Interesting Non-Tenders

More than 30 new free agents entered the pool tonight as the non-tender deadline passed.  A few of the more interesting names:

• Ty Wigginton, 1B/2B/3B/LF.  I don’t know what the Astros are going to do at third base now, but they decided they couldn’t afford Wigginton.  The 31 year-old hit a strong .285/.350/.526 in 429 plate appearances.  He probably doesn’t mind reaching free agency early in a weak third baseman market.  The Indians and Twins still have vacancies.
• Joe Nelson, RP.  Wow…a 2.00 ERA still gets you non-tendered in Florida.  He’s not that good, but he had a huge strikeout rate and is definitely a useful reliever.
• Daniel Cabrera, SP.  This guy was once considered very nasty to face, at times posting big strikeout and groundball rates.  With a fresh start, who knows.
• Joey Gathright, Willy Taveras, OF.  For a couple of burners their recent plus/minus ratings in center field are poor.  And you can’t steal first base.
• Jonny Gomes, OF.  He’s got pop, and destroyed lefties outside of this year.  That’s about it though.
• Takashi Saito, RP.  Dominant big league numbers, but he’s a huge question mark after having platelet-rich plasma injected into his elbow in an experimental procedure.  Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie.
• Tim Redding, SP.  Probably good for a sub-5.00 ERA as a fifth starter.
• Chris Capuano, SP.  The Brewers may re-sign him.  Capuano had his second Tommy John surgery in May.  He was a useful mid-rotation guy in 2005-06.