2009 Top 50 Free Agents

Sabathia going anywhere but NY would be awesome.

He'll be in Pinstripes, but damn it would be awesome.

Pat the bat in Tampa? Not bad

I really want Bradley or Butler for that DH spot though.

Who's going to replace Giambi/Abreu's production?

One rumor of the Nats needing a clean-up hitter and that was enough to persuade you to blieve Dunn isn't going to KC?

Stupid Jacobs trade...

Tim, if the Royals don't get a slugger via FA, that means they'll have to make a trade? (another trade)

RaysFan, Butler for niemmann? Too much? Not Enough?

Ivan Rodriguez a Met? They already have 2 catchers and have more important needs. Also, he sucks now.

Mets not coming away with any High End Starter to replace Perez? Not likely.

Don't really care for Pudge either, don't see where he's an upgrade over what the Mets already have at this point. In fact, it's probably a downgrade.

Don't the Mets need to be much.. more active than signing a washed up catcher?
a pitcher or three, relievers or 5, and a corner OF?

I think you should rethink this because I find it highly unlikely that the Red Sox will only sign Varitek and Kawakami. That means they'll lower their salary about $30 million.

If they can't sign Teixeira, they'll turn to Burnett. If they can't sign Burnett, they'll turn to Lowe. If they can't sign Lowe, they'll turn to Sheets. But there's NO WAY they lower their salary by $30 million.

"

Sox have all this money coming off the books as well and we're in the hunt for one Japanese free agent?

No love Tim...no love..."

More like realism. The Sox are, for the most part, sitting pretty. Notice they didn't make a single big splash last offseason and still managed to get within one game of the World Series with multiple big injuries across the course of the season. Bartolo Colon was probably the single biggest move the Sox made last year.

They'll make a push for Teixeira and Burnett in all likelihood, but not so hard as many others will. The only pressing need the Sox have, the bullpen, is a complete crapshoot that is better resolved internally considering how inconsistent most middle relief is from season to season. Even with an allegedly down offensive year, the Sox still had the third most runs scored in the MLB.

All the Sox need to do is via trade. Shop around Crisp and a couple of the farm guys, see if we can get some catching help and then just work on locking up arbitration eligibles like Papelbon and Youkilis.

Sometimes the best move is the one you don't make.

14. Bobby Abreu - Cubs. This would be a bad idea, Im sure Abreu would cost 3yrs 12mm or so, and thats bad money spent for a left handed DeRosa...

Except, having a right-handed loaded line-up was one of the biggest reasons the cubs tanked this postseason. A 2-3-4-5 of Lee, Ramirez, Abreu, and Soriano would fit nice.

"Sometimes the best move is the one you don't make."

There are two noticeable differences between this year and last. First, the Sox have 30+ million coming off the books, with the ticket prices they're charging they better not pocket the majority of that money. Second, last year they were coming off a WS win. It was ok to stand pat and see what happens.

This year they got beat, they're aging and some of the young guys ain't performing. There is no reason whatsoever to not pick up one of Lowe/Burnett/Sheets on a reasonable 3-4 year deal. Wake is gone after this year, Buchholz has to prove himself and Bowden is still only 22.

With the Yanks and Rays presumably improving, re-signing Tek and picking up one Japanese pitcher is just kind of sad.

I agree with Obsessions that Theo won't do a deal just for giggles....He seems very mathmatical about his moves.

But the fact remains that there is an obvious need for an impact bat. There is too much uncertainty around the "what if's" like Papi bouncing back and Lowell recovering from hip surgery. I love Bay, but he is not that bat. He is not feared by 99% of the pitchers that he will face like Manny was.

Sign Tex....plain and simple. Otherwise, make a trade.

Makes sense to me. Jon Daniels will be spending all his time updating his card collection instead of upgrading the pitching staff.

Suprised you only have Juan Rivera as an 'honorable mention'. Virtually every team looking for outfield help that I have read about is showing interest in him as their "plan B".

This will all change when the Cubs get Jake Peavy, Adrian Gonzalez, and Khalil Green from the Padres.

I wish!!

Does the signing of Mike Maddux for the pitching coach for Texas influence Sheets decision any on where he signs?

"14. Bobby Abreu - Cubs. This would be a bad idea, Im sure Abreu would cost 3yrs 12mm or so, and thats bad money spent for a left handed DeRosa...

Except, having a right-handed loaded line-up was one of the biggest reasons the cubs tanked this postseason. A 2-3-4-5 of Lee, Ramirez, Abreu, and Soriano would fit nice
"

There are better options than Abreu, Id like them to sign Dunn to play 1B, then trade Lee to the Giants for Winn. That gives the Cubs a switch hitting leadoff hitter in Winn, and the big lefty that they want in Dunn.

Hard to believe that the Rangers won't sign at least one of the names on that list.

The Giants have something like $30 million to spend and you only have them signing Braden Looper? As a Giants fan I hope its not true but with Sabean you never know.... I feel like he makes many of his moves/or lack of moves out of spit for the fans, or the "lunatic fringe" as he calls us.

I don't see Sheets going to an AL team, plus Arlington Field is a hitters park.

I don't see the Braves so willing to pick up Sheets because of injuries.... Since they have had plenty of pitchers injuried the last few yrs.

I think that in order for the Cubs to pull of a Peavy deal it would take a four team deal and a number of big names going everywhere. Hear is trade I think would help everyone out

Padres- lose Peavy, A. Gonzalez Gain Daric Barton, G. Smith, S. Marshall, Vitters, Veal, Crosby, Pie

Nationals- lose Bonifacio, Johnson Gain-Lee

Cubs- lose Lee, Marshall, Vitters, Veal, Ceda, Pie Gain Peavy, Gonzalez

Oakland- lose Crosby, Barton, Smith Gain Johnson, Ceda, Bonifacio

Padres take off the contract of peavy and they won't be able to afford Gonzalez much longer so they get a cheaper replacement in Barton who has huge potential, along with that they get two quality young lefty starters in smith and marshall and relief help in veal, and a first rounder in vitters, pie is a throw in at this point, a big park like petco could be what he needs to shine

The nationals get rid of Johnson, which they are looking to do, and gain a big name like Lee, with a free agent splash of Dunn as well, their line-up becomes much more solid

The cubs obviously get a pitcher to replace dempster and a first baseman who can bat left to break up that righty righty righty combo of theirs

And Oakland gets a first baseman with a career OBP of 400+ which is exactly what they want, and they get a second basemen in Bonifacio who looks like a future all-star, and a hard throwing arm for the bullpen in ceda, not to mention they finally rid themselves of crosby.

Not all 50, but some guesses

*Peavy* traded to Braves
Sabathia - Dodgers
Teixeira - Red Sox
Manny - Giants
Burnett - Yankees
K-Rod - Mets
Lowe - Braves
Hudson - Mets
Garland - yankees
Sheets - Astros
Dunn - Nationals
Burrell - Phillies
Dempster - Cubs
Mussina - retire
Abreu - Yankees
Fuentes - Cardinals
Pettitte - Yankees
Furcal - dodgers
Bradley - Rays
Giambi - A's
Cabrera - Twins
Blake - Twins
Ibanez - Braves
Renteria - cardinals
Moyer - Phillies
Wood - Cubs
R. Johnson - Angels
Penny - Blue Jays
Wolf - Astros
Smoltz - Braves
Hoffman - Padres
Crede - Dodgers
Rivera - Mets
Varitek - Red Sox

"Sure why not, he grew up in CA, if Jim approached him about a trade, Im sure he would accept it."

WOW....just incredibly dopey.

Adam......

Manny to the Giants...that would take the cake. Another crazy left fielder to replace the old one.....nice.

I just can't see the Red Sox missing out on both CC and Tex.

Also being a Pirate fan and reading that list and all we get is Paul Byrd is just sad. I agree we won't get anything better I just hate having a small market team.

"WOW....just incredibly dopey."

Thanks, just incredibly immature. Would you want to play for a team that doesnt want you?

If we get any outfielders, I'd rather see Winn out there, and signing Baldelli to back up the starters would be a nice dark horse move.

Ok...1. The cubs don't need Winn, they already have too many older ballplayers and Lou just said in a interview that they need to get younger and more athletic in the outfield. Baldelli still can't play everyday. And after living in the Tampa area the last couple of years I don't see Baldelli going anywhere unless it's to Boston as a 4th outfielder/DH

And anyone who has watched baseball the last two years would say that Gonzalez is a better option at first than Lee. His defense is very good and he is a better hitter than DoublePlay Lee

Facts:

-- Most teams have excess cash to spend this year. This same phenonemon occurs virtually every year. Hence, average salaries increase.

-- Your respective team may NOT spend all of their disposable income. Smart teams don't sign players because they have money burning a hole in their pocket. Some teams (like the Red Sox) simply don't have tons of glaring issues. Shouldn't be a surprise that they aren't linked to every FA.

-- Players will not get signed in a certain order. Posters love to say that (for example) the Yanks will go after Sabathia. If unsuccessful then Burnett and then Lowe and then Sheets, etc. The fact is that Sheets may sign before any of those 3 guys have decided what to do. The urgency of a player wanting to sign will dramatically impact plans for other FA's and teams. This whole concept of having a back-up plan is very flawed.

-- Trades can dramatically change the landscape of FA destinations. Do the Yanks still want CC if they can land Peavy? Do the Yanks need to replace Abreu if they can land Maggs? Just because a team doesn't go after a big time FA you shouldn't assume that they will be inactive in the off-season.

Derrek Lee does not play great defense, but he is fine at the plate. He is consistenly rated as a middle of the pack 1B, but people keep saying he's a gold glove. As a guy who reads up on defensive fielding statistics and watches DLee play everyday, he's pretty run of the mill at 1B. He'll hit league average for a 1B and possibly a little better, but the Cubs bat him 3 so fans expect more. They don't have money to upgrade at the position and DLee's NTC makes it all but impossible to trade Lee. Lee has a charitable organization that flourishes with a big name organization like the Cubs that he lives for. In addition, most trade scenarios have Lee going to awful teams. Why would Lee waive his NTC to go play out 2 years of his contract on a last place team just because it's close to home...?

Griffey sucks.

Dynasty, care to be more specific?

clarknaddison:

"Would you want to play for a team that doesnt want you?"

Players do it all the time. DLee needs to hit for the best possible numbers these next two seasons in order to get one more decent sized contract. He won't be attaining those numbers playing in SanFran.

Also, this charade of the Cubs needing to get a leadoff man and needing to get more lefthanded is a joke. The Phillies just won the World Series with their leadoff hitter not doing anything in the NLCS/World Series. They won it by taking walks, hitting homeruns, and good pitching, which is what the Cubs did all regular season. No need to disassemble a 97 win team. Stay consistent, keep making the postseason and one year they'll get hot at the right time.

I'd say Manny to the Yanks and CC to LAD. Hank won't be able to stop himself from trying to stick it to the Bo Sox.

I don't see Randy Winn outhitting Mike Fontenot as an everyday player so no thanks.

2009 Yankees

C-Jorge Posada
1B-Mark Texiera
2B-Robinson Cano
3B-Alex Rodriguez
SS-Derek Jeter
LF-Xaiver Nady
CF-Brett Gardner
RF-Bobby Abreu
DH-Johnny Damon

Starting Rotation
1.Wang
2.Sabathia
3.Burnett/Pettitte
4.Pettitte/Chamberlain
5.Hughes

CP-Rivera

Some of these predictions shock me. Sheets to a team that probably will look to steer away from injury prone pitchers (*cough* Hampton *cough*, and with Huddy on the DL).

Pudge, Punto, Garland (Brewers already have Garland in Suppan, and McClung to an extent), all are predictions I WTFed at. But, overall, decent list.

I think the Yankees sign Sabathia and either Manny or Tex

Manny and Dunn aren't cheap...but they won't take historical contracts like Sabathia and Teixeira will. Yankees won't make 2 history making contracts this off-season. After Sabathia they'll go for a regular big contract.

Dynasty,

How are Manny and Dunn cheap? That was a ridiculous statment by someone not keeping up with the times.....Manny is already looking for $ amounts close to A-rod.....that's cheap?

turnthe2, if you read my post I never once said they were cheap. Please read before speaking. I said they were cheaper than Teixeira.

White Sox dont sign anyone, go to the regular season without a full roster. Nice

Tex will probably take a historical 10 year contract at around $20 million+. Manny will probably take a little more (maybe $25 million) but for far less years. Sabathia will probably be something historical for pitchers...maybe $25 million for 6 years. Dunn I'm really not sure but he'll be the cheapest.

Oliver Perez to the Dodgers? Seriously? He had an ERA+ of 100 last season. Why would the Dodgers sign him when they can just keep Penny?
That's ridiculous. Perez is not good and will cost more than $10 mil. a year.
Plus, when have the Dodgers been linked to having ANY interest in him? I mean, seriously.

Manny and Dunn will require $100 million, but Tex will require $200 million...something I doubt the Yankees will give after the Sabathia contract they'll give.

only Bonds?
how about Dave Roberts, Omar Vizquel, Dave Roberts, Ray Durham...

I'm thinking Affeldt to Rockies. They will need some pen help when Fuentes leaves, and a lefty. He had success here in the past, and can compete for the closer role with Corpas and Buchholz.

any of ya think the Jays will re-sign AJ.Na didnt think so any way Penny will fit good in TO.and by the way howabout Manny in To for 2 and 65 Mil

wow... rlly? we got over a hundred million+ off the books and all we're getting is varitek and some sucky japanese pitcher? you writers at this website suck...

Tim, I'm a bit surprised with your lack of Phillies signings. I agree that Moyer is coming back, as well as Scott Eyre. But to lose Burrell and not sign anybody? I don't think that is going to happen. The Phillies seem to privately regret the Jenkins signing and would like no better than to not start him next year. A team just doesn't look 30HR/90RBIs a year without at least trying to find a replacement. I think a Raul Ibanez type of person might fit. And I'm still not convinced that Burrell doesn't come back.