Free-Agent Left Fielders

Now we take a look at the 2004 crop of 2004 free-agent left-fielders.

Hopefully, your team doesn't need a left-fielder this year. First of all, there aren't many available, second of all, there is only one everyday starter (Alou) on the list--and he is going to be 38 next year.

The list even includes a player who didn't even play in Major League Baseball in 2004 (Cordova).

There really isn't alot to look at here, but as always, I have these few players ranked according to whom I believe is the best available.

1. Moises Alou (38): Signed with Giants, 2 yrs/$13.25 million 2004 Statistics- .293/.361/.557, 39 HR, 80/68 K/BB, 51.5 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- .287/.358/.548, .299 EqA////Career Batting Line of .300/.367/.520--////Translated Career batting line of .298/.367/.520, .296 EqA////Very good career K/BB of 1.26/1--////Alou's recent EqA trend is going up (02'-.270, 03'-.282, 04'-.299)////Spent last 4 seasons of career in Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher's park), and Houston (moderate hitter's park)////In the last three years, every statistic in Alou's batting line has gone up. Here are his statistics in 2002, 2003, and 2004:

2002: .275/.337/.419, 15 HR, 61/47 K/BB, 18.9 VORP
2003: .280/.357/.462, 22 HR, 67/63 K/BB, 30.5 VORP
2004: .293/.361/.557, 39 HR, 80/68 K/BB, 51.5 VORP

2. Dave Dellucci (31): Signed with Rangers, 2 years ($1.8 million) 2004 Statistics (331 AB)- .242/.342/.441, 17 HR, 88/47 K/BB, 8.6 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- .232/.339/.429, .266 EqA////Career Batting Line of .261/.339/.418--////Translated Career batting line of .254/.333/.411, .259 EqA////Career K/BB of 2.30/1--////Only one season with 350+ AB's in his career (1998 in Arizona)--a career backup////Hit 17 HR in only 331 AB's last year, which represented a career high for Dellucci////Was injured at various points in 2004////Spent last four seaons in Texas (severe hitter's park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher's park), and Arizona (severe hitter's park)////

3. John Mabry (34): Signed with Cardinals, 1 year ($750,000) 2004 Statistics(240 AB)- .296/.363/.504, 13 HR, 63/26 K/BB, 18.1 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- .299/.367/.506, .292 EqA////Career Batting Line of .271/.328/.413--////Translated Career batting line of .271/.328/.418, .257 EqA////Not a very good career K/BB of 2.49/1--////Mabry's 240 AB's in 2004 represented his highest total since 1999 (Seattle)////A backup since 1996 (last season with 400+ AB's--543 AB with StL.)////2004 represented a career high in OBP, and EqA for Mabry////Spent last four seasons in five different cities: Florida (severe pitcher's park), Philadelphia (slight hitter's park), Oakland (neutral park), St. Louis (moderate pitcher's park), and Seattle (severe pitcher's park)////

4. Ray Lankford (38): 2004 Statistics(200 AB)- .259/.349/.425, 6 HR, 55/29 K/BB, 6.2 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- .255/.355/.427, .270 EqA////Career Batting Line of .272/.364/.477--////Translated Career batting line of .274/.368/.494, .290 EqA////Career K/BB of 1.87/1--////Has been a backup since 1999 (his last season with 400+ AB's)////Has not had over 265 AB's since 2000////Lankford's wrist was injured for part of 2004, and that kept him out of many games during the season////Spent last four seasons in San Diego (severe pitcher's park), and St. Louis (moderate pitcher's park)////

5. Quentin McCracken (35): Signed minor league contract with Diamondbacks 2004 Statistics-.273/.328/.381, 2 HR, 27/15 K/BB, 1.3 VORP ////2004 Translated Statistics-.269/.323/.368, .235 EqA ////Career Batting Line of .279/.340/.382--////Translated Career batting line of .267/.330/.369, .248 EqA////Career K/BB of 1.98/1--////Hasn't had 350+ AB's since 1998 (Tampa Bay)////Has, for the most part, been a backup since 1998////McCracken injured his knee in 2004 and did not play the last month of the season////Spent last four seasons in Minnesota (neutral park), Arizona (severe hitter's park), and Seattle (severe pitcher's park)////

6. Marty Cordova (34) --(Only 30 AB in 2003, Out of baseball in 2004)- Signed minor league contract with Devil Rays 2002 Statistics- .253/.325/.434, 18 HR, 111/47 K/BB, 12.2 VORP////2002 Translated Statistics--.265/.340/.455, .267 EqA////Career batting line of .274/.344/.448--////Translated career batting line of .275/.346/.459, .274 EqA////Career batting line of 2.22/1--////Every season in which Cordova has gotten 350+ AB's, he has hit 10 or more HR's////Before undergoing ligament reconstruction ("Tommy John") surgery on his right elbow Cordova spent his last four seasons in Baltimore (severe pitcher's park), Cleveland (neutral park), and Toronto (moderate hitter's park)////

7. Dave Berg (34): Signed minor league contract with Red Sox 2004 Statistics (154 AB)- .253/.278/.338, 3 HR, 27/4 K/BB, (-5.5) VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- .252/.280/.333, .212 EqA////Career Batting Line of .269/.328/.373--////Translated Career batting line of .269/.328/.373, .247 EqA////Career K/BB of 2.32/1--////Has not had a season with 350+ AB's in his entire 7-year career////Recent EqA trend is going down (02'-.249, 03'-.234, 04'-.212)////Spent last four seasons in Toronto (moderate hitter's park), and Florida (severe pitcher's park)////

Not that long of a list, huh?

Next up, free-agent center fielders.

I heard a rumor that there is a pretty good player on the free-agent center fielder list. His name is Belt....something. I'll find out about him.

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.