The All Reject Team

As we roll into March, I thought it’d be interesting to see what kind of team you could put together with the remaining free agents. Here’s the 25-man squad.

Catcher: Paul Bako
First Base: Hank Blalock
Second Base: Rich Aurilia
Shortstop: Ramon Martinez
Third Base: Joe Crede
Left Field: Garret Anderson
Center Field: Darin Erstad
Right Field: Jermaine Dye
Designated Hitter: Gary Sheffield

Bench: Rob Bowen, Rocco Baldelli, Ryan Freel, Chris Gomez

Starter: John Smoltz
Starter: Pedro Martinez
Starter: Jarrod Washburn
Starter: Braden Looper
Starter: Bartolo Colon

Closer: Kiko Calero

Bullpen: David Weathers, Joe Beimel, Ron Mahay, Eric Milton, Duaner Sanchez, Troy Percival

Not surprisingly, the team is weak up the middle, as catchers, shortstops, and center fielders have generally found jobs. The Martinez-Aurilia double play combination would be the worst in the game by a country mile. Erstad as a regular center fielder isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a good time either.

At the corners, though, this team could give some other clubs a run for their money. At least in name value, if not so much on the filed. Blalock, Crede, Dye, Anderson, Sheffield… you could do worse, honestly.

But, the strength of this team would be pitching. In fact, I’d dare say that the rotation might actually be league average, at least when those five are all healthy. They’d run into problems due to a lack of depth, but just on paper, it’s not a terrible rotation. The bullpen wouldn’t be a disaster either.

Just eyeballing projected WAR for this group, I’d think you’re looking at something like a true talent level 60 win team. They’d be bad, no question, but given the premise of limiting yourself solely to free agents who haven’t signed even after spring training has already started, I’m actually a little surprised at how decent of a roster you could put together.