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A Look At The 2011 Free Agent Class

Recently we posted a list of players who will be eligible for free agency after the 2010 season.  Certain rebuilding clubs may look to save money this winter and instead spend it the following offseason.  Those clubs will probably have a better crop of free agents from which to choose.  Let's look at the big names projected to be available a year from now.

• Players with options for 2010 will not be added to the 2011 list until those decisions are made.  The following players may have their options exercised within a few months: Victor Martinez, Carl Crawford, Manny Ramirez, Freddy Garcia, Cliff Lee, Braden Looper, and Brandon Webb.  Assuming these players are not extended, we can pencil them in for the 2011 free agent list.
• Of course, any player who signs a one-year deal this winter will be a free agent again after the 2010 season.  Players such as Carlos Delgado, Adrian Beltre, Rick Ankiel, Jermaine Dye, Erik Bedard, and Justin Duchscherer are candidates.
• Aside from those who fit the criteria above, the biggest names headed toward free agency after the 2010 season are Joe Mauer, Paul Konerko, Derrek Lee, Carlos Pena, Derek Jeter, Aramis Ramirez (player option), Adam Dunn, Jayson Werth, Josh Beckett, Joe Blanton, Roy Halladay, Hiroki Kuroda, Ted Lilly, Javier Vazquez, Chad Qualls, Mariano Rivera, and Huston Street.  Keep in mind that some of these players will have their contracts extended before reaching free agency.
• Aside from Carlos Pena and those who receive one-year deals this winter (Manny among them), Scott Boras' crop does not look impressive.  He's got Gerald Laird, Willie Bloomquist, Kevin Millwood, Bobby Seay, and possibly Magglio Ordonez.
• Shortstops Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins both have affordable club options for 2011.  If exercised but not extended, they'd both be free agents after '11.  Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Verlander, Josh Johnson, Matt Cain, Jonathan Papelbon, and Jonathan Broxton could also be part of that 2012 class.

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