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« J.D. Drew - Major Shoulder Damage? | Main | Padres Close To Signing Giles »
Free Agent Leftovers
Taking a look at my Top 50 Free Agents list from November 2nd, only nine players remain. So far I've guessed correctly on 14 of the 41 signees (34%). That's already an improvement on last year, but I have to admit there were a lot of no-brainers.
More importantly, let's take a look at the nine leftovers and assess the possibilities.
4. Barry Zito - The Mets will meet with Zito this week. The Angels recently dropped out of the bidding. The Rangers have already made an offer, and the Giants seem to be on the fringe. If Zito craves the big stage, he'll become a Met. If it's all about the money, it seems that the Rangers will have the top offer. Would the Mets add a sixth year?
7. Roger Clemens - The Rocket will decide whether to pitch after the new year, and he'll choose between the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees for a possible 2/3 season. Sound familiar? The Red Sox may be strapped for cash, but leaving Jon Papelbon at closer and adding Clemens could make them the favorite in the AL East. If things are still up in the air in May or June, perhaps an injury among the five Yankee starters could put them back in the game. But right now, Houston is still the favorite.
27. Jeff Weaver - Last year's one-year contract/Boras ploy didn't work out, but Weaver can still get a multiyear deal in this market. The Cardinals might want him back; not many other suitors have emerged. Perhaps the Giants or the loser of the Zito sweepstakes will get involved. Last year, Weaver didn't sign until February.
28. Jeff Suppan - Arguably the second best free agent starter remaining. The Giants, Brewers, Pirates, Royals, and Blue Jays are still in the running for him. He'll wait for Zito to sign first.
35. Trot Nixon - He hasn't been terribly popular this offseason. The Pirates have made an offer, and the Orioles have some interest. The A's or Phils could still jump in if the price is right. One year, $7MM might get it done.
39. Mark Mulder - Mulder just got married this weekend. Congrats, Mark! I'm sure his new wife doesn't want him on the phone with his agent on the honeymoon, so a decision isn't forthcoming. He wants a two-year deal and the D'Backs, Cards, Rangers, Padres, Indians, Devil Rays, Orioles, or Giants could sign him. He's already got offers in hand from Texas, Arizona, and St. Louis despite the uncertainty of his shoulder.
46. Aubrey Huff - The last reliable, fairly young bat. The Pirates have been surprisingly disinterested, but the Orioles, Astros, or Phillies could make an offer. Houston doesn't have a ton of room for him though, and the O's signed Jay Payton. He might have to reduce his demand to a two-year contract and could be a bargain.
47. Craig Wilson - The only team to show even mild interest so far has been the Yankees. They're currently checking Doug Mientkiewicz's medical records and seem to be leaning that way. That leaves Wilson floating around as a poor man's Huff, unable to play any position well. Perhaps he should don the tools of ignorance again and market himself that way.
48. Ryan Klesko - Why wouldn't the Mariners sign a guy like this instead of trading for Jose Vidro? Klesko's said to be feeling good, and he could provide 20 HR and a nice OBP as a DH. The Giants and Orioles are the only interested parties right now.
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i think Klesko could be the bargain of the year. last year it was Borowski, who interestingly isnt on ur list. he a solid hitter who will hit around .270-.290 and hit 20-25 HR. He should DH, his defense has been declining, but if a NL team is willing to take tyhe chance go right ahead.
Posted by: bravesrule14 | December 17, 2006 at 08:47 PM
Craig Wilson could be a solid hitter off of the bench for a team. Hes no starter, but he could be platoonable.
Posted by: gopher | December 17, 2006 at 08:54 PM
although paps wont be closing. You think the sox MIGHT be the favorite in the Al East if we add clemens?
Wouldn't we pretty much be the favorite for the WS?
Posted by: GoBoSox420 | December 17, 2006 at 08:58 PM
Yeah, you know what's pretty interesting about that? He signed with the tribe a couple of weeks ago. :P
Unless I misintepretted your post, then nothing to see here.
Posted by: Ankur | December 17, 2006 at 09:00 PM
i should have said wasnt on the list my bad
Posted by: bravesrule14 | December 17, 2006 at 09:03 PM
"No, the Red Sox are not trading Beckett for a closer and, no, they are not after Roger Clemens unless he wants to end his career where it started for a fraction of what he made in Houston" - Peter Gammons 12/17/06
Posted by: Darin | December 17, 2006 at 09:10 PM
Hmm no interest in Clemens? I kind of find that hard to believe. Especially if he's coming back and picking between Yanks and Sox
Posted by: GoBoSox420 | December 17, 2006 at 09:12 PM
could he come to the Sox as a closer
Posted by: bravesrule14 | December 17, 2006 at 09:21 PM
No
Posted by: GoBoSox420 | December 17, 2006 at 09:24 PM
i thought so 2 much pride
Posted by: bravesrule14 | December 17, 2006 at 09:26 PM
And he's a starter, always has been.
Plus he'd have to be available nearly everynight, and with his Astros contract he didnt even have to be with the team.
Posted by: GoBoSox420 | December 17, 2006 at 09:27 PM
Surprised no Sammy Sosa on that list.
I would take him over Klesko
Posted by: Baseballfan79 | December 17, 2006 at 09:47 PM
Let's see here...
Barry Zito - Rangers
Roger Clemens - Red Sox will sign him, and he will hang up his spikes in Cooperstown as a member of the Red Sox.
Jeff Weaver - Cardinals will re-sign him, and he will be a free agent by the all-star break.
Jeff Suppan - I think the Blue Jays will sign him, and will compete with the Red Sox for the AL East crown.
Trot Nixon - Phillies will sign him, and he will take over the void Abreu left in right.
Mark Mulder - imagine if the Rangers signed him...see that rotation...zito, millwood, padilla, mulder, koronka, that would be the best of the west, but i'm guessing the d-backs will sign him.
46. Aubrey Huff - the Astros seem to be set with Ensberg, despite his disapointing year, why don't the M's sign him, since they already have two second basemen, why not two third basemen?
Craig Wilson - The Rangers would be a good fit, he can play OF, DH, and catch some.
48. Ryan Klesko - sounds good to me if he signed with the Pirates, he could mentor the Pirates young hitters, Bay, Duffy, Bautista, and Nady, and mix in and out with them too, and get his 20HRs everyone's expecting from him.
My predictions are soley predictions, notice I haven't gotten any calls from any teams looking for my advice.
Posted by: WebGemsRUs | December 17, 2006 at 10:16 PM
random rant: seriously what has happened to baseball?? i mean crap pitchers with huge contracts? j.c. i shoulda stayed with it, i ca only hit 50mph on a good day but i gotta mean sinker. is it just me or does the whole DH thing seem to screw things up? i like the DH personally, but when i hear of ryan klesko still playing, its like ok some guys need to hang it up
Posted by: Orioles2025 | December 17, 2006 at 10:34 PM
i dont think that is fair to klesko the guy has had a good career he is a solid player. if you want to talk about people who should hang it up then tell sosa to official retire. a team who picks up klesko could end up looking real smart. i would not be suprised at all if he hit .280/.370 with 20 homers.
Posted by: Kyle | December 17, 2006 at 10:46 PM
yeah, sosa dont even get me started...or canseco, these guys who just cant call it quits...but lets blame the teams who sign them and think the guys can actually return to their prime 10 yrs later...which the orioles are def guilty of
Posted by: Orioles2025 | December 17, 2006 at 10:49 PM
Tomo Ohka is a better pitcher than Jeff Suppan. Compare the peripharals, you'll see...
Posted by: eeleye99 | December 17, 2006 at 11:16 PM
IF OMAR GIVES ZITO 6 YEARS, I WILL BE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN HIM.
Right now, Omar is brilliant in my book.
If he commits 6 years to Barry "I am an average pitcher coming from a monster pitching park" Zito, Omar will just be good.
Barry Zito is so fucking overrated it isnt funny.
Take his 88 mph bullshit fastball to Texas.
I'll replace him with a plattoon of John Maine, Alay Soler, and save my 15-17 million for CC Sabathia or Carlos Zambrano.
Fuck Zito. The guy thinks he's a fucking actor/musician now.
Posted by: bsox21 | December 17, 2006 at 11:50 PM
"Tomo Ohka is a better pitcher than Jeff Suppan. Compare the peripharals, you'll see..."
you're right eeleye99.
These jerkoffs are too stupid to see this tho.
You gota understand something about this board.
It's not what the players do that people like here.
It's what the media says about them that attracts the dudes on this board.
Posted by: bsox21 | December 17, 2006 at 11:51 PM
hey i had a whole argument with stromstarter where i listed 75 pitchers better than Suppan dont get me started about him
Posted by: bravesrule14 | December 18, 2006 at 12:09 AM
Zito isn't THAT overrated. He'll do well in the NL at least, and in a big park like the Mets. If he stays in the AL though, he might not do well for long.
Posted by: eeleye99 | December 18, 2006 at 02:38 AM
Check his out. If you go to baseball-reference.com and neutralize Barry Zito's stats, so that every year of his career is in the NY Mets stadium in 2006, he'd have an ERA of 3.58 and 3.59 the last two years. If you do the same for the Texas Rangers, he'd have an ERA over 4 the last 3 years. His success in the Rangers park could be from small sample size and its bound to get worse in a hitters park. Blast being in a hitters park.
Posted by: eeleye99 | December 18, 2006 at 02:41 AM
Suppan would have his ass handed to him in the AL. He's already shown he can't pitch there.
Posted by: DentalPlan | December 18, 2006 at 03:23 AM
The problem with Ohka is that he is pitching with a rotator cuff tear and his velocity was down after he returned from it. And he may have some attitude issues.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/12/2007_mlb_free_a.html
I am not Suppan's biggest fan but there is less risk there.
Posted by: RotoAuthority | December 18, 2006 at 09:52 AM
Klesko reminds me Cliff Floyd. Great hitters but chances are they will miss 1/3 of a season, at least. If Klesko will sign for 2-3 million, then he would be a nice DH for the AL.
Posted by: Kostas | December 18, 2006 at 11:20 AM
whoever signs Suppan will be making the worst signing this offseason especially if its an AL club. I hate Suppan, everybody thinks that he is an above avergae starter. well guess wat guys hes not. i would take Ohka over him any day. even with the surgery he probably throws harder than Suppan
Posted by: bravesrule14 | December 18, 2006 at 12:29 PM
I know the Reds were looking at Craig Wilson at one point to platoon with Hatteberg at 1st and play some outfield. I have not heard much more than that about him though. I do know the Reds are in need of some pop. God I can't believe I am saying that. Only 1 year ago we were considered a powerhouse of hitting homers. Krivsky's only bonehead trade thus far lost the Reds a good chunk of their power hitting though. Oh well...
Posted by: JayTheRed | December 18, 2006 at 01:08 PM
"Jeff Suppan - I think the Blue Jays will sign him, and will compete with the Red Sox for the AL East crown."
Someone is on crack. Not because of you thinking Soup will go to the Blue Jays but hello? not including the Yankees in this competing for the AL East thing. I believe they have won the last 9 AL East crowns if I'm not mistaken....
Posted by: ramaboy28 | December 18, 2006 at 04:31 PM
"Jeff Suppan - I think the Blue Jays will sign him, and will compete with the Red Sox for the AL East crown."
Someone is on crack. Not because of you thinking Soup will go to the Blue Jays but hello? not including the Yankees in this competing for the AL East thing. I believe they have won the last 9 AL East crowns if I'm not mistaken....
Posted by: ramaboy28 | December 18, 2006 at 04:32 PM
papelbon CANNOT be a closer any longer. his shoulder can't take the daily workload. this has been well publicized. he will be a starter and there is no other option. the red sox would not be struggling to find a closer if they had the option of having him close. they would have moved hom back and signed lilly/padilla/meche or some other mediocre starter instead.
Posted by: uncannymanny | December 18, 2006 at 05:57 PM
Ok, I am not a Suppan fan, and I'm a cubs fan, so there is NO bias here. But, if I were going to the playoffs, I would LOVE to see Suppan as my 3rd or 4th starter.(Preferably 4th) There has never been such an average pitcher that seems like he is so clutch when it counts. Like I said, I dont even like Suppan and he is going to be WAY overpaid, but you can't argue with the way he pitches in the playoffs.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | December 19, 2006 at 12:35 PM