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Who's Left?

© Greg Spira

All of the major free agents that were mentioned in my previous two articles have been signed, so baseball teams are now looking at who is left over. So who, exactly, is out there? There are certainly no more stars, and only a few players who would be considered real pluses for the teams that sign them. However, there are still a bunch of players that can solidly fill roles that clubs have left open. Here are the top ten players out there that can most help a team.

Willie Greene - Greene can't hit lefties, but is an excellent overall player against righties. There are as many as 15 teams which could improve themselves by picking up Greene and playing him at third against righties. He is not a great defensive third baseman, but he is more than adequate. The Orioles tried him in the outfield last year, but he did not adjust to the new position well.

Bob Tewksbury - Tewksbury doesn't have much stuff anymore, but his pinpoint control is still there and he can still shoulder a large number of innings most years. Most teams would be glad to have a #4 or #5 starter who can contribute as much.

Billy Mcmillion - A fine young outfielder who never got his chance, Mcmillion is capable of solving any number of outfield "holes" around the majors on a full-time basis.

Jimmy Key - The oft-injured Key is probably finished as a starter, but if he's carefully managed his career as a reliever could just be beginning. When he did pitch last year, he generally pitched well, and is certainly a worthwhile gamble for 1999

Tim Raines - Raines has a tough time staying healthy these days, but is still a terrific hitter. He's fast enough to play a decent left field and gets on base enough to be a solid dh. Though he won't steal many bases anymore, he's still a fine leadoff hitter. Any team that needs an outfielder to pick up 300 and 400 plate appearances should grab him.

Pat Meares - Released by the Twins for financial reasons, Meares is a reasonable solution for teams that need an everyday shortstop. He's above average defensively and has a bit of pop in his bat.

Darren Bragg - Veteran outfielder who can fill a left or right field hole and can occassionally pitch in in center.

Terry Steinbach - At age 37 he's clearly in sharp decline, but there are many teams which have worse players playing catcher. Steinbach's still a solid receiver with a decent arm and a bat that isn't dead yet.