Big Props to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe for this post.  Though his entire notes column has some interesting tid-bits this week, I am borrowing his list of the team that could be made out of the still unsigned players based on how they performed last year. Some are unsigned because there is a lot of doubt whether they could do it again, ie Russel Branyan.  Here is Cafardo’s team:

First base: Russell Branyan, hit 31 homers for Seattle last year.

Second base: Orlando Hudson, four-time Gold Glover, .282 career hitter.

Shortstop: Orlando Cabrera, hit .284 last season with Twins and A’s, though the two-time Gold Glover made 25 errors.

Third base: Adam Kennedy, hit .289 with 11 homers for Oakland. (A true second baseman, but he played 82 games at third last season.)

Catcher: Rod Barajas, 20 homers for the Jays; started 110 games behind the dish.

DH: Hank Blalock, 25 homers for the Rangers.

Center field: Johnny Damon, World Series hero had 24 homers, 82 RBIs for Yankees.

Left field: Jermaine Dye, hit 27 homers for White Sox.

Right field: Rocco Baldelli. OK, not an everyday player anymore, but he can play more than he did in Boston.

Bench: OF Gabe Gross, OF Jonny Gomes (20 homers for Reds), C Jose Molina, INF Melvin Mora.

Starters: Jarrod Washburn, John Smoltz, Pedro Martinez, Jeff Weaver, Mark Mulder. It’s getting weaker the closer we get to spring training, but you would also have Erik Bedard and Chien-Ming Wang ready by June.

Relievers: Mike MacDougal (converted 20 of 21 save chances for Nationals), Kevin Gregg (23 of 30 for Cubs), Kiko Calero, Jamey Wright, Ron Mahay, Joe Beimel, Scott Schoeneweis.

Manager: Eric Wedge.

General manager: Kevin Towers.

As Cafardo asks, Do you think this team could beat a couple of Major League teams?  Which ones?  Let us know in the comments below.