The remaining free

The remaining free-agents

These are the remaining free-agents:

Harold Baines, outfielder: .131, 0 HR, 6 RBI
Hasn't officially retired yet, but the market would seem thin for him. One more sentimental tour with the White Sox is about the only reasonable scenario for Baines to play in the Majors in 2002.

· Career stats

James Baldwin, RHP: 10-11, 4.42 ERA
Will likely remain with the Dodgers, who will be in need of starters now that Chan Ho Park and Luke Prokopec are gone and Terry Adams likely will follow. Baldwin, 30, has a plus arm but hasn't improved his control as much as some predicted. Even so he is a promising talent and if Los Angeles doesn't re-sign Baldwin, other teams will swoop in.

· Career stats

Dante Bichette, outfielder: .286, 12 HR, 49 RBI
He enjoyed a terrific first half in Boston in 2001, then fell completely apart in the second half. It's hard to see Bichette starting anywhere in '02, but he could make a valuable platoon player somewhere even at 38 years old. He still hits lefties pretty well, but his questionable defense may keep him in the AL.

· Career stats

Bobby Bonilla, 1B: .213, 5 HR, 21 RBI
Bobby Bo will turn 39 in February, and he had a terrible season with the bat. Still, he's versatile and he's played for a slew of playoff teams. He's a classic Tony La Russa player, so don't be surprised to see him back in St. Louis. San Francisco has also been a popular destination for guys like Bonilla recently (see Dunston, Shawon).

· Career stats

Jose Canseco, DH: .258, 16 HR, 49 RBI
Hey, he can still hit! Canseco knocked 16 homers in half a season with the White Sox, and he pummeled left-handers. He claims he can not only still play the outfield, but that he can play center. Clubs seem a little skeptical of that claim, so he'll likely end up in the AL to DH and play outfield part-time. He'd fit in well with any team that could use another power bat -- Oakland? Seattle? Minnesota?

· Career stats

David Cone, RHP: 9-7, 4.31 ERA
Was that a return to prominence or a last gasp? For a guy who just turned 39, it appears that most teams are unwilling to bet on the former. Cone was a dependable five-inning starter for Boston in 2001 -- how much is a guy like that worth? The Mets have been mentioned as a possible destination, as have the Royals.

· Career stats

Deivi Cruz, SS: .256, 7 HR, 52 RBI
Whoever bites on Cruz will be buying low, but the upside is there. He flashed nice power in 2000, and he just turned 26. The Dodgers would do well to give Cruz a look, as would Houston. Cruz seems to be drawing puzzlingly little interest.

· Career stats

Chad Curtis, outfielder: .252, 3 HR, 10 RBI
With Curtis' history of, um, difficulty with his teammates, you'd think he'd be a lock to return to this year's Rangers. Clubhouse issues aside, though, Curtis is a useful player. He's nothing special defensively, but he can handle all three outfield positions and hit with a little power.

· Career stats

Cal Eldred, RHP: 0-1, 3.15 ERA
This is a pitcher who has spent significant time on the DL in each of the last four seasons. The last time he pitched something close to a full season with an ERA below 4.46 was 1993. Eldred's not much more than a reclamation project at this point.

· Career stats

Andres Galarraga, 1B: .225, 10 HR, 34 RBI
The Big Cat's "revival" in San Francisco was a bit overstated, but he did put up pretty nice numbers with the Giants. However, he won't be back at Pac Bell. It's a safe bet that he wants no part of a return trip to the AL. Galarraga is a better hitter right now than Julio Franco, so maybe a return trip to Atlanta would make sense.

· Career stats

Mark Gardner, RHP: 5-5, 5.40 ERA
Gardner, who will turn 40 before Opening Day, looks like he's finally running out of gas. With two bad seasons in the last three, things don't look good. Gardner was pummeled away from Pac Bell, another bad sign. He's a standup citizen, but he's not left-handed, so don't expect him to get much more than an NRI.

· Career stats

Pete Harnisch, RHP: 1-3, 6.37 ERA
The health is obviously a question, but he was quite good quite recently. His rehab is reportedly coming along swimmingly, and elbow problems can be overcome. Texas is probably the team most desperate for starting pitching, and the Dodgers could also use another quality arm.

· Career stats

Rickey Henderson, outfielder: .227, 8 HR, 42 RBI
Will walk for food! If anyone needs a certain first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, here's your man. Rickey can still get on base, and he can still steal bases (25 in 32 attempts last year). You know he wants to keep playing. Someone will give him a small deal, everyone will laugh, and he'll go out and put up another .360-plus OBP.

· Career stats

Ricky Ledee, outfielder: .231, 2 HR, 36 RBI
Hey, maybe this is the year Ledee finally breaks out! But seriously, folks. Ledee's main value is his ability to play all three outfield positions. He has occasional power and a little patience, but he's no more than a fifth outfielder. Reports have him interested in the Yankees. Would the Bronx faithful welcome back one of their favorite whipping boys?

· Career stats

Kenny Lofton, outfielder: .261, 14 HR, 66 RBI
The 34-year-old outfielder saw his average dip for the second year in a row and his on-base percentage last season (.322) is a warning sign to some, but Lofton is arguably the best of the remaining free agent outfielders. Many teams were unwilling to consider Lofton until the fate of the front line outfielders was determined. Lofton's willingness to play left field as well as center field is a plus and he is drawing interest for his speed -- though not as impressive as it once was -- and leadoff abilities. Several teams looking for outfield depth, including the Giants, Orioles and Mets, may go after Lofton.

· Career stats

Josias Manzanillo, RHP: 3-2, 3.39 ERA
He bounced around for years before finding a happy, healthy home in Pittsburgh, enjoying back-to-back quality seasons in the Pirates' pen. He's on the way out, however. Manzanillo apparently wants a multi-year deal, which probably isn't the best idea to give to a 34-year-old middle reliever. Remember Mark Petkovsek?

· Career stats

Al Martin, outfielder: .240, 7 HR, 42 RBI
Could he have had much worse of a year? On and off the field, not much went right for Martin in 2001. He had decent years with the bat in 1999 and 2000, however, so someone will take a chance. He'd like to come back to the National League -- maybe Arizona would be interested after Reggie Sanders' departure?

· Career stats

Dan Miceli, RHP: 0-5, 6.93 ERA
Miceli is yet another guy who got into trouble for things he said in 2001. There's one big difference, of course -- Miceli is a pitcher. He's also still a pretty decent pitcher. He was absolutely superb in Colorado after an awful half-season with the Marlins. The Red Sox are reportedly quite interested, and they have openings in the pen with the departure of Rod Beck and the conversion of Derek Lowe into a starter.

· Career stats

Troy O'Leary, outfielder: .240, 13 HR, 50 RBI
O'Leary had two straight difficult years, but at 32 he's not necessarily finished. He's battled some injuries and before that, personal problems. He doesn't have a lot of power, but might be well worth a one- or two-year gamble. The Orioles could be interested, though O'Leary wouldn't contribute much to a rebuilding effort.

· Career stats

Tim Raines, outfielder: .308, 0 HR, 4 RBI
It would be hard for "Rock" to have a better ending to his career than playing with his son at the end of '01. He hasn't announced his retirement yet, but it'll be surprising if he's on someone's Opening Day roster.

· Career stats

Pokey Reese, 2B: .224, 9 HR, 40 RBI
Traded twice in a week, Pokey is now without a big-league home. The Red Sox acquired him from Colorado (which had acquired him from Cincinnati) so as to have the brief negotiating window before non-tendering him. Still, Boston looks like the most likely destination for Reese, who would play second base and serve as insurance at shortstop in case Nomar Garciaparra's wrist isn't completely healed.

· Career stats

Rey Sanchez, SS: .303, 0 HR, 28 RBI
Say, that huge price tag the Royals were afraid of -- it never really materialized, did it? Sanchez was, for a while, reported to be a target of the Red Sox, as a second baseman and Nomar insurance. But with Pokey in the picture, Sanchez became much less appealing. The Braves have tons of depth up the middle; Sanchez was a stopgap in Atlanta. So where? Houston would love a defensive wizard at short, but who knows if the Astros would want to pay Sanchez.

· Career stats

Rudy Seanez, RHP: 0-2, 2.63 ERA
Seanez also was not offered arbitration by Atlanta. Seanez is a very effective reliever who has a hard time staying healthy. He's had most of his success in the NL; the team that snags him for cheap will be getting a bargain.

· Career stats

Jeff Shaw, RHP: 43 saves, 3.62 ERA
For a guy with 203 career saves coming off a 43-save season (his sixth consecutive season of 23 or more saves) it is surprising the 35-year-old hasn't landed with a team yet. Shaw's availability, however, has been impacted by unique factors, including his desire -- if possible -- to play near his home outside Cincinnati, Boston's inability to trade Ugueth Urbina and Pittsburgh's decision to sign Mike Williams, a right-handed closer who is two years younger than Shaw. Shaw has too much talent to sit on the sidelines much longer.

· Career stats

Kevin Tapani, RHP: 9-14, 4.49 ERA
It's puzzling that Tapani hasn't received more attention. If nothing else, he's remarkably consistent. An average ERA, plenty of Ks and not many walks, and a few weeks on the DL. You know exactly what you're getting. Los Angeles might be a great fit for Tapani, whose biggest problem in recent years has been the longball.

· Career stats

Devon White, OF: .277, 14 HR, 47 RBI
Devo had a surprisingly decent year with the Brewers, and even if he's lost a step, he's a fine fourth or fifth outfielder. Quality defense in center field and occasional power make for a somewhat useful combination. The Cubs are reportedly talking to Darren Lewis to be their backup center fielder, but failing that, what about Devo?