Topkin On Rocco Baldelli

I recently named the St. Petersburg Times' Marc Topkin as Rumor Royalty for the Rays. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for the site. MLBTR: Do you expect Rocco Baldelli to be with the Rays on Opening Day? What kind of trade value does he have right now? Topkin: I definitely expect him to be there, as much because the Rays need him badly the way the team is presently constructed as because his trade value is so low because of his lack of playing time due to a series of injuries. I can't imagine the Rays...

2009 MLB Free Agents

Presenting...your 2009 free agent class. It's fun to look ahead, even if many of these guys will be off the market a year from now. Just to clarify, the players below are eligible for free agency after the 2008 season. I've categorized them by position; the player's 2009 age is in parentheses. If I saw someone as a possibility at more than one position I put them at both. Updated 4-25-08 Catchers Rod Barajas (33) Michael Barrett (32) Johnny Estrada (33) Jason Kendall (35) - club option for '09; vests with 110 games played in '08 Paul Lo Duca (37)...