Off the Scrap Heap

Many low budgets decided to go with cheaper options than huge free agent signing this year, using the rule 5 draft, waivers and trades. Below is a list of bargain players and what they should do next year stat-wise. In no particular order:

Franklyn Gutierrez, Seattle Mariners, RF (B-): Cheap. Guttierez was a nice pickup for the lowely Mariners. He used to be a huge prospect for the Indians between 2003 and 2006 but has fell off the table a little bit since then. Still, judging by his minor league numbers he has the potential to go 20-20, or even 25-20 with a respectable batting average. For Valbuena, a not-so-dazzling middle infielder the Mariners lucked out and got a starting outfielder. .280, 15hr, 15 sb, 60rbi

Jose Ceda, Florida Marlins, CL, (B+)- Cheap. Ceda was a fantastic pickup for the Marlins. They traded away their closer, Keving Gregg for the young missile launcher. Ceda hasn't pitched in the majors yet but his minor league numbers dazzle-- in 180 innings hes given only 5 hits up per nine innings. He should be closing for the Marlins by the end of 2009. 3.30, 50 ip, 15 saves.
Donald Veal, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates, SP, (B-)- Rule 5. Veal was a former prospect for the Chicago Cubs, but with their glut of pitchers and his recent struggles in AA they took him off the roster and let the Pirates get their filthy little fingers on him. He has a career 3.80 era in 469.2 innings pitched, and is clearly a horse. The Pirates need a guy to supplement the young arms of Maholm and Snell. 7-10, 4.80, 150 ip, 100 k

Scott Olsen, Washington Nationals, LHP (B)- Cheap. Olsen was a nice pickup for the Washington Nationals this offseason. He can do a lot of things for the rotation, first of all he can eat innings, and pitch about 200 innings annually like he has over his short career, he can take out lefties, he can get double plays and finally, he knows how to win ballgames. His era may rise a little bit, but considering he's a slider/changeup guy, the smaller Nationals Park won't really affect him as much as say a flyball pitcher like Tim Redding. They got an absolute steal for the slapp hitting Emilio Bonafacio. In his three and a half season in the big leagues, Olsen has posted almost 600 innings of work. 12-10, 4.35, 180 ip, 100 k

Josh Bard, Boston Red Sox, C (C+)- Bard was a nice pickup for the Sox. Although he can't catch Wakefield to save his life, the guy has made good contact throughout his career and has a decent arm when healthy. In about a half season in 2006, Bard his .338 and had a .409 OBP. Theo knows what he's doing, and whether or not Bard stars or backs up Varitek he is a valuable acquisition especially as a backup. He's never had much power, but he can hit around .280, hit 5-10 bombs and get on base about 35-36% of the time when healthy. .285, 5 hr, 40 rbi

Brent Lillibridge, SS/2B, Chicago White Sox (B-)- Very Cheap. Lillibridge is a versatile guy, and to me he's a remake of a young David Eckstein. Energetic, and scrappy, Lillibridge can hit 10-15 homers when healthy, steal 20-30 bases and bat near .300 or a shade under. His arm isn't strong, but his range is a plus. He has yet to break out, but in 2006 he hit .308 and stole 34 bases, then hit .299 at a level above that. His college numbers are phenomenal as well, regularly hitting about .330. The White Sox got him and Flowers for Vasquez. He might even start this season depending on what the situation is with Betemit, Ramirez, Fields and Konerko. .275, 5hr, 15 sb, .350 OBP

Wilson Betemit, 3B, Chicago White Sox (B-)- Cheap. Betemit came to the White Sox from the New York Yankees for Nick Swisher. He's never gotten the chance to start, but now that Alex Rodriguez is gone, the Yankees would have had an opening for him. He's a good player, and has 20-25 homerun power and has a solid arm. That alone will probably give him the starting job in 2009. .265, 20hr, 60rbi, .340 OBP

Brett Gardner, CF, New York Yankees (B-)- Very cheap. The Yankees didn't have to make a trade to get Gardner, he came from within their farm system. Basically, Gardner is a perfect leadoff man. He walks a ton, and makes solid contact, batting .291 and getting on base 39% of the time in his minor league career. The best aspect of his game is his speed, rated "80+" on the scouting scale, Gardner turns doubles into triples with ease, collects inside the park home runs and has stolen 153 bases in the minors. It'll be nice to see a guy that cares about playing centerfield instead of the lax and lazy Melky Cabrera. .290, 3 hr, 45 sb, 80 runs

Russell Branyan, 3B/1B, Seattle Mariners (C+)- Cheap. Branyan has always had a ton of power, the most in the majors. He hits 450 foot bombs regularly, but he also strikes out a lot and doesn't make consistent contact. Branyan showed his insane power in 2008 when he hit 12 home runs in just 132 at bats. In a regular season Branyan could hit 30-35 homeruns if he's given 500 at bats. Beltre will start at third but Branyan has a shot to take over at first base, at least for now. .250, 20 hr, 70 rbi.

Coco Crisp, CF, Kansas City Royals, (B)- Moderate. Crisp was yet another fine aquisiton for the Kansas City Royals. He will once again take back his starting job in center, and with that will come 30 stolen bases (at least), great defense and range, and a solid .280 batting average. He could hit 10-15 homeruns in a full season as well if he gets hot. .280, 8 hr, 30 sb, 100 runs

Ramon Ramirez, SU, Boston Red Sox, (B+)- Cheap. This Ramirez will be more well-liked in Boston. Traded from the Royals for Crisp, R&R pitched 71 innings, striking out 70 in 2008. He sported a 2.63 ear and gave up an anti-Farnsworth 2 homeruns. He's a good fit for the Sox and he'll be a very reliable set up man to supplement Hideki Okajima. 2.60 era, 75 ip, 70 k's.

Brian Fuentes, CL, Anaheim Angels, (B+)- Moderate. For a closer that throws 93+ miles per hour, Fuentes comes relatively cheap. His numbers in 2008 were dominant, striking out 82 in 62 innings pitched and giving up just 2 homeruns in the homerun happy Coors Field. His career ERA is 3.41, but over the past two seasons he's kept it below 3.10. Over four seasons at closer he's saved 115 games, and the Angels will expect him to add to that number. 2.60, 40 saves, 70 ip

Cody Ransom, INF, New York Yankees, (C+)- Cheap. Ransom was a nice pickup for the Yankees in 2008 and will replace Wilson Betemit as the utility infielder in 2009. His career range factor at short is an impressive 4.29 and he can play every position in the infield, and I would bet the outfield too. He has nice pop for a infielder as well, hitting .302 with 4 homeruns with the Yankees in just 43 at bats. Since 2005 Ransom hasn't slugged less than .478, that alone should be good enough to convince you that he's the right man for the job. .260, 8 hr, 30 rbi

Matt Joyce, RF, Tampa Bay Rays, (B)- Cheap. Joyce is what you'd get if you had Adam Dunn lose 50 pounds and lay off the donuts. He has good power, bippity-bopping 13 homeruns in barely a third of a season in 2008. He may not be able to keep up that pace and hit 40 homers, but he can hit 20-25 (maybe 30), especially playing home games at Tropicana Field. .280, 25 hr, 100 rbi

Alberto Gonzalez, MI, Washington Nationals, (B-)- Very cheap. Gonzalez is an extremely slick fielder. He'll make a few errors here or there, but his range factor at second and shortstop are both at about 4.50. He has a strong arm, can steal 10-15 bases in a full season and can hit between .280 and .290. He doesn't have much power, but his defense and his contact makes up for that. To me, there shouldn't be any contest between Anderson Hernandez and AG for the second base job in Washington. .285, 3hr, 10 sb, 4.5o RF at SS.

Nick Hundley, C, San Diego Padres, (B-)- Very cheap. Hundley came from within the Padres's organization and has slotted himself in as their starting catcher heading in to 2009. He doesn't make great contact, but he can easily hit 15-20 homeruns. He has a good arm, and calls a Brian Schneider-like game. All around, he's an effective catcher and will be a good mentor for the Padres weak staff. .260, 15 hr, 60 rbi

Ramon Hernandez, C, Cincinnati Reds, (B)- Moderate. Hernandez has always been in the top 10-15 catchers offensively throughout his career. He plays good defense, has a strong arm and is good for 15-20 homeruns yearly. He hit 23 bombs in 2006 and hit another 15 last year in less than a full season. He doesn't strike out much, only 63 times in 2008, and still has the potential to hit near .280, especially in the NL's best hitters park. .270, 15hr, 70rbi,

Ty Wigginton, 3B, Baltimore Orioles, (B)- Moderate. The Orioles always manage to sign the "unfantastic" players from the free agent pool. Wigginton isn't spectacular but he is very consistent. He hit 23 homeruns in 2008 and slugged a sexy .526 though a half season. He hit .285 and played some shit defense. Still, he can at least function as a third basemen and his 25-30 homerun power makes him a nice pick up for the Orioles. .265, 20hr, 70 rbi

Brad Ziegler, CL, Oakland Athletics, (B+)- Perfect Bargain. The Athletics truely picked Ziegler off the scrap heap in 2008. He was on his last legs as a prospect as a 29 year old reliever, but when the Athletics made him their closer when Street starting blowing dogs, he was one of the best in the AL. His ERA was a silly 1.06, and if he can hold off Devine, he'll continue to be one of the top closers in the AL. 2.80, 25 saves, 70 ip

Mike Aviles, SS/2B, Kansas City Royals, (A-)- Perfect Bargain. Aviles was the product of the Royals' disgust with Angel Berroa and Esteban German. The New York native hit a hit a sweet .325 with a 122 OPS+ in 2008. In 2/3 of a season he also hit 10 homers and stole 8 bases. Through a full season Aviles could be one of the top five shortsops in the game if he puts up my projections. .300, 20 hr, 15 sb, 80 rbi, 100 runs