Teams are locking young stars up to long-term deals, so this year's free agent market looks less impressive than it could have. The result, according to one AL executive who spoke to Jon Heyman of SI.com, is a “thin class” behind Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Adrian Beltre and Adam Dunn. Heyman polled two agents and an executive on the earning potential of a number of free agents. Here are some results, plus other noteworthy rumors.
- The executive and one agent predicted Carl Crawford will sign for $120MM over seven years.
- One agent predicted that Derrek Lee would sign for $24MM over two years. The others predicted a one-year deal worth $4-6MM. Lee’s recent struggles and history as a middle-of-the-order hitter make him hard to project.
- Agent Scott Boras called Rafael Soriano, who is not his client, “one of the top closers in the game.”
- Boras continued to link Jayson Werth to Matt Holliday, who signed for $120MM, rather than Jason Bay, who signed for $66MM. "Why not compare [Werth] to Holliday? He's had a platform year like Holliday, and he's a better defender than Holliday,'' Boras said.
- The Mets won't reach out to Pat Gillick if and when they look to replace GM Omar Minaya. Gillick once said he wouldn’t work for chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, who has a reputation as a difficult boss.
I’d love to see Crawford on the Braves but no way would I want to be paying him 17MM+ though his age 35 season. So much of his value is predicated on his speed and as gets older and slower his value will drop far below 17MM a year.
Just like Ichiro, right?
he’s asian, they age better. Thats just science.
Braves have no chance of signing Crawford. Schureholz just came out this week whining that the Phillies spend more money than they do and it’s just not fair that they can’t compete with them. Hell Turner field is half empty on a good night so how could they afford him?
At least our fans don’t get on the field and taken down by Matt Diaz
That’s all you can come with? Quite weak. Just like your ball club.
“This is the team we’re going to have to go through if we’re going to win this league,” Braves president and former general manager John Schuerholz said. “They are a real tough team, and they continue to do what they need to do to sustain it.””When they built that damn ballpark, we didn’t have a prayer,” Schuerholz said, setting up his own punch line. “They started printing money and hitting shorter home runs.”Maybe I’m biased, but it looks like the first part of the statement compliments the way the Phillies have put together their organization and then goes on to make a statement that is probably at least a little bit of a joke, although you’re right that it could be perceived as bitching. Braves are 7-7 against the Phillies this year, with 1 left in Philly and 3 in the ATL, so I would hardly say they”can’t compete”. Braves attendance is 4th of the 8 teams who are currently holding a playoff spot, and could have about 20M coming off the books next year, they very well could be in on the bidding for Crawford, Werth, and if they felt like it Lee.Could you have possibly fit more unsubstantiated bias in 3 sentences?
Gillick is too damned smart to work for a trainwreck like the Mets. And I’m quite sure the Phillies are paying him quite well in his post retirement advisory position.
I agree completely. Besides, Gillick is working for the Phillies still as a distant adviser, I think.
edit: oops. You already said that haha.
I’ll just add that Werth is going to the Red Sox. That’s my guess.
I say Crawford gets 12-15 million over 4-5 years. 2/24 for Lee? 1/7-9 is my guess. Soriano has proven that he only performs well on contract years. Werth will get 2-3/25-30.
I think Werth gets more than that. I say he gets at least a Bay type deal as I think that there will be more suitors for him.
I must be the only one that sees Jason Bay Jr.
Not necessarily disagreeing with you…. I just think someone will get him that type of deal.
There’s nothing besides speculation fueling that. Werth is a plus defender, a higher contact hitter, and doesn’t have the knee issues Bay had/has.
You have your opinion and I have mine.
What Jake Humphrey said is not opinion, it’s fact. Go ahead and compare the numbers if you want. He never said he thinks Werth will be better, he just pointed out facts that make what you say complete and total speculation. Generally speaking and statistically speaking there is nothing that indicates that Werth is heading down the same road that Bay has gone down. If anything Werth should be better if he goes to the Sox because Fenway is built better for righties.
I see Bay also, only Bay has put up better offensive stats for a longer period.
Fool’s gold here and a side show barker (Boras) doing the hype work trying to blow smoke to a fool of a GM.
Who would give 2/24M to a fast declining 35YO Derrick lee with bad knees to boot? Isn’t Minaya supposed to be out of a job after the season?
Foot speed lasts longer than bat speed.
There needs to be some sort of webpage for a list of Boras quotes for when you’re having a crappy day of work and need a laugh.
My favorite was last year when he said Rick Ankiel was, “A combination of Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle,” or some such non-sense. I may have the names wrong, but it was something along those lines.
I know as an agent it’s Boras’ job to brag up his clients, but he has to know that no one believes or even bothers to pay attention to what he says, right? Because everything he says is just about always completely ridiculous when he compares players to other players.
I see the Red Sox getting NONE of the FA outfielders, your outfield is crowded, your focus should be on reliable bullpen arms not reclamation, not low risk, but reliable bullpen arms
On another note I found it amusing they didnt want to put out a prediction on Cliff Lee, who wants to throw out what he is going to command?
I see him getting a Verlander or Hernandez like deal 5 years in the 75-80 million range
As long as guys like Crawford, Werth, & Lee are smart enough to stay away from THE BIG EAST SPENDERS, I don’t care where they go.
Lost cause there. The NYY buy anything they want. Crawford and Lee are as good as in pinstripes to fill big holes.
Where would he play in NY? Gardner, Granderson, and Swisher have the outfield set.
Same place he played in Tampa, Left field. Swisher is a valuable trade piece with an affordable salary.
The day those two sign with NYY, is the day I quit watching baseball. Seriously.
The day those two sign with NYY, is the day I quit watching baseball. Seriously.