When the Cleveland Indians declined their $9 million option on center fielder Grady Sizemore on Monday, they put perhaps the biggest risk/reward player on this offseason's free-agent market.
Plagued by injuries (surgeries on his left elbow, left groin, left knee and right knee) the past three seasons, Sizemore has been just a shell of the player who was an All-Star from 2006-08. During that span, his average season consisted of 28 homers, 81 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, 118 runs and a .380 on-base percentage.
Although Sizemore hit just .224 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in 71 games this season, plenty of teams still see his upside.
"Grady is not going to rule out playing for anyone, including the Indians," Sizemore's agent, Joe Urbon, told The Plain Dealer of Cleveland. "The only difference is now he is able to engage with all 30 teams."
Among the other teams expected to show interest in Sizemore: the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals.
Sizemore, 29, could fill the Red Sox's void in right field, and the Boston Globe reports Sizemore is willing to shift from center field to a corner outfield position. Boston could offer him an incentive-laden deal and a chance to rebuild his value while playing with a contender.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports the Nationals have interest in Sizemore as a center fielder. In that scenario, the team could keep Jayson Werth in right and address its biggest need (a center fielder) without having to surrender anyone in a trade (perhaps for Tampa Bay Rays center fielder B.J. Upton or Minnesota Twins center fielder Denard Span).
Until 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, however, the Indians will have exclusive negotiating rights with Sizemore. And The Plain Dealer reports Cleveland will have to find a replacement for him if he signs elsewhere because it doesn't have a center fielder on the 25-man roster or one who is ready in the high levels of its minor league system.
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