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Top FA remaining? Try Luis Valbuena
- Updated: January 5, 2017
With Edwin Encarnacion headed to Cleveland, the top player remaining on MLB.com’s list of this offseason’s best free agents might be someone you wouldn’t expect.
While bigger names such as Jose Bautista, Mark Trumbo, Matt Wieters and Mike Napoli also are available in the early days of 2017, it’s actually corner infielder Luis Valbuena who rates as the best, based on a projection system devised by MLB.com’s analytics guru Tom Tango.
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Valbuena has kept a low profile over nine seasons in the big leagues, including recent stints with the Cubs (2012-14) and Astros (’15-’16). He has never made an All-Star team or led the league in a notable statistical category, and in fact has logged 500 or more plate appearances in a season only once (’14). On the other hand, Tango’s WAR-based system sees a player who has averaged 2.1 WAR over the past three seasons, including 2.6 last year*.
However, a couple of factors could be working against Valbuena, whose name hasn’t come up in many substantive rumors this offseason. For one, few teams seem to be in need of a regular at third base (Valbuena’s primary position), especially after the Dodgers re-signed Justin Turner. Second, Valbuena last played on July 26, when he hurt his right hamstring running to first base, an injury that required season-ending surgery to repair a tendon.
The good news for Valbuena is that he has been healthy enough to play for Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League, appearing at first, second and third base and going 12-for-35 (.343) in 10 games through Tuesday, including playoffs. He also offers some defensive versatility and is accustomed to a part-time role, setting him up as an ideal platoon player who can step in at …
