10 Free Agent Moves I Think Will Happen
The free agent market has been slow starting up so far early in to this hot stove season, but I think that is going to change. It already has began too, as teams have sucked the blood out of the catcher position’s free agent options, the best going from Matt Wieters to John Jaso.

1. Greinke Returns To The Brew Crew

I don’t think that Zack Greinke is returning to L.A. after becoming the ace he’s turned into. The Dodgers would be an ace hog if they had him and Clayton Kershaw, both Cy Young candidates. Other teams like the D-Backs, Rockies, Brewers, Phillies, Indians and Red Sox need an ace. I know, most of those are very bad, low money teams, except the Red Sox and Indians, middle ground teams. However, not one of those teams has much money, and despite the Phillies and Red Sox being options, I think the Brewers will be the team that have enough in their budget to sign Greinke. They don’t absolutely stink, and they don’t have enough stars to be hogging the money Greinke wants.

2. White Sox Ink Zobrist

Emilio Bonifacio is gone. Gordon Beckham is lost in free agency, and he wasn’t the greatest anyways. But now, as Hot Stove Season goes on, there are so many options for second basemen. The best choices would be Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy, Chase Utley or Ben Zobrist. Murphy is likely returning to the Mets after his great playoff triumph, and either Kendrick or Utley will likely resign with L.A. unless Jose Peraza starts now at second. Peraza needs to start slow. So, that leaves the White Sox’ best bet being Ben Zobrist. They could go lower, at guys like Kelly Johnson or Dan Uggla, but without Bonifacio, they want a solid guy. So, welcome to Chicago, Ben Zobrist.

3. Jays Resign Buerhle and Sign Southpaw Samardzija

With Buerhle and Samardzija, the Blue Jays rotation would look like this:

R.A. Dickey
Mark Buerhle
J.A. Happ
Jeff Samardzija
Marcus Stroman

That rotation is the strongest rotation I’ve ever seen. But I think they should trade R.A. Dickey, (see 10 Trades I’d Like To See), so this is more realistic:

Mark Buerhle
J.A. Happ
Jeff Samardzija
Marcus Stroman
Jesse Chavez/Marco Estrada

That is one strong rotation. So, why exactly Buerhle and Samardzija? Why not David Price? Well, Price will probably go to one of those 5 remaining ace hungry teams, the Red Sox, Indians, Phillies, Rockies or D-Backs, considering that Greinke will go to Milwaukee. So, if they want to bring back their pitchers, which apparently they do, Buerhle is their best bet. Samardzija is the best non-ace superstar out there, and that is what Toronto needs.

4. Set Up Man Broxton Returns To Dodgers

The Dodgers lack a bullpen, and Kenley Jansen is their closer. What other closers are out there? Just Joakim Soria, Neftali Feliz and Fernando Rodney. Feliz can re-sign with the Tigers as a set up man, the Mariners need Rodney back and Soria is getting old and is not a long-term option. That leaves Jonathan Broxton. A pretty young set-up guy that can close better than anyone in this weak bullpen besides maybe Jansen. If Jansen closes, he can be set up. So it’s worth a shot. His old team, the Cardinals is fine without him. Move on, Broxton.

5. David Price To Red Sox

The Red Sox are already front-runners to sign Price. They’re among the only decent teams that need an ace. Greinke, as I said should go to Milwaukee and this is the only other ace the Sox are favorites to sign. Just the idea of having David Price here in Boston excites me.

Price had a stellar 2015 season, starting relatively slow in Detroit, then heading for playoff contention while heating up in Toronto, where he got traded at the deadline. Now he’s already a free agent after just 3 months. Do you think it’s realistic? Come on Price, save us!!!!! Bring us back to victory!!!!

Also, if we sign him, this time he’ll want a big money, long term deal. We’d be happy to keep him several years, but do we have the money to afford a big deal? If we do, this is totally a realistic move.
6. Cespedes Follows Cruz, Cano to Starville

The Mariners has become the team for the best stars in free agency. First Robinson Cano (2013-2014) and then Nelson Cruz (2014-2015). I think LF Yoenis Cespedes is the next to join them. The Mariners clearly need a left fielder, with Nelson Cruz at DH and Franklin Guiterrez taking right. A Trumbo-Martin-Guiterrez outfield is not good enough. Sure, they have Seth Smith. NOT ENOUGH!!! After losing Austin Jackson, the Mariners need a star outfielder. All of their guys are meant to be platooning players, not everyday starters!!! They need a solid everyday starter like Cespedes to join the outfield.

7. Kendrick Returns to Anaheim

You may be surprised to hear this, but I don’t think Howie Kendrick will even think of leaving the L.A. area. Kendrick began his career an Angel, before being traded to the Dodgers with only a year left on his contract. They didn’t think that that was Kendrick’s permanent solution. Trading him in the first place was a bad idea. The Dodgers could’ve given him some crazy extension, and then he was long gone if Johnny Giovatella failed to start efficiently at second base.

But now he’s out in the open again. This is likely the Angels’ last chance to fix their mistake in time to prevent themselves from flopping without him again. They fell in to third place as a non-Kendrick team last year. Can they resign him and bring the Angels back their playoff hopes from 2014? I think a big money deal should keep him in L.A. for possibly the rest of his career.

8. Cabrera Resigns Big Money Deal With Rays

Asdrubal Cabrera had a smooth season last year in his first year in Tampa. I think that although there has been no talk of it, Cabrera would nicely fit in the Rays’ new scheme. He’s also worth much more money and a bigger deal. I think they should sign him to a big-time long-term contract. Is Cabrera going to do it, and does he fit in between Brad Miller and Logan Forsythe?

9. Royals Sign Another Chen

The Royals could use an ace, but it’s not a major need. They do need a better middle tier guy for the rotation, with Johnny Cueto and Jeremy Guthrie going into free agency. Wei-Yin Chen is a solid, middle of the rotation guy. The former Oriole (2012-2015) was signed to a four year contract by Baltimore from the NPB, a pro baseball league in Japan. Chen is the perfect fit for this Royals team. Can he help them to a third straight World Series and help them win a second?
10. Twins Sign Another Vet Outfielder In Upton

Torii Hunter announced his retirement late last October. Then the Twins traded Aaron Hicks in November. Their outfield went from this:

LF: Eduardo Escobar
CF: Aaron Hicks
RF: Torii Hunter

To eventually this:

LF: Escobar
CF: Byron Buxton
RF: Eddie Rosario

With Justin Upton in right, Rosario can move to center and Buxton can be a pinch-hitter, ahead of Oswaldo Arcia and Max Kepler. Why exactly Upton? The next best options for right field are Jason Heyward (long shot for Twins), Grady Sizemore, Alex Rios, Gerardo Parra and Shane Victorino. In all of outfield, Dexter Fowler, Denard Span, Austin Jackson, Jonny Gomes, Alex Gordon, Rajai Davis, Nate McLouth, Marlon Byrd, Yoenis Cespedes, Skip Schumaker and David DeJesus. Most, if not all of those are either inconsistent, reaching out to other teams, or are a long shot for the little old Twins. Upton is the perfect fit, a Torii Hunter type.