The Left Fielder Market Revisited

Time for another look at the market for left fielders. The Mets figure to be surveying these options.  A trend here: teams don’t seem terribly motivated to move the top players.

• Matt Holliday, Rockies.  Holliday, a Scott Boras client, is signed for ’09 at $13.5MM.  The Rockies’ asking price seems to be fantastically high.
• Jason Bay, Pirates.  The Bucs are not motivated to trade Bay, who is signed for next year at just $7.5MM.  An extension seems more likely than a trade.
• Adam Dunn, Reds.  There hasn’t been much buzz around Dunn, for some reason.  He’s got a very Dunn-like .230/.387/.550 line, which includes a staggering 75 walks in 385 plate appearances.  He’s likely to be a Type A free agent after the season, and I don’t buy the logic that the Reds are afraid to offer him arbitration for fear he’ll accept.
• Xavier Nady, Pirates.  Nady is generally a right fielder, but he can play left.  He is under team control but not contract for ’09.  He is in the midst of the best year of his career and has a host of suitors.  Dejan Kovacevic says "truly elite prospects are not on the table" in possible trades, though.
• David DeJesus, Royals.  The 28 year-old DeJesus is also having a career-best season, flashing more power than ever.  He can play all three outfield positions; his team-friendly contract runs through 2010 with an option for ’11.  It would take a lot for the Royals to trade their (arguably) best hitter.
• Raul Ibanez, Mariners.  The Ms could choose to keep Ibanez, both for his leadership and in an attempt to avoid an even more embarrassing offense.  He has a good shot at Type A free agent status, too.
• Casey Blake, Indians.  Blake seems likely to be traded; he could be someone’s Plan B to Nady.  He’s been raking since the beginning of June and is a free agent after the season.
• Chris Duncan, Cardinals.  Duncan’s power disappeared sometime around August of last year.  The 27 year-old looks like more of a platoon/bench guy.
• Juan Rivera, Angels.  Rivera is making the most of regular playing time, and isn’t expendable.
• David Dellucci, Indians.  Dellucci can only be used against righties, and he hasn’t hit them particularly well since ’06.  He’s signed for ’09 at $4MM.
• Jay Payton, Orioles.  Payton has been lousy and seems like a DFA candidate.
• Dave Roberts, Giants.  The injury-prone speedster is under contract for $6.5MM in ’09.  He’ll return from the DL on Wednesday and figures to take a bench role behind Fred Lewis.
• Marlon Byrd, Rangers.  Byrd, 30, hasn’t been able to match last year’s .814 OPS.  He’s under team control for ’09 and can play all three outfield positions.  Byrd dealt with knee inflammation earlier in the year.
• Frank Catalanotto, Rangers.  Catalanotto is a useful utility man.  However, he’s owed $4MM in ’09 and a $2MM buyout in ’10.
• Kenny Lofton, free agent.  Lofton posted an .838 OPS against righties last year, but he remains unemployed.  He should get a job soon if his price is reasonable.
• Barry Bonds, free agent.  Bonds’ agent Jeff Borris tells us his client could be ready to play in ten days.  Borris says Bonds would play for the league minimum but all 30 teams have passed.  Bonds could help several clubs, but those teams don’t want his baggage.