Troy Tulowitzki took a called third strike in his first simulated game of spring trai

TAMPA David Freese Jersey , Fla. (AP) —ning and followed with a drive down the right-field line that would have been over Yankee Stadium’s right-field wall.“Honestly I feel good, ready to go,” he said. “Just excited to play.”Now 34, the five-time All-Star has not played in the major leagues since July 2017. He is projected to start at shortstop for the New York Yankees while Didi Gregorius recovers from Tommy John surgery.Tulowitzki missed last season because of bone spurs in his right and left heels.“Taking a full year off was tough for me,” he said. “But I think it’s built some character, it’s built some toughness, and it makes you appreciate it that much more being out there. It’s been a long road. It’s took it’s toll but I’m still here standing.”Gregorius is expected to return to the Yankees between June and August. Tulowitzki isn’t expressing worry about his role.“I care about just doing the best job I can to fill in for Didi,” he said. “Things work themselves out.”Tulowitzki topped .300 or better four times from 2010-14 and 90 RBIs from 2009-11, boosted by Colorado’s hitter-friendly Coors Field.He agreed last month to a one-year contract with the Yankees for the major league minimum $555,000. That will be offset against the $20 million he is owed by Toronto, which released him. The Blue Jays also are responsible for $14 million in salary for 2020 plus a $4 million buyout of a 2021 team option.“The question now for him is going to be the ability to bounce back and can he endure the rigors of being a regular,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He looks really good moving around in the field and where he’s at with his swing.”Boone said a plan is in place for Tulowitzki until mid-March and that he will play consecutive days before the team breaks camp.“The idea would be at some point middle of spring that we start to see some bounce back and that will kind of determine if he’s able to really be a regular,” Boone said.Tulowitzki has a no-trade provision in his deal with the Yankees. He hopes to find success in New York.“I’ve done a lot of things in my career,” Tulowitzki said. “The one thing that’s missing, I’ve been close, I haven’t won a ring.”MORE SWINGSGreg Bird, slowed by injuries last year and trying to unseat Luke Voit at first base, also took part in the simulated game. The left-handed hitter had three at-bats, including a walk and pop fly off a southpaw. “I think he’s added some weight in a good way,” Boone said. “I think, clearly, he feels like he’s through some of the physical things that we’re holding him back a little last year.” Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are the marquee names on this year's free-agent market, and both players could wind up signing record-breaking deals.They're not the only ones about to cash in, and for every excellent under-the-radar bargain signing, there's a player who winds up being massively overpaid.From unsustainable breakout performances to aging stars headed for a decline, free agency can be a minefield of financial pitfalls.Ahead is a closer look at six prime candidates to be overpaid this winter.SP Anibal Sanchez1 of 6Rich Schultz/Getty Images2018 Standard:24 GS, 7-6, 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 42 BB http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-hand-jersey , 135 K, 136.2 IP2018 Advanced:143 ERA+, 3.62 FIP, 3.85 SIERA, .255 BABIP, 26.3 Soft%WAR:3.0OutlookWhat a find Anibal Sanchez has been for the Atlanta Braves.The 34-year-old pitched to an atrocious 6.41 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 105.1 innings with the Detroit Tigers in 2017, wrapping up a five-year, $80 million deal in disastrous fashion.Not surprisingly, he generated little interest on the free-agent market, and after the Minnesota Twins released him from a minor league deal on March 11, he caught on with the Braves five days later.After nursing a hamstring injury early on, he returned from the disabled list May 29 and provided a consistent presence alongside breakout ace Mike Foltynewicz at the top of the rotation.While his 3.62 FIP lends credibility to his strong performance, there's little doubt he was the beneficiary of some good luck, as his .255 batting average on balls in play was the 10th-lowest mark among pitchers who threw at least 120 innings.Signing him to anything longer than a one-year deal would be a major risk.Buying low and betting on a bounce-back season from someone like Marco Estrada or Lance Lynn is a far better approach than buying high on Sanchez.2B Asdrubal Cabrera2 of 6Rich Schultz/Getty Images2018 Offensive:112 OPS+,.262/.316/.458, 60 XBH (23 HR), 75 RBI, 68 R2018 Defensive: -17 DRS, -10.1 UZR/150WAR:0.7OutlookPoint: Asdrubal Cabrera is still a major threat offensively after posting a 112 OPS+ and cranking out 60 extra-base hits last year.Counterpoint: Those numbers came amid deteriorating plate discipline, as his walk rate plummeted (9.3 to 6.9 percent) and his on-base percentage (.351 to .316)followed. He also hit just .228/.286/.392 for an 80 OPS+ in 185 plate appearances following his trade to the Philadelphia Phillies.Point: His defensive versatility adds to his value.Counterpoint: There's nothing valuable about playing multiple positions poorly. His minus-17 DRS and minus-10.1 UZR/150 at second base made him one of the worst defensive players in baseball, and he combined for minus-6.0 DRS in limited action at shortstop and third base.Final thoughts: For teams looking to add an impact utility player, Marwin Gonzalez and Eduardo Escobar will be infinitely better options. If you whiff on those two, you'll get more bang for your buck out of someone like Daniel Descalso or Logan Forsythe, and they'll likely both come cheaper than Cabrera.RP Zach Britton3 of 6Mike Stobe/Getty Images2018 Standard:41 G, 7 SV, 9 HLD, 3.10 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 21 BB, 34 K Manuel Margot Jersey , 40.2 IP2018 Advanced:140 ERA+, 4.22 FIP, 3.57 SIERA, .241 BABIP, 20.7 Soft%WAR:0.7OutlookZach Britton has dealt with some significant injury issues since turning in a Cy Young-caliber season in 2016.A left forearm issue sent him to the disabled list twice during a less-than-stellar 2017 season, and then he suffered a ruptured Achilles during the offseason.When he finally returned to action this past June, it took him some time to shake off the rust, but that didn't stop the New York Yankees from trading for him in July.The 30-year-old ended up pitching to a 2.88 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with three saves and eight holds in 25 appearances with the Yankees, and that surface-level resurgence should be enough to fuel his first foray into free agency.However, those seemingly strong numbers came with a 4.08 FIP, and even as he started to get a better feel for his stuff, he was still walking batters at a 4.0 BB/9 clip.In a market where Brett Cecil inked a four-year, $30.5 million contract two offseasons ago, there's a good chance Britton is massively overpaid. For teams in search of lefty relief help, aiming lower and signing someone like Jorge De La Rosa could yield similar results at a fraction of the price.SP J.A. Happ4 of 6Jim McIsaac/Getty Images2018 Standard:31 GS, 17-6, 3.65 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 51 BB, 193 K, 177.2 IP2018 Advanced:117 ERA+, 3.98 FIP, 3.64 SIERA, .272 BABIP, 20.5 Soft%WAR:1.6OutlookVeteran J.A. Happ was a game-changing addition for the New York Yankees at the trade deadline.In 11 starts after coming over from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 26, he went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 63.2 innings.He can be an excellent addition this offseason at the right price.The 35-year-old just wrapped up a three-year, $36 million deal, and continuing on at that $12 million price point gives him a chance to provide some positive value.However, signing him to anything beyond a two-yeardeal is risky given his age http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-hand-jersey , and anything beyond that salary could wind up being a massive overpay.As good as he was during his two months with the Yankees, he was pitching to a good-not-great 4.18 ERA in 20 starts prior to the trade, and that level of production is probably a safer bet going forward.CF A.J. Pollock5 of 6Michael Hickey/Getty Images2018 Offensive:106 OPS+,.257/.316/.484, 47 XBH (21 HR), 65 RBI, 61 R, 13 SB2018 Defensive:6 DRS, -1.6 UZR/150WAR:2.5OutlookA.J. Pollock was one of the most dynamic players in baseball during the 2015 season.He showed an impressive mix of contact, power and speed with a .315/.367/.498 line that included 39 doubles, 20 home runs and 39 stolen bases, also racking up 14 DRS in center field to win his first Gold Glove.Unfortunately, he's never been able to match that level of production.In the three seasons since that monster performance, he's played in 12, 112 and 113 games, missing time once again this season with a fractured thumb.It's more than just injuries, though.His walk rate has dropped from 7.9 percent in 2015 to 6.7 percent this season, and his strikeout rate has moved in the opposite direction from 13.2 to 21.7 percent. His defensive metrics have also never returned to that elite level.He's still the best center field option on the market and was a 2.5-WAR player this season, even with time missed to injury. Teams just need to make sure they're paying for what he is, and not what he used to be, or they could wind up massively overpaying.RP Andrew Miller6 of 6Bob Levey/Getty Images2018 Standard Stats37 G, 2 SV, 10 HLD, 4.24 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 16 BB, 45 K, 34.0 IP, 0.2 WAR2018 Advanced Stats104 ERA+, 3.51 FIP Austin Hedges Jersey , 3.29 SIERA, .329 BABIP, 14.9 Soft%OutlookLast time Andrew Miller was a free agent, he signed a landscape-altering four-year, $36 million deal with the New York Yankees.That was an unprecedented figure for a non-closer reliever, and his performance during the 2016 postseasonhelped usher in a new era of bullpen usage.For the first three years of that deal, he was absolutely in the conversation for best reliever in baseball. Serving a number of different roles, he posted a 1.63 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 14.4 K/9 with 17 wins, 50 saves and 52 holds in 187 appearances.However, a nagging shoulder injury cost him significant time this year, and he hasn't been his usual dominant self. Most notably, his signature slider has been far more hittable:2017:642 sliders,56.97% usage, .099 BAA, .053 ISO, 3 XBH, 76 K2018:320 sliders, 56.84% usage, .260 BAA, .208 ISO, 10 XBH, 26 KAt 33 years old, there's no guarantee he returns to his pre-2018 form.He's still capable of being an excellent addition to any bullpen, especially in a thin market for lefty relievers. There's a good chance someone trying to win it all in 2019 will overpay in both years and dollars and wind up regretting it on the back end.All stats courtesy ofBaseball ReferenceandFanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.