Manny Ramirez
week when the Phillies clinched the National League Pennant. So that
turn of events made Manny Ramirez a free agent being able to go to the
highest bidder.
The jackass, Scott “No Soul” Boras has stated that
the bidding war will start at 6 years $150 million. Now that is $25 million a
season which believe it or not is not the issue that Manny will face.
No one doubts that Manny will get the $25 million he desires. One GM
told Ken Rosenthal that if he was allowed to pursue Manny he would
offer him a contract in the neighborhood of $25 to $30 million a year for two
years with a third option year. That just blows my mind. $30 million a
year!!!
Manny will also have other issues working against him.
One being his agent Scott Boras who as we all remember he dropped
the ball last season with Alex Rodriguez. Boras is hated by almost all
teams. The Braves view him as the root of all evil in baseball. The
Yankees long standing relationship with him was strained maybe beyond
repair over the Alex Rodriguez saga last season. Then there is the
Astros who refuse to deal with Boras after the royal screwing that was
handed to them in the Beltran sweepstakes.
The last issue that
Manny faces in getting his long term deal is “Manny being Manny”. Even
though the Dodgers were willing to take on Manny and his many alter
egos, they knew it was very short term for the time being. The Dodgers
took notice along with every other team in the league when Manny
disgraced himself to get traded from the team that helped him get two
World Series rings.
There is just simply too much stacked
against Manny for him to be able to get his six year deal. The money
will come and there is no doubt about that. But I doubt very seriously
he will get more than 3 years.
2009 Free Agents
Here is a list of free agents for 2009 by position. I will have to add names to the list as more and more players turn down minor league assignments or opt out of their current contracts.
Here is a list of Free Agents and potential free agents for the 2009 season.
Catchers
Brad Ausmus (40)
Paul Bako (37)
Rod Barajas (33) – $2.5MM club option for ’09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Michael Barrett (32)
Henry Blanco (37) – $3MM mutual option for ’09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Johnny Estrada (33)
Toby Hall (33) – $2.25MM club option for ’09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Jason LaRue (35)
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) – $2.7MM mutual option for ’09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Mike Redmond (38) – $0.95MM club option for ’09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Javier Valentin (33)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38)
First basemen
Rich Aurilia (37)
Hank Blalock (28) – $6.2MM club option for ’09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) – $12MM club option for ’09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) – $22MM club option for ’09 with a $5MM buyout
Wes Helms (33) – $3.75MM club option for ’09 with a $0.75MM buyout
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)
Daryle Ward (34)
Second basemen
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Jamey Carroll (35) – $2.5MM club option for ’09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Craig Counsell (38)
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
David Eckstein (34)
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Nick Punto (31)
Shortstops
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Orlando Cabrera (34)
Alex Cintron (30)
Alex Cora (33)
Craig Counsell (38)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33)
Juan Uribe (30)
Ramon Vazquez (32)
Omar Vizquel (42) – $5.2MM club option for ’09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Third basemen
Rich Aurilia (37)
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) – $6.2MM club option for ’09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Aaron Boone (36)
Russell Branyan (33)
Craig Counsell (38)
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) – $3.75MM club option for ’09
Mark Loretta (37)
Fernando Tatis (34)
Ramon Vazquez (32)
Left fielders
Moises Alou (42)
Garret Anderson (37) – $14MM club option for ’09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Carl Crawford (27) – $8.25MM club option for ’09 with a $2.5MM buyout
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) – $2.75MM club option for ’09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Raul Ibanez (37)
Gabe Kapler (33)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) – $2.6MM club option for ’09
Craig Monroe (32)
Greg Norton (36)
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27) – $5MM club option or $2MM player option for ’09
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Fernando Tatis (34)
Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Mike Cameron (36) – $10MM club option for ’09 with a $750K buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Gabe Kapler (33)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)
Scott Podsednik (33)
Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
Cliff Floyd (36) – $2.75MM club option for ’09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (38) – $9MM club option for ’09 with a $3MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) – $16.5MM club option for ’09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) – $15MM club option for ’09 with a $3MM buyout
Gabe Kapler (33)
Jason Michaels (33) – $2.6MM club option for ’09
Fernando Tatis (34)
Brad Wilkerson (32)
DHs
Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) – $2.75MM club option for ’09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Jason Giambi (38) – $22MM club option for ’09 with $5MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) – $15MM club option for ’09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41)
Jose Vidro (34)
Starting pitchers
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) – can opt out after ’08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Bartolo Colon (36)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Shawn Estes (36)
Josh Fogg (32)
Freddy Garcia (33)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) – $9MM club option for ’09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Braden Looper (34)
Rodrigo Lopez (33) – club option for ’09
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Sergio Mitre (28)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) – $11MM club option for ’09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) – $13MM club option for ’09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) – $8.75MM club option for ’09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Sidney Ponson (32)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
Glendon Rusch (34)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42)
Tim Wakefield (42) – perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)
Closers
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Eddie Guardado (38)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Salomon Torres (37) – $3.75MM club option for ’09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Kerry Wood (32)
Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Luis Ayala (31)
Joe Beimel (32)
Joe Borowski (38)
Doug Brocail (42)
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (30)
Alan Embree (39) – $3MM club option for ’09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Casey Fossum (31)
Keith Foulke (35)
Tom Gordon (41) – $4.5MM club option for ’09 with a $1MM buyout
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Matt Herges (39) – club option for ’09
Bob Howry (35)
Jon Lieber (39)
Jason Johnson (35)
Damaso Marte (34) – $6MM club option for ’09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) – $2MM club option for ’09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Chan Ho Park (36)
Horacio Ramirez (29)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Arthur Rhodes (39)
Juan Rincon (30)
Glendon Rusch (34)
Rudy Seanez (40)
Brian Shouse (40)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Timlin (43)
Ron Villone (39)
David Weathers (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Matt Wise (33)
Jamey Wright (34)
Yearly Roy Oswalt Trade Rumor
Each offseason and each trade deadline brings rumor upon
rumor about the Houston Astros considering trading Roy Oswalt. Before all that
starts I am going to let the world know Roy
is not going anywhere this offseason or even at the 2009 trade deadline.
First of all Oswalt has a complete no trade clause and has
no desire to play for any other team than the Astros, the only organization he
has ever been apart of in his professional career.
Grant it Roy
has been quoted as saying he would consider waiving his no trade clause if the
Astros approached him about it stating he would not want to play where he is
not wanted, and the Astros do want him. They realize that Roy is their ONLY pitcher. They have a number
one starter in Roy,
and four number five starters with the rest of the rotation.
Not to mention the fact that Drayton McLane Jr. is greatly
fond of the Astros one and only ace pitcher. He loves Roy so much he bought him a Caterpillar D6N XL
bulldozer for clinching the final game of the 2005 National League Championship
Series. Yeah sure, many a boss have bought extravagant gifts for employees that
go well above and beyond the call of duty, but a bulldozer is a pretty exact and
personal gift. You have to have a lot of love and admiration to know that a man
wants and needs a bulldozer.
Take away the fact that Roy has a no trade clause and is a admired by
team owner McLane, Roy is also a fan favorite. There is not an Astros fan alive
that does not know what this man means to the Houston Astros organization. They
have all seen his grit on the field and love him for what he does on the mound,
and for a team where image is everything this assures that the Astros organization
will not take a Public Relations hit like that.
The final reason Roy
remains with the Astros is probably the most important reason of all. Ed Wade
and his job security is the biggest reason. If by some chance Ed finds a way to
get around the no trade clause, McLane’s fondness of Roy and the PR night mare, Ed knows his
future with the club will ride on this single trade. If the Astros get a
pitcher or two and some minor leaguers and they turn out to flop or not live up
to expectations Ed will be looking for another job and the chances of Ed
finding a third GM job would be slim to none.
So mark my words, Roy will remain in an Astros uniform for
seasons to come.
Carlos Delgado’s option a no brainer for the Mets
Now that Omar Minya and Jerry Manuel have both taken care of
their contract issues it is time for them to start assessing the state of the
New York Mets. With the 2008 playoffs still underway there is not a whole lot
of things Minya can do right now. He can, however, address Carlos Delgado’s
contract option. It is really a no brainer for the Mets considering how
astronomical MLB contracts have soared to in the past several years. For a
measly $12 million the Mets get to retain 38 homeruns and 115 RBI. Not bad for
today’s market.
Beat writer Mark Hale believes that Delgado’s option is all but picked up already.
Jim Edmonds could retire
After being shown the door by two different teams in less
than a year’s time Jim Edmonds went to Chicago
with something to prove. He had to prove that he was still a fierce competitor
on the baseball diamond and he accomplished that. Grant it, a .235 batting average is nothing to
sing about but keep in mind that he hit .256 for the Cubs and knocked 19
homeruns (20 on the season) and while still playing a high standard of baseball
in center field. Sure, he may have lost a step or two but lets face it, that only
brings his level of play down to just above average.
Now with free agency looming for Edmonds he seems to be pondering retirement.
The Cubs have mentioned they would like to bring Edmonds back but will not break the bank to
do so. Edmonds
made around $8 million this season and will probably see a significant pay cut
to around the $5 million mark. This could attract a hand full of suitors.
Side note: Jim Edmonds is 18 homeruns shy of reaching
400 for his career. This my be enough to bring him back for one more season.
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