Two big name free agents came off the board within the first three weeks of the offseason, as CC Sabathia signed an extension with the Yankees and Jonathan Papelbon joined the Phillies. The two power-hitting first baseman are still on the market (Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder), as are the high-end shortstops (Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes) and left-handed starters (Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson). Looking for pure offense? There’s also Carlos Beltran and David Ortiz.
The Thanksgiving weekend has traditionally been a slow few days for the baseball hot stove, but think of it as the calm before the storm. The winter meetings are just over a week away, and clubs want to start patching the major holes on their rosters before the calendar flips to January. A full list of unsigned free agents can be found with our Free Agent Tracker, but only a select few qualify as big names. Which of those guys do you think will be the next to sign?
Have a feeling that CJ decides soon. If not him then I can see Ortiz signing.
I had the same feeling but then it turned out to be gas.
Smoking Kush Blunts
It’s hard to tell since there has been little to no activity. All I know is that Wilson will be touring a couple of ballparks out East and perhaps in other locations as well.
Don’t care. Just want SOMETHING to happen soon.
I know, right? What’s with the holdup? We want action!
The best sport is MLB. The 2nd best sport is the MLB offseason.
The wait over the new CBA probably made GM’s nervous.
Agreed been pretty disappointed this offseason. Seems like everyone is sitting back.
it’s still just november….
This is the first comment you have ever said that makes sense.
Pujols, Fielder, Reyes, and Wilson are all highly sought after, and I can’t imagine any of them will sign before mid-December.
For some reason, even though I think they’ll both ultimately re-up w/ the Sox and Phils, respectively, I could see the Ortiz and Rollins deals taking forever.
Beltran could literally end up anywhere, I feel like, but he’s a Boras client, and will not be making any quick decisions. I could see him waiting until Christmas to sign.
That leaves Buehrle, who seems sought after enough to be getting plenty of offers, but low enough on the totem poll to know that he should snatch up a good offer ASAP. Hence why he is my pick.
Beltran dropped Boras
I think Ortiz re-upping with the Red Sox is obvious and will happen pretty soon. Buehrle will probably be next, once he decides where to go. I can see Rollins holding out for more money from the Phils.
Ortiz’s 2 year deal has to come soon!
Its going to be a reliever, since paps already set the market for them..
guys like fielder, buerhle, rollins aren’t going to sign until pujols, reyes and wilson lock on somewhere
Agreed, unless Ortiz finds an offer before 12/7 out there and signs. Otherwise he will accept arbitration.
Ortiz, since he’s the only one in the list to likely accept arbitration.
Imagine Ortiz to Texas? That’ll be deadly
Where would they play him? Unless he regresses to a power bat off the bench. The Rangers need to replace CJ with a front line veteran starter, if they lose him.
They already did.
Who? Feliz?
yes
How is Feliz “a front line VETERAN starter”?
He’s a front line starter, and he’s not exactly a rookie. The fact that he’s not a veteran aka old is completely irrelevant in replacing cj
“The Rangers need to replace CJ with a front line veteran starter”
yah, thanks got it.. repeating it doesn’t make it true.
rangers need to replace CJ’s performance, not his intangibles.
I don’t care that he’s not a veteran, but I don’t know how you can say that Feliz is a front line starter at this point.
a career 3.10 FIP… its good enough that even if you factor his stats slip due to a change to the starting rotation that he will still be effective..
He’s the best arm on the rangers staff and now he will be pitching double the amount of innings. thats a no brainer
I agree 100% that he should be in the rotation, but without any proof in the major leagues of his ability to start, you can’t really say that he’s gonna be a frontline starter. (I’m comparing throughout the league, maybe you’re just comparing to his team, though.)
I’m strictly talking about him replacing CJ wilson’s performance. He’ll atleast be close
Eventually, it’s possible that he’ll get close. Another concern with Feliz that I have is whether he needs to go back to the minors to stretch his arm out.
Dont you want a frontline starter to go 200 innings a season? Whats the chance of that happening? 10 percent?
No offense, but am I the only one here who thinks it’s a little premature to project Neftali’s ability as a starter based on what he’s done it the pen in just a little over two years?
the guy he needs to replace took the same path. and neftali is younger and with better stuff.
is it a guarantee? of course not. but he was a starter before, he’s just going back to his regular roll.
Ortiz has the easiest decision.
In my opinion, take it for what it is worth(Everything). Buehrle is the best available FA pitcher, and I am not a Buehrle fan.
he might end up the best bargain, but I find it hard to put Buehrle over Wilson
Still would rather have Buehrle over Wilson.
based on…?
I’ll answer for him. Consistency & durability.
Cj hasn’t been consistent and durable over the last 3 seasons?? add to that the much better performance, and its really odd to put wilson 2nd.
Over 3 seasons? BIG WOOP.
lol k
I’m not doubting Wilson is the better pitcher, I would rather have Buehrle because of his durability, leadership and his overall cost and years. Wilson is not worth what he is going to earn.
I don’t think he’ll be much of a bargain. Some of the “experts” are putting him in line for 4 years and $56 million. $14 million per season seems like a pretty large overpay for Buehrle, though, as a Cardinal fan, I’d rather have him over Wilson at 5 years and $85 million, or the remains of Roy Oswalt, or Edwin Jackson at 4 years and $48 million. Gio Gonzalez and Jair Jurrgens are the real prize SP’s available this offseason.
You’re crazy. Take one look at their numbers the past two years. They aren’t even close.
Buehrle may end up a better value, but he’s not the best pitcher available.
It WON’T be a borASS client…
ahhh…I see what ya did there..
Which canadian single player will marry first? Which latin american player has the best smile? these questions are getting pretty boring…
I think Reyes will be the first to sign.
I think he’ll be the first to sign out of the big 4 (Pujols, Fielder, Reyes, Wilson). He’s probably eager to sign and take a physical before he blows out his knee or pulls a hammy on an exercise bike or while out jogging.
Yawwwwnn.
Maybe you should start your own site and come up with more creative questions? I’m sure you’d enjoy constantly monitoring twitter, and 30 different citites newspaper sites, as well as foxsports, espn, 30 mlb team sites, tons of blogs, etc. etc. etc….while nothing of significance is happening.
while nothing of significance is happening.
RE: “Yawwwwnn.”
The poll isn’t boring, the beginning to every off-season is. Things will pick up once the Winter Meetings start.
pretty sure he was taking a shot at the slow developments this offseason, not the website
Way to overreact.
Yawwwwwn.. thats me yawning at your comment.
..
i don’t believe this rumor for a second!
Reyes to the Astros, Fielder to the Royals, Wilson to the Padres, Beltran to Rockies, Buehrle to the Reds, and Pujols to the Pirates.
Oh and the Redsox get a manager. Those are my predictions.
That’s funny. The Birds as a s/n fits you.
You seeing birds in your sleep ?
Whatever you’re smoking…..I wanna hit.
What happens first. The redsox hire a manager or one of these guys signs?
Neither?
red sox manager
Cj will be the next to sign. With the Angels.
Was Sabathia really a free agent signing? Didn’t he agree to the extension before officially opting out or becoming a free agent?
Reyes should move quickly if he gets a big offer. His history of injuries will diminsh what he can expect to get once the pool of teams with extra money to spend gets slimmer.
He is coming off of the big season a player like him needs to get the long term deal.
Still like Beltre last year he is too valuable not sign on somewhere for big money and multiple years.
Wilson as the top available pitcher is going to get paid and so is Fielder. It does not matter when they sign or who with. They are getting big deals.
Pujols value is obvious, but for what he wants he needs to go where the money is available and when it is available.
If he holds out it may not be there. But to get Pujols and have the prestige of having him come to a team, some team may drastically alter their budget plans for the next several years.
I think Fielder is waiting to see what happens to Dodger ownership. I think he’d love to play with his buddy Matt Kemp, and LA is a great place to play.
Ortiz is going back to the twins