2008-2009 potential Free Agents

[justanewguy]

ug... i dont want ramirez

Yeah you do. Trust me. You just don't know it yet.

[koolzach1]

C.C. Sabathia-Yankees(willing to overpay for ace, sportwriters say Yankees are willing to pay 30-40% more than any other team. Doubt Sabathia will bypass that)
Mark Teixeira-Yankees(need a first baseman, and Cashman saying he wants a "real" first baseman. With Boras as his agent, one can assume Teixeira cares about money first and farmost, so this makes sense)
Manny Ramirez-Braves(have money to spend, and they need an upgrade in the outfield/offense)
Fransisco Rodriguez-Mets(have the money to spend, and their weakest point is the bullpen)
Rafael Furcal-Cardinals(looking for middle infield help this offseason)
Pat Burrell-Reds(their GM recently said they will be active this offseason, and I doubt they will be able to get the big guys like Tex'/Ramirez, so I see a Burrell to Reds signing)
Adam Dunn-Dodgers(will try to replace Ramriez with Dunn)
AJ Burnett-Orioles(has connections to Baltimore area, speculation will be that Orioles will be interested in him)
Derrek Lowe-Rangers(I don't see the Red Sox being interested in him with all their rotation locks, so I see the Rangers overpaying him to come to Arlington)
Raul Ibanez-Mets(need a leftfielder for next year, and with Rodriguez, I doubt they go all out on Ramirez)
Brian Fuentes-Cardinals(want lefty reliever)
Bobby Abreu-Cubs(needs another outfielder, but their payroll is so big already, they won't go for a big outfielder like Manny or Dunn)
Ben Sheets-Astros(want a number two behind Oswalt, but doesn't want to spend the big money on Sabathia. Sheets will be cheaper due to injury concern)
Milton Bradley-Rangers(back to Texas to DH)
Orlando Hudson-Royals(they will probably sign a "second teir" free agent or two, so I gave them Hudson since there isn't one obvious sutior for him)
Jason Giambi-Blue Jays(adds a bit of power into their lineup on a short contract)
Darren Oliver-Nationals(there will not be too many sutiors for him due to his type A status, but Nationals will sign him since their first rounder is protected)
Casey Blake-Indians(see him returning to his former team)
Rocco Baldelli-Royals(see them taking a chance on him)
Mike Cameron-Yankees(CF stop and gap for one year)
Mark Kotsay-Red Sox(back for another year)
Andy Pettitte-Yankees(back for another year)
Mike Mussina-Retirement


That's how I see the major free agents signing this offseason

I don't see the Red Sox doing much as their team is basically all set next year(rotation and bullpen are pretty good, and offsense has basically all positions set), and I don't see the Angels doing much either, despite losing Teixeira and Rodriguez

I agree with 95% of this. I don't see the Yanks signing Cameron, but sticking with Gardner/Melky, and I could see them signing Rocco.

[TheNamelessPoet]

lol I want them to get PITCHING. I want peavy... sign lowe, resign smoltz for bullpen, sign Griffey and be done with it... that can be done for 40 million... we sign manny, we can get 1 pitcher and him thats it.

8 mil for peavy, 15 for lowe, 10 for griffey and 5 for smoltz.

thats 38 mill... leave a couple mill if we need a quick fix mid season. I think Francouer will come back next year... if not they will trade him hoping to get SOMETING back in return. Mccann works fine for me in the #4 spot behind chipper.

[TheNamelessPoet]

I agree with 95% of this. I don't see the Yanks signing Cameron, but sticking with Gardner/Melky, and I could see them signing Rocco.

I could TOTALY see them after him. he wold be prefect.

[koolzach1]

I could TOTALY see them after him. he wold be prefect.

If we wanted a .240 hitter with good defense, we'd just stick with Melky or Gardner. Now, Cameron brings very solid pop (25+ HR), but I don't think that bringing him in for 10M or more makes a lot of sense when we have other (cheaper) options.

[TheNamelessPoet]

If we wanted a .240 hitter with good defense, we'd just stick with Melky or Gardner. Now, Cameron brings very solid pop (25+ HR), but I don't think that bringing him in for 10M or more makes a lot of sense when we have other (cheaper) options.

eh... good point... wow i should have looked him up... I was thinking he was a .270-.280 hitter. might as well stick with melky.

[HoustonGM]

If we wanted a .240 hitter with good defense, we'd just stick with Melky or Gardner. Now, Cameron brings very solid pop (25+ HR), but I don't think that bringing him in for 10M or more makes a lot of sense when we have other (cheaper) options.

The difference between Cameron and Melky/Gardner is vast. I'd say Cameron at $10 mil for a year is a very nice stopgap while Austin Jackson develops.

[justanewguy]

I like Mike Cameron, not as a key piece to a winning team, but as more of an athletically talented role player. He plays an outstanding CF, can get on base at roughly the league average, and can give you the 20 to 25 HR per season, which isn't bad for one of the middle defensive positions. He also provides veteran presence and yada yada yada. I wouldn't mind having him on my team.

The Yankees don't really tend towards that type of player, though. Mike Cameron is more like the type of guy they tend to make a trade for late in the season, and less like the type of player they sign to a deal in the offseason.

I doubt he'll fetch $10M. I'm thinking $7-$8M. He'd probably take 3 years and $20M-ish over 1 and $10M anyway, and I doubt he'll be getting even $10M for 1 year only.

[defense]

I agree with 95% of this. I don't see the Yanks signing Cameron, but sticking with Gardner/Melky, and I could see them signing Rocco.

I think they will sign Cameron. I mean he is ahead of Gardner(who is pretty much a singles hitter with speed), and Melky who isn't too much better than Gardner

Cameron is a good defensive player with leadership and power. For an one year, 10 million dollar stop-and-gap contract, I think he will sign here

As for Baldelli, even though he is nice, I doubt the Yankees will sign him. He can probably still get a starting DH job somewhere in the AL, and the Yankees DH is pretty clogged right now, so unless he is willing to accept a bench role on this club, he won't be here imo

[defense]

The Yankees don't really tend towards that type of player, though.

You do know that the Yankees pursued Cameron last offseason, right?

[justanewguy]

Where's this $10M for Cameron figure coming from anyway?

I can't imagine that he gets that kind of money with Jim Edmonds also floating around.

Now Edmonds I can definitely see in a Yankee uniform.

You do know that the Yankees pursued Cameron last offseason, right?

Nope.

[defense]

Where's this $10M for Cameron figure coming from anyway?

I am just taking a rough estimation

With the inflation on the free agent market, one can assume Cameron can net 8-10 million on an one year deal

Nope.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7663966

The Yankees had pursued Cameron

[HoustonGM]

Where's this $10M for Cameron figure coming from anyway?

The Brewers have a $10 million option for next year on him, which they've yet to pick up or decline, so it still remains to be seen if he's even going to be a free agent. However, if he is let go, I find it hard to believe that he'd settle for less than what he would've gotten under the option, unless he has no suitors whatsoever at that price, which is unlikely.

I can't imagine that he gets that kind of money with Jim Edmonds also floating around.

Cameron's better defensively at this point, and less of a injury-risk. I would sign Cameron for a year. I wouldn't touch Edmonds.

[defense]

Now Edmonds I can definitely see in a Yankee uniform.

Edmonds is way past his field playing days. Yankees don't need another DH. No chance he plays in the Bronx next year

[koolzach1]

Yeah I agree about Edmonds... I don't think we'll touch him. All we need is a 1 year stopgap for AJax, so Cameron would be a decent stopgap... The thing is... This Yankee lineup had terrible patience this past season, and Cameron just further adds to the problem there. I do think that Cameron could come here and bat .250, .320, .475, though, or somewhere near that (without looking up his previous stats). I just feel that Gardner could become a decent leadoff hitter. I mean, sure at this point, many people consider him a 4th OF'er type, but some also consider him a future .280 hitter with the ability to draw a lot of walks and steal a ton of bases, while also play tremendous defense.