Roughly a month from the start of spring training, there are still a handful of impact players on the free-agent market. The starting pitching market has been slow to take shape as teams wait on Masahiro Tanaka, while three hitters have seen their markets develop slowly after turning down qualifying offers.
The top remaining free agents, according to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors’ Top 50 rankings at the beginning of the offseason, are as follows, with rankings included.
5. SP Masahiro Tanaka
6. SP Ervin Santana
7. SP Matt Garza
9. SP A.J. Burnett
11. SP Ubaldo Jimenez
14. SS Stephen Drew
17. RF Nelson Cruz
23. SP Bronson Arroyo
25. RP Grant Balfour
28. DH Kendrys Morales
So here is my take on the order in which these 10 players will find new landing spots in the month ahead and where they will wind up playing in 2014.