Five intriguing players who were non-tendered and are currently free agents

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) The baseball non-tender deadline is usually quiet and unexciting. The players who aren’t given contracts by their clubs usually have major flaws, and are stuck trying to find a better opportunity elsewhere. Last season, for example, Everth Cabrera and Justin Smoak were two of the bigger names to be let go at the non-tender deadline.

This year, things were slightly different. Some fairly prominent guys (at least by non-tender standards) are now free agents. There’s a chance at least one of them could play a big role for a club this upcoming season.

[Elsewhere: Marcus Stroman won a prize on a Nickelodeon game show in the ’90s]

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five most intriguing players to hit the free-agent market following the non-tender deadline. Keep in mind these players were let go by their former clubs for a reason: They aren’t very good. None of them will be David Price next season, but all of them could provide value to a major-league club in the right scenario.

PEDRO ALVAREZ, 3B/1B/DH
Let’s face it, Pedro Alvarez isn’t a third baseman. Heck, he’s probably not even a first baseman. But he might just work as a designated hitter. Perhaps no player will benefit more from leaving the National League than Alvarez. He’s got flaws (everyone on this list does). Alvarez rarely makes contact, which is evidenced by his career .236 batting average. He also strikes out in an alarming 29.1 percent of his plate appearances. With that said, there are two things that make Alvarez valuable. He will walk at a decent clip and he can provide massive power. It’s the latter of the two that will make him an interesting signing for a club. Alvarez has topped 30 home runs twice in his career, and hit 27 dingers last season. If he’s kept away from lefties, Alvarez could hit .245 with 30 home runs as a DH. That’s an average bat these days, even if it’s not that exciting.

CHRIS CARTER, 1B/DH
Apparently, no one values power anymore. With Alvarez and Chris Carter hitting the market, that’s what it looks like, at least. Carter is basically a more extreme version of Alvarez. He’ll make even less contact and strike out more, but he’ll also walk more and can provide similar power numbers. Carter hasn’t shown any big splits at the plate, so he’s unlikely to improve if he finds himself in a platoon role. That makes him a less valuable asset than Alvarez. Carter’s skill set leads to plenty of frustration. It’s not fun to watch a guy strike out a million times and hit .210. But few guys in the league can pop 30 home runs. A team desperate for power could take advantage of that one skill.

HENDERSON ALVAREZ, SP
Henderson Alvarez is, and has been, a pretty decent pitcher in the majors, so what the heck happened here? Unsurprisingly, an injury happened. Alvarez battled shoulder woes in 2015, and only pitched 22 1/3 innings. Shoulder issues can kill a pitcher’s career, so picking up Alvarez carries a fair amount of risk. That said, if he’s healthy, Alvarez could slot in as a mid-rotation starter on almost any staff in the majors. His stuff has never blown hitters away, but he’s been able to rely on a great ground ball rate in order to get by. If he signs on with a club known for having a strong infield, he could be a nice bounce back candidate. All of this is predicated on Alvarez being healthy, however, and that’s no guarantee for a pitcher with a shoulder injury. He easily has the highest upside of any player on this list, though.

YUSMEIRO PETIT, SP/RP
Since joining the San Francisco Giants in 2012, Yusmeiro Petit has been a pretty useful pitcher. He’s an effective reliever, and has even shown flashes as an emergency starter. Over the past three seasons, he’s never posted an ERA above 3.69. That will play for most teams. Considering the success he’s had, it’s probably for the best that Petit remain in the same role moving forward. He should sign as a reliever, but should also be viewed as a possible sixth starter once an injury hits. If he’s used in a non-traditional reliever role, and gets over 100 innings, that would be a great way to maximize his value. That’s pretty much what the Giants did, so it shouldn’t be hard for the next team to figure this out.

WILL MIDDLEBROOKS, 3B
Will Middlebrooks will always have 2012. That season, Middlebrooks looked like a potential star at third. The 23-year-old hit .288/.325/.509, with 15 home runs, over 286 plate appearances. There were some reasons for concern, though, as he appeared undisciplined at the plate. Middlebrooks didn’t walk at all, and posted a fairly high strikeout rate. Many expected regression, but few expected him to be this bad. Injuries and ineffectiveness have limited Middlebrooks’ opportunities over the past few seasons. The upside here is that, at age-27, he’s still relatively young, and he plays a coveted position. The best third baseman currently on the market is David Freese and he’ll cost way more than Middlebrooks. Freese has actually produced in the majors, though, so that’s warranted. Once upon a time, Middlebrooks was a prospect with a bright future. While that player is likely gone, some team will take a shot hoping a fraction of that guy returns.