Shin-Soo Choo has quietly developed into one of the most well-rounded outfielders in baseball. He isn’t a big name because he’s spent his entire career with small-market teams, but he’ll be among the likely free agents taking center stage this winter.
The 31-year-old center fielder is coming off a season in which he hit .285 with 57 extra-base hits, including 21 home runs, 20 steals and a terrific on-base percentage of .423. He was a key piece of a Cincinnati Reds lineup that helped carry the team into the playoffs.
He started his career with the Seattle Mariners in 2005 before moving to the Cleveland Indians the next year. It took him awhile to get his footing in the major leagues but finally turned the corner in 2008 and has been a valuable asset ever since.
Now, it’s time to find out exactly how valuable he is as free agency looms. His ability to get on base is likely to generate interest from just about every team looking for ways to manufacture more runs in 2014.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports mentions several possible landing spots for Choo. He lists the Texas Rangers, the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets among the teams that could join the sweepstakes. He also states that the Reds would be interested in bringing the veteran back.
The report singles out the Houston Astros as an interesting option, too. The Astros spent a microscopic amount of money on players in 2013 compared to other teams, which makes a major free-agent splash like Choo seem like a long shot, but they are apparently in play for the talented outfielder.
The Houston Astros, whose lowest-in-baseball payroll of $25 million or thereabouts was a mere fraction of most teams, may consider making a run at star outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who is believed to be seeking five times that figure on a multiyear deal on the free-agent market, according to sources.
One other club mentioned in connection with the impending free agent is the New York Yankees. Heyman reports Choo was talked about during the team’s organizational meetings, and there is legitimate interest in bringing him in to help the top of the order.
Multiple sources say the Yankees do like Choo very much. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman declined comment about Choo specifically but noted that outfield isn’t their top priority for a team that has many needs. The Yankees have quite the puzzle, as a team that had a $230-million payroll but has several big salaries coming off the books and a stated desire to get below $189 million on the payroll.
If Choo landed in New York or another big market, he would finally start receiving the attention he deserves as a key offensive contributor. But the offers are likely to come from every level of franchise since he’ll probably be one of the winter’s most coveted free agents.
Choo should still have several productive seasons ahead of him, which will only bolster the interest from around the league. A player with 20-20 upside would attract interest in any era, but in the age of advanced statistics, he rates just as highly.
It’s only a matter of time before that success translates into a big deal for the outfielder.
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