Posted November 8, 200520 yr comment_4116 A.J. Burnett (Marlins) - Previous prediction: Yankees - five years, $65 million Burnett?s former team is about the only one without any interest in signing him. The Blue Jays are supposed to be the early favorites, but the Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Tigers, Cubs, Red Sox, Rangers, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Orioles could also be involved in the bidding. With so much money out there, a $70 million contract could be a possibility. Prediction: Mariners - five years, $65 million Roger Clemens (Astros) - Previous prediction: Astros - one year, $18 million It will again come down to pitching for Houston or retirement for Clemens. As hard as the end of the year was for him, it?s going to be difficult for him to quit after such an exceptional season. Prediction: Astros - one year, $18 million Kevin Millwood (Indians) - Previous prediction: Indians - three years, $25 million Millwood was guaranteed a total of $3 million under the terms of his one-year contract with the Indians. He?s now put himself in position to receive the No. 2 contract among the free-agent starting pitchers. GM Mark Shapiro has indicated he?ll go above and beyond what he considers prudent in order to keep him in Cleveland. Still, the Indians could be outbid by the Orioles, Blue Jays, Mariners, Tigers or another team. Prediction: Indians - four years, $36 million Jeff Weaver (Dodgers) - Previous prediction: Blue Jays - four years, $32 million The Yankees certainly won?t have any interest and the Red Sox and Mets also figure to stay away, but Weaver will still have quite a market. Toronto and Seattle would make a lot of sense as destinations. Prediction: Blue Jays - four years, $32 million Matt Morris (Cardinals) - Previous prediction: Nationals - four years, $36 million Morris is probably a pretty good bet to give a team 200 respectable innings per year, but since he could make as much as Millwood or Weaver, he?s the one free-agent starter that I think it?s best to avoid completely. The Cardinals will likely end up dropping out of the bidding once the offers start rolling in. I could see him joining the Mariners if Burnett heads elsewhere. Prediction: Orioles - four years, $32 million Jarrod Washburn (Angels) - Previous prediction: White Sox - four years, $28 million Washburn won?t be back with the Angels and hopes to pitch in the Midwest. Unfortunately, his hometown Brewers already have two lefty starters. It no longer looks like the White Sox will have any interest, but the Cubs might. I also think Detroit is a real possibility. Prediction: Tigers - three years, $21 million Esteban Loaiza (Nationals) - Previous prediction: Dodgers - two years, $9 million That so much of Loaiza?s success last year came in RFK Stadium probably won?t prevent him from getting a three-year contract this winter. He turned down a two-year, $8 million contract from the Nationals and countered by asking for $21 million over three years. Prediction: Dodgers - three years, $18 million Paul Byrd (Angels) - Previous prediction: Orioles - two years, $12 million Byrd?s stock is on the way up after he finished the season with a 3.74 ERA. He may even get a three-year deal to become the third or fourth starter on a contender. The Angels will try to keep him. Prediction: Angels - two years, $14 million Kenny Rogers (Rangers) - Previous prediction: Giants - two years, $10 million It?s possible that Rogers? ridiculous behavior in late June will prevent him from getting a multiyear deal as a free agent, but I don?t think that will be the case. Some club from a group including the Giants, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Padres and Orioles will give him a two-year deal. Prediction: Giants - two years, $10 million Jamie Moyer (Mariners) - Previous prediction: Mariners - one year, $5 million Moyer wants to keep going at age 43. Unless the right team offers him a multiyear contract, he?ll probably remain in Seattle. Prediction: Mariners - one year, $5 million Javier Vazquez (Diamondbacks) - No prediction Vazquez remains under contract with the Diamondbacks, but he can demand a trade and become a free agent on March 15 if he isn?t granted one. The team currently believes he won?t exercise his right to depart. Other free agents: Jason Johnson (Tigers), Tony Armas Jr. (Nationals), Brett Tomko (Giants), Shawn Estes (Diamondbacks), Scott Elarton (Indians), Byung-Hyun Kim (Rockies), Kevin Brown (Yankees), Sidney Ponson (FA), Joe Mays (Twins), Pedro Astacio (Padres), Ismael Valdez (Marlins), Brian Moehler (Marlins), Jose Lima (Royals), Jamey Wright (Rockies), Al Leiter (Yankees), Kirk Rueter (FA), Brian Anderson (Royals), Carlos Hernandez (Astros), Victor Santos (Brewers), Rick Helling (Brewers), Andy Ashby (Padres), Aaron Sele (FA), Hideo Nomo (Yankees), Chris George (Royals), Scott Erickson (Dodgers)
November 8, 200520 yr Author comment_4117 Billy Wagner (Phillies) - Previous prediction: Mets - three years, $27 million The Mets still look like the favorites for Wagner, although the Phillies are probably going to exceed $27 million over three years in an attempt to keep him. The 34-year-old may end up getting a four-year, $40 million offer before all is said and done. Prediction: Mets - four years, $36 million B.J. Ryan (Orioles) - Previous prediction: Orioles - four years, $34 million The Orioles may make an offer at some point, but Ryan is expected to head elsewhere. The Yankees would love to have him as a setup man, and the Red Sox would be willing to make him the closer over Keith Foulke. Also, the loser of the Billy Wagner sweepstakes and the Blue Jays should be very much in the race. The likelihood of him remaining in the AL East is high. Prediction: Red Sox - four years, $32 million Trevor Hoffman (Padres) - Previous prediction: Padres - one year, $7 million with a vesting option Well, that?s not going to happen. Hoffman is not only willing to leave San Diego, but it now seems quite likely that he will. The Mets, Phillies, Blue Jays, Indians, Braves, Orioles, Tigers and Diamondbacks could be suitors. Hoffman is likely to ask for at least $27 million over three years, although that?s probably unrealistic. Prediction: Phillies - two years, $16 million Tom Gordon (Yankees) - Previous prediction: Phillies - two years, $10 million Although the Yankees are planning to make a competitive offer, Gordon is more likely to become a closer elsewhere than remain Mariano Rivera?s setup man. The same teams going after Hoffman should be involved here. Depending on what Ryan gets, Gordon could be the best value signing of any of the available relievers. Prediction: Braves - two years, $10 million Bob Wickman (Indians) - Previous prediction: Retirement Wickman has yet to say whether he?s coming back for 2006. If he does, it?s likely that he?ll stay in Cleveland and occupy the closer?s role for another year. Prediction: Indians - one year, $5 million Ugueth Urbina (Phillies) - Previous prediction: Braves - two years, $8 million I still think Atlanta is a possibility for Urbina, but the machete incident in Venezuela needs to be cleared up before he puts himself up for bid. He might be a late signing. Prediction: Orioles - one year, $4 million Todd Jones (Marlins) - Previous prediction: Marlins - one year, $3.5 million Jones could continue to close for Florida or head north to Atlanta. A return to the American League is unlikely. Prediction: Marlins - one year, $3.5 million Kyle Farnsworth (Braves) - Previous prediction: Dodgers - three years, $10 million There will be no shortage of opportunities for Farnsworth, who could be a closer for a lesser team or a setup man for a contender. The Yankees are thought to be interested. Prediction: Yankees - three years, $12 million Bobby Howry (Indians) - Previous prediction: Indians - two years, $5.75 million The Indians would probably try to re-sign Howry to close if Wickman decided to call it a career. He had a 2.47 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP last season, so there should be a lot of teams looking at him as a setup man. Prediction: Padres - two years, $6.5 million Braden Looper (Mets) - No prediction Looper, who had his option declined by the Mets, is in the same situation as Farnsworth. He can close, but he?s not the No. 1 reliever in a truly good bullpen. Prediction: Tigers - two years, $7 million Jose Mesa (Pirates) - No prediction Mesa is no longer much of a candidate to return to the Pirates after the team declined his option. He may finally be through as a closer, but there?s a chance the Marlins or Reds could bring him in to contend for the job. Prediction: Reds - one year, $2 million Other free agents: Scott Eyre (Giants), Julian Tavarez (Cardinals), Octavio Dotel (Athletics), Hector Carrasco (Nationals), Ricardo Rincon (Athletics), Felix Rodriguez (Yankees), Elmer Dessens (Dodgers), Roberto Hernandez (Mets), Antonio Alfonseca (Marlins), Rudy Seanez (Padres), Takashi Saito (Japan), Alan Embree (Yankees), Chris Hammond (Padres), Jeff Nelson (Mariners), Tim Worrell (Diamondbacks), Jason Grimsley (Orioles), Rick White (Pirates), Danny Graves (Mets), Dan Miceli (Rockies), Matt Mantei (Red Sox), Cal Eldred (Cardinals), Joey Eischen (Nationals), Paul Quantrill (Marlins), Scott Sauerbeck (Indians), Shigetoshi Hasegawa (Mariners), Mike Myers (Red Sox), John Halama (Nationals), Terry Mulholland (Twins), Doug Brocail (Rangers), Jason Christiansen (Angels), Mike Remlinger (Red Sox), Giovanni Carrara (Dodgers), Brian Meadows (Pirates), Keiichi Yabu (Athletics), Steve Reed (FA), Russ Springer (Astros), Mike Stanton (Red Sox), Ricky Bottalico (Red Sox), Scott Sullivan (Royals), Jim Brower (Braves), Steve Karsay (Rangers), Chad Fox (Cubs), Billy Koch (FA), Orber Moreno (Mets), Carlos Almanzar (FA), Brad Baker (Padres), Ramiro Mendoza (Yankees), James Baldwin (Orioles), Buddy Groom (Diamondbacks), Julio Santana (Brewers), Chad Harville (Red Sox), Kelly Wunsch (Dodgers), John Riedling (Marlins), Jeremi Gonzalez (Red Sox), Matt Herges (Diamondbacks), Kevin Gryboski (Rangers), Antonio Osuna (Nationals), Rick Bauer (Orioles), Bret Prinz (Angels), Kerry Ligtenberg (Diamondbacks), Darren Dreifort (Dodgers), Tom Martin (Astros), Al Levine (FA), Nate Field (Royals), Matt Ginter (Tigers), Tim Spooneybarger (Marlins), Terry Adams (Retired?), John Franco (FA), Jay Powell (Braves), Al Reyes (Cardinals - Likely out for season), Jim Mecir (Marlins - Retired)
November 9, 200520 yr comment_4127 Just because they file doesnt necessarily mean they will be gone. But I am sure he will be. He actually can be good though.
November 11, 200520 yr comment_4148 actually he IS gone I am pretty sure. We like payed him to leave I forget what its called buyed him out or whatever?
November 11, 200520 yr comment_4153 They still can realize their mistake and offer him another contract though.
December 21, 200520 yr Author comment_4691 Octavio Dotel and Kyle ( the tigers traded me) Farnsowrth signs with Yankees
January 4, 200620 yr Author comment_4950 The Rangers and Kevin Millwood have agreed to a five-year, $60 million contract, according to the Associated Press.
January 5, 200620 yr Author comment_4982 Phillies signed RHP Ryan Franklin, who had been with the Mariners, to a one-year, $2.6 million contract.
January 11, 200620 yr Author comment_5020 Padres agreed to terms with LHP Shawn Estes, who had been with the Diamondbacks, on a one-year, $1 million contract.
January 24, 200620 yr comment_5185 Wade Miller signs with the Cubs. (Lance Berkman having knee surgery, btw).
January 24, 200620 yr comment_5187 Helton also had surgery. Not really any place to put this and I dnt feel like creating a new topic.
January 24, 200620 yr Author comment_5189 Wade Miller signs with the Cubs.(Lance Berkman having knee surgery, btw). Stupid Cubs didn't ask for a team option for 2007.
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