Luvofthegame
09-02-2006, 09:14 PM
By Gabe Lacques
USA TODAY
9/2/06
Major league clubs have been so successful signing their starting pitchers to contract extensions, the free agent market for 2006 is starting to look awfully bare.
And for that matter, so is the 2007 market.
The Astros' signing of ace Roy Oswalt to a five-year, $73 million contract extension this week continued a trend that has kept potential first-time free agent pitchers home long before they can test the market.
This winter's free agent class, topped by Athletics left-hander Barry Zito, could have created a feeding frenzy. Instead, Zito will be one of a precious few top arms available, because several potential aces no longer are available.
Johan Santana, the 2004 AL Cy Young Award winner, could have been a free agent, but the Twins signed him to a four-year, $40 million extension in 2005. Indians left-hander C.C. Sabathia, 79-53 lifetime, was taken off the 2006 market with a two-year, $18 million extension in April 2005.
And three mid-range options disappeared this spring, when White Sox right-handers Jon Garland and Jose Contreras and Angels starter Kelvim Escobar each signed for three years and between $28.5 million and $29 million.
So Zito and Giants ace Jason Schmidt will be joined on the market by a fairly pedestrian group, including the Cardinals' Mark Mulder and the Astros' Andy Pettitte.
"The reality is, it's next to impossible to get good pitching in a trade," said Angels general manager Bill Stoneman. "So you'd rather not lose a good one of your own"
Thanks to more pre-emptive signings, the 2007 class is thinning out, too. Oswalt and the Astros worked out a deal for 15 months before he could file for free agency. The Red Sox did the same with Josh Beckett, giving him a three-year, $30 million extension in July. Potential free agents after next season include Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs, Colorado's Jason Jennings and Milwaukee's Doug Davis.
USA TODAY
9/2/06
Major league clubs have been so successful signing their starting pitchers to contract extensions, the free agent market for 2006 is starting to look awfully bare.
And for that matter, so is the 2007 market.
The Astros' signing of ace Roy Oswalt to a five-year, $73 million contract extension this week continued a trend that has kept potential first-time free agent pitchers home long before they can test the market.
This winter's free agent class, topped by Athletics left-hander Barry Zito, could have created a feeding frenzy. Instead, Zito will be one of a precious few top arms available, because several potential aces no longer are available.
Johan Santana, the 2004 AL Cy Young Award winner, could have been a free agent, but the Twins signed him to a four-year, $40 million extension in 2005. Indians left-hander C.C. Sabathia, 79-53 lifetime, was taken off the 2006 market with a two-year, $18 million extension in April 2005.
And three mid-range options disappeared this spring, when White Sox right-handers Jon Garland and Jose Contreras and Angels starter Kelvim Escobar each signed for three years and between $28.5 million and $29 million.
So Zito and Giants ace Jason Schmidt will be joined on the market by a fairly pedestrian group, including the Cardinals' Mark Mulder and the Astros' Andy Pettitte.
"The reality is, it's next to impossible to get good pitching in a trade," said Angels general manager Bill Stoneman. "So you'd rather not lose a good one of your own"
Thanks to more pre-emptive signings, the 2007 class is thinning out, too. Oswalt and the Astros worked out a deal for 15 months before he could file for free agency. The Red Sox did the same with Josh Beckett, giving him a three-year, $30 million extension in July. Potential free agents after next season include Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs, Colorado's Jason Jennings and Milwaukee's Doug Davis.