Uncategorized News & Rumors

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. 

Blockbuster trades, nine-figure free agent contracts and shrewd minor league signings will all be completed in the coming months, as MLB executives attempt to mold their rosters into World Series contenders. There are inevitably hundreds of rumors and deals to track, but rest assured that MLBTradeRumors.com will have constant updates before, during and after the biggest moves. Here’s a look ahead at ten of the offseason's biggest storylines…

1. Who will pay Josh Hamilton?

There’s no doubt Hamilton could make any team better. Yet so many questions surround the 31-year-old as he hits free agency for the first time. Can he sustain this level of production without landing on the disabled list? Might his poor plate discipline become a serious problem? Should teams worry about his past addiction issues? The Rangers are best-equipped to answer these questions, so other teams figure to monitor Texas’ bidding closely.

Hamilton has a case for a long-term deal worth considerably more than $100MM given his on-field production. Plus, team owners might expect him to generate fan interest and boost TV ratings.

2. Could Alex Rodriguez be traded?

General manager Brian Cashman has acknowledged that the Yankees don't consider Rodriguez a superstar caliber player anymore. Now 37 years old, Rodriguez doesn't resemble his former self. The Yankees know it, and so do the 29 other teams. Trading the three-time MVP will presumably be extremely difficult unless the Yankees absorb most of the $114MM remaining on his contract. That’d be unappealing for New York executives, especially at a time that the trade and free agent market for third basemen looks thin. Like it or not, it seems probable that Rodriguez will return to the Bronx for another year.

3. Who will win the bidding for Zack Greinke?

Greinke, the year’s top free agent starter, could draw interest from both Los Angeles teams. The Angels, who acquired the 29-year-old midseason, have interest in re-signing him. The Dodgers, now flush with cash after an ownership change, could also make an offer. Many other clubs will check in on Greinke, who could obtain the largest contract ever for a right-handed pitcher.

4. Will the Dodgers keep spending?

The Dodgers have made hundreds of millions in future payroll commitments since new ownership gained control of the team this spring. Expect a busy offseason now that they can finally bid on free agents. The Dodgers could pursue free agent starting pitchers such as Greinke, Jake Peavy and Hiroki Kuroda.

5. Will the Mets extend David Wright and R.A. Dickey?

There’s no guarantee Wright and Dickey will be playing for the Mets beyond 2013. Both players will hit free agency a year from now if they haven’t signed contract extensions. It’s difficult to imagine that ownership could convince Wright to stay without offering considerably more than $100MM. Determining Dickey's value is more difficult considering his rapid ascent from journeyman knuckleballer to Cy Young candidate.

6. Will the Rays trade pitching?

The Rays have enviable starting pitching depth and clear needs on offense, so they’ll exchange starters for hitters this offseason, right? Not necessarily. Executive VP Andrew Friedman has said the Rays might keep their starting pitching. 

David Price's salary continues rising, so it's time for the small-market Rays to consider a trade. He’s still three seasons away from free agency, which means there’s no rush to complete a deal. But at a time that Price’s salary could rise to the $10MM range through arbitration, Friedman will have to explore the possibility of dealing the left-hander.

7. Will the Indians trade Chris Perez and Shin-Soo Choo?

It could be time for the Indians to trade two of their most prominent players. Perez, the All-Star closer who publicly criticized ownership toward the end of the regular season, might never have more trade value. His salary projects to rise to the $7MM range this winter, not that that would be an obstacle for large market teams.

Choo will hit free agency a year from now, which means Cleveland GM Chris Antonetti has two chances to make a trade: this winter and at next summer’s trade deadline. It’d make sense for the Indians to trade Choo for a controllable, young player if possible, as a contract extension seems unlikely.

8. Will the new collective bargaining agreement make a difference?

Players, agents and team executives won’t have to overhaul the way they do business this winter, the first full offseason under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement. Free agents will be able to sign generous long-term contracts just as easily as before. In fact, the elimination of the Elias rankings system will be a welcome change for the middle relievers and role players who will no longer be linked to draft pick compensation. However, baseball’s luxury tax will continue to create a deterrent for large market teams who might otherwise spend more aggressively. The Yankees, for example, say they aim to avoid the tax by 2014, which means they’re not expected to be bidding quite as aggressively as in years past.

9. What’s next for Melky Cabrera? 

Cabrera's free agent value plummeted once he received a 50-game suspension for testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone. But he could be an intriguing buy-low option for teams seeking an impact bat. He has put together consecutive All-Star caliber seasons and at 28, he's still in his prime. However, he’s hitting free agency at the same time as many other All-Star outfielders. There’s lots of competition with Hamilton, Michael Bourn, B.J. Upton, Nick Swisher, Angel Pagan and Shane Victorino also seeking new contracts. Still, many teams will have interest in signing Cabrera for one year and a multiyear contract can’t be ruled out.

10. Where do the Red Sox go from here?

Replacing Bobby Valentine with John Farrell should be a positive development for the Red Sox, but they’ve still got lots of work ahead following their first 90-loss season since 1966. They'll need to obtain more starting pitching depth and add to their outfield. Plus, rival general managers will be interested to see if the Red Sox hold onto Jacoby Ellsbury or trade him with one year to go before free agency.

In a subscriber-only piece, Baseball America's Ben Badler wrote about Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujinami, who may be the country's best high school player. Fellow right-hander Shohei Otani has garnered most of the recent attention, but Badler says talent evaluators are split. It's unclear if Fujinami will try to join an MLB team in the near future, however. Here's the latest from around the league…

• Indians president Mark Shapiro sat down for a long and in-depth interview with Pat McManamon of FOX Sports.com. He spoke about the club's economic situation, the CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee trades, and a host of other topics.
• John Shea of The San Francisco Chronicle says the Giants have found a developmental balance between homegrown pitchers and homegrown hitters. Buster Posey is the only position player from the 2010 World Series club who is still starting for the Giants.
• Ozzie Guillen would like to continue managing somewhere according to his former catcher A.J. Pierzynski, reports ESPN Chicago. Pierzynski said Guillen "wants to work again" during a recent radio interview. The Marlins fired Guillen yesterday.

With the MLB season nearing its conclusion, it’s time to look ahead to the hot stove. There’s a lot to keep track of in the first full offseason under the sport’s new collective bargaining agreement, so MLBTR has compiled a timeline of offseason events…

• Immediately after World Series – Eligible players hit free agency
• Three days after World Series – Option decisions due
• Five days after World Series – Qualifying offers due
• Six days after World Series – Free agents can sign contracts with teams other than their former clubs
• 12 days after World Series – Players must accept or reject qualifying offers
• November 7th – 9th - GM Meetings
• November 20th – Deadline for setting 40-man roster in advance of Rule 5 Draft
• November 30th – Deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players
• December 3rd – 6th – Winter Meetings
• December 6th – Rule 5 Draft takes place at Winter Meetings
• January - Teams, players exchange arbitration figures
• February -  Arbitration hearings take place

We’ll update this list with specific dates once the World Series ends. Dates via MLB.com and the Kansas City Star.

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It’s been an unusually quiet offseason for general manager turnover — so far. The Rockies re-structured their baseball operations department, the Marlins are mulling changes, and the White Sox are expected to promote two top executives. Otherwise, it’s been relatively slow, with no dismissals midway through a month that’s often filled with GM turnover.

Using Baseball America's executive database I’ve compiled a list of baseball’s longest-tenured general managers. The list shows how long GMs have been with their current teams, not when they got their first gig running a team. That list would look different, with Dave Dombrowski, Sandy Alderson and Dan Duquette at the top (I'm using the term 'GM' loosely; some of the executives below have different titles on their business cards). 

The Bay Area has two of the sport’s three longest-tenured GMs in Brian Sabean and Billy Beane. There's been lots of turnover in the past five years, as nearly half (14) of baseball's GMs were hired in that time. Here's the complete list:

1. Terry Ryan, Twins, 1994 (stepped aside from 2007-11)
2. Brian Sabean, Giants, 1996
3. Billy Beane, Athletics, 1997
4. Brian Cashman, Yankees, 1998
5. Dan O'Dowd, Rockies, 1999 (Bill Geivett assumes many GM duties as Sr. VP of Major League operations)
6. Kenny Williams, White Sox, 2000 (expected to be promoted, replaced by Rick Hahn)
7. Larry Beinfest, Marlins, 2002
8. Dave Dombrowski, Tigers, 2002
9. Doug Melvin, Brewers, 2002
10. Jon Daniels, Rangers, 2005
11. Andrew Friedman, Rays, 2005
12. Ned Colletti, Dodgers, 2005
13. Dayton Moore, Royals, 2006
14. Neal Huntington, Pirates, 2007
15. Frank Wren, Braves, 2007
16. John Mozeliak, Cardinals, 2007
17. Walt Jocketty, Reds, 2008
18. Jack Zduriencik, Mariners, 2008
19. Ruben Amaro, Jr., Phillies, 2008
20. Mike Rizzo, Nationals, 2009
21. Alex Anthopoulos, Blue Jays, 2009
22. Kevin Towers, Diamondbacks, 2010
23. Chris Antonetti, Indians, 2010
24. Sandy Alderson, Mets, 2010
25. Jed Hoyer, Cubs, 2011
26. Josh Byrnes, Padres, 2011
27. Jerry Dipoto, Angels, 2011
28. Jeff Luhnow, Astros, 2011
29. Ben Cherington, Red Sox, 2011
30. Dan Duquette, Orioles, 2011

Check out MLBTR's 2010 series on the reaction each GM generated upon taking his first GM job: AL East, AL Central, AL West, NL East, NL Central, NL West.

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It appeared as though Shane Victorino's days with the Dodgers were numbered when they acquired Carl Crawford, but today GM Ned Colletti told Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times that bringing him back for 2013 has not been ruled out.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” quipped Colletti. “Use your imagination.”

Crawford is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but is expected to be ready early next season. Matt Kemp had shoulder surgery today and is also expected to be ready in time for Opening Day. Either way, the Dodgers are locked into those two as well as Andre Ethier on big money contracts. There doesn't appear to be a spot for Victorino, who reiterated to Dilbeck that he wants to play everyday.

“I’m not taking a back seat to nobody," he said. "Not in a negative way am I saying that. I still feel like I can play every day and that’s my goal. I don’t know who came up with the mindset that all of a sudden that I’m not an everyday player."

Victorino, 31, hit .245/.316/.351 with the Dodgers and .255/.321/.383 overall this season. He is scheduled to become a free agent for the first time in his career this winter, and he is working to hire a new agent after recently dropping ACES. Victorino could be a more affordable alternative to top outfield free agents Michael Bourn and B.J. Upton.

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