Free agent Jeff Francis drawing interest?

Free agent pitcher Jeff Francis is drawing interest from at least five teams on the open market, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The Mets, Nationals, Pirates, Rangers, Yankees, and Blue Jays have shown varying degrees of interest in the southpaw.

Francis, whose best year came in 2007 when he posted a 17-9 record, has not pitched a full season since that year. He has appeared in at least 20 games each of the past seasons, but has combined to go 8-16 in those two seasons with a combined 5.01 ERA. 

Francis is a solid buy-low option and is intriguing for several teams. He could put up the same numbers as, say, Carl Pavano, if healthy and is even more devastating because he is a lefty. 

His market should pick up after the holiday when some of the bigger players remaining sign with new clubs.