137 players became free agents today, the MLB Players Association announced. Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke and Michael Bourn are among the most prominent free agents of the year.
Teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents for five days following the completion of the World Series. Free agents can negotiate with all teams beginning at 12:01am EDT this Saturday, November 3rd.
You can view MLBTR's complete list of free agents here. Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com has the full MLBPA list of free agents. Be sure to check in this week for MLBTR's upcoming list of top 50 free agents and annual prediction contest.
Is it really the case that team’s have “exclusive negotiating rights” for five days? Free agents can only sign with their previous teams, but is it not true that they can talk to any team?
For example, Josh Hamilton can only sign with Texas before Saturday, but the Brewers are able to call up Hamilton, within the rules, and offer him the moon, no?
I think it is true that MLB enforces the rule that players can speak only with the team that retains exclusive negotiating rights with the player. But MLB has no ability to control whom a player’s agent speaks with so if a team is tampering during this 5 day period of exclusivity, you have to ask yourself who would divulge the activity since it is in the interests of the parties to keep any such discussion quiet.
Milwaukee media has been talking to Hamilton’s agent for more than a month.
Any team can contact any player, for example mike trout and offer him the moon. It does not mean that he will be able to sign. This is just an absurd example to prove a point
Bourn would be a great fit for the Rays. $$ is the only issue
That’s like saying Greinke, Sanchez and Haren would be a great fit for the Royals if money wasn’t the issue…Oh might as well throw in Hamilton too…
I appreciate the sarcasm, but Bourn actually is a great fit who won’t command mega money. It’s not like they have no shot, like they have no shot for Hamilton or Greinke
How many times have the Rays ever dished out a contract for over $50MM guaranteed?
You see Bourn getting $50MM? Yikes
He is represented by Scott Boras, so it’s probably not a bad guess.
$50MM might be on the low end…
Absolutely! He’s going to get at least around $15MM/yr for 4 or 5 years.
$15MM over 4/5 yrs? Man, I must be still living in my cheapie Rays bubble if that’s what a guy like Bourn is worth now
A 4+ WAR player that will be 30 years old? I think 4/$60MM would be a heck of a deal for some team. I would expect him to exceed that.
I see what your saying…
Instead of Bourn how about the Rays make a trade for Cain.
If he doesn’t demand mega money he’ll stay in Atlanta obviously. Why would they let him go if they can afford him?
If they can negotiate will all teams the 3rd. How long after that can they officially sign? Or is the 3rd the day they can officially sign with other teams as well?
Free Agents are free to sign with any team after the 5 day period. However, baseball isn’t like the NFL. Don’t expect major signings until late November/early December. Many won’t sign until after the new year.
Right, I wouldn’t expect much before the Winter Meetings. I just wasn’t sure if they were able to sign! Thanks for the information!
Will the FA prediction contest be back?
Read the last sentence of the post:
“Be sure to check in this week for MLBTR’s upcoming list of top 50 free agents and annual prediction contest.”
And that is what i get for not finishing the post…..thank you.
Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants!
A team with their backs up against the wall six times who bonded together at the right moments to prove baseball is a game you play one at a time, pitch by pitch.
They deserve this.
Let the 2012-2013 Offseason begin!!
get a blog
I’m not sure whether to take this positively or not but thank you :) I was considering starting a blog this offseason and keeping it consistent through 2013 and beyond. Baseball has always been a passion of mine and I really enjoy talking about the sport.
Wow…totally taken the wrong way
It would be so helpful if mlbtraderumors linked directly from the free agent list to the player’s Baseball Reference page. Every time I check out the list, I have to open up a new window and search. I know this is a bit of a #firstworldproblem, but I had to say how convenient it would be (especially since you already link to players in the articles). Thanks for listening.
Just a question that I always wondered. If a player doesn’t “file” for free agency, what happens, would they even become a free agent or only be able to sign with there current team?
If a player doesn’t “file” for Free Agency within the filing period, after 5 days he is put into a pool of players and belongs to either the Mets or Astros.