MLB free agents still available as season nears

Are you a Major League Baseball team still looking for one more piece to the puzzle? Got a little spending money? Well you are in luck because there are still plenty of free agents on the market as the season nears. They are there for a reason, usually for salary reasons and age but will any teams take a chance? Baseball betting pundits note how there is certainly some talent sitting on the free agent bench just waiting to get in the game.

Need a pitcher? At the time of this post, MLB Betting experts note how Kevin Millwood is still out there.

Many experts had him listed as the seventh-best pitcher in a thin free-agent class this offseason. Millwood was 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA last season for the Baltimore Orioles but the majority of that poor record was due to 11 starts that he made from late May to early August while he was nursing a sore groin. Then over 10 starts in August and September, Millwood’s ERA went from 8.84 to 3.29.

Several teams have been looking at his services, including the New York Yankees. The Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners and Orioles also could choose to grab Millwood as opening day looms.

First baseman Troy Glaus looks like he is very close to retirement but he is a power hitter and could land with a team. He had 14 home runs and 58 RBIs for the Atlanta Braves in the first half of 2010, before he was undone by knee and wrist problems, finishing with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs.

There also seems to be a catching shortage throughout the league, at least in terms of a veteran who can manage a pitching staff. Which makes it very strange that Bengie Molina is still a free agent. Although he seems satisfied to sit on the sidelines unless the perfect opportunity comes up. Case in point, the San Diego Padres were looking into Molina and were told he wasn’t interested.

Another pitcher who is still on the free agent list is right-hander Jeremy Bonderman. Bonderman suggested last summer he might retire which would certainly turn off teams.

Bonderman won 50 games from 2004-07 and, in part because of shoulder issues, 11 since. The offers are not there right now and it looks like he is going to wait on offers instead of heading to the minors.

There is not much left on the free agent list but there are certainly a few players that if used correctly and find the right situation, can still help a team win some games.