Season 42 Top Free Agent Signings

1. Robin Walter –Colorado Surf Riders III - SS, age 32, 10 ML seasons. Asking $13.5M/2 years. Signed for $56.5M/5 years. Season 39's MVP is a five-time All-Star and is the rare SS that can both hit and field, as witnessed by his two Gold Gloves and his season 38 Silver Slugger award. Probably has at least two more seasons at short before he has to move down the spectrum. No doubt one of the best SS's in world history.


2.  Stefen Redondo – Jacksonville Minutemen - 1B, age 31, 10 ML seasons. Asking $29.5M/5 years. Signed for $59M/5 years. The statistical oddity is that he's won more MVP's than All-Star berths (4 to 3.) One of the World's all time greats has averaged 43 HR, 119 RBI, and a .1003 OPS for his career. His insane season 34, in which he hit .337 with 61 HR and 171, will go down as one of the best in history.


3. Samuel Merrick – Anaheim Arte Morenos -  COF, age 33, 11 ML seasons. Asking $26.5M/3 years, signed for $74M/4 years. Has made the All-Star team in all 11 of his ML seasons, and is a four time Silver Slugger. Even though his days of playing CF are over, he is easily one of the best of all time. Has averaged 46 HR, 122 RBI and 31 SB for his career, including season 39's 40/40 season.


4. Conner Carbonell – Las Vegas Bookies - INF, age 31, 7 ML seasons. Asking $33.5/4 years. Signed for $85.6M/5 years. Three-time All-Star, three time Silver Slugger. His bat would justify playing him at short for another season or two, but would really pick it at second or third. Had a career low 18 HR last season in spacious Burlington, but should be good for 25 or so in a more hitter friendly situation.


5. Delanor Melville – Scranton Rail Riders - SP, age 34, 11 ML seasons. Asking $21M/3 years. Signed for $75M/5 years. Pencil the workhorse in for 200+ innings and double digit wins every season. Can be dominating at times, but has a tendency to give up the long ball when he's not going right. Career 1.24 WHIP makes him a legit top of the rotation starter.


6. Dude Blake – Scranton Rail Riders - SP, age 32, 10 ML seasons. Asking $28M/4 years. Signed for $83.1M/5 years. Averages 12 wins and just under 200 IP per season, Two-time All-Star has a career 3.55 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.


7. Francisco Melian –Chicago Blues - RP, age 28, 6 ML seasons. Asking $27M/4 years. Signed for $76M/5 years. The two time Fireman of the Year hits free agency in his prime. He's averaged 43 saves in his 5 full seasons as a closer.


8. Mateo Flores - Colorado Surf Riders III -  SP - age 35, 14 ML seasons. Asking $5.6M/1 year.  Signed for $$22.5M/4 years.   Ten seasons with double digit wins, including 31's stellar 18-6 mark (with 4 saves to boot) and a 3.30 ERA and 1.11 WHIP,


9. Marino Gandarillas –Salem Shockers -  INF, age 31, 9 ML seasons. Asking $22.8M/3 years. Signed for $14M/2 years.  His lack of pop in the bat makes him probably better suited to play 2B but did win a GG at third. Adds value with his speed, as he's averaged 25 doubles and 34 steals over the last three seasons.


10. Pasqual Rodriguez – Colorado Surf Riders III - SP/RP, age 36, 15 ML seasons. Asking $10.4M/2 years. Signed for $8.3M/3 years. In another statistical oddity, the swingman went 0 – 33 in his five seasons as part of Santa Fe's tandem starting staff. He doesn't have the stamina to give you starters innings, but can be a very valuable guy to have on a staff because he gets guys out. Has a career 1.26 WHIP, even after his stretch in homer-happy Santa Fe.


11. Rob Canseco – Pawtucket Poster Nutbags - COF/1B, age 36, 16 ML seasons. Asking $3.4M/1 year. Signed for $3.4M/1 year. Switch hitting two-time All-Star will still be a solid top of the order hitter, even at 36. The speed/power may never be the same, but bank on a .300+ average and .350+ OBP.


12. Kevin Hatteberg – Fargo Marlboro Men - 1B/DH, age 35, 12 ML seasons. Asking $6.8/2 years. Signed for $6.8M/2 years. Five- time Silver Slugger and three-time All-Star can still rake at the dish. A career .321 hitter, he dipped to .280 last season but should get back up to his typical .900+ OPS.


13. Ivan Melo- Los Angeles Colemans - C/DH, age 29, 8 ML seasons. Asking $3.8M/1 year. Signed for $7.6M/2 years. Won't be winning any Gold Gloves behind the plate (well, then again you never know in HBD world), but is coming off his best offensive season when he put up career highs with 23 HR and a .922 OPS. Will need his rest, but you can bank on some good numbers when he plays.


14. Slade Rehfield – Tampa Bay Don Cesars - RP, age 33, 10 ML seasons. Asking $10M/2 years. Signed for $6.8M/2 years. Can be one of those 100 innings out of the bullpen guys, if he can stay healthy. Made the All-Star team in 39 by virtue of his 8-2 record with a 2.97 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.


15. Ivan Guzman – Cincinnati Dawgs - RP, age 35, 13 ML seasons. Asking $3.8M/1 year. Signed for $3.8M/1 year. His stats are inflated because he's pitched primarily in Colorado and Santa Fe. He has 158 career saves, including a perfect 17 for 17 in season 37.


16. Midre Salas – Colorado Surf Riders III - C/DH, age 28, 4 ML seasons Asking $9.2M/2 years. Signed for $11.3M/4 years. Back-to-back 97 RBI seasons in 39 and 40.


17. Kiki Torres –Salem Shockers - C/DH, age 33, 9 ML seasons. Asking $7.4/2 years. Signed for $6.8M/2 years.  Last season's 24 HR was his career low, so his value as a hitter may no longer make up for his defensive deficiencies behind the plate.  He has averaged 29 HRs for his career.

18. Aaron Robertson –Cincinnati Dawgs - RP, age 29, 7 ML seasons. Asking $8.4M/2 years. Signed for $21M/5 years. Has had a hit or miss type career to date, but is still only 29. Has a perfect 28 for 28 saves season on his resume, as well as another in which he saved 39 of 40.   

19. Jose Leon – Philadelphia Phoenix - SP, age 37, 15 ML seasons. Asking $11.6M/2 years. Signed for $11.6M/2 years. 221 career wins, including 20 last season (while posting an 8.13 ERA!!) Can still be a viable back end of the rotation starter.


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