Baseball Guru
11-10-2006, 12:57 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ato374ngXmCPb4NOi0zJgbcRvLYF?slug=jp-freeagents110906&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports
November 9, 2006
Starting Sunday, when free agents can begin nitty-gritty contract discussions with their suitors, the wildest offseason since the freewheeling winter of 2000-01 will officially begin.
The names aren't as big, tops among this year's class being a Japanese player without an inning of major-league experience instead of an Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter or Manny Ramirez six years ago. And while the money isn't as big, either – talk of the next $150 million-plus contract won't come until Miguel Cabrera files for free agency in three years – it's still significant, particularly considering what 2006-07 has to offer.
And that is … a whole mess of blasé, which happens to rhyme with overpay. Baseball, flush with enough cash to make the B.J. Ryan and Johnny Damon deals of last winter look reasonable, now confronts an offseason offering six stars and about 150 others who are thankful this is their free-agent season.
So use the following list of 101 names as a primer for this week's general manager's meetings, the Winter Meetings on Dec. 3-7 and the rest of a hot-stove season full of free-agent maneuvering.
Crème de la crème
1) Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP – Oh, to be the lucky team that actually wins the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka. That privilege alone will cost perhaps $30 million, which will be paid to Matsuzaka's current team, the Seibu Lions. And on top of that, the "winning" club will probably want a four-year deal – three years would allow Matsuzaka access to free agency too soon, and five is likely a risk seeing as he once threw 250 pitches in a game – for about $50 million. Compound that with Matsuzaka's agent being Scott Boras, and all 30 days of the negotiating window could feel like an episode of "24." Point is, Matsuzaka is that good – and he'd better be.
2) Alfonso Soriano, 2B/OF – Teams are lining up with six-year offers for Soriano, and with their value likely between $90 million and $102 million, it begs the question: All this for someone whose career high in walks, before a 2006 season in which he was often pitched around, was 38? Power speaks, even if illogically.
3) Barry Zito, SP – Zito might be the perfect concoction for a free agent: A young (28) winner (2002 Cy Young, 102 victories) who throws with a desirable arm (left) that has not undergone anything undesirable (surgery). So what he asks for (lots of money) he's going to get (up to $85 million over five years) from the place he wants (Los Angeles or New York).
4) Aramis Ramirez, 3B – Not only does Ramirez get to leave the black hole that is Wrigley Field after opting out of his contract with the Cubs, he can cash in on a tremendous second half, too. With a dearth of standout third basemen, Ramirez could get $75 million over five years.
5) Carlos Lee, OF – This is a preemptive assessment of a $50 fine for the first person who utters the words, "Houston, we have a problem," when Lee shows up to spring training in a couple years weighing 300 pounds. Conventional wisdom says Lee ends up with the Astros, who have more than $50 million off the books with the expiration of Jeff Bagwell, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte's contracts. One way or another, it will likely be the National League: No one wants to spend $70 million on a designated hitter.
6) Jason Schmidt, SP – Lesson to all potential free agents: Two good months can earn you up to $20 million. Take out Schmidt's superlative May and very good June, and his earned-run average in 2006 was 4.64. The record will show that he finished '06 with a 3.59 ERA, one that trends up from a poor 2005 season and one that will likely land Schmidt, 33, in Seattle for five years at $65 million.
In his own category
7) Barry Bonds, OF – Sure, he can't move. Neither can Lee, and he's going to get five years. Bonds hit the seams off the ball the last two months, and as much influence as Bud Selig might have, he can't convince all 30 teams to leave a productive hitter on the market. Bonds will find a team that will pay him $10-12 million, break Hank Aaron's home run record and retire to a life that hopefully does not include as much self-loathing as his baseball one does.
Second tier
8) J.D. Drew, OF – After playing a career-high 146 games, Drew is confident enough in his agent, Scott Boras – not to mention the market – to opt out of a contract that owed him $33 million over the next three years. Drew has plenty going for him: He’s an excellent right fielder, he walks as much as any free agent and he’s got power potential. Then again, there is the fear of injury and malaise that will chase Drew until he proves otherwise – for good.
9) Gary Matthews Jr., OF – He's going to get $40 million for four years, and if Matthews doesn't give at least $10,000 to the person who coined "Web Gem," he should be sued, because Matthews' spectacular catches, more than anything, turned him from a journeyman into a commodity.
10) Nomar Garciaparra, 1B/3B/OF – If Garciaparra doesn't get hurt … wait, shouldn't that be the preface for everything uttered about him? If Garciaparra doesn't get hurt, he's a top-tier free agent. If Garciaparra doesn't get hurt, he's probably not a free agent, because a team would have locked him up long-term. If Garciaparra doesn't get hurt, he might still be playing shortstop. Too bad, then, that Garciaparra hasn't played a full season since 2003.
11) Akinori Iwamura, 3B – With more than 30 more runs each of the last three seasons and five Gold Gloves for the Yakult Swallows, Iwamura could end up with Cleveland, which needs a third baseman. Iwamura's Achilles': He has struck out more than 100 times in each of his six full seasons, including 173 in 138 games in 2004.
12) Jeff Suppan, SP – Suppan's golden touch in October did not translate to November, when Jim Talent – whom Suppan supported because of his opposition to stem-cell research – lost his Missouri Senate seat. Oh, well. With the $40 million over four years Suppan is likely to get, he can buy plenty of TV time.
13) Jeff Weaver, SP – How about this for a transaction-wire flip-flop: From "designated for assignment" in June to "signs a four-year, $36 million deal" in December.
14) Julio Lugo, 2B/SS– Forget his two awful months in Los Angeles, because everyone else seems to have. He's the top shortstop available, and that pays. Just ask Rafael Furcal and his $13 million a year.
15) Juan Pierre, OF – At one point, Pierre was threatening to be the least productive hitter in more than 30 years. Then, somehow, he led the National League with 204 hits. And even though he can't muster a walk, Pierre is that amalgam of speed and singles for which general managers love to pay excessively.
Third tier
16) Vicente Padilla, SP – Fifteen wins and a 4.50 ERA means at least $32 million over four years if you have stuff like Padilla's.
17) Mark DeRosa, IF/OF – Long a fixture on Atlanta's bench, DeRosa got 520 at-bats last year, played six positions and set himself up for a boffo payday as Chone Figgins lite.
18) Ted Lilly, SP – He's left-handed with a pulse, and those happen to be the two criteria for riches in this market.
19) Gil Meche, SP – He's young with loads of potential, and those, too, will sell.
20) Adam Eaton, SP – See Meche.
21) Jim Edmonds, OF – If St. Louis doesn't pick up his $10 million option, another team will snatch him up on discount for two or three years.
22) Ray Durham, 2B – Very quietly set himself up for one last big contract with career highs in home runs (26), RBIs (93) and on-base-plus-slugging (.898).
23) Mark Loretta, 2B – Much like Pierre, a player whose reputation exceeds his productivity. Essentially, the opposite of …
24) Frank Catalanotto, IF/OF – He hits more than Loretta, gets on base more, slugs higher and is far more versatile. While he doesn't play Gold Glove-caliber defense like Loretta, Catalanotto can likely be had at a bargain.
25) Mike Piazza, C – His appalling defense could mean his last stop before the Hall of Fame is as a DH.
26) Randy Wolf, SP – His 4-0 record was deceiving. In 12 starts after coming back from major arm surgery, Wolf posted a 5.56 ERA. Still, lefty, pulse, etc.
27) Danys Baez, RP – He is no B.J. Ryan. He's not even Bobby Howry. Only because he's the most accomplished of a poor lot will Baez get paid.
28) Bengie Molina, C – He overplayed his hand angling for a big payday last year. After a decent season, Molina won't do it again. Question is, will he even get the chance?
29) Justin Speier, RP – At 33, Speier could finally get a chance to close full-time. A three-year deal for $16 million wouldn't surprise anyone.
30) David Dellucci, OF – If a team gives him 500 at-bats, he could be an absolute bargain.
31) Dave Roberts, OF – Already garnering interest from the Cubs, Rockies and Giants.
32) Sean Casey, 1B – The only bright spot for the Tigers in the World Series fits in both leagues, even if his defense is limited.
33) Aubrey Huff, 1B/3B/OF – Following a brutal April and May, Huff rebounded with an OPS of .833 or greater in each of the remaining months.
34) Jason Marquis, SP – Buried by Tony La Russa in the postseason, Marquis' arm will get him at least a three-year deal, even with his 6.02 ERA last year.
35) Ronnie Belliard, 2B – St. Louis made the mistake of not re-signing its slick-fielding second baseman, Mark Grudzielanek, after last season. With Belliard, it has a chance to remedy that.
36) Shea Hillenbrand, 1B/3B/DH – Mr. Titanic could end up back in San Francisco, where he and Bonds will battle for biggest blowhard.
37) Moises Alou, OF – Until he stops hitting – .301, 22 home runs in 345 at-bats, .571 slugging percentage in '06 – he'll have a job.
38) Luis Gonzalez, OF – Might have another good year left in him. If so, he'd love for it to be in the NL West, where he could play Arizona 19 times.
39) Shannon Stewart, OF – Remember the Stewart who hit .300 every year, played great defense and finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2003? Yeah, neither do we.
40) Chad Bradford, RP – For someone whose fastball rides at 84 mph and doesn't dip, dive or dart, Bradford has made – and will continue to make – a nice living.
41) Rod Barajas, C – Lower-level defensive catcher who can make up for it with his bat, although he finished 2006 with 11 home runs – 10 less than he hit in '05.
42) Pedro Feliz, 1B/3B – The up: 98 RBIs. The down: .281 on-base percentage.
43) Mike Lieberthal, C – Turns 35 in January, and is two years removed from any semblance of productivity.
44) Ron Villone, RP – Could scare teams off with the Joe Torre overuse hangover.
45) Kenny Lofton, OF – Poised to join his 11th team.
By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports
November 9, 2006
Starting Sunday, when free agents can begin nitty-gritty contract discussions with their suitors, the wildest offseason since the freewheeling winter of 2000-01 will officially begin.
The names aren't as big, tops among this year's class being a Japanese player without an inning of major-league experience instead of an Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter or Manny Ramirez six years ago. And while the money isn't as big, either – talk of the next $150 million-plus contract won't come until Miguel Cabrera files for free agency in three years – it's still significant, particularly considering what 2006-07 has to offer.
And that is … a whole mess of blasé, which happens to rhyme with overpay. Baseball, flush with enough cash to make the B.J. Ryan and Johnny Damon deals of last winter look reasonable, now confronts an offseason offering six stars and about 150 others who are thankful this is their free-agent season.
So use the following list of 101 names as a primer for this week's general manager's meetings, the Winter Meetings on Dec. 3-7 and the rest of a hot-stove season full of free-agent maneuvering.
Crème de la crème
1) Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP – Oh, to be the lucky team that actually wins the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka. That privilege alone will cost perhaps $30 million, which will be paid to Matsuzaka's current team, the Seibu Lions. And on top of that, the "winning" club will probably want a four-year deal – three years would allow Matsuzaka access to free agency too soon, and five is likely a risk seeing as he once threw 250 pitches in a game – for about $50 million. Compound that with Matsuzaka's agent being Scott Boras, and all 30 days of the negotiating window could feel like an episode of "24." Point is, Matsuzaka is that good – and he'd better be.
2) Alfonso Soriano, 2B/OF – Teams are lining up with six-year offers for Soriano, and with their value likely between $90 million and $102 million, it begs the question: All this for someone whose career high in walks, before a 2006 season in which he was often pitched around, was 38? Power speaks, even if illogically.
3) Barry Zito, SP – Zito might be the perfect concoction for a free agent: A young (28) winner (2002 Cy Young, 102 victories) who throws with a desirable arm (left) that has not undergone anything undesirable (surgery). So what he asks for (lots of money) he's going to get (up to $85 million over five years) from the place he wants (Los Angeles or New York).
4) Aramis Ramirez, 3B – Not only does Ramirez get to leave the black hole that is Wrigley Field after opting out of his contract with the Cubs, he can cash in on a tremendous second half, too. With a dearth of standout third basemen, Ramirez could get $75 million over five years.
5) Carlos Lee, OF – This is a preemptive assessment of a $50 fine for the first person who utters the words, "Houston, we have a problem," when Lee shows up to spring training in a couple years weighing 300 pounds. Conventional wisdom says Lee ends up with the Astros, who have more than $50 million off the books with the expiration of Jeff Bagwell, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte's contracts. One way or another, it will likely be the National League: No one wants to spend $70 million on a designated hitter.
6) Jason Schmidt, SP – Lesson to all potential free agents: Two good months can earn you up to $20 million. Take out Schmidt's superlative May and very good June, and his earned-run average in 2006 was 4.64. The record will show that he finished '06 with a 3.59 ERA, one that trends up from a poor 2005 season and one that will likely land Schmidt, 33, in Seattle for five years at $65 million.
In his own category
7) Barry Bonds, OF – Sure, he can't move. Neither can Lee, and he's going to get five years. Bonds hit the seams off the ball the last two months, and as much influence as Bud Selig might have, he can't convince all 30 teams to leave a productive hitter on the market. Bonds will find a team that will pay him $10-12 million, break Hank Aaron's home run record and retire to a life that hopefully does not include as much self-loathing as his baseball one does.
Second tier
8) J.D. Drew, OF – After playing a career-high 146 games, Drew is confident enough in his agent, Scott Boras – not to mention the market – to opt out of a contract that owed him $33 million over the next three years. Drew has plenty going for him: He’s an excellent right fielder, he walks as much as any free agent and he’s got power potential. Then again, there is the fear of injury and malaise that will chase Drew until he proves otherwise – for good.
9) Gary Matthews Jr., OF – He's going to get $40 million for four years, and if Matthews doesn't give at least $10,000 to the person who coined "Web Gem," he should be sued, because Matthews' spectacular catches, more than anything, turned him from a journeyman into a commodity.
10) Nomar Garciaparra, 1B/3B/OF – If Garciaparra doesn't get hurt … wait, shouldn't that be the preface for everything uttered about him? If Garciaparra doesn't get hurt, he's a top-tier free agent. If Garciaparra doesn't get hurt, he's probably not a free agent, because a team would have locked him up long-term. If Garciaparra doesn't get hurt, he might still be playing shortstop. Too bad, then, that Garciaparra hasn't played a full season since 2003.
11) Akinori Iwamura, 3B – With more than 30 more runs each of the last three seasons and five Gold Gloves for the Yakult Swallows, Iwamura could end up with Cleveland, which needs a third baseman. Iwamura's Achilles': He has struck out more than 100 times in each of his six full seasons, including 173 in 138 games in 2004.
12) Jeff Suppan, SP – Suppan's golden touch in October did not translate to November, when Jim Talent – whom Suppan supported because of his opposition to stem-cell research – lost his Missouri Senate seat. Oh, well. With the $40 million over four years Suppan is likely to get, he can buy plenty of TV time.
13) Jeff Weaver, SP – How about this for a transaction-wire flip-flop: From "designated for assignment" in June to "signs a four-year, $36 million deal" in December.
14) Julio Lugo, 2B/SS– Forget his two awful months in Los Angeles, because everyone else seems to have. He's the top shortstop available, and that pays. Just ask Rafael Furcal and his $13 million a year.
15) Juan Pierre, OF – At one point, Pierre was threatening to be the least productive hitter in more than 30 years. Then, somehow, he led the National League with 204 hits. And even though he can't muster a walk, Pierre is that amalgam of speed and singles for which general managers love to pay excessively.
Third tier
16) Vicente Padilla, SP – Fifteen wins and a 4.50 ERA means at least $32 million over four years if you have stuff like Padilla's.
17) Mark DeRosa, IF/OF – Long a fixture on Atlanta's bench, DeRosa got 520 at-bats last year, played six positions and set himself up for a boffo payday as Chone Figgins lite.
18) Ted Lilly, SP – He's left-handed with a pulse, and those happen to be the two criteria for riches in this market.
19) Gil Meche, SP – He's young with loads of potential, and those, too, will sell.
20) Adam Eaton, SP – See Meche.
21) Jim Edmonds, OF – If St. Louis doesn't pick up his $10 million option, another team will snatch him up on discount for two or three years.
22) Ray Durham, 2B – Very quietly set himself up for one last big contract with career highs in home runs (26), RBIs (93) and on-base-plus-slugging (.898).
23) Mark Loretta, 2B – Much like Pierre, a player whose reputation exceeds his productivity. Essentially, the opposite of …
24) Frank Catalanotto, IF/OF – He hits more than Loretta, gets on base more, slugs higher and is far more versatile. While he doesn't play Gold Glove-caliber defense like Loretta, Catalanotto can likely be had at a bargain.
25) Mike Piazza, C – His appalling defense could mean his last stop before the Hall of Fame is as a DH.
26) Randy Wolf, SP – His 4-0 record was deceiving. In 12 starts after coming back from major arm surgery, Wolf posted a 5.56 ERA. Still, lefty, pulse, etc.
27) Danys Baez, RP – He is no B.J. Ryan. He's not even Bobby Howry. Only because he's the most accomplished of a poor lot will Baez get paid.
28) Bengie Molina, C – He overplayed his hand angling for a big payday last year. After a decent season, Molina won't do it again. Question is, will he even get the chance?
29) Justin Speier, RP – At 33, Speier could finally get a chance to close full-time. A three-year deal for $16 million wouldn't surprise anyone.
30) David Dellucci, OF – If a team gives him 500 at-bats, he could be an absolute bargain.
31) Dave Roberts, OF – Already garnering interest from the Cubs, Rockies and Giants.
32) Sean Casey, 1B – The only bright spot for the Tigers in the World Series fits in both leagues, even if his defense is limited.
33) Aubrey Huff, 1B/3B/OF – Following a brutal April and May, Huff rebounded with an OPS of .833 or greater in each of the remaining months.
34) Jason Marquis, SP – Buried by Tony La Russa in the postseason, Marquis' arm will get him at least a three-year deal, even with his 6.02 ERA last year.
35) Ronnie Belliard, 2B – St. Louis made the mistake of not re-signing its slick-fielding second baseman, Mark Grudzielanek, after last season. With Belliard, it has a chance to remedy that.
36) Shea Hillenbrand, 1B/3B/DH – Mr. Titanic could end up back in San Francisco, where he and Bonds will battle for biggest blowhard.
37) Moises Alou, OF – Until he stops hitting – .301, 22 home runs in 345 at-bats, .571 slugging percentage in '06 – he'll have a job.
38) Luis Gonzalez, OF – Might have another good year left in him. If so, he'd love for it to be in the NL West, where he could play Arizona 19 times.
39) Shannon Stewart, OF – Remember the Stewart who hit .300 every year, played great defense and finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2003? Yeah, neither do we.
40) Chad Bradford, RP – For someone whose fastball rides at 84 mph and doesn't dip, dive or dart, Bradford has made – and will continue to make – a nice living.
41) Rod Barajas, C – Lower-level defensive catcher who can make up for it with his bat, although he finished 2006 with 11 home runs – 10 less than he hit in '05.
42) Pedro Feliz, 1B/3B – The up: 98 RBIs. The down: .281 on-base percentage.
43) Mike Lieberthal, C – Turns 35 in January, and is two years removed from any semblance of productivity.
44) Ron Villone, RP – Could scare teams off with the Joe Torre overuse hangover.
45) Kenny Lofton, OF – Poised to join his 11th team.