Tribe Has Decisions To Make

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has a well thought out column up today regarding the possible market value of Jake Westbrook, Travis Hafner, and C.C. Sabathia.  Westbrook would hit free agency after this season; the other two after ’08.

His take on Westbrook: four or five years at $12.5MM annually.  Westbrook’s agent has yet to speak with Mark Shapiro.  Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon-Journal weighs in at five years and $15MM annually.

You can bet Travis Hafner wouldn’t be underrated on the open market, even as a DH.  Pronk could hit 50 HR this year.  Hoynes thinks it would require five or six years at $12-17MM annually for him.  I think he would get at least $15MM for the AAV.  Teams that might need a DH in 2009: Baltimore, Toronto, L.A., Seattle, and Texas (where it all began).  Of the three, Hafner probably makes the least sense for Cleveland to sign long-term. Ocker sees him getting 100/6.

Sabathia is another guy whose best season could be 2007.  Carlos Zambrano’s deal, whether reached now or after the ’07 season, could serve as a framework.  Sure, Sabathia is heavy, but he’s also young and very good.  I’m thinking five years, $75MM.  Ocker counters with $135MM over seven seasons.