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2012 MLB Free Agents: Where Are They Going?
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:54 am
by Greg Ambrosius
The Hot Stove League doesn't officially start until after the World Series, but already it's time to start thinking about the free agent market and where some of these top names are going to land. Prince Fielder has already said his goodbyes in Milwaukee and I think it's 99.99% that he's played his last game in Milwaukee. The Brewers can say they will give it their best shot, but when Scott Boras is seeking $200 million over 8 years you can count BrewCity out of the race.
So where do you think Fielder will land for next year? The Cubs as Theo makes his big splash? St. Louis to replace Albert Pujols?
The Yankees? Miami in a new stadium? Inquiring minds want to know.
How about Pujols? Is it a given that he returns to St. Louis? Who else can pay him the kind of money that Fielder is asking for? And would you pay a slugger of his age (31, 34 or 35, depending on who you listen to) that kind of money? He is a STUD in the middle of any lineup, but can he continue to stay healthy and earn that kind of salary?
Does Heath Bell take the hometown discount and stay in San Diego? You'd think so, but he might need to take 2 years at $8 million rather than 3 years. He will probably do it, but what do you think?
Let's rock this thread with some predictions and links to inside stories on these players. I'll do my best to look around for stories and post here. Join me in finding the info and spreading the word. Thanks all.
2012 MLB Free Agents: Where Are They Going?
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:54 am
by Greg Ambrosius
Here was a list of potential free agents I found online:
Potential Free Agents for 2012
The following players have contracts expiring or should have the six years of service necessary to become free agents after the 2011 season.
* - player whose current contract includes 2012 option
Player Club
First Basemen
Russell Branyan LAA
Jorge Cantu SD
Prince Fielder MIL
Brad Hawpe SD
Eric Hinske ATL *
Ross Gload PHI
Nick Johnson CLE
Derrek Lee BAL
Xavier Nady ARI
David Ortiz BOS
Lyle Overbay PIT
Carlos Pena CHC
Albert Pujols STL
Jim Thome MIN
Second Basemen
Clint Barmes HOU
Willie Bloomquist ARI *
Orlando Cabrera CLE
Robinson Cano NYY *
Jamey Carroll LAD
Luis Castillo NYM
Alex Cora WAS
Craig Counsell MIL
Mark Ellis OAK
Carlos Guillen DET
Jerry Hairston Jr. MIL
Aaron Hill ARI *
Omar Infante FLA
Joe Inglett HOU
Kelly Johnson TOR
Adam Kennedy SEA
Felipe Lopez TB
Jose Lopez FLA
Aaron Miles LAD
Brandon Phillips CIN *
Shortstops
Yuniesky Betancourt MIL *
Ronny Cedeno PIT
Adam Everett CLE
Rafael Furcal LAD
Alex Gonzalez ATL
Cesar Izturis BAL
John McDonald TOR
Augie Ojeda ARI
Jose Reyes NYM
Nick Punto STL
Edgar Renteria CIN
Jose Reyes NYM
Jimmy Rollins PHI
Ramon Santiago DET
Marco Scutaro BOS *
Jack Wilson SEA
Third Basemen
Wilson Betemit DET
Casey Blake LAD *
Eric Chavez NYY
Mark DeRosa SF
Greg Dobbs PHI
Edwin Encarnacion TOR *
Wes Helms FLA
Melvin Mora ARI
Aramis Ramirez CHC
Miguel Tejada SF
Omar Vizquel CWS
Catchers
Rod Barajas LAD
Henry Blanco ARI
Ramon Castro CWS
Ryan Doumit PIT
Ramon Hernandez CIN
Jason Kendall KC
Gerald Laird STL
Jose Molina TOR
Yadier Molina STL *
Dioner Navarro LAD
Jorge Posada NYY
Ivan Rodriguez WAS
Brian Schneider PHI
Kelly Shoppach TB *
Chris Snyder PIT *
Matt Treanor KC
Jason Varitek BOS
Outfielders
Bobby Abreu LAA *
Rick Ankiel WAS
Carlos Beltran SF
Milton Bradley SEA
Pat Burrell SF
Mike Cameron BOS
Coco Crisp OAK
Michael Cuddyer MIN
Jack Cust SEA
Johnny Damon TB
David DeJesus OAK
J.D. Drew BOS
Kosuke Fukudome CHC
Jonny Gomes CIN
Gabe Gross OAK
Vladimir Guerrero BAL
Scott Hairston NYM
Willie Harris NYM
Raul Ibanez PHI
Conor Jackson OAK
Andruw Jones NYY
Austin Kearns CLE
Jason Kubel MIN
Ryan Ludwick SD
Hideki Matsui OAK
Nate McLouth ATL *
Jason Michaels HOU
Laynce Nix WAS
Magglio Ordonez DET
Juan Pierre CWS
Juan Rivera TOR
Cody Ross SF
Grady Sizemore CLE *
Matt Stairs WAS
Nick Swisher NYY *
Marcus Thames LAD
Josh Willingham OAK
Starting Pitchers
Mark Buehrle CWS
Bruce Chen KC
Aaron Cook COL *
Kyle Davies TOR
Ryan Dempster CHC *
Justin Duchscherer OAK
Zach Duke ARI *
Jeff Francis KC
Freddy Garcia NYY
Jon Garland LAD
Aaron Harang SD
Rich Harden OAK
Livan Hernandez WAS
Edwin Jackson STL
Kenshin Kawakami ATL
Scott Kazmir LAA
Hiroki Kuroda LAD
Rodrigo Lopez CHC
Paul Maholm PIT
John Maine COL
Jason Marquis WAS
Kevin Millwood NYY
Scott Olsen PIT *
Roy Oswalt PHI *
Brad Penny DET
Oliver Perez NYM
Joel Pineiro LAA
CC Sabathia NYY (may opt out)
Carlos Silva NYY
Javier Vazquez FLA
Adam Wainwright STL *
Tim Wakefield BOS
Chien-Ming Wang WAS
Brandon Webb ARI
C.J. Wilson TEX
Chris Young NYM
Relief Pitchers
Danys Baez PHI
Miguel Batista STL
Matt Belisle COL
Heath Bell SD
Rafael Betancourt COL
Blaine Boyer
Jonathan Broxton LAD
Shawn Camp TOR
Matt Capps MIN
Todd Coffey MIL
Clay Condrey MIN
Francisco Cordero CIN *
Lance Cormier TB
Juan Cruz TB
Octavio Dotel STL *
Kyle Farnsworth TB *
Randy Flores NYY
Frank Francisco TOR
Ryan Franklin STL
Jason Frasor CWS *
Chad Gaudin WAS
Mike Gonzalez TEX
John Grabow CHC
LaTroy Hawkins MIL
Brad Lidge PHI *
Scott Linebrink ATL
Javier Lopez SF
Ryan Madson PHI
Damaso Marte NYY *
Sergio Mitre NYY
Joe Nathan MIN *
Hideki Okajima BOS
Darren Oliver TEX
Jonathan Papelbon BOS
Joel Peralta TB
Chad Qualls SD *
Jon Rauch TOR *
Chris Ray TEX
Dennys Reyes BOS
Arthur Rhodes TEX *
Fernando Rodney LAA
Francisco Rodriguez MIL
George Sherrill ATL
Rafael Soriano NYY (may opt out)
Brian Tallet TOR
Koji Uehara TEX *
Jose Valverde DET
Tyler Walker WAS
Kerry Wood CHC
Jamey Wright SEA
Michael Wuertz OAK
Joel Zumaya DET
[ October 17, 2011, 03:56 PM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]
2012 MLB Free Agents: Where Are They Going?
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:13 am
by Greg Ambrosius
2012 MLB Free Agents: Where Are They Going?
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:46 pm
by huskyfan88
Seems like the Mets are probably going to keep only one of Wright and Reyes next year. And since they've somewhat started shopping Wright, it looks like they'll make an effort at keeping Reyes. Plus with Murphy, Duda, and Davis hopefully healthy, they could be thinking that trading Wright for prospects is the way to go.
2012 MLB Free Agents: Where Are They Going?
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:38 pm
by BEF
Other than a couple of starters (CC, CJ), some decent closers, Prince, Albert, Reyes and maybe Aramis and Beltran, this list is a Big Yawn. True, some of the guys with asterisks are pretty interesting (Cano, Phillips, Yadier) but their option is Club or Mutual, so they're probably not going anywhere else in 2012 (at least not during the off-season). Let's hope the owners and GMs realize that this class of free agents is a real snoozer and don't go nuts spending our ticket money on a bunch of decent-but-not-great players.
2012 MLB Free Agents: Where Are They Going?
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:30 am
by Edwards Kings
Great time to be a free agent...
Starting pitcher as this is a thin group and many somebody gonna get overpaid. CC puts on his swim trunks (custom made by Omar the Tent-Maker) and jumps right in.
Bad time to be a free agent...
Relief pitcher as there are so many good arms, have been good arms, and has-been good arms that will drive the prices down. Heath Bell stays home as it is too scary outside.
Really smart move by....
The Fish to extend Infante as there is nothing doing at the 2B FA pool. Options exercised for Cano and Phillips. Somebody will give Hill and Johnson another chance, though.
The person who must be living right...
Is Aramis Ramirez who is hitting the FA market with his main competition being DeRosa and Betemit. "We're in the money!....We're in the money!"
Soon to be appearing in a remake of the old "I've fallen...and I can't get up!" advertisement are...
Most of the FA outfielders/DH types like Beltran, Drew, Guerrero, Ibanez, Jones, and Matsui. GM's will be really excited to bid on the likes of Willingham and McLouth. YeeeeHawwww!
Next youth movement will be...
In the middle with teams putting AA or barely AAA aged talent in at 2B and SS. MLB club house mangers had better stock up on pimple cream and Acutane.