2008 MLB Free Agents

Let's take a look ahead to the free agency class after the 2007 season.  Of course, some of these guys will be signed before reaching free agency.  They're ranked by their 2006 WARP and their age for the 2008 season is in parentheses.

Updated 3-2-07

1. John Smoltz (41)
2. Carlos Zambrano (27)
3. Joe Nathan (33)
4. Mariano Rivera (38)
5. Jorge Posada (36)
6. Curt Schilling (41)
7. Bobby Abreu (34)
8. Ichiro Suzuki (34)
9. Andruw Jones (31)
10. Carlos Guillen (32)
11. Jeff Kent (40)
12. Mike Lowell (34)
13. Jason Jennings (29)
14. Jake Westbrook (30)
15. Ivan Rodriguez (36)
16. Freddy Garcia (32)
17. Kenny Rogers (43)
18. Torii Hunter (32)
19. Jason Isringhausen (35)
20. Omar Vizquel (41)
21. Marcus Giles (30)
22. Eric Byrnes (32)
23. Paul Lo Duca (36)
24. Bob Wickman (39)
25. Corey Patterson (28)
26. Adam Dunn (28)
27. Scott Linebrink (31)
28. Michael Barrett (31)
29. Milton Bradley (30)
30. Jon Lieber (38)
31. David Eckstein (33)
32. Aaron Rowand (30)
33. Juan Uribe (29)
34. Bartolo Colon (35)

2008 Free Agent All-Star Team

C - Jorge Posada
1B - Carlos Guillen
2B - Jeff Kent
SS - Omar Vizquel
3B - Mike Lowell
LF - Adam Dunn
CF - Andruw Jones
RF - Ichiro Suzuki

SP - John Smoltz
SP - Carlos Zambrano
SP - Jake Westbrook
SP - Curt Schilling
SP - Jason Jennings

RP - Joe Nathan
RP - Mariano Rivera
RP - Scott Linebrink

Comments

[Ankur]

That is one hell of a FA class.

But I could see Smoltz, Kent, Hoffman, Kenny Rogers, Wickman, Randy Johnson, Vizquel, Schilling, Lo Duca, and even Pudge all retiring. There are a lot of vets on that list.

I could also see key guys like Ichiro, Dunn, Young, Wells, Jones, Hunter, and Giles being traded and locked up by their new teams.

And I can't imagine teams like the Cards and Cubs letting their aces go either...

We'll see how it plays out, it should be pretty exciting stuff.

[quintjs]

Agree with the first post, Some of these players will be getting near done after 2007.

You look at that list, and its hard to see names like Nathan, Hunter, Jones, Eckstein, Carlos Guillen, Posada etc actually ever reaching FA, plus the list of the first guy.

Why would you trade/not resign this player moment - Mike Lowell at No. 14!

Maybe not 9million a year, but Great defense, and Average hitting.

[start_wearing_purple]

Agree Ankur, except on Lo Duca and Pudge.

I wouldn't be suprised if the yanks let posada walk, especailly if they can trade shef for some decent catching prospect.

Carpenter will stay a Card, no way he'll leave Dave Duncan (probably the same story for suppan and weaver this year). Betting Zambrano will test the market, especially if Zito and Matsuzaka get in the 13-15 mil range.

[achilles17]

Lo Duca will only be 35 next offseason - he isn't going to retire quite yet. Ditto with pudge, he will me 35/36, and he's too good still to retire.

Posada won't walk provided he does well next year. This year was his best year all around - he had a very good year at the plate, and without a doubt his best year defensively. He may not get a huge, long term deal, but if he keeps playing like this they Yankees would be foolish not to stick with him. Obviously, the same is true with Mariano - he's going to be a Yankee for the rest of his life, so provided he doesn't retire for some reason, he will most definitely get a new contract with the Yankees.

As for the others, I agree. Some will retire, some will get extensions, and some will get traded and then get extensions for a new team. Yes, some will hit free agency, but I have a feeling some of the most valuable guys on that list will never hit the open market.

[ptk420biatch]

Zambrano will not make it to the point of testing free agency. He is going to get signed during this season, I guarantee that.Not even the cubs are dumb enough to let him get to that point.

[MarkH]

ptk-

Yeah, you know, I've been really surprised that there hasn't been a bigger emphasis by the media on getting Z locked up this offseason. That should be one of the biggest priorities for the Cubs (if not the biggest priority). I wouldn't even mess w/ arbitration this winter, I'd go straight for a 5-year deal.

[bamabosoxfan]

That is one great free agent class. You're right when you talk about Smoltz, Johnson, Schilling, Kent, Hoffman, Rogers, and Wickman. If ANY of them play in '08 it will be a much smaller role than they are used to.

Pudge I don't agree with. Even when he can't catch anymore (it's a proven fact that catchers have bad knees) he'll play first or DH. I would bank more on DH.

Zambrano won't make the free agent market. I agree that the Cubs need to lock him down NOW. Then they need to try to trade Wood and Prior and get whatever they can out of them.

ON THE CUBS, does anyone know Wade Miller's status for 2007? He was a great pitcher in '04 in Houston, then came to Boston and Chicago and injuries have hampered both '05 and '06. It would be good to see him healthy, performing at a good 3rd or 4th starter level.

[A2000]

Ok this would be a lot for Schuerholtz to think about doing but say the Braves pick up Eckstein (if hes willing to play second base or we could move him to short and have Rent at 2nd) and pick up another big bat in Dunn. Thinking along the lines of a lineup like
1. Eckstein
2. Renteria
3. C. Jones
4. A. Jones
5. Dunn
6. Laroche
7. Francoeur
8. McCann
9. Pitcher.
And then maybe try to get Maddux and Glavine back but I see that causing too many problems. Get some bullpen help in Linebrink and maybe add a Zito to add an inning eater. I know most of this is fantasy, but just think about all that could be done with the FA's of this year. This is one crazy class of 'em.

[Bananasmstdie]

Sounds ok, but the Eckstein might not happen, 90% chance the Cardninals will resign him (my opinion) but don't listen to me, im a Yankee =)

[ptk420biatch]

A2000 you are living in a dream world hoping or even wishing for that lineup. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

[akirell]

A200, as a fellow Braves fan, I gotta say that lineup looks appetizing, but I doubt it'd happen and I sort of prefer it that way. Dunn, while an enormous force in the power rankings, strikes out way too much to be batting behind Andruw who strikes out a good amount also. If Francoeur keeps it up with his lack of plate discipline, then that'd make three players in the bottom half of the lineup that have the potential to strikeout 100+ times per season.

Anyway, in regards to the list of free agents, I can see a few of them retiring or re-signing with their teams. As a Braves fan, I can't help but tell myself that Smoltz and Andruw will remain Braves until the end. Marcus Giles I don't really concern myself with so much as he hasn't proven to be entirely reliable. I like him and all, but there are definitely better options out there and in the future we could definitely pick up some second-base help via a trade involving a few prospects or free agency. I don't really know, though, because I am not Schuerholz.

Overall this list looks to make winter '07 an interesting one.

[atticusdude3]

Wade Miller started a couple of games for the cubs this year at the end of the season. He is supposed to be fully ready by spring training, but he is a free agent so it will be interesting to see if someone will take a chance on him.

[MadMatt15]

this list is impressive but already we know a few are gong nowhere. Schilling for example has said 07 will be his last season and their is a 0% chance he doesn't spend it in boston.
many of the top named will be resigned ,especially pitchers as an ace starting pitcher is more valuable tha anything else in my opinion.

[Not Joe Morgan]

David Eckstein (laughs, shakes head).

Can you imagine Adam Dunn getting a year or two in Yankee Stadium (I forget when the new one opens)? He'd be a legit threat to hit 60+.

[MadMatt15]

ummm, that makes sense joe morgan because cincinatti is much more of a hitters ball park than yankee stadium??

[MSG New Media]

This is one scary list. I can't wait for next year's activity. Hopefully it will make everyone forget about the insanity that was this year's free agency period.

Check out my blog at http://msg.typepad.com/the_knuckler for my thoughts on this class and the upcoming season.