Joe Thatcher Throws
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

15. Joe Thatcher

Joe Thatcher Throws
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Three words: left-handed specialist. He had a rough stint with the Angels, but prior to that, lefties only hit .230 off him over his career. While sabermetrics doesn't concern itself with lefty on lefty or righty on righty, there are plenty of major league teams that do, giving Thatcher a market.

14. Geovany Soto

Geovany Soto Swings
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

14. Geovany Soto

Geovany Soto Swings
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

While he will never match the promise of his 23 home run, 86 RBI rookie season, Soto could still provide above average offensive production from catcher. Potential suitors would probably want to pair him with a defensive platoon, though, as he struggles to even throw the ball back to the pitcher's mound without getting out of his crouch.

13. Rickie Weeks

Rickie Weeks Batting
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

13. Rickie Weeks

Rickie Weeks Batting
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Weeks posted his highest WAR in three years in 2014 at 1.2, in large part because he spent time in a platoon with Scooter Gennett to avoid facing right-handed pitchers. Though he did hit .294 against righties, his slugging percentage was almost 100 points lower than it was against lefties. He could play every day but would be used most effectively in a platoon to avoid right-handers. At 32, it would also help keep him fresh and injury free.

12. Takashi Toritani

Takashi Toritani Batting
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

12. Takashi Toritani

Takashi Toritani Batting
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Toritani is a 33-year-old shortstop, meaning he may not be a game changer for a club. But he is a career .285 hitter in Japan over 11 seasons, and he set a career high last season, batting .313. He is being considered for second base by at least one club, the Toronto Blue Jays. Represented by Scott Boras, it's no surprise he's yet to decide on a place to play this season. He may even return to Japan.

11. Ryan Vogelsong

Ryan Vogelsong Pitches
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

11. Ryan Vogelsong

Ryan Vogelsong Pitches
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

At 37 years old, Vogelsong may not be looking at more than a two-year deal, but he posted a respectable 3.85 FIP last season in 184.2 innings and could eat innings in the back of a rotation. If he can maintain his strikeout-to-walk ratio that he improved from 2013, he could be a bargain.

10. Everth Cabrera

Everth Cabrera Runs
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10. Everth Cabrera

Everth Cabrera Runs
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Everth Cabrera saw a 3.3 WAR drop off from his 2013 to 2014 after serving a 50-game suspension for PEDs in 2013. Still, he stole 18 bases in 90 games in 2014 and at the very least could provide speed and infield depth to interested clubs. At 28, he could also offer a stopgap starting option for a team like the New York Mets, despite their current disinterest.

9. Chris Young

Chris Young Pitcher
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9. Chris Young

Chris Young Pitcher
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Young has shown an ability to best his FIP expectation, as witnessed by his career 3.77 ERA and 4.38 FIP. He may require a large ballpark to keep the many fly balls he allows in the yard because of his anemic 5.89 K/9, but he has a track record of getting major league outs when healthy. For a team looking to minimize risk with a signing this late, he may be a nice fit.

8. Francisco Rodriguez

Francisco Rodriguez Throws Pitch
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

8. Francisco Rodriguez

Francisco Rodriguez Throws Pitch
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Completing the inevitable transition from fireballer to offspeed artist, K-Rod is still a tremendous weapon out of the pen. Posting a 9.66 K/9 with a 2.91 xFIP, K-Rod would look great in the eighth inning and adequate as a ninth inning closer.

7. Rafael Soriano

Rafael Soriano Throws Pitch
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

7. Rafael Soriano

Rafael Soriano Throws Pitch
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Despite losing his closer's role in Washington, Soriano posted his lowest FIP since 2010. His K/9 jumped from 6.89 in 2013 to 8.56 in 2014, and he threw over 60 innings for the third straight year. Though he will be 35 on Opening Day, it's quite possible he'll secure an opportunity to close in 2015.

6. Nori Aoki

Nori Aoki Swings
Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

6. Nori Aoki

Nori Aoki Swings
Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Aoki posted a 2.3 WAR in 2014 and profiles as a good bet to produce along the same lines in 2015. He could help a team looking for help at the top of a lineup. While Aoki is not a game changer, he should be highly valued because he has proven to be quite consistent through his first three seasons in the big leagues. Paying for a high floor is a great idea for a contender looking to ensure they avoid catastrophe.

5. Colby Rasmus

Colby Rasmus Runs to First
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5. Colby Rasmus

Colby Rasmus Runs to First
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

While Rasmus was a highly-touted prospect in the minors, time appears to have run out for him to continue to improve as a ballplayer. What he has become is a high strikeout slugger, with questionable defense and average base running. Still, he posted a 4.8 WAR season in 2013, and if a club thinks he's capable of doing so again, he could be a difference maker. If he's the 2014 version with the 0.6 WAR, he's little more than a fourth outfielder.

4. Asdrubal Cabrera

Asdrubal Cabrera Swings
H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

4. Asdrubal Cabrera

Asdrubal Cabrera Swings
H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

Asdrubal Cabrera turned the tide in 2014, halting a three-year decline in WAR to produce a 1.7 mark. He profiles as a stable addition to a team looking for an infielder who has the potential -- albeit unlikely -- to produce more.

3. Kenta Maeda

Kenta Maeda Pitches
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3. Kenta Maeda

Kenta Maeda Pitches
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Maeda features a fastball that ranges from 89-94, with an average slider, a 12 to 6 curve and a change-up. Masahiro Tanaka or Yu Darvish he is not, but at only 26, he has fewer health concerns than the other pitchers on this list, as well as a small chance to produce more than expected.

2. James Shields

James Shields Throws Pitch
Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

2. James Shields

James Shields Throws Pitch
Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off a season in which he threw at least 200 innings for the eighth straight year, Shields is without question the second-best free agent left on the market. Unfortunately for him, Shields may not receive optimal offers until No. 1 on this list is signed. His FIP has ranged between 3.42 to 3.59 for four years, showcasing his terrific consistency. He may not be exciting, but he is good.

1. Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer Pitches to Orioles
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer Pitches to Orioles
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Arguably the prize of all free agency, Max Scherzer is the unquestioned cream of the remaining crop. An ace in every sense of the word, he is looking for more than the six-year, $ 155 million deal Jon Lester inked. While long-term contracts for pitchers are notoriously risky, a K/9 over 10 for the third straight year and a FIP under three for the second straight year indicates this is a reliable baseline of production. Scherzer is a game changer.

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