Baseball’s Top Free Agents
By Paulie Knep
Love of Sports Correspondents
As the Red Sox, Rays, Dodgers and Phillies continue to fight it out for the World Series title, every other team is already looking towards next year.
General managers will explore the possibility of acquiring players through trades. Though, ultimately, most will depend on the free agent market to improve their rosters.
This is a look at the free agents available at each position.
Top Free Agents
CATCHERS
The two best catchers available, Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Varitek, are both 37-years-old and past their primes. Pudge was platooned in Detroit before being traded to New York, where he hit a paltry .219 for the Yankees. Varitek’s production at the plate has fallen off, though he’s still valuable for his ability to handle a pitching staff. The Red Sox will likely overpay to keep him, as the Yankees did last year with Jorge Posada. Michael Barrett, Josh Bard and Paul Lo Duca also have experience as a starting catcher.
FIRST BASEMEN
Mark Teixeira’s in his prime and will command a massive contract on the open market. Switch hitting first basemen with power and gold gloves to their name are hard to come by. He could re-sign with the Angels, though the Yankees and his hometown Orioles are also possibilities. Carlos Delgado could serve as a short term solution for a contender if the Mets choose not to pick up the option on the 36-year-old’s contract. “The Mayor” Sean Casey and self-proclaimed idiot, Kevin Millar, are two veterans who can handle the bat and provide a positive presence in the clubhouse.
SECOND BASEMEN
The cream of the free agent crop at second base is Orlando Hudson. The O-Dog developed into a team leader in Arizona, hit .300 this season and is steady with the glove. He’d fit in nicely with the Cubs, Dodgers or Cardinals. Mark Ellis is a serviceable starter when healthy, and David Eckstein’s a former World Series MVP. A team desperate for offensive production from the middle of the infield could gamble that Jeff Kent has one more season in him. Other options include Ray Durham, Tadahito Iguchi and Nick Punto.
THIRD BASEMEN
Joe Crede’s a slick fielding third baseman with some pop, but has had recurring back problems. The White Sox will probably let him walk, with Josh Fields waiting in the wings. Another oft-injured option is Hank Blalock. Blalock looked like a burgeoning star until chronic shoulder problems kept him off the field and sapped him of his power. Speaking of injuries, Nomar Garciaparra’s also available. Casey Blake may be the best of the bunch. He’s been an important contributor for the Dodgers since they acquired him in July and can play several positions.
SHORTSTOPS
Rafael Furcal missed most of this season with a back injury, but if fully healed, will be a sparkplug atop some team’s lineup next season. The Dodgers will likely try to re-sign him, though several other teams will be interested. The Tigers could be a good fit for the speedy shortstop. The next best options are Orlando Cabrera and Edgar Renteria. Both are in their mid 30s, have championship experience and are well suited to bat in the two hole. Juan Uribe, Adam Everett and David Eckstein are cheaper alternatives.
LEFT FIELDERS
Manny Ramirez has demonstrated in L.A. he’s still one of the best run producers in the league, and some owner will dish out $20 million per year for the mercurial future Hall of Famer. He’ll most likely remain with the Dodgers, though the Mets could toss their hat into the ring. Another volatile player for teams to ponder is Milton Bradley. He’s coming off the best season of his career, but is injury prone and a controversy waiting to happen. Pat Burrell may have worn out his welcome in Philadelphia, and Raul Ibanez has been one of the most underrated players in baseball over the past few seasons.
CENTER FIELDERS
There aren’t any Carlos Beltrans or Torii Hunters among this free agent crop. Mike Cameron’s the best short-term option, though he turns 36 in January. Mark Kotsay isn’t more than a platoon player or fourth outfielder at this point of his career. Corey Patterson can man the position defensively, but can’t hit a lick. Rocco Baldelli could pay huge dividends if a team is willing to take a chance on him. He was a five-tool player for the Rays, but has been sidelined by a slew of ailments, most recently, a mysterious fatigue condition.
RIGHT FIELDERS
Bobby Abreu continued to be Mr. Consistency in 2008, knocking in 100 runs and hitting just under .300. The Yankees don’t have a viable replacement and will probably retain the 34-year-old.The White Sox have an option on Ken Griffey, Jr. for next season, but will likely buy him out. Junior will sign with a contender for one last shot at a ring. The Padres have a similar buyout option with Brian Giles, who turns 38 this January. He’s not the power hitter he was in Pittsburgh, though he’d make a nice addition to a veteran team in need of a right fielder, like the Cubs.
DESIGNATED HITTERS
Teams have shied away from Adam Dunn because of his high strike out totals, but the slugger belted 40 home runs in each of the past five seasons and walks over 100 times a year. He’s an ideal DH for many AL teams. Jason Giambi’s no longer a .300 hitter, but he makes a pitcher work and connected on 32 home runs this past season. Juan Rivera could be one of the better buys of this free agent class. He’s a good hitter who’s been mired behind a glut of outfielders in Anaheim.
STARTING PITCHERS
CC Sabathia almost single-handedly carried the Brewers to the playoffs, taking the ball on three days rest three times in a row. The California native reportedly wants to pitch on the west coast and could command in the neighborhood of $150 million. A.J. Burnett’s virtually unhittable when he’s on his game and won 18 games for the Blue Jays. However, he’s been inconsistent throughout his career and never won more than 12 games before this year. The Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox or Orioles will overpay for his services. Ben Sheets can’t seem to stay healthy, though some pitching-starved team will invest a great deal of money in his ace potential.
After the big three starters there’s Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe and Ryan Dempster. Perez has always struggled with his control, but he won 25 games over the past two seasons and at 27-years-old can still gain command of the strike zone. Lowe’s pitched well in the postseason and can handle the pressure of playing in a big market, two qualities that make him very attractive to the Yankees. Dempster was inconsistent prior to this year, both as a starter and reliever. He was more focused this season and won 17 games while posting a sub .300 ERA.
The remaining big name free agents will likely stay with their current teams. Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte will re-sign with the Yankees or retire. Randy Johnson will most likely pursue his 300th win as a Diamondback, and John Smoltz and Tom Glavine desire to finish their careers with the Braves. Greg Maddux wants to stay in California, while Pedro Martinez has expressed a desire to return to the Mets. Curt Schilling would like to be a hired gun for a contender in the second half of the season.
Other available arms include Carl Pavano, Randy Wolf, Kris Benson, John Garland, Bartolo Colon, Steve Trachsel, Paul Byrd, Freddy Garcia, Livan Hernandez, Braden Looper, Jon Lieber, Jaime Moyer, Kenny Rogers and Odalis Perez.
CLOSERS
Francisco Rodriguez will ask for at least $15 million per year after setting the single season save record. Met’s closer Billy Wagner is out for the 2009 season and they’re sure to be one of K-Rod’s biggest pursuers. Trevor Hoffman’s still going strong at 40, but the Padres may turn over the job to set-up man Heath Bell. Brian Fuentes saved 30 games for the Rockies and Kerry Wood made it through a season without any shoulder problems. After those closers, teams will turn their attention to Brandon Lyon and Soloman Torres, and if all else fails, Jason Isringhausen, Eric Gagne and Joe Borowski are potential reclamation projects.
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