It’s one of my favorite times of year – Christmas trees, snowy yards lit up with rainbow lights, and roaring fires in the woodstove.

Oh. And it’s also the time that baseball’s men with checkbooks gather in a chosen city to swap offers and meet with player reps, just in time to deliver some delicious free-agent treats to their loyal fans.

We all know who the big names are on the MLB market this offseason. But there are a few under the radar guys who may pack a lot more punch for their respective salaries. Here’s a few.

Erik Bedard, Mariners SP
The injury plagued righty may be one his way out of Seattle. His career stats are good (51-41, 3.71 ERA), and if he’s healthy, he could be a major asset to any beleaguered rotation.

Vladimir Guerrero, Angels DH
Who would have though you’d find Big Bad Vlad on this list? Health problems have limited his mobility, but he can still hit. The future Cooperstown candidate needs a few more years to reach 3,000 hits, and may be willing to sign a modest deal this winter. Look for him to stay in the AL as a designated hitter.

Randy Wolf, Dodgers SP
Yeah, I know he’s not exactly flying under the radar, but he’s still one of the best value picks in this free agent class. He’s 33, and looks to have a few good years left. An 11-7 record with LA last season shows he can still win, and his 3.23 ERA and .227 average against show that he can still baffle hitters.

Brad Penny, Giants
I’ll admit it, this is a pretty pitching-heavy list. But given the lack of top-name arms on the market, GM’s are going to need some talented scouts (Call me, guys, please!). But back to Penny – he was 11-9 last season, and a change of scenery may do him good.

- Taylor Maxwell

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Tags | Baseball, Brad Penny, Erik Bedard, MLB, Randy Wolf, Vladimer Guerrero