Many of MLB's top 2013 free agents have made some surprising moves in the last week, but there still are a few great players left on the major league market.
The list is shrinking at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pace, and these players are sure to find homes soon.
Michael Bourn is at the top of the list, with rumors coming from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports that the Dodgers might even consider getting rid of Andre Ethier for the speedy center fielder.
Bourn is coming off of his second All-Star season and his most productive since he entered the league. Last year, the journeyman hit nine home runs and 57 RBI, but was a productive defender and aggressive on base.
It would be a surprising move, but at this point any place Bourn lands would be shocking, considering deals with the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals went sour after they looked elsewhere.
Nick Swisher is still available and was also mentioned in the report about the Dodgers shopping Ethier.
However, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweeted that talks between Swisher and L.A. haven’t progressed:
i'm sure nick swisher, who lives in LA, wants to be a dodger. but source close to team says 1 talk w/ NS came "weeks ago''
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 18, 2012
The Indians just unloaded right fielder Shin-Soo Choo to the Reds in a three-team deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, landing center fielder Drew Stubbs and pitcher Trevor Bauer. Though the trade has potential to pay off for the Indians, they need a power hitter to replace Shin-Soo Choo in right field.
Swisher is coming off a 24-home run, 93-RBI season, hitting .272/.364/.473. Many criticisms of Swisher came in the postseason when he failed to hit his stride with the New York Yankees. But Swisher is productive and a hard worker whose hitting would benefit any clubhouse he joins.
One of Swisher’s fellow Yankees remains a free agent, too, with no reported offers coming in for pitcher Rafael Soriano.
Rumors of the Detroit Tigers' interests were all but squashed when they re-signed Anibal Sanchez to an $80 million contract, leaving little money for the type of deal required for a closer of Soriano's caliber.
Though there are questions of Soriano’s durability after his injury in 2011, he has a good track record when he’s healthy. He stands at a career 2.78 ERA with 132 saves, and threw 2.26 with 42 saves last season with the Yankees.
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