The Devil Rays vs. the Island of Misfit Players

Just a few days left until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. Right now the only remaining baseball free agents could properly be described as flotsam and jetsam or as wretched refuse. Even still - I wondered if you could assemble a team from this cast of misfit players that would still be better than the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

1st Base:
Devil Rays: Travis Lee
Misfit Players: John Olerud
Edge: Lee was a member of the misfit players until just recently. Olerud may retire rather than play again but I think his defense and his health (relative to Lee) gives him the edge here.

2nd Base:
Devil Rays: Roberto Alomar
Misfit Players: Carlos Baerga
Edge: I'm willing to call this a tie. Both players are way past their prime but I think Baerga is probably more comfortable with that fact while Alomar may think of himself as an elite player still.

3rd Base:
Devil Rays: Alex Gonzalez
Misfit Players: Todd Zeile (Robin Ventura is my first choice but he's probably retired for good)
Edge: Gonzalez has a career .287 OBP (let that sink in for a minute). I have to think that when Rocco Baldelli come back from his injury that Aubrey Huff will be moved back to third but for now - the Devil Rays have a guy with a career .287 OBP manning the hot corner. Zeile, Mark McLemore or Mike Mordecai all provide better offensive options for the Misfits while Gonzalez would have a better glove (except over Ventura). Call this one a draw.

Short stop:
Devil Rays: Julio Lugo (with BJ Upton close behind)
Misfit Players: Barry Larkin
Edge: Misfit players. I will not argue this one. Larkin has enough in the tank for one season better than anyone the Rays put at short.

Catcher:
Devil Rays: Toby Hall
Misfit Players: Sandy Martinez
Edge: At worst this is a draw but after seeing Martinez with the Red Sox last year, I think over a course of a season the Misfits would have the edge. Toby Hall is Toby Hall. That means a 10 HR, 50 RBI, .260 BA line - how hard would it be to match that production? Still we'll call it a draw.

Outfield:
Devil Rays: Daniel Bautista, Carl Crawford, and Aubrey Huff
Misfit Players: Ray Lankford, Darren Bragg and Robert Fick
Edge: The Rays have a big time advantage here. In fact when Rocco Baldelli is healthy - Tampa has one of the better outfields in baseball.

Starting Pitching:
Devil Rays: Hendrickson, Kazmir, Brazelton, Waechter and Fossum
Misfit Players: Andy Ashby, Todd van Poppel, Moe, Larry and Curly
Edge: Maybe the only team in baseball that the Devil Rays have an edge in starting pitching is over the mythical Misfits.

Closer:
Devil Rays: Danys Baez
Misfit Players: Robb Nenn
Edge: If healthy this goes to Nenn and the Misfits. Let's be hopeful for Nenn and call this one a draw.

I think the strength of the outfield and the relative strength of the starting pitching give Tampa Bay the clear advantage over the team of Misfit Players. However, the fact that you can even make this comparison tells you how bad Tampa Bay really is. What was Lou Pinella thinking when he signed that contract?