Free-Agent Center Fielders

Now we look at the 2004 free-agent Center Fielders.

There isn't alot of them, but there are some good ones. Obviously, Carlos Beltran is the best available.

You may be surprised to see Marquis Grissom, and Steve Finley not on the top half of the list. The reason they are ranked so low is simply because they are 38 and 40 years of age respectively. I just couldn't rank them ahead of Ricky Ledee and Doug Glanville (31 and 34 years of age).

Glanville over Grissom is a coin-flip, and can be interchanged anyway you would like, but I had to go with the age factor on that one.

Again, as always, each free-agent is ranked as to whom I believe is the best available.

1. Carlos Beltran(28): Signed with Mets, 7 yrs/$119 million 2004 Statistics- .267/.367/.548, 38 HR, 101/92 K/BB, 42/3 SB/CS, 68.5 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .259/.360/.536, .305 EqA////Career batting line of .284/.353/.490--////Translated career batting line of .273/.348/.481, .287 EqA////Good career K/BB of 1.73/1--////Career SB/CS of 192/23 (89.3%)////2004 represented a career high in HR (38), SB (42), and BB (92) for Beltran////Spent last 4 seasons in Kansas City (severe pitcher's park until 2004 when it became a severe hitter's park), and Houston (moderate hitter's park)////

2. Jeromy Burnitz (36): Signed by Cubs, 1 year/$5 million 2004 Statistics-.283/.356/.559, 37 HR, 124/58 K/BB, 43.5 VORP ////Translated 2004 Statistics- .263/.338/.523, .282 EqA////Career batting line of .254/.351/.491--////Translated career batting line of .252/.347/.490, .280 EqA////Good career K/BB of 1.81/1--////2004 represented a career-high in HR for Burnitz (37)////In Burnitz's last 3 seasons his AVG (02'-.215, 03'-.239 ,04'-.283), SLG (02'-.365,03'-.487 ,04'-.559), HR totals (02'-19, 03'-31 ,04'-37), and 2B totals (02'-15, 03'-22 ,04'-30) have all steadily gone up////Spent last 4 seasons in Milwaukee (neutral park), New York Mets (severe pitcher's park), Los Angeles (severe pitcher's park), and Colorado (severe hitter's park)

3. Ricky Ledee (31): Signed with Dodgers, 2 years ($2.5 million) 2004 Statistics- .233/.337/.403, 7 HR, 47/27 K/BB, 6.7 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .229/.333/.400, .246 EqA////Career batting line of .242/.328/.413--////Translated career batting line of .243/.329/.419, .259 EqA////Good career K/BB of 1.94/1--////A career backup, hasn't had more than 255 AB's during any season in his career////Translated OBP has gone down in each of last 3 seasons (02'-.348, 03'-.343 ,04'-.333)////Spent last four seasons in Texas (severe hitter's park), Philadelphia (moderate pitcher's park), and San Francisco (severe pitcher's park)////

4. Steve Finley (40): Signed with Anaheim, 2 years ($14 million) 2004 Statistics- .271/.333/.490, 36 HR, 82/61 K/BB, 9/7 SB/CS, 35.8 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .266/.326/.483, .271 EqA////Career batting line of .276/.337/.450--////Translated career batting line of .280/.342/.467, .275 EqA////Very good career K/BB of 1.53/1--////Not a good career SB/CS of 305/114 (72.8%) ////In each of last three seasons, Finley's OBP has declined (02'-.370, 03'-.363 ,04'-.333)////Spent last 4 seasons in Arizona (severe hitter's park), and Los Angeles (severe pitcher's park)////

5. Doug Glanville (34): Signed minor league contract with Yankees 2004 Statistics (162 AB)- .210/.244/.265, 2 HR, 21/8 K/BB, 8/0 SB/CS, (-8.2) VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .204/.238/.255, .191 EqA////Career batting line of .277/.315/.380--////Translated career batting line of .274/.309/.375, .245 EqA////Last healthy season was 2002, statistics that year: .249/.292/.344, 6 HR, 57/25 K/BB, 19/2 SB/CS, 4.8 VORP////Translated 2002 Statistics- .259/.300/.357/, .240 EqA////Career K/BB of 2.41/1--////Last seaons with 400+ AB's was 2002 (Philadelphia)////OBP has declined in the last 3 years (02'-.292, 03'-.286, 04'-.244)////Although not the stolen base threat he once was earlier in his career, he still maintains an very good career SB/CS of 168/36 (82.3%)////Spent last 4 seasons in Philadelphia (moderate pitcher's park), Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher's park), and Texas (severe hitter's park)////

6. Marquis Grissom (38): Option picked up by Giants 2004 Statistics- .279/.323/.450, 22 HR, 83/37 K/BB, 3/1 SB/CS, 25.3 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .276/.319/.443, .260 EqA////Career batting line of .273/.319/.417--////Translated career batting line of .274/.321/.431, .262 EqA////Career K/BB of 2.24/1--////Career SB/CS of 428/115 (78.8%)////In each of the last 3 seasons, Grissom's SLG % has dropped (02'-.510,03'-.468 ,04'-.450)////Recent EqA trend is going downward (02'-.288,03'-.271 ,04'-.260)///Like Glanville, no longer the SB threat he once was, but still maintains a good SB/CS of 428/115 (78.8 %)/////Spent last four seasons in Los Angeles (severe pitcher's park), and San Francisco (severe pitcher's park)////

7. Tom Goodwin (36): 2004 Statistics (105 AB)- .200/.254/.276, 0 HR, 22/8 K/BB, 5/0 SB/CS, (-4.2) VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .196/.248/.265, .196 EqA////Career batting line of .268/.332/.339--////Translated career batting line of .263/.326/.336, .247 EqA////Good career K/BB of 1.97/1--////Career SB/CS of 369/118 (75.8%)////Hasn't had a season of 400+ AB's since 1999 (Texas)////Last season (2004) was the first since 1994 that Goodwin has stolen less than 16 bases////Recent EqA trend is going downward (02'-.258,03'-.255 ,04'-.196)////Spent last 4 seasons in Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher's park), San Francisco (severe pitcher's park), and Los Angeles (severe pitcher's park)////

Next up, free-agent right fielders.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.