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Poll: Who Will Be The Last Top 50 Free Agent To Sign?

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Most of MLBTR's Top 50 free agents of the offseason are off the board, but there are still seven holdouts as we enter 2013.  For some, the market is fairly clear cut.  For others, it's suss out a list of suitors and potential fits.

Adam LaRoche (No. 15) has the attention of both the Nationals and the Red Sox, but neither team wants to give him a three-year deal and Boston isn't wild about giving up a second-round pick for him.  The BoSox are also expected to back out of talks with the first baseman if they complete their agreement with Mike Napoli.  Right-hander Shaun Marcum (No. 19) has received interest from the Mets, Twins, Padres, and Cubs.  The Mets, Twins, and Padres are also in on left-hander Joe Saunders (No. 25) along with the Orioles and Mariners.

If the other four have made significant progress on a deal, it's been kept on the QT to this point.  Michael Bourn (No. 3) is the best player remaining on the open market but it's not clear who the interested parties are.  The Rangers lost out on the biggest names of the winter and the Mariners haven't made the kind of splash that some expected them to, but their level of interest is unknown.  Texas isn't in on Kyle Lohse (No. 10) and the Cardinals don't have enough breathing room to bring him back.  Rafael Soriano (No. 17), like many free agents, has been linked to the Dodgers, but they're not interested.  Jose Valverde (No. 44) wants to return to the Tigers but they reportedly won't be bringing him back (For the purposes of this poll, please choose one of the other six if you expect Valverde to call it a career).

Who Will Be The Last Top 50 FA To Sign?
Jose Valverde 30.83% (7,007 votes)
Rafael Soriano 29.37% (6,676 votes)
Michael Bourn 16.54% (3,759 votes)
Kyle Lohse 9.10% (2,069 votes)
Adam LaRoche 5.58% (1,268 votes)
Shaun Marcum 4.65% (1,057 votes)
Joe Saunders 3.93% (894 votes)
Total Votes: 22,730

Poll: Will LaRoche Get A Three Year Deal?

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Adam LaRoche wants to return to Washington and the Nationals want to bring the first baseman back.  So what's LaRoche still doing on the open market?  Well, the 33-year-old is looking for a three-year deal and the Nats say that they won't go beyond two years.  They reportedly haven't felt pressured to consider a deal to keep LaRoche in D.C. through 2015, because they don't see another team offering him the same.  It looked like General Manager Mike Rizzo & Co. were dead on about that, until recently, when the Red Sox's situation with Mike Napoli became cloudy.

Amidst concerns over Napoli's hip, the two sides have still yet to finalize their three-year, $39MM deal.  Whether it's a play for leverage or legitimate concern over the catcher's health, Boston has begun talking to LaRoche as a plan B.  Even though we're closing in on the New Year and LaRoche's market likely isn't what he expected, he's still not willing to budge on his demand for a three-year pact.

How do you see it playing out?  Do you see the Nationals, Red Sox, or any other team giving LaRoche a three-year contract?

Will LaRoche Get A Three Year Deal?
No 55.72% (10,392 votes)
Yes 44.28% (8,258 votes)
Total Votes: 18,650

Poll: The Red Sox & Mike Napoli

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It has been 24 days since the Red Sox and Mike Napoli agreed to a three-year contract worth $39MM. The two sides have been unable to finalize the deal due to a hip issue that popped up during the physical, and the team is reportedly trying to put some protective language into the pact. They’ve used similar clauses in contracts for J.D. Drew and John Lackey.

Earlier today we learned the Red Sox have been talking to Adam LaRoche, a free agent first baseman who would be a viable alternative to Napoli. A few hours later we heard that Napoli’s representatives have had talks with at least one other team. Both reports could just be one side trying to gain leverage over the other, or they could be an indication the agreement is falling apart and they’ve both begun to look for alternatives.

With the calendar just about ready to flip over to 2013, unsigned free agents will soon begin to scramble to find jobs for next season. Teams will also start to scramble for solutions to their remaining roster holes since Spring Training will be just six weeks away. Neither Napoli nor the Red Sox want this thing to drag out any longer, so a resolution should come relatively soon one way or the other.

Will the Red Sox & Napoli complete their agreement?
No, he'll end up elsewhere 57.46% (14,643 votes)
Yes 42.54% (10,842 votes)
Total Votes: 25,485

Poll: Which Top 50 Free Agent Will Sign Next?

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As we approach the New Year, seven of Tim Dierkes' Top 50 free agents remain unsigned.  Michael Bourn (#3), Kyle Lohse (#10), Adam LaRoche (#15), Rafael Soriano (#17), Shaun Marcum (#19), Joe Saunders (#25), and Jose Valverde (#44) are still on the market and most seem to be drawing a great deal of interest.  It's possible that Mike Napoli (#14) re-enters the fray if his deal with the Red Sox falls through, though one has to imagine that Boston would have bailed entirely at this point if they were overly concerned about his health.

Bourn, Lohse, Soriano, and Valverde are all represented by Scott Boras, who is comfortable with waiting for the right deal.  We also know that he has a knack for digging up unexpected suitors, so maybe we shouldn't shy away from picking Lohse in this poll despite his cloudy market.  Of the seven top 50 free agents left, who is going to put pen to paper first?

Which Top 50 FA Will Sign Next?
Adam LaRoche 40.77% (9,176 votes)
Michael Bourn 19.36% (4,357 votes)
Joe Saunders 14.07% (3,166 votes)
Kyle Lohse 13.54% (3,047 votes)
Shaun Marcum 7.50% (1,687 votes)
Rafael Soriano 3.52% (793 votes)
Jose Valverde 1.25% (282 votes)
Total Votes: 22,508

Poll: The Rays-Royals Trade

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The Rays and Royals made a major trade last night, and in the 12 hours or so since the teams announced the deal, many executives, writers and analysts have responded with their reactions. Now it’s your turn to weigh in on the deal.

Should the Royals get credit for strengthening their pitching staff with James Shields and Wade Davis? Or did they overpay for pitching depth and make a deal they’ll ultimately regret? And does the acquisition of Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard justify the Rays’ decision to deal Shields and Davis? Or did the Rays make a mistake in choosing prospects over established players? It's time to hear what you think of the trade…

Which team won the Rays-Royals trade?
Rays 47.01% (17,415 votes)
Both teams win the deal 32.72% (12,123 votes)
Royals 17.85% (6,613 votes)
Both teams lose the deal 2.42% (896 votes)
Total Votes: 37,047

Poll: Next Top Ten Free Agent To Sign

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So far this offseason, only one of Tim Dierkes’ Top Ten Free Agents has signed a new contract: Hiroki Kuroda (#9) re-upped with the Yankees. That’s not at all uncommon at this point of the winter, as most top free agents tend to wait until the Winter Meetings in early-December before deciding on their next baseball home.

The market for outfielders Josh Hamilton (#2), Michael Bourn (#3), B.J. Upton (#5), and Nick Swisher (#6) have been pretty robust so far, ditto Zack Greinke (#1). Anibal Sanchez (#4) has generated some buzz as well, but things have been slow for Edwin Jackson (#7), Dan Haren (#8), and Kyle Lohse (#10). That will change soon enough. One of these guys will soon follow in Kuroda’s footsteps and ink a new deal, but who will it be first?

Which top ten free agent will be next to sign?
B.J. Upton 35.06% (8,432 votes)
Nick Swisher 12.40% (2,981 votes)
Zack Greinke 11.42% (2,747 votes)
Michael Bourn 8.87% (2,132 votes)
Anibal Sanchez 8.42% (2,024 votes)
Dan Haren 7.59% (1,825 votes)
Kyle Lohse 5.98% (1,438 votes)
Josh Hamilton 5.73% (1,379 votes)
Edwin Jackson 4.53% (1,090 votes)
Total Votes: 24,048

Poll: Will The Mets Extend Wright & Dickey?

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The easiest decision of the Mets' offseason came on October 30 when the team picked up their options on David Wright (worth $16MM) and R.A. Dickey ($5MM) for the 2013 season.  The much trickier move has been in extending both players beyond next season, as the Mets have yet to lock up their longtime third baseman and the 2012 NL Cy Young winner.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman recently observed that while Wright and the Mets weren't making much progress, "there's always been a feeling something will get done," as the Mets seem committed to keeping Wright as the face of their franchise for the rest of his career.  Last month we heard the team was willing to offer Wright a deal worth around $100MM, so it would seem that length, not money, is the issue.  Wright turns 30 in December and you would think the team is looking for a six- or seven-year commitment, whereas Wright and his representatives at ACES would want at least an eight-year deal akin to the kind that Wright could find on the open market.

As for Dickey, his situation is much more complicated, befitting his unique status as a late-blooming Cy Young winner.  Dickey has broken out as a star during his three years in New York, though at age 38, the Mets have concerns about how long Dickey will be able to continue his knuckleballing magic.  The Mets have at least floated Dickey's name in trade talks to see what he could bring back in a deal, as Dickey's $5MM salary makes him a very attractive target for teams looking for immediate pitching help.

With both players under contract for 2013, the Mets have lots of time to negotiate extensions, so it's too early to say that Wright or Dickey are in imminent danger of being traded.  Dealing Dickey is understandable from a short-term perspective, though moving Wright would be a much bigger move and essentially a signal that the Mets don't plan to contend until at least 2015.  Do you think Wright and/or Dickey will still be at Citi Field come 2014, or is their time with the Mets coming to a close?

What Will The Mets Do With Wright And Dickey?
Extend Wright, trade Dickey 37.91% (4,973 votes)
Sign both to extensions 27.41% (3,596 votes)
Trade both 14.84% (1,946 votes)
Wait until the July trade deadline 8.49% (1,114 votes)
Extend Dickey, trade Wright 8.33% (1,092 votes)
Let both leave as free agents, get compensation picks 3.02% (396 votes)
Total Votes: 13,117

Poll: Will Josh Hamilton Return To The Rangers?

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Immediately after the Rangers' 5-1 loss to the Orioles in the AL Wild Card game, the focus shifted to Josh Hamilton and his impending free agency.  The slugger reiterated his desire to stay in Texas and said that he would allow the club to match any offer that is put in front of him.  He also took a crack at quantifying his chances of returning and pegged them at 50/50.  It's possible that the outfielder knows just as much as we do about where he may wind up.

Typically, someone with a .285/.354/.577 batting line and 43 home runs in their walk year would be a lock for a hefty, long-term deal, but Hamilton's injury history and off-the-field concerns make him a risky signing.  He may also have less big market suitors than a free agent of his caliber would expect.  The free-spending Dodgers are already set in the outfield with Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Carl Crawford.  The Red Sox have plenty of room to work with thanks to their blockbuster deal with the Dodgers, but all signs point to them exercising caution in this offseason in order to avoid more ill-advised long-term deals.  The Cubs expect to spend, but reportedly, spending $150MM+ on one player isn't what they have in mind.  

The Rangers know that there's a limit to how much they can budget for the 31-year-old, but they may not have to stretch too far to sign him given his question marks and his fairly limited pool of suitors.  When the dust settles, do you see Hamilton in Arlington or elsewhere in 2013?

Will The Rangers Re-Sign Hamilton?
No 73.55% (11,415 votes)
Yes 26.45% (4,105 votes)
Total Votes: 15,520

Poll: Should Edwin Jackson Get A Qualifying Offer?

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It wasn’t long ago that Edwin Jackson was one of the top free agent starting pitchers available. Before long he’ll re-appear on the free agent market, and when he does the Nationals will have to decide whether it’s worth extending him a qualifying offer.

Doing so would allow Washington to obtain draft pick compensation for the right-hander should he sign elsewhere. But it’d also create the possibility of Jackson accepting a one-year contract in the $13MM range.

In some instances the risk (the possibility of a $13MM commitment) isn’t worth the reward (potential draft pick compensation). But in Jackson’s case, a one-year $13MM contract would seem to be a team-friendly deal. 

Jackson has a 3.89 ERA with 8.1 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and a 47.3 % ground ball rate in 173 2/3 innings so far in 2012. Like most Nationals starters, he throws hard (average fastball velocity of 93.5 mph) and generates swings and misses (12.2% swinging strike rate). And though he’s in the midst of his tenth MLB season, he’s still in his prime at 29 years old. Even if the Nationals preferred other candidates for their rotation, Jackson could generate trade interest at that salary.

Last offseason, under baseball’s previous collective bargaining agreement, the Cardinals offered Jackson arbitration, setting themselves up for draft pick compensation in 2012. If the Nationals make Jackson a qualifying offer, no other team will be able to sign him unless they surrender a 2013 draft pick. But there’s not an abundance of quality free agent starting pitching and many of the top pitchers (Zack Greinke excluded) will be linked to draft picks. Jackson, who’s now represented by the Legacy Agency, figures to draw interest either way. What should the Nationals do?

Should the Nationals make Edwin Jackson a qualifying offer after the season?
Yes 72.36% (3,607 votes)
No 27.64% (1,378 votes)
Total Votes: 4,985

Poll: Should Shaun Marcum Get A Qualifying Offer?

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Shaun Marcum’s an effective pitcher when healthy, but questions about his durability persist as he approaches free agency. One year after reaching the 200-inning plateau for the first time, Marcum has been sidelined for much of the season. The right-hander experienced shoulder stiffness at the beginning of the year, then missed two-plus months with elbow tightness in the middle of the season.

Marcum has pitched well overall, posting a 3.91 ERA with 8.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 and a 35.8% ground ball rate in 106 innings. His average fastball checks in at 86.6mph, which ranks 130th among the 136 starting pitchers with at least 100 innings this year. But Marcum never needed an overpowering fastball to succeed in the past, when he held his own against AL East offenses. He uses his fastball far less frequently than most pitchers, changing speeds to generate more than his share of swing and misses. This year he has a career-best 11.3% swinging strike rate.

However, he hasn't pitched particularly well since returning from the disabled list, and has not completed six innings in any of those five post-DL starts. The events of the last few months appear to have reduced Marcum’s chances of obtaining a qualifying offer from the Brewers after the season.

Not only has Marcum spent considerable time of the disabled list, starters such as Michael Fiers, Marco Estrada, Mark Rogers and Wily Peralta have emerged, lessening the impact of Marcum's health issues, Chris Narveson's injury, Zack Greinke's departure and Randy Wolf's ineffectiveness. While the Brewers figure to pursue pitching this offseason, they aren't desperate. They may decide against extending Marcum a qualifying offer in the $13MM range, even though it’d the only way for them to obtain draft pick compensation for the 30-year-old.

If the Brewers don’t consider Marcum a $13MM pitcher and suspect that the industry shares their view, it’d likely make sense to let the Turner Gary Sports client leave for no compensation. However, if they believe they could find trade partners for Marcum at that salary, extending a qualifying offer becomes less risky. In that scenario, draft pick compensation would be within reach. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, it’s almost time for the Brewers to decide…

Should the Brewers make Shaun Marcum a qualifying offer after the season?
No 67.63% (3,696 votes)
Yes 32.37% (1,769 votes)
Total Votes: 5,465
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