Examining The Free Agent Market

Thanks to MLB Trade Rumours, I do not have to go through every team roster and figure out who is an upcoming Free Agent myself. MLBTR has done the leg work for me, and now I have a list to go by.



There will be more Free Agents added when guys are non-tendered, which should be a considerable number with all the over-paid utility players and finge starters (I'm looking right at you, Jose Bautista).



So, until those guys are released into the pool, I will go by what we know.



I am going to start with guys with options in their contracts today. Tomorrow I will run through the top options at each position, then Saturday, I will go through the potentially under-rated guys who could sign minor league deals and make an impact off a Major League bench.



C - Michael Barrett (TOR). Barrett was pretty shitty early in the season, then hurt himself trying to catch a foul ball. He then hit like shit in 10 minor league rehab games. His option better be declined, and he will be lucky to get a minor league deal. Remember, Paul LoDuca and Johnny Estrada never got signed and were much better hitters than Barrett. Verdict: Option Declined



C - Ramon Hernandez (CIN). Hernandez has shown a good OBP this season, but his batting average is well below his norm. If he can keep this batting eye and bring his power and average back closer to his carerr averages, he could be back to a high level catcher. His option is $8M, so I doubt the Reds will bring him back. Verdict: Option Declined. I can see many teams interested in his services despite a very low slugging percentage.



C - Victor Martinez (BOS). V-Mart has been great in Boston since he came over from the Indians. He will be back with the Sox barring Theo Epstein losing his mind. Martinez is one of the premier catchers in baseball and a $7.7M option is an incredible value. Verdict: Option Excercised



C - Miguel Olivo (KC). Olivo is a low OBP negative impact baseball player. I do not care what anybody says, no major leaguer should ever OBP under .300 and Olivo hasn't been over in a full season since 2004 (which was his only season over). His career OBP is .276, which is dreadful. He has 20 HR though this season, so some team will sign him and he will destroy rallies for yet another team lured in by his power. Verdict: Option Declined.



C - Yorvit Torrealba (COL). Yorvit is an interesting study. One season he will post a decent OBP with a poor SLG, then the next his OBP will be horrendous and his SLG will increase. His OBP+ has remained remarkably consistant. That sonsistancy says one thing: he does not belong in the Major Leagues. Torrealba is no better than any career minor leaguers that the Rockies could bring in to take his place. Verdict: Option Declined.



C - Jason Varitek (BOS). Varitek has become a very poor hitter, though he still has some pop and possesses a decent eye. Varitek could be a good signing for a team needing a 1 year stop gap and a veteran presence, but Boston should not bring him back. His option is a mutual one, so if Varitek thinks $3M is more than he would get elsewhere, he will excercise his option. Since he can't handle the knuckleball, he is not an ideal back-up for Boston. Verdict: Team Declines Option, Player Also Declines.



C - Gregg Zaun (TB). Zaun is the best dressed free agent and also the best OBP option of any available catcher. He has a little pop as well, so he should make some team very happy next season. He is worthy of starting on a lot of teams and he should choose the situation that allows him that. Since 2004, Zaun has been a league average hitter. And not just average for a catcher. Zaun is a great pick-up for a team needing a 1 or 2 year starter. His option is affordable and if Tampa thinks that Navarro isn't good enough to start, they will excercise Zaun's option. Verdict: Tampa Excercises Option.



1B - Ross Gload (FLA). Gload has been exactly as advertised for the Marlins this season. He is a good hitter, who plays solid 1B defense and can play the corner OF if needed. He doesn't possess much power though, which means he will be a bench option the rest of his career. For $2.6M, the Marlins should pass. Gload will find a job somewhere though and will continue to be a great bench presence. Verdict: Option Declined.



1B - Chad Tracy (ARI). Tracy picked a bad year to be awful. He has declined pretty steeply the last 2 seasons and his power seems to have vanished. He may be a good bench option for someone, as he is able to play 1B and 3B. But, he is not worthy of a $7M contract. Verdict: Optioned Declined.



2B/3B - Akinori Iwamura (TB). I find it weird that Iwamura gets to bypass MLB regulations and become a free agent after 3 seasons. Fucking Japanese. Except Ichiro. I fucking love Ichiro. Anyways, Iwamura is a fantastic player, and has become a fantastic 2B. I wish he would steal some more bases, but that is just nit-picking. His option is $4.25M, which is affordable and reasonable. Tampa has 2 options at league minimum in Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez who could be as good, which makes it seem unlikely that his option gets excercised. Verdict: Option Excercised.



SS - Alex Gonzalez (BOS). Gonzalez plays an excellent defensive SS and has always had some pop, which has made him a valuable player. His option is for $6M and the Red Sox kind of need a SS. It makes sense that they excercise the option and bring him back. Verdict: Option Excercised.



SS - Jack Wilson (SEA). With an $8.4M option, the Mariners would be retarded to excercise the option. No matter how badly a team needs a SS, there is no excuse for paying one of the worst offensive players in baseball. Taking away 2007 and 2004, he hasn't OPS'd over .700 in his career (.684 career). That is pretty terrible. His defense is considered near the top in the Major Leagues though, so he does hold some value, but his power is almost non-exsistant and his on base skills leave a lot to be desired. Verdict: Option Declined.



3B - Pedro Feliz (PHI). $5M is pretty reasonable for a player with Feliz's skills and track record. He has been remarkably consistant the last 3 seasons, with an 81 OPS+ each season. He has power and plays plus defense, combined with the lack of other top available options, means that he is Philadelphia's best option next season. Verdict: Option Exercised.



3B - Melvin Mora (BAL). Mora has very quietly been pretty great from 2002 until 2008, averaging 20 HR per season and an OPS of .820 over that time. He hasn't been good this season, losing playing time to Ty Wigginton in anticipation of Mora leaving (at an $8M option). He should have no trouble finding a starting job based on his track record. 2010 should help to determine if 2009 is an off year or the start of a steep decline. Verdict: Option Declined.



LF - Carl Crawford (TB). Crawford has a $10.25M option, which Tamp will exercise unless they are retarded. They will be able to trade him regardless, so declining is wasting an oportunity to get a couple really good prospects. Since Crawford has been outstanding since 2003 when healthy, it should be an easy decision for Tampa. Verdict: Option Exercised. Crawford Traded To Angels.



LF - Manny Ramirez (LAD). Mannywood holds a $20M player option. Based on his suspension and the way teams are shying away from cancerous contracts, Manny should decide to stay in LA. Verdict: Option Exercised.



CF - Coco Crisp (KC). The Royals hold an $8M option on Coco. He is a good player, but for $8M, the Royals can go out and a comparable Crisp and a couple other players. They have a ready replacement on the roster in Mitch Maier. It would be stupid to keep Crisp at that rate, but Dayton Moore has been known to be very stupid (acquiring Mike Jacobs and Yuniesky Betencourt, blocking Kila Monster with Jacobs and Shealy). Verdict: Option Exercised. Immediately Regretted.



RF - Jermaine Dye (CWS). At $12M, Dye's option is a steep price to pay for a DH. He is an incredible hitter though and there will be many teams willing to trow money at a guy who can mash like Dye. Since 2004, he has averaged 30 HR a season. That is impressively consistant. It will be a tough decision for Chicago, but in the end I believe they will decide that Dye is their best power threat and that they need him. Verdict: Option Exercised.



RF - Austin Kearns (WSH). At $10M all I have to say is: LMAO. And I never use faggy internet lingo lightly. I literally laughed so hard I shit my pants a little when I saw that Kearns had a $10M option. That will get declined so fast Kearns won't realize that is has been declined until he shows up in the spring and is excorted off National's property. He has some good seasons in his past and his defense is regarded as positive with an explosive arm. He should get a job somewhere, as a 4th OF on a good team or a starter on a bad one. Verdict: Option Declined Happily.



SP - Freddy Garcia (CWS). At no more than $3M next season, Garcia is a pretty good value for next season as a 5th starter. Verdict: Option Exercised.



SP - Jon Garland (LAD). $10M option for a mediocre innings eater. I highly doubt the Dodgers will exercise the option, but Garland does hold value in the 5th spot in the rotation. You always know he will take his turn and put up league averagish numbers. In the end, I think that the Dodgers decide to see what else they can get for $7.5M. Verdict: Option Declined.



SP - Tim Hudson (ATL). Hudson is an interesting case. He has a $12M option for next season, but has missed most of this season after injury. It seems Atlanta wants to exercise his deal and trade one of their other starters. I find this stupid, but it makes sense if they feel they can only find offense through trade. Hudson has looked decent overall in a few starts since he was activated, so maybe he can be 100% and effective next season. Verdict: Option Exercised.



SP - Cliff Lee (PHI). With an $8M option and great numbers since coming from Cleveland, the decision should be easy. Cliff Lee is an ace. $8M is amazing value for an ace. Verdict: Option Exercised.



P - Braden Looper (MIL). $6.5M is his option price. He has a nice win total this seaosn, which is largely inflated by great offensive support. Looper is a below average pitcher as a starter. There is no reason to give Looper $6.5M when you could probably sign a better option for less. Verdict: Option Declined.



P - Tim Wakefield (BOS). With a never ending $4M option, Wakefield is an interesting case. There is no reason not to exercise the deal just to see what you have. Verdict: Option Exercised.



SP - Brandon Webb (ARI). Thought to be a no-brainer pre-season, Webb has become a serious discussion. His $8.5M option is extrememly team friendly if Webb is healthy. He hasn't been this season and there is concern he won't be next season as well. With a legit ace already in toe, Arizona may decide to use the money on a pitcher with a better chance of health in 2010. In the end, I believe Arizona will decide to keep him around as a good faith gesture to avoid burning a bridge with a great pitcher. Verdict: Option Exercised.



RP - Rafael Betencourt (COL). Colorado inherited a $5.4M option when they acquired the quality set-up man. Colorado would be silly to exercise the contract in my opinion. Relief pitching is so inconsistant year to year that it is unwise to give millions to non-elite arms. Verdict: Option Declined.



RP - Doug Brocail (HOU). He has pitched less than 15 innings this season. That is reason alone to deline the 40+ year old's $2.85M option. Verdict: Option Declined.



RP - J.J. Putz (NYM). Putz has spent some time hurt this season, and with a $9.15M option, the mets should use that money on an OF. That is a lot of money for a relief arm with more questions than answers. Verdict: Option Declined.



RP - Takashi Saito (BOS). Saito was a great sign by Boston after the Dodgers assumed he wasn't healthy enough to contribute in 2009. His option is for $5.5M, which is too much to spend on a middle reliever. The Red Sox are too deep to spend that on a veteran reliever. Verdict: Option Declined.



RP - Alan Embree (COL). $3M. Alan Embree has been decent, but he can be replaced. The Rockies must have needed to throw the option in to make a deal happen before the season. They shouldn't exercise it, but they probably will. Verdict: Option Exercised.



RP - Wil Ohman (LAD). The Dodgers hold a $2.2M option on Ohman. That is a reasonable price for a quality lefty. I say exercise it. Ohman seems worth it. Verdict: Option Exercised.



RP - Brian Shouse (TB). The Rays hold an undisclosed option, believed to be around $2M. Shouse has been effective and should continue to be effective. Verdict: Option Exercised.