MLBTR Polls

This winter the Red Sox made an offer they knew would likely be refused when they put a three-year, $51MM contract in front of Mariano Rivera.  As expected, the legendary closer opted to remain in the Bronx where he wishes to finish his career.  Some reports have said that Rivera's arrival in Boston would have meant that the club would then deal Jonathan Papelbon elsewhere.  We may never know if that was the plan but major league GMs have said that the BoSox have been listening to offers for the outspoken closer.

Now Papelbon and Theo Epstein are set to go to arbitration as the 30-year-old seeks $11.5MM in 2011, his final year before free agency.  The right-hander had a down year this past season, turning in a 3.90 ERA 3.8 BB/9, though his 10.2 K/9 was only a shade below his career average.  Boston probably can't expect equal talent in return for the pricey pitcher, but with Bobby Jenks now in the fold and Daniel Bard potentially ready to take over as closer, they could afford to move Papelbon.  Alternatively, they can hang on to him through 2011, at which point they could either re-sign him or receive compensation in the form of a draft pick from another club.

Earlier this week, we learned that several teams are in on former Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis.  The Mets, Nationals, Pirates, Rangers, and Yankees are all said to have varying degrees of interest in the left-hander.  A return to Colorado can’t be ruled out either as Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd says that the club will keep tabs on him. 

Francis, of course, missed all of 2009 after undergoing shoulder surgery.  In 2010 he turned in a 5.00 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 20 games as he was limited by his injury.  However, his 3.94 xFIP indicates that he was better in that short span than the conventional stats indicate.  The Rockies understandably declined their $7MM option for him this winter, but the budding market for Francis could bring the soon-to-be 30-year-old a solid payday.

Rays reliever Grant Balfour opted to roll the dice this winter when he declined the club's offer for arbitration.  Roughly one month later, Balfour remains on the open market.  Earlier this week, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that the right-hander isn't being shut out because of his Type A status because 21 of the 30 teams could not do worse than have to give up a second-rounder.  Rather, it seems that the Australian-born hurler is still available because he is after a multi-year contract.

Chances are, he will get job security that he is after, says Rosenthal.  Teams that finished in the bottom half of the standings cannot lose their first-round picks for a Type A free agent.  Teams that have already lost their top selection for a Type A like the Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, Nationals, White Sox, and Phillies, would only lose a second-rounder.  The price for Balfour could even be as low as a third-rounder if any of those clubs opt to sign one of the other available Type As. 

Even though several attractive relief options are now off of the board, there are still plenty of interesting names available.  Did Balfour misjudge the market, or will he land the multi-year pact that he's after?

After signing free agent Cliff Lee to a five-year, $120MM pact, it's no secret that the Phillies need to trim payroll.  In fact, if they don't move well-compensated pitcher Joe Blanton, they'll have no room to make any acquisitions at the trade deadline, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  The right-hander is due $8.5MM over each of the next two seasons.

The market for Blanton should become more clear once Carl Pavano, now the market's top free agent starter, signs with a club.  Blanton is five years Pavano's junior and wouldn't be a bad consolation prize for any team.  It's also possible that the Phillies could hang on to the 30-year-old, but as Rosenthal pointed out, it would handcuff the club.  With the teams that have been linked to Pavano as a guide, where do you envision Blanton winding up?

We've already seen four nine-figure deals this offseason and Troy Tulowitzki, Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth and Cliff Lee may have company in the $100MM club before long.

MVP winners Albert Pujols, Joey Votto and Josh Hamilton are extension candidates. Scott Boras could surprise us all by finding $100MM out there for Adrian Beltre or negotiating a nine-figure extension for Carlos Gonzalez or even Jered Weaver. Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes are going to hit free agency after the 2011 season and C.C. Sabathia has an opt-out clause looming, so they may be seeking massive contracts within the year.

Let's vote on the next nine-figure deal (ignoring Adrian Gonzalez, since there seems to be a good chance that the Red Sox extend him once the season begins). Players are listed alphabetically.