SB Nation - Hank Blalock

Future Free Agent Mistake Power Rankings, 12/15

Grant — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:33:51 -0000

The offseason is quickly dividing the fanbase into two camps:

No moves is good moves. The longer we’re not hearing about a four-year deal to Adam LaRoche, the less likely we’re ever going to hear about one.
WHY AREN’T YOU DOING ANYTHING, SABES? THE MARINERS JUST SIGNED CLIFF LEE AND WE DON’T EVEN HAVE AN OFFER IN TO (hitter) YET?

In the interest of ruining that first sentence before I get a chance to back it up, I’m somewhere in the middle. When I watch the Mariners get a one-year rental to drastically upgrade their team, a part of me secretly envies them, even though I wouldn’t want the Giants to follow suit. They have a shiny new toy. I like shiny new toys. Scott Podsednik would be an itchy sweater made out of possum fur, but you knew that.

The big deals aren’t the only ones that are making me jealous, either. The Blue Jays acquired Michael Taylor from the Phillies for Roy Halladay, and then they turned right around and traded Taylor for Brett Wallace. Hot prospect-for-prospect action! The rarest kind! And while I have my guesses as to who came out ahead (the A’s), we won’t know for a few years. But right now, each team has a shiny new toy. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t trade Madison Bumgarner for Justin Smoak, but it’d be interesting, at least. We’re halfway through December, and we’re without any interesting. I could use some interesting.

You know what else is interesting? Scott Podsednik on a two-year deal. That’s interesting like a kitchen fire. Maybe interesting isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I’m scared of interesting and the Giants.

So with no news directly relating to the Giants, but with plenty of news reducing the options the Giants have in free agency, it’s time for another Future Free Agent Mistake Power Rankings. Who will be the Aaron Rowand of 2011? Well, Aaron Rowand, for one. But maybe he’ll have some overpaid company!

Scott Podsednik -- OF -- ↑

Number one with a bullet. A signing that in the best case provides marginal upgrade while swallowing most of a limited budget? Oh, sure, I’ll take two. I think it’s disturbing that a team could seriously think about Eugenio Velez as a leadoff hitter and corner outfielder. More disturbing? That Velez could outproduce the Podsednik from ’07 and ’08 with his thumbs taped together. But don’t worry: when 34-year-olds drastically improve, those gains usually stick. Or is it the other way around? This baseball stuff is confusing!

Adam LaRoche-- 1b -- ↑

It’s hard to be this high on the list when you’re a player who would improve the team over the internal options, but LaRoche’s ridiculous contract demands, combined with merely decent production, makes this a great chance to rowand the Giants into a corner by the end of the contract.

Marlon Byrd -- OF -- ↓

With Mike Cameron off the market, Byrd is one of the better center fielders, and it’s been almost two years since Sabean has signed a center fielder. His palms are sweaty, his mouth is dry, and his sponsor isn’t returning his calls. Mmmmm. An overpriced center fielder sounds pretty good right about now, especially when you’re still kicking yourself for missing out on Gary Matthews, Jr.

Jermaine Dye -- OF -- ↓

Sabean explicitly mentioned Dye as someone the Giants aren’t interested in. But I think that’s like when I tell my wife something like, "No, I don’t even really find Jessica Alba that attractive. Her earlobes aren’t symmetrical, and you know how I am about that." I have trust issues with our intrepid GM.

Mark DeRosa—3B/LF -- ↑

At the right price, I’d welcome DeRosa. He’s not going to get the right price. DeRosa’s decline last year might have been age related, but it might have been a BABIP-influenced fluke. I sure as heck wouldn’t commit millions to the latter theory, but if he’s starting in left field instead of Velez, I might be able to ignore the horrible contract for a year. And it will be a horrible contract.

Jason Bay-- OF -- ↑

He says he has no interest in the Giants. The Giants say they have no interest in him. There are still rumors floating around that the Giants really are interested. So when I read that Bay said he’s not interested in San Francisco, I’m guessing he said it while doing that money pantomime thing, rubbing his thumb and fingers together while he raises his eyebrows and gives you that look.

Garrett Atkins -- DH -- ↑

I’ll admit, the 2006 and 2007 versions are intriguing, but chasing after past glories only makes sense if it’s cheap. That, and Atkins is the worst defensive third baseman in the history of the game. Would it be in poor taste to suggest that Ron Santo has better range, even today? Yes? Okay, then I won’t write that. But Atkins is an abomination. Maybe he’s better at first, but he isn’t that likely to be a good enough hitter to displace Travis Ishikawa. I’d take Atkins over Ishikawa, but only for a few hundred thousand dollars’ difference.

Inconsequential Sub-Mediocre Free Agent Catcher -- C -- ↓

It’s going to happen, so the exact one – Miguel Olivo, Rod Barajas, Mike Sadek – doesn’t really matter. And as long as it isn’t a two-year deal, I can almost accept it, but you know whomever they acquire will play 150 games under Bochy. In GiantsLand, a catcher can make up for a .290 on-base percentage by calling a good game and handling a staff, so there’s no question that SMFAC will be more valuable than Buster Posey next year.

Johnny Damon -- OF -- ↓

He can probably still hit, and he isn’t Scott Podsednik. Heck, I think I might be in favor of a Damon deal at this point. The only problem is that if he’s going to take two years, he’ll probably just take it from the Yankees.

Hank Blalock -- 3B? -- ↓

No one is talking about him, and that scares me. I can imagine DeRosa, Nick Johnson, and LaRoche all taking other offers on the same day, leaving the Giants in a Garkoless panic.

I guess these rankings are, by design, doom-and-gloom. Maybe that’s not fair. But the Giants and free agency in the past few years have mixed like diarrhea and first dates. So, please, forgive me and the black cloud over my head.

Staying the Course

jscape2000 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:00:26 -0000

More photos » by Elise Amendola - ASSOCIATED PRESS

It's great to be any age, and be a Yankee.

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Today is December 15, 2009. Pitchers and catchers report on February 17, 2010. That's 2 months and 2 days, or 9 weeks and a day. It is a long offseason.

Brian Cashman has kept his trigger finger under control so far this offseason, avoiding committing too much to any of the trades or free agents the Yankees have been linked to.

He's upgraded centerfield at the cost of a minor league centerfielder who needed another year of seasoning, a reliever who might not have made the team out of Spring Training, and a minor league starter who might have challenged for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Then, he returned the Yanks' key free agent at roughly the same cost as last season.

Now he's working on bringing in another pitcher to fight for that fifth spot. While I doubt Cash will be willing to give Ben Sheets the same $12M contract Pettitte received, we have witnessed an impressive exercise in self control. If Cashman thinks that Ben Sheets is the best fit for the Yankees' rotation, I trust his judgment.

Former Pirates closer Matt Capps is still listening to offers, though he'll probably want the future dollars that come with saves more than to be a part of the Bridge to Mo.

Super-subs Jerry Hairston Jr. and Mark DeRosa are both still available. Hank Blalock probably wants a starting job, but if he'd come to sometimes play the field, sometimes DH, and sometimes PH, he's a strong candidate to rebound from his 2009 .250 BABIP (career .299). Reed Johnson could backup any of the outfield spots, covering RF while Swisher serves as occasional 1B/DH. If you want a pure DH, Jim Thome still has a great eye and a ton of power, and Nick Johnson is an OBP machine.

Plus Johnny Damon, Jason Bay, and Matt Holliday are all still on the market. Any one of them transforms the lineup from 'merely' best in the league to legendary.

Today is the 15th of December, and the Yankees have several ways to improve themselves.

Lefties, Lefties Everywhere

Charlie — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:47:35 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Would another lefty hitter like Hank Blalock, right, be the best fit for the Pirates?

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Straight to the point today: one thing I find a bit strange about the idea of the Pirates pursuing Rick Ankiel and/or Hank Blalock is that both those guys are left-handed, whereas most of the Bucs' other options at first base and right field (Garrett Jones, Jeff Clement, Brandon Moss) are too. Steve Pearce is the only righty who might be in the mix right now at first and right, and I can't believe the Bucs are still taking him seriously. If the idea in pursuing an extra corner guy is to add an extra bit of upside and perhaps hope for a nice prospect at the deadline if the new player does well, I can't really fault the Pirates for not considering the player's handedness. But if the Pirates really are serious about seeing what they have in Clement, in particular, it would seem to behoove them to find someone whose skills complement his.

Admittedly, the pickings in that area are pretty slim. Two righty free agent outfielders who might make a bit of sense are Marlon Byrd and Coco Crisp. Byrd was a regular for the Rangers this year and has played pretty well for three straight seasons, so he might require the sort of multiyear contract to which the Pirates would probably rather not commit themselves.

Crisp is a subpar hitter, but he's not old, and he's an outstanding defensive player; he could certainly handle either left or center (if that were required) in PNC. Unfortunately, his throwing arm was poor even before he had surgery on both shoulders this year, so playing him in right wouldn't work. If he were added to the roster, the Pirates could work out some sort of time share where Lastings Milledge and Garrett Jones played every day but rotated between left and right (Milledge) and right and first (Jones), while Clement and Crisp formed some sort of weird semi-platoon at the other available positions.

...This is all really speculative, and Crisp obviously isn't ideal, but I'm trying to be creative here. Given the free agent market, I can see why the Pirates would be interested in Ankiel and Blalock, and I'm not opposed to signing either of them, if they'd be willing to play in Pittsburgh. But, as much as PNC is kinder to lefties than righties, it seems a bit strange to crowd the roster with lefties. Maybe a low-leverage trade or an inspired minor league free agent signing (Ernesto Mejia of the Braves, perhaps?) would be the right move here, with the righty Pearce's initial role being determined by how credible a major league option the new acquisition is.

Top-5 Off-Season Questions for the Atlanta Braves: #4

gondeee — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:43:50 -0000

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Could Chipper Jones be instrumental in the Atlanta Braves re-signing Adam LaRoche?

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We continue our look at the top-5 questions facing the Atlanta Braves this off-season.

Question Four: Who will man first base for the Braves in 2010?

There was so much concern last year by the Braves at the trade deadline that they get a first baseman in return for Mark Teixeira. They settled, if you will, on the promise of Casey Kotchman -- he who had not yet fulfilled his potential as a major league player. Perhaps that was a theme of our team going into this season with Kotchman, Jeff Francoeur, and Kelly Johnson, all with great "potential," all who had rarely showed that potential. The trade for Adam LaRoche was a shock to most, and a gamble to many others, but it turned out to be a great deal, though it will leave the Braves with a potential hole at first (something they seemed to want to avoid a year ago). Here is what the Braves got and what they gave up in that trade.

Casey Kotchman's as a Braves player in 2009 versus Adam LaRoche as a Braves player in 2009:

Player	Games	Homeruns	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG
Casey Kotchman	87	6	41	.282	.354	.409
Adam LaRoche	57	12	40	.325	.401	.557

Unfortunately that was not enough to put the Braves in the post-season, but LaRoche was a major contributor to the excellent play of the team in the second half.

Here is a look at LaRoche's post-trade stats with the Braves compared to Mark Teixeira and Fred McGriff's post-trade stats in the year they were traded:

Player - Year	Games	Homeruns	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG
Fred McGriff - 1993	68	19	55	.310	.392	.612
Mark Teixeira - 2007	54	17	56	.317	.404	.615
Adam LaRoche - 2009	57	12	40	.325	.401	.557

He was not quite as much of a superhuman as the Crime Dog and Tex were, but he came mighty close. This begs the next question, which necessitates another chart, could Adam LaRoche keep this up for a full season?

Adam LaRoche's career stats...	Games	Homeruns	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG
...before the All-Star break	464	63	242	.252	.326	.447
...after the All-Star break	374	73	227	.300	.363	.546

We all know this and it's true every single season he has been in the majors, he's better in the second half than he is in the first half. The Braves seem to want to keep LaRoche, and he may indeed want to stay in a Braves uniform. After all he has friends here and enjoys playing for Bobby Cox. Perhaps the one more year that Cox is going to manage will be enough to convince LaRoche to sign a one-year deal, that, and Chipper Jones constantly nagging him this off-season (they're hunting buddies, by the way).

For the Braves, LaRoche seems to be the best answer, even with his first and second half swings. If it takes a two-year deal to get him to come back, then that's a solid piece that would remain in the Braves lineup. But if he leaves, where does that leave Atlanta?

There are some other free agent first basemen who might take one-year contracts. Guys like Hank Blalock, Nick Johnson, and Russell Branyan, but none of them are ideal, and none offer quite the upside that LaRoche does. No other free agents really even come close to these four, and much like the closer market, the first basemen market is as lean as has been in years.

The Braves could use their mystery trade chip to acquire a first baseman, but do they want to trade a lot for a big time first base bat that may become obsolete once Freddie Freeman is ready. That question about Freeman raises some other questions. As I've said about our prospects all day in these top-5 questions, Freeman will also be playing in the Arizona Fall League, and while his time there will be watched just as closely as Heyward or Minor or Kimbrel, he is not expected to be major league ready next year. But will he be ready in 2011?

The Braves may choose to make their decision about first base in 2010 without considering Freeman's future. If they have to choose between signing LaRoche to a multi-year deal or plugging in a stop-gap and waiting for Freeman, they may choose to wrap up LaRoche and keep Freeman in the wings to complete his development, using him later on as a possible trade chip. Even with a three-year deal, Freeman would still only be 23 were he to debut in 2012.

The other internal candidates are not too exciting. Barbaro Canizares does not seem to be an everyday player, if he should even be considered a major leaguer. Martin Prado played plenty of first base, but he doesn't offer the power or middle of the order prowess that a first baseman should bring to the lineup.

I believe the Braves will certainly offer LaRoche arbitration, but the jury is still out on how aggressive they will be in re-signing him, especially for more than a one-year deal. I imagine we will get some indications early in the hot-stove season about the Braves intentions toward LaRoche, and we'll also get some intentions about whether LaRoche plans to test the free agent waters. LaRoche's decision may hinge more on the 2011 first base free agent class, which is a much deeper and talented class, than on anything else. If he signs a one-year deal, he may face much steeper competition next off-season. It is for this reason that I believe LaRoche will not return to Atlanta on a one-year deal. Now, that means he may be open to a multi-year deal, but that may not be in the Braves plans.

A lot of ifs at first base for the Braves this off-season. (Sorry if that went on for a while.)

Coming up later, Question Five: To Tender or to Non-Tender

85-77, Closing Game Thoughts

Jeff — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:11:27 -0000

More photos » by John Froschauer - AP

TELL US

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I'm going to be kind of quick about this, because, I gotta be honest, the high of pumping out your final content of the season is unlike any other and I'm eager to drink.

Maybe it's just because none of my teams have ever won a championship, but I honestly can't remember ever enjoying a season's end as much as I did today. I'm not going to try to summarize the gathering on the field after the game. There's no point. I couldn't. There's no way I could do justice to an impromptu celebration that actually made me tear up. You'll just have to see it for yourself, if you haven't already. But...man, for a team that didn't win anything, this one was something special. A year ago, Carlos Silva was the prime suspect when it came to an anonymous Mariner player threatening Ichiro. Today he carried him off the field on his shoulders. Mike Blowers couldn't stop talking about how he'd never seen a whole team mill around like this before. These Mariners were as close as any team that's ever shared a clubhouse, and knowing that they were all enjoying themselves was a big part of what made this season so fun.

Thanks, guys. You've been a treat.

Six strikeouts, one walk, a bunch of groundballs, a bunch of strikes, a bunch of swinging strikes, and a win. Felix Hernandez showed no ill effects from his 121-pitch outing last Tuesday and looked as kingly as ever from the start to the finish. He may not win the Cy Young, but this was a Cy Young-caliber season, and when he told Angie Mentink through laughter and tears after the game that he'd like to spend his whole career in Seattle...Z should just call him up right now while he's still feeling emotional. Also, when the whole team is out there walking a victory lap and thanking the fans, maybe you should wait a few minutes before pulling one of the players away from the rest for a pointless one-minute interview.

You always hear about the fan who caught a home run, or the fan who caught a foul ball. You never hear about the fan who caught a ground-rule double. I wonder what happens to that fan.

I know a lot of Mariners fans. Not one of them has ever gone to a baseball game with a rally fries sign. Which makes me wonder if there have ever been repeats. Has anyone won rally fries twice? Griffey tried his hand today but didn't luck out, which is just as well, because one more handful of fries and I don't know if Tui and Langerhans would've been able to lift him.

In the top of the first, it looked like Bill Hall dove for David Murphy's double and missed by 15 feet, but replays showed that he just fell down. Bill Hall, everybody. I urge you not to get too down on him, because he's very clearly been injured, but by the same token, Christ, Wak, why did you have to subject us to so much of this guy? What was there to be gained?

Adrian Beltre led off the game with a sparkling diving stop on a grounder to his left, and later pulled off another one of those spectacular off-balance barehands on a swinging bunt the way only he can do. Though Beltre went hitless and struck out in his final at bat, this final homestand saw him display every part of his skillset, and my only complaint about this whole afternoon is that the crowd didn't give him any recognition for everything he's done. I'm sorry, Adrian. I am deeply sorry that so many people just don't get you. I hope you end up somewhere that you can feel loved, because few people deserve it more than you.

Attendance for the home opener: 48,514. Attendance today: 32,260. That's up about 5,000 from a year ago and 2,000 from 2007, but, really? Either a lot of Seattle felt they'd shown Griffey enough love, or a lot of Seattle doesn't believe that he's going to retire.

It's fun to end the season with a win. We've done it four years in a row. Three of those years we've directly prevented the Rangers from the same satisfaction. Suck it, Texas.

Mike Blowers, paraphrased, on Hank Blalock: You have to be careful, because he can still turn on a good fastball. You hear this about a lot of guys, but I don't get what it means. Of course Blalock can still turn on a good fastball. If you can't hit a fastball, you can't be a position player in the Major Leagues. That's like saying, you have to keep on your toes around this hockey player, because he knows how to skate. If Hank Blalock couldn't hit a fastball, he'd be listening to announcers talk about guys who can hit a fastball on TV.

The second-to-last pitch of the game was a high fastball. Rob Johnson dropped it.

Friday morning Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:31:32 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

2 months ago: Texas Rangers center fielder Julio Borbon walks to the locker room after their win against the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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The Rangers have 86 wins on the season, ensuring they'll be no worse than tied for second place. With one win in the final series against Seattle, they will be in sole possession of second place. With a sweep, they'll have 89 wins, which would be the fourth-highest total in team history.

So Ron Washington, it appears, has done a good job with this team.

And yet...and yet...

He claims he's putting the best lineup possible out there, but he has Andruw Jones -- who has done nothing for a couple of months now -- hitting cleanup. He leaves Kevin Millwood out there for the 9th inning in a blowout game.

After three seasons, I think we've gotten a pretty good read on Washington as an in-game manager. And from the outside it appears he is, at best, baffling, and at worst, clueless.

In Jim Reeves' game story, Ron Washington says finishing second in the A.L. West means "everything."

Marlon Byrd, Hank Blalock, and Michael Young are all expected to be back in the lineup tonight. Nelson Cruz has a sprained ankle, so he may be done.

T.R. Sullivan has a story up about this being Blalock's final series with the Rangers, with Blalock himself acknowledging he's not going to be back next year. He also offers some p.r. on behalf of Blalock:

He is hitting .235 with 25 home runs and 66 RBIs. He has a .462 slugging percentage in 122 games and 459 at-bats.
Those numbers are still respectable for a team looking for a left-handed power hitter. He also has a .277 on-base percentage and just 25 walks against 107 strikeouts. That's going to be the biggest mark against him in free agency. But he doesn't turn 29 until Nov. 21, and that could work in his favor.

"He's a streaky hitter, but the numbers are still there," hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo said. "He gets a lot of big hits, and he's had some big games. He always wants to play, and he always wants to be in there, and he's really conscientious about his preparation."

Scouts say Blalock still has value because of his power numbers and he has enhanced his value by being able to play first base. Among the teams that could be looking for a first baseman who is rated adequate-to-average defensively are the Mets, Orioles, Indians and the White Sox. The Mariners could be as well if they don't re-sign Russell Branyan.

It will be interesting to see where Blalock lands this offseason. I suspect he'll be one of those guys who doesn't sign until January or February, and who takes a one year deal for $3 million or so.

John Lackey yelled at Chris Davis yesterday for running too slowly after he hit a homer off of Lackey.

And Reeves has a column about Ian Kinsler needing to be -- and having the ability to be -- better than he has been this year, and has some quotes from Kinsler and from Washington about his struggles this year.

Thursday a.m. Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:32:27 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

2 months ago: Holly Madison from the reality show "The Girls Next Door" throws out the first pitch before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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Playing out the string, and between injuries and just a general malaise that seems to be out there, this team looks ready to go home and be done with 2009...

Jim Reeves writes that the Rangers seem to have forgotten that the season isn't over already, having been shut out for the 13th time this year last night.

Marlon Byrd says he isn't done for the season, and expects to be back in the lineup on Friday. Hank Blalock, meanwhile, suffered a "mild concussion," and is going to sit today.

Chris Davis thinks that he will be back in the lineup today, but Ron Washington isn't so sure Davis will be ready to go.

Ron Washington wants a veteran starter, a "consistent" righthanded bat, and a lefty specialist for the bullpen added for 2010. I'm not sure what he means by a veteran starter...if we are talking about a legit #1 or #2 type guy, sure, but if we are talking about a random back of the rotation guy, I don't see what the point is, given the options available in-house.

On the other two items, though, I agree...the Rangers could definitely use a righty 4C guy for the bench, and someone who can come in and face a tough lefty or two late in the game.

And Jim Reeves has a column praising the work of Mike Maddux.

Sunday morning Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:28:15 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

3 months ago: Texas Rangers relief pitcher Frank Francisco reacts following the last out against the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning of a baseball game , Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Hey, a win!

Jeff Wilson notes that the Rangers weren't exactly hammering the ball last night, but got enough breaks to get enough runs in to prevail.

Jeff (the writer) Miller talks about Hank Blalock being in the center of things yesterday, with his home run giving the Rangers their margin of victory, and his error in the 9th making things a lot more interesting.

The Rangers sacrificed defense on the corners yesterday to get Hank's bat in the lineup, and that move worked...that said, it was a bit baffling that the Rangers didn't bring Omar Vizquel in for the 9th at third base, sliding Chris Davis over to first base, for defensive purposes. Per Miller's article, Washington says that it was "a trust thing," leaving Blalock in at first and Davis in at third, although in retrospect, he acknowledges is was a mistake.

Jim Reeves says that the Rangers are still alive, if just barely, and has some quotes from Washington about the non-move in the 9th and putting Hank back in the lineup.

Anthony Andro has some notes up, including Scott Feldman's reaction to being pulled in the 7th, and the news that yesterday's crowd was a sellout -- the 4th of the season.

T.R. Sullivan has a story up about Rudy Jaramillo and the struggles of the Ranger offense this year.

Kevin Sherrington says the Ranger outfield next year should be Nelson Cruz in left, Julio Borbon in center, and Marlon Byrd in right, with Josh Hamilton as the 4th outfielder, but notes that the problems with that alignment include Byrd's pending free agency and that "Cruz isn't a favorite of the manager."

Matt Purke doesn't regret his decision not to sign with the Rangers.

Kevin Richardson says he understands his role with the team, and isn't complaining about only having caught one innings since coming back up.

Phil Rogers' baseball notes column this week has a headline saying that "Nolan Ryan Could Be Leaving" the Rangers, but the segment in question simply notes that Ryan doesn't have a written contract and says he'd step aside if new ownership didn't want him around.

First base options for Mets?

Eli Greenspan — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:00:27 -0000

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The Mets' disappointing season cannot fall on any one player, or players, because it was a team effort. The Mets are already out of playoff contention, and are last in the league in home runs. Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur has put together a solid second half, leading the team with 12 home runs with a .280 average. However, his strikeout-to-walk is far from impressive, which will keep him from having a serious impact on the middle of the Mets order.

Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado is set to be a free agent, and the Mets will likely pursue other options before turning back to Delgado. Daniel Murphy has done a commendable job for the Mets, but may return to the minor leagues for more seasoning. He is hitting .277 in the second half of the season, but has struck out 65 times to just 36 walks.

If the Mets' finiancial woes prevent them from making a splash on the market, then Murphy is there guy. But here are a couple options they could choose from:

Hank Blalock, Rangers: Blalock, 29, has found his power this season and could have more of an impact in the NL, but is hitting an unimpressive .236. He could come at a reduced rate barring an end of the season turnaround.

Aubrey Huff, Tigers: Huff is set to be a free agent after this season and the Tigers might not be able to afford him. Huff has shown he can hit for power, and would make for a nice stopgap for Murphy, 24, who will likely start in Triple-A for the Mets.

Adrian Gonzalez, Padres: If the Mets go the trade route, they could turn to Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez has proven he can hit in the most spacious stadiums, hitting 12 home runs with 14 extra-base hits at PETCO Park this season (38 overall).

Garrett Atkins, Rockies: Atkins has struggled in a reduced role with the Rockies this season, and could be on his way out this offseason. Atkins, who primary position is third base, has played 28 games at first base this season.

Here are some options, who else could the Mets pursue at first base?

'Hamstrung' Rangers may be forced to move players?

Eli Greenspan — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:27:10 -0000

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The Rangers are under serious financial restrictions after owner Tom Hicks borrowed at least 15 million dollars from Major League Baseball, giving MLB the right to make some personnel moves this season. Rangers president Nolan Ryan conceded to the Star-Telegram that the Rangers are 'kind of hamstrung,' putting their offseason plans in question.

The Rangers have nine players eligible for free agency, and will likely face competition from rival clubs once the free agency period begins. The Rangers impending free agents include Hank Blalock, Marlon Byrd, Ivan Rodriguez, and Andruw Jones, to name a few. With an influx of young pitchers, the Rangers may be able to afford moving Kevin Millwood, who is in the final year of his contract. However, he is scheduled to make 12 million dollars next season.

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Kevin Millwood	10-10	28	28	2	0	0	0	175.2	178	81	77	24	67	109	3.94	1.39

The Rangers do not need to make a huge splash on the free agent market. They are still in playoff contention with a very young and inexperienced club. A veteran backstop like Henry Blanco could pay dividends down the road, along with a third baseman. They will likely lose Hank Blalock to free agency, and need an upgrade over veteran Omar Vizquel.

The Blue Jays have said they will look to move Edwin Encarnacion, who will make 4.25 million dollars next season. A bad attitude and poor work ethic could bring down his value, meaning the Rangers could take a chance without surrendering much.