Intriguing Surprise Free Agents The Yankees May Sign For 2015

As the 2014 season comes to a close, a number of players are realizing that their vesting contract options are either vesting or not. A vesting option is essentially a contract option that automatically gets turned on if certain requirements are met. Rather than being a “play option” or a “team option,” a vesting option takes the choice out of the equation. There are always exceptions to the rule, but it is easiest to think of a vesting option in this way if you have never heard of it before.

There are three players in particular with vesting options that may fail, leaving them as free agents this winter, that the Yankees should be monitoring in the off-season – Rickie Weeks, Dan Haren, and Rafael Soriano.

These are not the top three free agents this winter, failing to meet a vesting option usually implies that. However, all three could fill in well for the Yankees and their respective positions. The Yankees are expecting to land some huge names this off-season. These players could go under the radar and end up being inexpensive pieces to help complete the team.

Rickie Weeks has had a rough few years. The former second overall pick in the 2003 draft, he has turned from a once promising premiere second basemen to a platoon player with bright spot Scooter Gennett. For Weeks’ $11,500,000 2015 option to vest, he needed either 600 plate appearances in 2014 or 1,200 in 2013 and 2014, neither of which he is close to. Weeks batted .230 in 2012 and .209 last season, but he’s picked it up in 2014 hitting .269 with a .341 OBP. He has a modest 6 home runs and 25 RBI this season, but remember this is in just 255 plate appearances. While Weeks may not be high on the Yankees priority list after the trade for super utility Martin Prado, Weeks could be a strong middle infield help off the bench at the right price. After all, he is still only 31.

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Dan Haren actually has a strong chance of getting his option to vest. In order to secure a $10,000,000 contract for 2015, he needs to throw 180 innings this season. Currently, Haren is at 162 innings with just about three starts left. If he has a great game or if he is asked to pitch a fourth game at the end of the year, he is almost a lock for 180 innings. However, just in case Haren ends up sub 180 innings pitched, let’s take a look at what he has done lately. Haren is 12-10 with a 4.17 ERA this season. He has a WHIP of 1.25 and is striking out 6.9 batters per 9 innings. He is going to have his fourth straight year of 30+ starts in a season and is 33 years old. Haren is used to Southern California, pitching for both the Angels and the Dodgers.

There is no telling how he may fare in New York, but if Haren’s option does not vest this season he could be a surprise cheaper pitching option that could suit the team well. Year after year we hear that there is enough starting pitching and year after year the team needs a few a couple months into the season. Securing Dan Haren is worth considerable thought if the Dodgers let him get away.

Lastly there is Rafael Soriano. He is no stranger to the Yankees, pitching in the Bronx for two seasons, including 2012 when Mariano Rivera lost almost the entire season to a torn ACL. Soriano excelled in the closer role, actually being voted 20^th in the MVP race that season. For his option to vest, Soriano needs to have 120 finishes in 2013 and 2014. Currently, he sits at 104 and was just removed from the Nationals closer role. More likely than not, he has no chance at amassing 120 game finishes.

He hasn’t done poorly in his two years in Washington, earning a 3.11 and 3.04 in his two years there. He has lost a bit of his command recently, leading to his temporary removal from the closer’s role. His home run rate is down, his strikeout rate is up, his ERA is lower, and his WHIP is down. Statistically Soriano is having a better season than he had last year. That being said, he will turn 35 this winter and will expect a large contract. This is a guy the Yankees should look at only if David Robertson opts for free agency after the Yankees most likely give him a qualifying offer. Even if Robertson walks, they should only think about adding Soriano if he will come to the team on a team friendly deal. The Yankees have Dellin Betances ready to light up the ninth and do not need to spend here.

Of the three players mentioned here, Weeks has the best chance of being signed by the team. I predict Haren to reach his 180 innings threshold and for Soriano to take a 3 year $27 million dollar deal hopefully somewhere other than the Bronx. While the Yankees are set with Prado to play second next year, his versatility means he will be filling in a lot of spots during the year as injuries will inevitably pop up. Having Weeks ready off the bench could deliver a spark that Brian Roberts, Kelly Johnson, and Stephen Drew have all failed to do.

While the Yankees are busy getting another star player for $150 million this offseason, it may be one of these three that really helps the squad in 2015.