November 13

Free Agent Thoughts

Just hours before he was to become a free agent, Jorge Posada reportedly will accept a four-year $52 million contract to remain with the New York Yankees. The deal matches the dollar amount and length of contract signed by both Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui two years ago, and will become official pending a physical and the completion of the final contract language. Posada, who batted a career high .338 last season, along with Mariano Rivera were initially presented with three-year $40 million contracts from the Yanks. With one potential void filled behind the plate, New York will have to fill the hot corner. The top two free agents without a $350 million asking price have to be Mike Lowell and Pedro Feliz, but also out there is 3B/1B Mike Lamb. It'll really depend on the length of contract if Boston keeps Lowell and if they do Feliz shows alot of resemblance to Scott Brosius and has averaged 21 homers and 82 RBI's since 2004. Mike Lamb isn't a great defensive third baseman, same could be said about A-Rod since he switched from short, but Lamb's not a bad hitter and can also play first.

It'll be interesting to see how soon before we see Barry Bonds with his new club. The all-time home run leader has that "did he" cloud around him, but still has maybe a few years left in him. The most likely guess is that he will stay in the state of California and go to the American League as a DH with the Angels or A's, but don't count out San Diego.

Out of the bullpen, Detroit has decided to keep closer Todd Jones for at least one more season, and the speculation is that Mariano Rivera will re-sign with New York, while the Twins retained Joe Nathan. So who exactly does that leave to turn the lights out? By far Francisco Cordero has the market cornered coming off a 44 save season and it's possible he could return to Texas, but if he does it'll be as an Astro. After setting up in Boston, Eric Gagne has made it clear he wants to get the final three outs in the ninth, not the 23rd, 24th, or 25th in the eighth. Before moving to Boston mid-season, Gagne did convert 16 of 20 saves with Texas and does hold a 95 percent career conversion rate. At 32 years old, he still has innings left to pitch the question is if he'll be able to regain that nasty form he had with the Dodgers. While not a closer, the Hawk is also available for the taking. Former Twin LaTroy Hawkins didn't look bad this past post-season and has held batters to a .133 average in five October appearances and has seemed to worry less in his later years, but chances are he'll probably stay in the Rockies.

While this doesn't cover all the available free agents, it's hopefully a good mix of some of the talent available to be bought.