Hot Stove League

[Ian]

As promised ... the new thread for baseball's off season discussions.

First order of business ... Phils decline Pedro Feliz's option. Kinda surprising to me, but I actually think he'll be back. I suspect they thought they could get him for less than the $5.5 mil his option called for.

I also think they're going to test the waters and see what else is out there.

[Scar]

Here's an unofficial list of free agents.

Source: Cot's Baseball Contracts

Potential Free Agents for 2010
The following players have contracts expiring or should have the six years of service necessary to become free agents after the 2009 season.

* - current contract includes 2010 option
(A) - projected as Type A free agent
(B) - projected as Type B free agent

Player Club
First Basemen
Hank Blalock TEX
Russell Branyan SEA
Carlos Delgado NYM (B)
Nomar Garciaparra OAK
Jason Giambi COL
Ross Gload * FLA
Aubrey Huff DET (B)
Nick Johnson WAS (B)
Adam LaRoche ATL (B)
Kevin Millar TOR
Robb Quinlan LAA
Matt Stairs PHI
Mike Sweeney SEA
Jim Thome LAD
Chad Tracy ARZ

Second Basemen
Marlon Anderson NYM
Ron Belliard LAD (B)
Jamey Carroll CLE
David Eckstein SD
Orlando Hudson LAD (A)
Akinori Iwamura * TB
Omar Infante ATL
Felipe Lopez MIL (A)
Mark Loretta LAD
Placido Polanco DET (A)
Freddy Sanchez * SF (A)

Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera MIN (A)
Juan Castro LAD
Alex Cora NYM
Bobby Crosby OAK
Adam Everett DET
Alex Gonzalez * BOS
Khalil Greene STL
Ramon Martinez LAD
John McDonald TOR
Marco Scutaro TOR (A)
Miguel Tejada HOU
Jack Wilson * SEA

Third Basemen
Adrian Beltre SEA (B)
Geoff Blum HOU
Craig Counsell MIL
Joe Crede MIN
Mark DeRosa STL (B)
Pedro Feliz * PHI
Chone Figgins LAA (B)
Troy Glaus STL (A)
Jerry Hairston NYY (B)
Mike Lamb MIL
Melvin Mora * BAL (B)
Juan Uribe SF

Catchers
Rod Barajas TOR (B)
Josh Bard BOS
Michael Barrett TOR
Henry Blanco SD
Ramon Castro CWS
Ramon Hernandez * CIN (B)
Jason Kendall MIL (B)
Jason LaRue STL
Victor Martinez * BOS (A)
Chad Moeller BAL
Benji Molina SF (A)
Jose Molina NYY
Miguel Olivo * KC (B)
Mike Redmond MIN
Ivan Rodriguez TEX (B)
Brian Schneider NYM
Yorvit Torrealba * COL (B)
Jason Varitek * BOS (B)
Gregg Zaun * TB

Outfielders
Bobby Abreu LAA (A)
Garret Anderson ATL (B)
Rick Ankiel STL
Rocco Baldelli BOS
Jason Bay BOS (A)
Marlon Byrd TEX (B)
Mike Cameron MIL (B)
Frank Catalanotto TEX
Endy Chavez SEA
Coco Crisp * KC
Carl Crawford * TB (B)
Johnny Damon NYY (A)
David Dellucci CLE
Jermaine Dye * CWS (A)
Darin Erstad HOU
Cliff Floyd SD
Ryan Freel TEX
Brian Giles SD (B)
Ken Griffey Jr. SEA
Vladimir Guerrero LAA (A)
Eric Hinske NYY
Matt Holliday STL (A)
Geoff Jenkins * PHI
Reed Johnson CHC
Andruw Jones TEX
Gabe Kapler TB
Austin Kearns * WAS
Mark Kotsay CHW
Hideki Matusi NYY (B)
Jason Michaels CLE
Xavier Nady NYY (B)
Magglio Ordonez * DET
Scott Podsednik CHW
Manny Ramirez * LAD (A)
Dave Roberts SF
Gary Sheffield NYM
Fernando Tatis NYM (B)
Randy Winn SF (B)

Starting Pitchers
Brandon Backe HOU
Josh Beckett * BOS
Erik Bedard SEA (B)
Daniel Cabrera ARZ
Bartolo Colon CWS
Jose Contreras COL
Doug Davis ARZ (B)
Justin Duchscherer OAK (B)
Adam Eaton COL
Kelvim Escobar LAA
Jon Garland * LAD (B)
Tom Glavine ATL
Mike Hampton HOU
Rich Harden CHC (B)
Livan Hernandez WAS
Tim Hudson * ATL
Randy Johnson SF (B)
John Lackey LAA (A)
Cliff Lee * PHI (A)
Braden Looper * MIL (B)
Jason Marquis COL (B)
Kevin Millwood * TEX
Brett Myers PHI
Vicente Padilla * LAD (B)
Carl Pavano MIN (B)
Brad Penny SF
Odalis Perez WAS
Andy Pettitte NYY (B)
Joel Pineiro STL (B)
Sidney Ponson KC
Jason Schmidt LAD
John Smoltz STL
Tim Wakefield * BOS (B)
Jarrod Washburn DET
Brandon Webb * ARZ (B)
Todd Wellemeyer STL
Randy Wolf (A)

Relief Pitchers
Luis Ayala FLA
Danys Baez BAL
Miguel Batista SEA
Joe Beimel COL (B)
Joaquin Benoit TEX
Rafael Betancourt * COL (A)
Chad Bradford BAL
Doug Brocail * HOU (B)
Kiko Calero FLA (B)
Elmer Dessens NYM
Brendan Donnelly FLA
Octavio Dotel CWS (A)
Alan Embree COL
Scott Eyre PHI (B)
Josh Fogg COL
Chad Fox CHC
Ryan Franklin * STL
Gary Glover WAS
Mike Gonzalez ATL (A)
Tom Gordon ARZ
John Grabow CHC (A)
Kevin Gregg CHC (A)
Eddie Guardado TEX
LaTroy Hawkins HOU (A)
Mark Hendrickson BAL
Matt Herges COL
Trevor Hoffman MIL (A)
Bobby Howry SF (B)
Jason Isringhausen TB
Masahide Kobayashi * CLE
Brandon Lyon DET (B)
Ron Mahay MIN
Gary Majewski WAS
Guillermo Mota LAD (B)
Will Ohman * LAD (B)
Darren Oliver LAA (A)
Chan Ho Park PHI (B)
Troy Percival TB
J.J. Putz * NYM
Juan Rincon COL
Fernando Rodney DET (B)
Duaner Sanchez NYM
Scott Schoeneweis ARZ
Brian Shouse * TB (B)
Rafael Soriano ATL (A)
Russ Springer TB (B)
Brett Tomko OAK
Jose Valverde HOU (A)
Claudio Vargas MIL
Ron Villone WAS
Luis Vizcaino * COL
Billy Wagner BOS (A)
Jamie Walker BAL
Jeff Weaver LAD
Kip Wells CIN
Jamey Wright KC

[Ian]

Some good third basemen names on that list ... I'd take Figgins or DeRosa in a heartbeat!

[Hammer]

Some good third basemen names on that list ... I'd take Figgins or DeRosa in a heartbeat!

Only thing that makes me hesitate with either player is they will be a defensive downgrade from Feliz. With as many lefties we have, good defense is essential.

Oh, and Moyer is going to be back. I had forgotten it was a 2 year contract, so we were saddled with his salary anyway.

[Ian]

I'm crossing my fingers that Moyer will retire. I love the guy, but there's no way a team that has World Series aspirations can put him out there as a starter.

Long relief maybe?

[Hammer]

Ian, if he retires, we would still have to pay his salary. Not a real fan of something for nothing and you know the Phillies management aren't fans of that.

My thought, he will be the 5th starter/ long relief, depending on the time of year. He is good for 10-12 wins and you can do far worse than that with some of the garbage that will be out there. Playoffs, he is a lefty specialist.

This all depends on his rehab from the surgery (which is the same surgery Ibanez had).

[Pagan]

Nice to see the Yankees' shopping list posted.

[Scar]

Moyer ain't retireing with 6.5M coming.

The Mets desperately need a solid #2 starter and big outfield bat. Lackey and Holliday would be nice, but both are not realistic. There are a few decent starting pithchers on that list, but after Lackey, no sure fire great ones.

[Ian]

I'm still hoping they can reach a deal with Moyer to buy him out and get him to retire. Like I said, maybe a coaching job offer would help.

I honestly can't stomach seeing him in our rotation again. he was awful this year.

[PirateLover]

Unfortunately Moyer is one of those guys who will most likely have to be removed kicking and screaming. His comments this year when he was moved to the bullpen were not professional. I think he shows up for camp, and makes a run for that 5th starter spot. He may get it, who knows. THere's a lot of chatter about Kyle Drabek being ready for the big leagues at some point this season.

As for 3rd, I think it's gonna be DeRosa. I think Figgins will stay with the Angels. As Ian mentioned, there is the option of bringing Feliz back for cheaper, but I don't know that I see that happening.

I think Lackey will get scooped by the Yankees.

[sportsguy2315]

I had quite a good laugh with the Minneapolis Star Tribune tonight when I saw their "Twins Off-Season" checklist. Their #2 item: "Trade for Roy Holliday or Justin Verlander". As much as I would love to see Roy wear a Twins jersey next season, I don't think it's going to get done.

• Even with the new stadium opening up in April, the Twins have been VERY thrifty (For example, letting Torii Hunter and Johan Santana go over the past couple years). As great of a player Roy is, I don't think Twins management would even flinch at him given his contract and the one year deal (He made $14.25 million last season and his contract expires at the end of the season, and I doubt the Twins would even think about resigning him).
• Toronto wants one thing, and one thing only out of the Halliday deal: Prospects, and good ones (For a reference point, J.A. Happ was the big name being tossed around on Toronto's wish list when they were talking with the Phillies). This is another thing the Twins are very stubborn about is having a good solid farm system. While I don't blame them here, I do believe this is a situation where you roll the dice and see what happens with Halliday.

Additionally, Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star wrote in his column on Monday what I'll call the "Roy Test", 5 criteria that Roy might waive his no trade clause for, and how the Twins match up with it:
* See themselves as contenders. (Check)
* Showed previous interest in Halladay. (No)
* Have the prospects to put together a package. (Check, but would the Twins part with them?)
* Have the necessary financial resources to strike a long-term deal while they have him. (Big question mark here, but if the Twins are serious they will find the cash)
* Are no longer upset with the Jays' GM since he's new, young and enthusiastic. (Check; in Intercot-friendly terms, JP Richardi sent the Jays back to the Stone Age during his tenure. Anthopolous is excited to lead the Jays, something JP never really showed)

Until something else happens otherwise, I still call the favorite in the Roy Race the Dodgers. They've been to the NLCS two years in a row, they were deep in talks early on, they have the young nucleus to give a part to the Jays (See Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp), they have the money and would certainly spend to keep Roy in Dodger Blue, and Anthopolous has yet to tick anyone off.

[Ian]

Until something else happens otherwise, I still call the favorite in the Roy Race the Dodgers. They've been to the NLCS two years in a row, they were deep in talks early on, they have the young nucleus to give a part to the Jays (See Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp), they have the money and would certainly spend to keep Roy in Dodger Blue, and Anthopolous has yet to tick anyone off.

We'll see ... I'm not as certain as you are that the Dodgers are going to part with Kershaw and Kemp for a 32 year old pitcher. That's what held them back last season from dealing for him.
Honestly, I kinda think he's going to stay in Toronto for the 2010 season and then let teams get into a bidding war for his services when he becomes a free agent.

[Scar]

Well, I just heard Holliday is looking for 18M per year. Sorry, not worth it. I'd give Vladimere a shot for a year or two, no more.

[barnaby]

Some good third basemen names on that list ... I'd take Figgins or DeRosa in a heartbeat!

Figgins would be a good fit for the Phillies. Solid defensively and he would give the Phils a true leadoff hitter (Rollins and Victorino are hackers).

I am looking for the Red Sox to trade for a big bat. They can't sit pat with the Yanks lineup and Bay and Holliday aren't the answer.

[indytraveler]

If Holliday is looking for $18m then that leaves Yankees, Mets, Red Sox. Since Holliday is asking for $18m the Yankees will counter offer $25m. This will be interesting since he didn't do very good in Oakland last year. He hits better in the NL. Mets could probably offer $15m and get him if he doesn't want to jump leagues again.

I also get this feeling Lackey will end up in pinstripes too for about $20m / year.

Unfortunately I didn't see any good closers that the Cubs will end up with. Or any players for that matter. Maybe DeRosa can come back and play 2nd for the Cubs and 3rd when Ramirez gets hurt. Wait 'til 2011! (wait they have to play at least 1 game in 2010 before we bring that out)

[Greenlawler]

Figgins would be a good fit for the Phillies. Solid defensively and he would give the Phils a true leadoff hitter (Rollins and Victorino are hackers).

I am looking for the Red Sox to trade for a big bat. They can't sit pat with the Yanks lineup and Bay and Holliday aren't the answer.

Agreed on both counts although I don't picture Figgens getting out of LA without a huge fight.

Boston will make a trade becuase there is not a big bat to be had, better than what they have. I do see them making a push for Holliday. He may not be the answer but the Sox may push for him simply to drive the price up on the competition.

[Greenlawler]

Anyone see the Granderson to the Yankees rumor? Looks like Johnny D is on his way out.

[Scar]

Well, good thing we had a mild November 'cause this stove has been off. But the winter meetings start today and we can expect to start seeing something. Let's go already!

[Hammer]

Been a bit busy with work to respond, but it seems that things will hopefully get going with the Winter Meetings this week.

Regarding my Phillies, I'm fine with Polanco at 3rd. As we signed him for about the same money as Feliz was receiving, it makes me think the Phillies were more concerned with Feliz's back problems then they let on in the press. Also fine with Schneider as the backup catcher and Castro as a bench guy. Now, let's get another starter and some bullpen help...

[barnaby]

Been a bit busy with work to respond, but it seems that things will hopefully get going with the Winter Meetings this week.

Regarding my Phillies, I'm fine with Polanco at 3rd. As we signed him for about the same money as Feliz was receiving, it makes me think the Phillies were more concerned with Feliz's back problems then they let on in the press. Also fine with Schneider as the backup catcher and Castro as a bench guy. Now, let's get another starter and some bullpen help...

Also with Polanco, the Phillies get a legit 2 hole hitter.