Jeff Euston of Cot's Baseball Contracts recently posted an unofficial list of players who will become free agents after the 2011 season. That free agent class will be highlighted by a trio of first basemen: Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, and Ryan Howard, though there's a chance Albert Pujols will join them if he and the Cardinals can't work out an extension.
Some other notable players scheduled to become free agents after 2011 include Jason Bartlett, Carlos Beltran, Mark Buehrle, Edwin Jackson, Heath Bell, and Jonathan Papelbon. Robinson Cano, Yadier Molina, Grady Sizemore, and Matt Cain may also become free agents if their club options for 2012 are declined.
Obviously a lot will change between now and then, but it's never too early to look ahead!
Wandy Rodriguez is also a free agent then.
So are Dan Uggla and Corey Hart.
Uggla and Wandy are on the list.
edit: that was meant as a reply to Span.
No I meant that Wandy, Corey Hart, and Dan Uggla should have been highlighted on Mike’s post because I think they stand out. I know that they are on Cot’s list. Thats what I was trying to tell you the other day when you told me that Edwin Jackson and Wandy Rodriguez weren’t free agents after next season but I guess it was a missunderstanding.
Just let the man do his job, how about, and keep your opinions to your blog and the other 15,000 posts you have on here?
Just in case you weren’t paying attention. The comment section is specifically for that…COMMENTS. The guy voiced his opinion. Give me a break.
Could you, in your infinite wisdom, please enlighten us as to what a comments section is for?
Wasn’t his opinion in one of those 15,000 posts, actually literally the one that you just replied to?
Finally. ive been waiting for a 2011-2012 list. Thanks Mike!
the starting pitching class seems ridiculous if all options are declined but that probably won’t happen.
The closers are also something that catches your eye, Heath bell-Papelbon-Cordero whose option will probably be declined-Gonzalez-Valverde. seems exciting.
Yeah agreed.
Thanks Mike!
holy crap!
did Ferrariman and Spandemonium actually agree?? must be a sign of the end of the world, how ironic, its a 2012 free agent class..hym..
We did actually just agree. Wow!
Don’t forget about Jonathan Broxton and Todd Coffey. They stand out too.
I think the last time Todd Coffey “stood out” was back in High School.
The thing that sucks about Broxton is he is so great, but will eventually cost too much to resign because that much money should not go to a closer. I’d love to see him sign a team friendly deal.
Just doing a little cross-checking: Fielder, Beltran, and Jackson are represented by Boras.
So it’s more likely that the others could be extended by their present team or traded to a team that would extend them before they reach free agency.
Hmm. I think I see why Omar didn’t look for a first baseman this off-season. He is waiting for the best of the best next year. Though, he probably wont end up with any of them next year because he will haggle too much, at least he has the right idea.
I have loved Beltran through the years, his balanced bat between power and average, and his above average glove covering center field, but I’m afraid with his recent injuries, if he doesn’t come back with great numbers, and stay healthy all year, the Mets wont want to re-sign him. That’ll be a huge gap to fill
With Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, Carlos Delgado and Mike Jacobs as options, I dont think Omar has to look at Adrian, Albert or Ryan as options…Signing any one of those 3 will take at least 20 mill a year…I’d rather use that money to keep Reyes and Wright, who provide offense at hard to fill positions. I will say though that the Yankees signing Tex for 8 years pretty much screwed those 3 out of an extra 5 mil right off the bat…Can you imagine the bidding war between Boston and NYY over any one of those 3 ?
This might be a bit nit-picky, but I don’t understand the isolation of Pujols from Howard, Fielder, and Gonzalez. I think that Pujols has just a good a chance at re-signing as Howard. It’s as if there is a foregone conclusion Howard and Fielder will hit the open market, but Pujols won’t if he signs an extension. From what I’ve seen, the Brewers need to sign Fielder to an extension.
here’s why.
fielder’s agent is the devil and his goal is to get his players into free agency as quickly as possible. No reason fielder is any different.
Howard has set 2 records already in salaries. 1 for most 2nd year rookie salary at approx 1mil..almost double the standard. the second record was the salary record via arbitration at 10million dollars. I think he has proven he is for the money.
Gonzalez has already said he wants a “teixeria sized contract.” im not sure how realistic that is, but the best way to get the biggest buck is to go to FA.
But it is a forgone conclusioin that Pujols won’t hit the open market if he signs an extension…;)
A few reasons…
St. Louis has no contingency plan w/o Pujols…but with Pujols, they are almost always in the running in the NL central…
Mil – cant afford Fielder
Phil – may have to choose between werth/hamels/rollins/howard
at least 3 will be demanding 15 mil or higher…thats 45 mil between 3 players…add doc and ur at 65 mil at 4 players…add chase’s 15 mil and now ur at 70 for 5 players…rollins i assume would take 10 mil to stay…now ur at 80 mil for 6 players…u have 19 other people to pay..2 OF’s…1 3B…1 C…3 SP…6 guys off the bench and 6 guys in the pen…
payroll would be AT LEAST 130 mil…and thats if howard gives u a discount…and ur not paying out the ass for a closer…
I’m in a NL-only keeper (up to 5 yrs) league and want some thoughts on whether Fielder or Howard would be the best 1B to draft this year and going forward. If a player is lost to the AL, then I only get who comes back to NL.