2008-09 Free Agents

wannabet · 10-30-08, 08:07 PM

Wow , Nomar! Boston fans will always be following this guy, even though he ain't nothin' no more.

fifawcs · 10-30-08, 08:55 PM

The Royals are so dumb. They just traded Leo Nunez for Mike Jacobs. Leo Nunez is a great reliever with awesome stuff. Mike Jacobs is a power/strikeout hitter. They will never be the Rays because they are getting rid of any good, worthy player they own. At least the Marlins got something out of it and may now have a more stable pen.

smitch124 · 10-30-08, 11:52 PM

Rich Aurilia actually had a pretty darn good season for the Giants. I hope they find a way to keep him.

BobHarvey · 10-31-08, 08:58 PM

What are the chances/odds of the Dodgers resigning Manny?

bigboydan · 10-31-08, 11:38 PM

Jason Varitek is the catcher teams should look at. The guy just knows how to handle young pitchers.

Deuce · 10-31-08, 11:45 PM

Originally posted by bigboydan

Jason Varitek is the catcher teams should look at. The guy just knows how to handle young pitchers.

No, washed up, past prime, solid back up only.

MonkeyF0cker · 10-31-08, 11:46 PM

How much does he have left in the tank though, BBD?

element1286 · 10-31-08, 11:46 PM

Originally posted by fifawcs

The Royals are so dumb. They just traded Leo Nunez for Mike Jacobs. Leo Nunez is a great reliever with awesome stuff. Mike Jacobs is a power/strikeout hitter. They will never be the Rays because they are getting rid of any good, worthy player they own. At least the Marlins got something out of it and may now have a more stable pen.

Agree Jacobs is garbage.

MonkeyF0cker · 10-31-08, 11:48 PM

Well done, Willie. Your efforts are appreciated.

bigboydan · 10-31-08, 11:50 PM

Originally posted by MonkeyF0cker

How much does he have left in the tank though, BBD?

I say he has 2 more years left in him.

MonkeyF0cker · 10-31-08, 11:58 PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see him stay in Boston, honestly. He'll have to go to another contender that needs a catcher and that list is fairly short. It wouldn't make sense for someone to sign him around a team that is building. I would think they would rather cultivate future talent.

cobra_king · 11-03-08, 04:58 PM

Update on the Blue Jay front.

Rod Barajas had his option picked up.

Decent catcher at a decent price.

etothep · 11-04-08, 12:12 PM

What do you guys price Dunn at & how long of a contract are you thinking he gets?

5/$75m sound about right?

Willie Bee · 11-04-08, 03:21 PM

I gave up trying to guess how foolish the owner would be doling out contracts as well as how ridiculous the players' demands would be.

etothep · 11-04-08, 04:51 PM

Haha, well as a Brew Crew fan, I was trying to explain why I would have preffered them signing Dunn to a 5/$75m deal over throwing $10m away on Cameron, but that would be a moot point if that offer wouldn't be competitive (so in other words, I agree that it's getting harder & harder to guesstimate the potential free agent deals)

Willie Bee · 11-18-08, 11:31 AM

Oh to be a southpaw now that the free agent signing season has begun...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3708873
SAN FRANCISCO -- Jeremy Affeldt had considered looking for a job as a closer this offseason. Then San Francisco offered a contract the reliever couldn't pass up.

Affeldt became the first of the 171 players who filed for free agency to agree to a contract, striking an $8 million, two-year deal Monday with the Giants -- a team that has wanted him for two years.

"One of the things is they didn't mess around too much. That's what my agent, Mike Moye, and I were really impressed with," Affeldt said. "They came in with an offer, and it was really close to what we were looking for. The negotiation was pretty quick. They were definitely on an A-list for me. They were really wanting to get me and bring me in to help out."

One of Giants general manager Brian Sabean's offseason priorities was to bolster his club's inconsistent bullpen. The Giants, who haven't reached the playoffs since 2003, often had problems in the middle innings between starters and closer Brian Wilson.

Affeldt's role is yet to be determined, though San Francisco's brass likes that he can pitch multiple innings.

"I'm thrilled to have Jeremy," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's going to make our 'pen that much stronger. I've seen him from the other side and never liked him with his power arm. He's resilient. Jeremy is just getting in his prime."

The 29-year-old Affeldt pitched for the Cincinnati Reds last season, going 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in a team-leading 74 appearances. He struck out 80 and walked 25 in 78 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-4 Affeldt, originally drafted by Kansas City in the third round in 1997, recorded a 2.23 ERA in his final 34 outings of 2008.

Willie Bee · 11-18-08, 04:26 PM

Cubs keep Dumpster, just as I suspected they would.

Cubs, Dempster agree to four-year, $52M contract

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3710712

Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Cubs agreed on a four-year contract worth about $52 million.

CHICAGO -- Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed Tuesday on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option to 2012.

He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million.

Dempster, 31, has a 76-81 record in 11 seasons with Florida, Cincinnati and Chicago. He posted a 17-6 record with a 2.96 ERA in 33 starts for the Cubs last season.

Foxsports.com first reported that the Cubs and Dempster were closing in on an agreement.

Dempster's signing takes one high-profile free agent off the market. CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe and Ben Sheets are the top pitchers still on the market.

Dempster was the Cubs' closer from 2005 to 2007, saving 87 games in 102 chances. He made a big switch this past season, returning to the starting role he once held with the Marlins and Reds from 1998 to 2003.

He was 14-3 at Wrigley Field during the regular season. But one of his worst performances came in the playoff opener against the Dodgers on the Cubs' home field.

Willie Bee · 12-04-08, 03:15 PM

The Howry deal, I understand a bit since he's a decent middle reliever and only a Type B free agent. But Renteria? Not sure I understand that one since it will cost the Giants a 1st-rounder.

Giants bolster bullpen, agree with righty Howry

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3742548

The Giants took another step toward bolstering their bullpen Wednesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with free agent reliever Bob Howry.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants general manager Brian Sabean can check the bullpen off his to-do list heading into next week's winter meetings in Las Vegas.

San Francisco took another step to bolster its bullpen Wednesday, agreeing a $2.75 million, one-year contract with free-agent reliever Bobby Howry.

The Giants had been looking for a reliable right-handed reliever to be their primary setup man and filled the spot with Howry, who was declined salary arbitration by the Chicago Cubs on Monday. San Francisco already signed lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt last month, and Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy figure those two veterans will help bring the younger pitchers along.

"I'm sure it's a comfort to Boch," Sabean said. "This was a big part of the puzzle and showed how much these guys respected our interest and took the punch to sign with us. The sooner the better that the organization has an idea of what's going on and the players are more comfortable."

Now, Sabean will turn his attention to a "small group of position players we have a chance on," he said.

"We're in the hopes of doing something this week on the free-agent position player end," Sabean said.

gm2022 · 02-06-09, 06:44 PM

Tell the Giants to sing Manny Willie, if he comes here we have a shot at the west but if he stays in LA were fked!