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« Taking The Plunge | Main | What's Next For Oakland? »
Remaining Top 50 Free Agents
On November 5th, I posted my Top 50 Free Agents list. Let's take a spin through to see what remains. I've included my old predictions for reference.
7. Barry Bonds - Padres. The Friars seem content to go with Scott Hairston/Jason Lane/Chase Headley in left field; I doubt they'll be signing Bonds. With the A's effectively out of the picture I have no idea where he ends up. But that 3,000 hit milestone is lingering for him.
15. Mike Cameron - Astros. This won't happen; the 'Stros are set with Michael Bourn in center. Possible suitors: Twins, Brewers, Cardinals, Reds, Braves.
18. Bartolo Colon - Mariners. This still could happen. Other possibilities: the Royals, Nationals, Mets, Rangers, and Phillies.
19. Jason Jennings - Rockies. I like the idea of Jennings returning to Coors, but the Rockies seem pretty full if they ink Josh Towers. The Rangers, Astros, Nationals, Royals, and Mets are possible suitors (similar to Colon).
24. Kyle Lohse - Cardinals. Will the Cards throw down $40MM to add an innings eater to their rotation? Probably not. Aside from the Mets the market for him has been dead so far.
25. Roger Clemens - Retirement. Clemens could definitely still retire, or he could try to hook on with the Astros or Red Sox at a large discount. Would he consider other clubs?
26. Livan Hernandez - Mariners. The Ms got their innings eater in Carlos Silva. Livan is a possibility for all of the usual suspects - Mets, Phillies, maybe the Astros and Reds.
27. Hitoki Iwase - Reds. Just heard he'll stay in Japan on a one-year, $4MM deal.
29. Kenshin Kawakami - Royals. According to RotoWire on December 3rd, Kawakami is a free agent and should decide sometime soon whether to jump over to MLB. He makes an interesting sleeper if he does.
31. Freddy Garcia - Padres. The Padres have reached their quota on rehabbers. The Mets are eyeing Garcia; the Rangers don't seem interested. Garcia had surgery to repair a frayed rotator cuff and labrum in August.
34. Shannon Stewart - White Sox. This prediction ain't happening. There has been almost no buzz on Stewart thus far.
35. Kazumi Saito - Not Posted. Haven't heard anything about the Hawks posting him - he's not eligible for free agency.
38. Pedro Feliz - Yankees. Oops, they'll go with the best hitter in baseball at third instead. McCovey Chronicles doesn't want him back on the Giants, but it's still possible.
42. Kenny Lofton - Twins. I could still see this happening if the Twins don't get a center fielder via a Johan trade. Otherwise Lofton can try to re-engage the Brewers. Some interested club is bound to pop up once Cameron and Corey Patterson sign.
48. Luis Gonzalez - Twins. This move probably won't be necessary with Delmon Young, Jason Kubel, and Michael Cuddyer all in tow. Jerry Crasnick wrote a Gonzo article today, naming the Twins, White Sox, Rangers, Rays, Brewers, and Giants as teams that talked with his agent but didn't pan out.
50. Jon Lieber - Nationals. He could end up in Washington if he'll take a one-year deal. Talks apparently died with Houston, but the Mets, Reds, Royals, and Rangers are options.
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That's an interesting look, Tim. Cameron is so intriguing to me at this point. I mean, who's really left that would fit? The Twins, Braves, Brewers, that's about it. The Phils/Rangers/Pads/White Sox all appear out on him now. I really think someone's going to get a HUGE bargain on him for 1-2 years when you factor in park effects.
I still think he makes SO much sense for the Twins if they keep Johan. Yes, he'll have to sit for 25 games, but in that time, they can get a look at newly acquired Jason Pridie (acquired in the Young/Garza deal) there and see his potential. Plus, Young and Monroe can both play there for a game or two in a pinch, though it probably won't be pretty.
Just seems like he will be a VERY reasonable get for something like $10 M over 2 years at this point.
Lofton is also intriguing.
Jennings clearly tops the remaining starters in my mind, when you consider risk/reward. By all reports Colon's medical indications are REALLY scary right now. Jennings on a 1-2 year incentive laden deal makes a ton of sense for someone (yes, even the Twins if Johan is gone). And Jennings could then (hopefully for him) re-establish value and hit the motherload on the FA market in a year or 2.
Posted by: djskilbr | January 03, 2008 at 11:54 PM
I don't think Kawakami is a free agent. He wasn't on any of the free agents lists posted by japanball.com or japanesebaseball.com (both in English, if anyone was curious). There doesn't seem to be much of a rumbling on any postings coming out of Japan this offseason. Maybe next year.
Posted by: CJax33 | January 03, 2008 at 11:58 PM
You could be right about Kawakami...I will dig around some more.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | January 04, 2008 at 12:01 AM
The sox should get Shannon Stewart, he's a lead-off man right? Plays outfield, bats Right though, but his career BA is .298, anything above career .285 is good in my book especially playing over 10 years in the bigs
Posted by: ChicagoWhiteS0xFan | January 04, 2008 at 12:44 AM
The Sox have no room for Stewart. They're going with Carlos Quentin in LF, Swisher in CF, and Dye in RF.
Posted by: CJax33 | January 04, 2008 at 01:06 AM
Jason Jennings, Twins??
The guy is 4,97 career ERA in the NL. He would be eaten alive in the AL.
No way his ERA comes in under 6 in the AL and would you give millions for that kind of return?
Posted by: slashieboy | January 04, 2008 at 02:31 AM
The Royals signed Hideo Nomo to a minor-league deal, I can not find any connection to Nomo and Kenshin Kawakami other than their common Nationality. But signing a 39 year old pitcher that has not pitched in two years does not make a lot of sense.
Posted by: wcg1380 | January 04, 2008 at 08:01 AM
I'm pretty sure Clemens would pick Houston over Boston. Astros need him much more than Boston, and would pay him as such, but I don't know how welcoming the fans would be.
Posted by: jatorres | January 04, 2008 at 10:00 AM
I firmly believe Jennings could do better than that. Let's not forget that a lot of that time for him was in Colorado, so you can't look at just "NL" with him. Also, his main problem has been walks. Rick Anderson is a wonderful pitching coach in helping pitchers reduce their walks. And the Twins were heavily involved in trading for him LAST season but couldn't beat the Astros' offer. I could easily see this happening actually if Johan is gone. Just a vet to help stabilize the rotation for a year with all the kids.
Who would your choice be? They're not going to bring back Lohse, that's for sure. And he wouldn't sign a 1-year deal anyway.
To me, Jennings and Benson are the best FA gets left because they'll both probably sign 1 year deals, both have some talent that could be harnessed, and their injuries aren't THAT bad (like Colon).
Posted by: djskilbr | January 04, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Tim- what do you think or have you heard anything on the Astros remaining FAs... Trever Miller, Brian Moehler, Orlando Palmeiro, & Cody Ransom. I like the fit of all of them staying with the Stros, any chance they will re-sign any of them? They would be foolish not to...although I guess foolish is definitely part of Wade's vocabulary these days.
Posted by: scurda | January 04, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Kawakami is not a free agent until next year, the folks over at japanesebaseball.com say. So MLB teams will have to wait a while longer on him.
Posted by: CJax33 | January 04, 2008 at 05:54 PM