Free Agency Recap

Open Free Agency has come and gone yet again, and quite a few bank accounts shed some 0's in the wake. As always, there was a fair share of bargains to be had, banks to be broken, and heads to be scratched. Here's a closer look of a few of the high-profile deals signed over the winter.

SP Jack Torres, Atlanta Crackers, 31-years-old
5 years, $54.0 million
Though he is a fine pitcher in his own right, Torres is far from a legitimate starter. Though he was able to take the mound 32 times for the Fargo Fightin' Sioux a year ago, he only ate 164.0 innings. His numbers were good, but not overpowering. He went 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Then, the Crackers, who are trying to re-tool in a hurry and contend in the NL South again, dropped wheelbarrows of money on his front porch step. Not only will Torres make 8 digits every year of this contract, but there is no option in this deal, so he'll be in Hotlanta until he's 35-years-old. And he definitely won't be able to start regularly at that age.
Rating: Headscratcher

SP Gerald Stanley, Los Angeles Dodgers, 29-years-old
2 years, $9.8 million
The Dodgers were collecting Type A Free Agents this offseason like they were Easter Eggs, and while almost all of them were good moves, this one was an absolute steal. Stanley is likely to have a great season as he transfers both from the American League to the National League, and from Fenway to Dodgers Stadium. He was already 14-12 with a 3.98 a year ago. He's 29-years-old and was a very economical signing for LA. This deal has so much bang for the buck, especially for a Type A, that Stanley really ought to consider firing his agent. Especially for a team that wasn't worried about surrendering draft picks, this move made a world of sense.
Rating: Bargain Basement

SP Brendan Norton, Cincinnati Boomers, 35-years-old
1 year, $11.0 million ($8.0 million mutual option)
Norton is a great pitcher on the downslope of his career, but he still has plenty of fire in his arm and will be the Boomers' ace. For the most part, this is a pretty good signing when you look at the numerics and the value Norton is likely to bring to the franchise. My biggest qualm with it, though, is the timing. Cincinnati has been a downtrodden franchise, and they still don't look quite ready to contend. So why give up a draft pick (granted, the 59th pick) for a good starter who will be gone just as quickly as he arrived? If Norton declines his option, maybe he becomes Type A/B again next year, so there's always that, I suppose. Regardless, Norton will bring some energy to a franchise that needs it, so it's hard to harp on this signing too much.
Rating: Right Place, Wrong Time

SP Delino Mendoza, Anaheim Angels, 32-years-old
5 years, $86.0 million
This deal procured the most talk around the water cooler, as it was the richest deal of the offseason. Mendoza, who seems to have found the fountain of youth at 32-years-old, actually was not a full-time starter last season. The Nashville Sounds used him in relief and to spot start, and he threw 163.0 innings in that role with a 3.64 ERA. He has to make sure he keeps the ball in the park, but when he does, he's as tough to hit as anyone in the league. Of course, with a contract this large, the Angels have to pray that he continues his intense strength regimen and will be able to throw lots of innings, even when he's 36-years-old: that's how old he will be in the final year of this deal.
Rating: Under the Microscope

RP Russ Edwards, Charlotte Knights, 33-years-old
2 years, $11.2 million
The Knights were looking to improve their bullpen this offseason, and the biggest acquisition they made in that regard was inking the Huntington Guyandottes' former closer, Edwards. Edwards converted 66 of 83 save opportunities for a 79.5% success rate in 2 years in West Virginia. It seems low, but his ERA was a respectable 3.58 over that span. When you consider the tightrope walk Eble Park can be for pitchers, Edwards is likely to be a notch better in Charlotte. For a closer, the deal was not too pricey, and only cost the Knights the 65th pick. He's not too old yet, either.
Rating: Just Made Sense

3B Dweezil Jefferson, Atlanta Crackers, 33-years-old
2 years, $15.0 million
While Jefferson won't produce a lot of power out of one of the corner infield spots, he should hit for a high average. However, he never quite found his groove while on the Jackson Magnolias. There's plenty more to like about Jefferson beyond his stick, so if he hovers around a .270 average as he has done in the past, he won't be a total wash. He's a great defender at third, rarely requests a day off, and can even snag a base here and there if the Crackers ask him to. All in all, a nice calculated risk here by the Crackers, especially since they only had to surrender the 100th pick.
Rating: Low Risk, High Reward

2B Tito McKinley, Atlanta Crackers, 30-years-old
2 years, $17.0 million ($10.0 million player option)
McKinley had a couple of very nice seasons setting the table for the Charlotte Knights, and the Atlanta Crackers grabbed him in yet another large signing. Their player payroll is $92.5 million this year, which actually is not much lower than a year ago. However, a lot of money came off the books for them, allowing all these big signings. McKinley completes an absolutely fearsome infield for the Crackers, and should be able to get on base at a good clip in front of some of the heavy hitters down in the order. He's going to be cashing a lot of big checks for 2-3 years, and the Crackers are hoping he can stabilize the top of their lineup over that span.
Rating: Overpaid, Barely

C Alex Forest, Los Angeles Dodgers, 30-years-old
4 years, $18 million
Because the Dodgers were not afraid to surrender draft picks this offseason, they made a number of intelligent signings, and Forest is another example of that. Forest was underutilized by the Memphis Blues, which is surprising considering they could have used him at catcher or designated hiter. Over 2 seasons he had only 671 at-bats but hit .335 with 21 HRs and 98 RBIs. He's an offensive-oriented catcher, to be sure, but is not a dunce behind the plate, either. At $4.5 million per year, this contract is one knucklebones can smile about for a while.
Rating: Genius

2B Mandy Greisinger, Chicago Gangsta' Chimps, 32-years-old
4 years, $25.2 million
While the pitching talent on the northside of Chicago is still thin, they bolstered their stockpile of hitters this offseason by signing Greisinger away from the Vancouver Renegades. Greisinger is a patient hitter who loves to get on base any way he can. In 2 seasons with Vancouver, his OBP was .384, making him an excellent choice near the top of any lineup. Scouts say he's not going to get to as many balls as he used to if he plays second, and as he'll be in Chicago until he's 35, they may have to find new spots for him to play over the course of the deal. But when you can't pitch, you might as well hit, so I still like this signing, especially in exchange for the 72nd pick only.
Rating: Why Not?