Headlines around baseball have been dominated by Pete Rose's failed attempt for reinstatement into the game over the past few days, but the hot stove has continued to hum along this December.
In that span, the San Francisco Giants have gained another arm for their rotation in Johnny Cueto, while the Chicago Cubs introduced newest outfielder Jason Heyward.
There are still some big names, especially in the outfield, that are out on the free-agent market and could provide large upgrades for teams that are interested.
Let's take a look at the latest on some of the best remaining free agents.
Justin Upton
After a somewhat quiet start to the offseason, interest in outfielder Justin Upton is starting to heat up. According to ESPN's Jim Bowden, the Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants have all inquired about the outfielder.
Upton's six-year, $51.5 million contract (via Spotrac.com) expired at the end of the 2015 season, his first with the San Diego Padres after being dealt from the Atlanta Braves. He's had some difficulty living up to the .300/26/86 season he put up as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 that earned him that deal, but Upton is still a big bat that is being coveted by teams around the league.
Last season, Upton batted .251, his lowest average since 2008, but recorded his third consecutive year in which he hit over 25 home runs. While the Padres dealt for him during the 2014 offseason, Rosenthal believes that the odds of the Padres re-signing him are "very low."
Two-thirds of the Angels outfield looks set with Mike Trout in center field and Kole Calhoun in right. Trout hit .299/41/90, while Calhoun put together a career year with 26 home runs and 83 RBI, similar numbers to Upton.
Left field, though, has been an issue. Matt Joyce, who started 93 games in left, batted just .174, forcing the Angels to go out and get David Murphy and Shane Victorino. They were just two of four utility left fielders the Angels used last season.
Upton would provide stability to the position while rounding out what would become one of the most powerful outfields in the league.
Another team with holes in the outfield is the Orioles, who need to find help surrounding center fielder Adam Jones. Gerardo Parra is testing the free-agency market after being shipped to the Orioles from the Milwaukee Brewers while Steve Pearce appeared in 93 games. They were just a part of a revolving door that was implemented in the outfield as six other players made appearances last season.
Parra, like Upton, is drawing interest from the Giants according to the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea.
If the Orioles lose first baseman Chris Davis to free agency, they will also desperately need to replace some of the power that he brings. Upton doesn't necessarily hold the same power as Davis, who led the American League with 47 home runs last season. But piecing together an offense by committee to replace the slugger would prove just as beneficial.
Also losing Davis will clear up plenty of money to give to Upton, who at 28, will require a longer deal to bring in.
The Giants have flashed some serious cash already this winter with the signings of pitchers Jeff Samardzija for $90 million and Cueto for $130 million. While they still need help offensively in the outfield, as Angel Pagan, Nori Aoki and Hunter Pence combined 17 home runs last season while all dealt with injury, the Giants might have to go a cheaper route.
Prediction: Upton signs six-year, $115 million deal with Orioles.
Yoenis Cespedes
Yoenis Cespedes had one of the most prolific second-halves to a season since Carlos Beltran's 2004 with the Houston Astros as he sparked the New York Mets to a National League championship, hitting 17 home runs in 57 games.
The 30-year-old, who attained career highs with 35 home runs and 105 RBI last season with the Detroit Tigers and Mets, hasn't fielded a ton of action on the market this winter.
It might be because of the length of the deal he is asking, as he told ESPN's Marly Rivera that he is looking for a six-year deal, which would most likely put him well over the $100 million mark.
Cespedes' departure would obviously hurt the Mets, who have just seen money freed up due to the retirement of Michael Cuddyer. Still, Cespedes is outside of the Mets' price range, according to the New York Daily News' Kristie Ackert.
That being said, Ackert reports that the Mets would still "be happy to welcome him back" if the price comes down. They should replace the world "happy" with "thrilled" because of his influence on the Mets lineup upon his arrival:
But there could be teams willing to pay that kind of deal to lure Cespedes away from Queens, which include the Angels, among others per the New York Post's Joel Sherman.
While the Giants, Tigers and Kansas City Royals are also interested, I can't see Cespedes going anywhere other than Los Angeles. The Angels will throw serious cash at him in an attempt to round out their outfield and make them into serious American League contenders.
Putting in his lethal bat with the likes of Trout and Albert Pujols will ensure that the Angels will be providing plenty of power, almost as much as the Toronto Blue Jays are capable of putting together.
Prediction: Cespedes signs six-year, $125 million deal with Angels.
Alex Gordon
The team that beat Cespedes' Mets in the World Series, the Kansas City Royals, are facing the possibility of losing one of the faces of their franchise in Alex Gordon.
Gordon is testing the free-agency market and had been linked to the in-state rival St. Louis Cardinals, per USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale after they lost out on Jason Heyward.
However, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold reports that the team doesn't see the 32-year-old Gordon as a replacement for Heyward.
Having spent the first nine years of his career in Kansas City, Gordon has stuck with the Royals through thick and thin, becoming a favorite among fans and players alike.
Royals play-by-play man spoke with Brian Rosenthal of the Lincoln Star Journal:
I don’t know if there’s a more respected player in the league by everybody — young guys, veteran guys, middle-of-the-road guys, coaches, managers. There’s 29 other teams that would love to have Alex Gordon.
There hasn't been a definitive asking price for Gordon revealed yet, but teams like the Cardinals and Giants should be interested.
However, I don't think Gordon will leave Kansas City in what could be a rare showing of loyalty in baseball.
Prediction: Gordon signs three-year, $48 million deal with Royals.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com
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