Where Will the Remaining Free Agents End Up?

Surprisingly, as close as we are to spring training, there still are some key free agents left on the board. Why is this? A lot of the free agents left are not huge difference-makers, but they have high prices and are not willing to settle for less. Also, some free agents left require draft-pick compensation, which is where the team that signs the free agent has to give up one of their early picks in the draft to the free agent's former team. Not many teams are willing to do that for a decent player. Anyway, here are my predictions for the new homes of the remaining key free agents:

Starting Pitcher Bronson Arroyo to the Yankees. New York still has a weakness in the last spot of their rotation, after Tanaka, Nova, Kuroda, and Sabathia. They have not been afraid to spend this offseason, and Arroyo seems like a good fit and is not too expensive. The only problem is that Arroyo will have to cut his awesome long hair for the clean-shaven Yankees. 

Starting Pitcher Ervin Santana to the Orioles. If Baltimore wants to compete, they need to address their awful starting rotation. Their offense is good, so if they can sign Santana and maybe someone else to fix their pitching problems, they can challenge Boston, Tampa, and New York in the east. 

Starting Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have made it clear recently that they want to compete, and they have the young talent to do it, but they still need a big free agent starter to help their pitching staff. Jimenez is still young, so he would fit in well with the up-and-coming Cubs. This would help fix the Cubs rotation issues.

Starting pitcher A.J. Burnett to the Mariners. After the signings of sluggers Robinson Cano and Corey Hart, the Mariners have also made it clear that they want to compete. The starting rotation is good, but after Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma, there are young guys who have talent, but might not be ready for the rotation. The signing of Burnett would help anchor the back end of Seattle's rotation, and would make them serious contenders in the west.

Outfielder Nelson Cruz to the Royals. Kansas City had their first successful season in a while last season, before falling just short of the playoffs. If they want to stay in contention in the tough AL central, they need to add a big bat, and Nelson Cruz is a great choice. Their pitching is already good, and they already signed outfielder Norichika Aoki. If they can sign Cruz, that would really improve their offense and then they could challenge Cleveland, and maybe even Detroit.

Good closers avaliable include Andrew Bailey, Fernando Rodney, Joel Hanrahan, and Rafael Betancourt.