MLB Free Agents 2014: Top Five Players Teams Should Target for 2015
Baseball fans won't see any more trades this season, as the 2014 MLB trade deadline has come and passed, but that doesn't mean teams and fans can't think about the hottest free agents up for grabs after the season.
The best players are still under contract for the remainder of this season. However, once this season ends, there will be a lot of good players switching teams in free agency.
Top players will always be seeking high value and long term contracts. Teams must be careful they don't overpay for a player in the process.
Latin Post breaks down the top five soon-to-be MLB free agent players who will draw a lot of interest around the league after the season:
Hanley Ramirez
There's a good chance we will see Ramirez on a different team next season. The 30-year-old Dominican-born shortstop has been battling injuries in recent years, but he can still hit the ball. Ramirez is a career .300 hitter, and he has played his last three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ramirez isn't an elite power hitter; however, he will get a nice contract because of his defensive skills, experience, and hitting abilities. There's a good chance the New York Yankees will throw in a bid.
Max Scherzer
Scherzer is an interesting player. After a more than $15 million contract for the 2014 season, he declined the option to return to the Detroit Tigers for a sixth year. Scherzer isn't among the elite pitchers in baseball, but he's a winner. The 30-year-old righty is the reigning American League Cy Young award winner. There's a chance Scherzer could return to the Tigers, but Detroit has a great backup plan. They recently traded for David Price, and they still have Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez.
If Detroit loses Scherzer, they can save money and spend more on offense.
Nelson Cruz
Cruz is currently signed with the American League East leading Baltimore Orioles on a one year contract. Cruz, of the Dominican Republic, made his mark in Texas with a lot of great moments. Cruz is not a very consistent hitter, as his career batting average is just .266. However, the power is still there. He has hit more than 20 home runs the last six consecutive seasons. Cruz won't be among the league's highest paid players, and he's definitely worth a signing for a team that needs more power. The Kansas City Royals would be a great fit.
Melky Cabrera
Another Dominican star, Cabrera and the Toronto Blue Jays are only signed together on a two-year contract, which expires at the end of this season. Cabrera was injured for much of last season, but he has been terrific this year. Cabrera leads the Blue Jays in total hits, and is batting an outstanding .315 this season. He is still just 29 years old, and he can be a hitting machine for whatever team wants to sign him.
Pablo Sandoval
The Venezuelan-born Sandoval is one of the most underrated players in the league. He's a two-time World Series champion and a World Series MVP. Sure, he could lose some weight and improve his base running skills, but his hitting is worth a big contract. Sandoval is a career .296 hitter, and is always capable of hitting the ball out of the park. There's a good chance the San Francisco Giants will re-sign him after this season. If not, there will be plenty of other teams willing to make offers.
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