Where are the “Suitors?”

We are now a little over three weeks from pitchers and catchers reporting, and check out the list of free agents who are still UNSIGNED:

• Manny Ramirez – Yes, we all know his weird personality and all the baggage, but wasn’t this guy THE BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL in the second half of the year last year, including the playoffs?  Maybe I don’t understand statistics, but I think hitting over .396 in a two-month span and .500 in the playoffs means you’re pretty good.  Oh, and he’s a power hitter.
• Bobby Abreu – Granted, I am biased because I love Bobby Abreu.  But, the numbers are objective.  1946 hits, 454 doubles, 53 triples, 241 HRs, 1,084 RBIs, 1,174 runs scored, 318 stolen bases, a .300 batting average, a .405 on-base percentage, and a .491 slugging percentage.  He is only 34, and had a steady season last year right in line with those career numbers.  He gets a bad rap for his defense, but that is only because he won an undeserving Gold Glove in 2005.  He is certainly NOT a butcher out there.  He has a rocket arm and is quick to the ball, he just doesn’t ever go near the fence.  Dare I say it, he is a much better fit for the Phillies than Raul Ibanez–oops, my bad.
• Ben Sheets – When healthy, he is a certifiable front-end starter.  Yes, he has injury issues, but any more than A.J. Burnett?
• Adam Dunn – I agree, the first thing that comes to my mind when I think “Adam Dunn” is “strikeout.”  But…the guy has hit 40 HRs in each of the last four years and has had an on-base percentage higher than .385 in four of the last five years.  That’s pretty good for a guy out of work.
• Oliver Perez – Again, you don’t think “superstar” when you hear his name, but Oliver Perez is the type of guy that usually gets like a 6-year, $70 million contract on the open market.  He’s a lefty with a proven track record.  At the very worst, he should be no less valuable than guys like Carlos Silva (4 years, $48 million) or Gil Meche (5 years, $55 million).
• Randy Wolf – I guess when you’re a poor man’s Oliver Perez and Oliver Perez is out of work, that means that you’re probably out of work too.  It just doesn’t make sense to me.
• Orlando Hudson – A good switch-hitting, defensively capable secondbaseman.  And, he is out of work.  At worst, he would be an upgrade for half the major league teams out there, probably more like three-quarters.
• And, there are plenty of others that could help any team from Pittsburgh to the Yankees.