The stove is warming up.
MLB’s annual frenzied free-agency period, known as the hot stove, is underway.
Here’s a target-by-target preview of this year’s sizable free-agent class, with projected landing spots for the top players at each position.
CATCHER
1. Brian McCann, Braves – McCann has long been one of the best hitting catchers in the game. His defense is considered average, but he doesn’t turn 30 until February and has been fairly durable through nine major-league seasons. He could be a darkhorse Dodgers candidate.
Projected contract: 4 years, $70 million with the Yankees
2. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Red Sox – A breakout hitter in 2013, many have pegged Salty as a likely candidate to ship out of Boston. But it makes sense for him to stay.
Projected contract: 3 years, $30 million with the Red Sox
3. A.J. Pierzynski, Rangers – Loved by teammates, hated by everybody else, Pierzynski remains a serviceable starting catcher into his late 30s and could get a two-year deal.
Projected contract: 1 year, $7 million with the Rangers
Others: Carlos Ruiz, Phillies; Jose Molina, Rays; John Buck, Pirates
FIRST BASE
1. Mike Napoli, Red Sox – Boston wanted to sign the ex-Angels slugger to a long-term deal last winter, but a hip issue prevented that from happening. Now that he proved himself offensively and defensively, he’ll be an even more valued commodity.
Projected contract: 3 years, $42 million with the Red Sox
2. James Loney, Rays – Tampa Bay got Loney at the bargain-basement price of $2 million for 2013, but he should be able to triple that annually after a respectable season. The Rays say they want to bring him back.
Projected contract: 2 years, $13 million with the Rays
3. Justin Morneau, Pirates – Once the American League MVP at age 25, Morneau’s power has fallen off significantly, but he remains an on-base threat and is still just 32.
Projected contract: 1 year, $5 million with the Rockies
Others: Lyle Overbay, Yankees; Corey Hart, Brewers; Paul Konerko, White Sox
SECOND BASE
1. Robinson Cano, Yankees – The co-prize of this year’s free-agent market, Cano is a consistently great player said to be seeking a ton of money. The question is how much, and how many potential suitors will be able to afford it. There aren’t many teams that make sense.
Projected contract: 7 years, $160 million with the Yankees
2. Omar Infante, Tigers – Infante’s last contract was worth $8 million. He should reach that annually now, after hitting .318 as a full-time starter in 2013 and playing plus defense.
Projected contract: 3 years, $25 million with the Orioles
3. Mark Ellis, Dodgers – Criminally underappreciated in L.A., Ellis is in decline but remains capable of being an average major-league second baseman.
Projected contract: 2 years, $8 million with the Athletics
Others: Kelly Johnson, Rays; Brian Roberts, Orioles; Skip Schumaker, Dodgers
THIRD BASE
1. Juan Uribe, Dodgers – Uribe lucks out as by far the best option in a terrible third-base market this offseason, making it likely he returns to L.A. It was impossible to imagine a year ago, but he’s likely to get a multi-year deal, too.
Projected contract: 2 years, $16 million with the Dodgers
2. Kevin Youkilis, Yankees – The man known as the “Greek God of Walks” signed a one-year deal with New York last offseason, then missed most of the year with a back injury.
Projected contract: 1 year, $4 million with the Angels
3. Eric Chavez, Diamondbacks – Chavez is about as far away from the mainstream as any former star could be, but the truth is he’s been a pretty great part-time hitter for two years now.
Projected contract: 1 year, $3 million with the Diamondbacks
Others: Placido Polanco, Marlins; Michael Young, Dodgers, Jerry Hairston Jr., Dodgers
SHORTSTOP
1. Stephen Drew, Red Sox – Boston gave Drew a $14.1-million qualifying offer, which severely decreases the likelihood of him leaving town. Any potential suitor would have to offer a hefty multi-year deal and sacrifice a high pick.
Projected contract: 2 years, $30 million with the Red Sox
2. Jhonny Peralta, Tigers – One of the more intriguing players on the market, Peralta served a 50-game PED suspension in 2013 but returned as a force in the playoffs.
Projected contract: 2 years, $18 million with the Cardinals
3. Clint Barmes, Pirates – Barmes lost his job to the upstart Jordy Mercer midseason but could be another team’s last resort as a starting shortstop because of his plus-plus defense.
Projected contract: 1 year, $2 million with the Mets
Others: Brendan Ryan, Yankees; Nick Punto, Dodgers; Rafael Furcal, Cardinals
OUTFIELD
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox – The other co-prize along with Cano, Ellsbury’s true talent level is hard to figure out. Two of the past four seasons he has been one of the 10 or so best players in the sport; the other two, he’s been average and bothered by injury. He’s a gamble, but teams are lining up to bring him aboard.
Projected contract: 7 years, $140 million with the Mariners
2. Shin Soo-Choo, Reds – Choo shouldn’t be playing center field, but he should be a highly desirable bat. His on-base percentage in 2013 was 68 points better than Ellsbury’s, and he also launched 21 homers and stole 20 bases.
Projected contract: 5 years, $85 million with the Cubs
3. Carlos Beltran, Cardinals – It would actually make some sense for St. Louis to pass on re-upping Beltran and hand the job to a stopgap while prospect Oscar Taveras finishes his development, but it’s hard to imagine him leaving town.
Projected contract: 2 years, $29 million with the Cardinals
4. Curtis Granderson, Yankees – Even including his injury-riddled 2013, Granderson is 10th in the majors in homers over the past three seasons, and none of the men in front of him play center field.
Projected contract: 3 years, $35 million with the Red Sox
5. Nelson Cruz, Rangers – It’s hard to figure out Cruz, who missed 50 games due to a PED suspension yet received a $14.1-million qualifying offer from Texas.
Projected contract: 2 years, $27 million with the Diamondbacks
Others: Marlon Byrd, Pirates; Nate McLouth, Orioles; Jason Kubel, Indians; Raul Ibanez, Mariners, Chris Young, Athletics
DESIGNATED HITTER
1. Kendrys Morales, Mariners – Morales didn’t have the big season many projected in a walk year, but he will still garner a lot of interest, because he’s a proven power bat who just turned 30 and can fit most orders as a switch-hitter.
Projected contract: 2 years, $26 million with the Mariners
2. Lance Berkman, Rangers – Berkman was a good hitter for a long time, but injuries have caught up to him, and he contemplated retirement this season. It seems likely he’ll decide on that.
Projected contract: Retirement
3. Michael Morse, Orioles – He’s got power, but he didn’t really use it effectively in 2013.
Projected contract: 1 year, $5 million with the Yankees
Others: Carlos Pena, Royals; Travis Hafner, Yankees; Luke Scott, Rays
STARTING PITCHER
1. RH Masahiro Tanaka, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles – The landing spot for Tanaka, a talented 25-year-old star in his native Japan, will depend on the agreement MLB and the Japanese NPB come to regarding the bidding process, but he’ll surely command a multi-year deal probably besting the $60 million Yu Darvish received two years ago.
Projected contract: 6 years, $75 million with the Dodgers, plus a $70 million posting fee
2. RH Ervin Santana, Royals – An ex-Angel dealt away for practically nothing a year ago, Santana reinvented himself as a front-line starter this season – or just got lucky while motivated in a contract year, depending on whom you ask. Either way, he’s in line for a huge payday.
Projected contract: 4 years, $62 million with the Yankees
3. RH Matt Garza, Rangers – Think of Garza as Santana with more consistency but less durability and potential. He has posted an ERA between 3.69 and 3.95 in six of the past seven seasons, but has also missed about 20 starts the past two years.
Projected contract: 4 years, $60 million with the Rangers
4. RH Ubaldo Jimenez, Indians – Jimenez had an $8 million club option on the books for 2014, but it voided when Colorado dealt him to Cleveland a couple years back, leaving him free to obtain free-agent riches this winter.
Projected contract: 4 years, $55 million with the Rockies
5. RH Hiroki Kuroda, Yankees – Kuroda pitched like an ace for much of his two-year stint in the Bronx, but his age – 39 in February – has kept him from being paid like his performance would typically dictate.
Projected contract: 1 year, $14.1-million qualifying offer with the Yankees
6. RH Ricky Nolasco, Dodgers – At one point not too long ago, Nolasco looked like a lock to re-up with the Dodgers, after he came over from Miami and pitched like an ace for the better part of two months. Not so much anymore.
Projected contract: 3 years, $36 million with the Indians
7. LH Jason Vargas, Angels – Vargas did not receive the $14.1 qualifying offer from his 2013 team, but there’s a good chance he returns to Anaheim for the foreseeable future. When healthy, he was a nice fit in the rotation and has a reasonable amount of durability.
Projected contract: 3 years, $32 million with the Angels
8. RH Bartolo Colon, Athletics – The man had a 2.65 ERA in 190 innings this season, but he’s 40 and carries as much PED suspicion as any active major leaguer. But the effectiveness is hard to deny.
Projected contract: 1 year, $9 million with the Mets
9. RH Bronson Arroyo, Reds – Arroyo is better than he’s typically given credit for, with an ERA under 3.80 in each of the past two years, and he’s also just about the most durable pitcher in the majors.
Projected contract: 2 years, $15 million with the Royals
10. RH Dan Haren, Nationals – Haren’s 2013 ERA was ugly at 4.67, and it was even uglier earlier in the year. But his statistical peripherals indicate he likely hasn’t fallen off that far from his prime.
Projected contract: 2 years, $15 million with the Blue Jays
Others: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett, Indians LH Scott Kazmir, Blue Jays RH Josh Johnson, Braves RH Tim Hudson, Phillies RH Roy Halladay
RELIEF PITCHER
1. RH Joe Nathan, Rangers – The best option in a sizable pool of available closer-quality relievers, Nathan figures to fight for a multi-year deal and should be able to get it from a contending team. He has a $9 million mutual option in Texas that the Rangers figure to exercise, but he has indicated he’ll decline and go for a bigger deal on the open market.
Projected contract: 2 years, $26 million with the Tigers
2. RH Grant Balfour, Athletics – Balfour will turn 36 before spring training but had one of his best seasons in 2013, improving his strikeout rate and recording 38 saves. He probably priced himself out of Oakland’s range.
Projected contract: 2 years, $19 million with the Yankees
3. RH Brian Wilson, Dodgers – Wilson pitched about as well as anyone possibly could down the stretch in L.A., quickly entrenching himself as the Dodgers’ set-up man. It’s hard not to see him as a closer next year, but there might be a team out there willing to pay him to perform that same role.
Projected contract: 3 years, $22 million with the Red Sox
Others: Tigers RH Joaquin Benoit, Cardinals RH Edward Mujica, Rays RH Fernando Rodney
Contact the writer: pmoura@ocregister.com
