2008 Potential Free Agents

A tip of the hat to the Colorado Rockies and their fans, the 2007 National League Champions.... Will they lose another game this post-season? The free agency filing period is still a few weeks away but a couple of teams have begun to resign their would-be-free-agents to keep them off the market. Teams are also starting to make waiver claims as teams have begun releasing players. Here is a list of potential free agents that will be discussed throughout baseball in the upcoming off-season....

First Basemen

Sean Casey, Tigers
Tony Clark, Diamondbacks
Jeff Conine, Mets
Robert Fick, Nationals
Julio Franco, Braves
* Scott Hatteberg, Reds
Shea Hillenbrand, Dodgers
Eric Hinske, Red Sox
Ryan Klesko, Giants
Doug Mientkiewicz, Yankees
* Kevin Millar, Orioles
Olmedo Saenz, Dodgers
Matt Stairs, Blue Jays
Mark Sweeney, Dodgers
Mike Sweeney, Royals

Second Basemen

Mark Bellhorn, Reds
Geoff Blum, Padres
Miguel Cairo, Cardinals
Luis Castillo, Mets
Damion Easley, Mets
Jerry Hairston, Jr., Rangers
* Marcus Giles, Padres
Tony Graffanino, Brewers
Tadahito Iguchi, Phillies
D'Angelo Jimenez, Nationals
* Jeff Kent, Dodgers
Mark Loretta, Astros
Kaz Matsui, Rockies
Luis Rivas, Indians
Jose Valentin, Mets

Shortstops

Royce Clayton, Red Sox
David Eckstein, Cardinals
Chris Gomez, Indians
* Cesar Izturis, Pirates
* Ramon Martinez, Dodgers
John McDonald, Blue Jays
Neifi Perez, Tigers
* Juan Uribe, White Sox
Omar Vizquel, Giants
Chris Woodward, Braves

Third Basemen

Tony Batista, Nationals
Aaron Boone, Marlins
Russell Branyan, Cardinals
Jeff Cirillo, Diamondbacks
Pedro Feliz, Giants
* Corey Koskie, Brewers
Mike Lamb, Astros
Mike Lowell, Red Sox
* Greg Norton, Devil Rays
Abraham Nunez, Phillies
Alex Rodriguez (Can Void remaining 2 years on Contract)

Catchers

Sandy Alomar, Jr., Mets
Brad Ausmus, Astros
Paul Bako, Orioles
* Rod Barajas, Phillies
Michael Barrett, Padres
* Gary Bennett, Cardinals
Raul Casanova, Devil Rays
Alberto Castillo, Orioles
Ramon Castro, Mets
Mike DeFelice, Mets
Sal Fasano, Blue Jays
Wiki Gonzalez, Nationals
Jason Kendall, Cubs
Jason LaRue, Royals
* Mike Lieberthal, Dodgers
Paul Lo Duca, Mets
Damien Miller, Brewers
Doug Mirabelli, Red Sox
Chad Moeller, Dodgers
Jose Molina, Yankees
Josh Paul, Devil Rays
Mike Piazza, A's
* Jorge Posada, Yankees
Kelly Stinnett, Cardinals
Yorvit Torrealba, Rockies
* Javier Valentin, Reds

Outfielders

* Bobby Abreu, Yankees
* Moises Alou, Mets
Marlon Anderson, Dodgers
Barry Bonds, Giants
Milton Bradley, Padres
Mike Cameron, Padres
Brady Clark, Padres
Jeff DaVanon, A's
* Adam Dunn, Reds
* Darin Erstad, White Sox
* Cliff Floyd, Cubs
Kosuke Fukudome, Japan
Luis Gonzalez, Dodgers
* Shawn Green, Mets
* Jose Guillen, Mariners
Eric Hinske, Red Sox
Torri Hunter, Twins
* Geoff Jenkins, Brewers
Andruw Jones, Braves
Bobby Kielty, Red Sox
Kenny Lofton, Indians
* Rob Mackowiak, Padres
Trot Nixon, Indians
Orlando Palmeiro, Astros
Corey Patterson, Orioles
Aaron Rowand, Phillies
Reggie Sanders, Royals
Sammy Sosa, Rangers
Shannon Stewart, A's
Rondell White, Twins
Brad Wilkerson, Rangers
Preston Wilson, Cardinals

Starting Pitchers

Tony Armas, Jr., Pirates
* Kris Benson, Orioles
* Paul Byrd, Indians
Shawn Chacon, Pirates
Roger Clemens, Yankees
Matt Clement, Red Sox
Bartolo Colon, Angels
Scott Elarton, Indians
Josh Fogg, Rockies
* Casey Fossum, Devil Rays
Freddy Garcia, Phillies
* Tom Glavine, Mets
Livan Hernandez, Diamondbacks
Jason Jennings, Astros
* Brian Lawrence, Mets
Jon Lieber, Phillies
Kyle Lohse, Phillies
Rodrigo Lopez, Rockies
* Greg Maddux, Padres
Wade Miller, Cubs
Eric Milton, Reds
Russ Ortiz, Giants
* Andy Pettitte, Yankees
* Odalis Perez, Royals
* Joel Pineiro, Cardinals (Signed a 2-year, $13 million dollar deal on 10/15 with the Cardinals)
Mark Redman, Rockies
Kenny Rogers, Tigers
Curt Schilling, Red Sox
Carlos Silva, Twins
* Julian Tavarez, Red Sox
John Thomson, Royals
* Brett Tomko, Padres
* Steve Trachsel, Cubs
* Tim Wakefield, Red Sox
Jeff Weaver, Mariners
David Wells, Dodgers
Kip Wells, Cardinals
* Randy Wolf, Dodgers
Jamey Wright, Rangers
Jaret Wright, Orioles
Victor Zambrano, Orioles

Relief Pitchers

Jeremy Affeldt, Rockies
Antonio Alfonseca, Phillies
Armando Benitez, Marlins
* Joe Borowski, Indians
Doug Brocail, Padres
* Hector Carrasco, Angels
Randy Choate, Diamondbacks
Francisco Cordero, Brewers
Rheal Cormier, Reds
Elmer Dessens, Rockies
* Octavio Dotel, Braves
* Aaron Fultz, Indians
Eric Gagne, Red Sox
* Eddie Guardado, Reds
* LaTroy Hawkins, Rockies
Matt Herges, Rockies
Roberto Hernandez, Dodgers
Todd Jones, Tigers
Jorge Julio, Rockies
Joe Kennedy, Blue Jays
Byung-Hyun Kim, Marlins
Ray King, Brewers
Scott Linebrink, Brewers
Ron Mahay, Braves
Josa Mesa, Phillies
Trevor Miller, Astros
Brian Moehler, Astros
* Mike Myers, White Sox
* Joe Nathan, Twins
Ramon Ortiz, Rockies
Troy Percival, Cardinals
* Al Reyes, Devil Rays
Chris Reitsma, Mariners
Arthur Rhodes, Mariners
* David Ricke, Royals
Mariano Rivera, Yankees
J.C. Romero, Phillies
Rudy Seanez, Dodgers
Aaron Sele, Mets
Mike Timlin, Red Sox
Mike Venafro, Cardinals
Ron Villone, Yankees
Luis Vizcaino, Yankees
Bob Wickman, Diamondbacks
Scott Williamson, Orioles
Jay Witasick, Devil Rays
Kerry Wood, Cubs

* Indicates either a club or player option for the 2008 Season

Source: Cot's Baseball Contracts

Mark

Actually, the salary among the 3 that Rick referenced is around $15.5m total. That can still get some quality back.

Rick

Budgetwise, if you jettison a Dempster, Jones and Marquis you can gain around 25 million in payroll flexibility. That'll get you a quality outfielder and a #2 or #3 starter.

Rick

Aaron Rowand is the marquis free agent, along with Torii Hunter (Rowand is 30 and Hunter is 32 I believe). And both would provide significant offensive spark. You then move Pie to right and have him platoon with Murton, or earn the spot outright. Either Rowand or Hunter could be a great mentor to the kid.

The majority of the rest of the list are past-their-prime high priced players that don't offer much of an upgrade.

Adn I predict Wood will almost certainly be re-signed.

Austin

The only reason I say Lohse is because he will get a rather cheap deal, and he did much better when he came to the NL Central. No way for Schilling, too old and too expensive.

As for Torii Hunter, way too expensive and he would block Pie for many years. I think we should give him a chance. I just dont know what to do with Jones....

agustin rexach

Lohse??? Schilling??? noooooo wayy

Hubert

There's not much on that list except for ARod, Schills, Abreu, Wood, and Carlos Silva..

Steve

Tori Hunter would look mighty fine in Cubbie Blue.

Austin

Here's a couple guys I want to Cubs to look at:

OF Fukudome, Pitchers's Hiroki Kuroda and Kyle Lohse, Relievers Fransico Cordero, Mariano Rivera, and obviously Kerry Wood.

I would really like to make a push of Kuroda if possible, and I dont know enough about Fukudome, but if he's good enough, why not. Then we can trade Jones.

I would definately look into a trade for D'Back SS Conor Jackson, I read that he could be available.

2008 Outfield: Soriano, Pie, Fukudome

Infield: Lee, DeRosa, Ramirez, Jackson, Soto

Rotation: Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Kuroda/Lohse, Marquis

'Pen: Marmol, Howry, Wood, Eyre.... ( trade Dempster and Ohman, possibly add Cordero or Rivera to close. wow.)

Jordan

I just want to see Cuban out in the right field bleachers next year and he will make the necessary changes for next year, because he wants to win!!!

Adam in Iowa

What does everyone think of signing Sammy Sosa to play right, and Corey Patterson to play center? And maybe LaTroy Hawkins for the bullpen? Just kidding. Obviously.

Actually I wondered about Freddy Garcia. Is he injured? If not, I think he would be a guy to target. Not as expensive as some of the other guys like Schilling, but probably can be just as productive if he's healthy. Could be a good #3. Z, Lilly, Garcia, Hill and Prior/Marquis looks good to me.

Abreu would seem to be a perfect fit in right, but he may be too expensive or may be re-signed.

DMac

I would love to see Schilling in a Cubs uniform and bring some leadership to this team. I do not propose to bring this guy in as a number 1 or 2 guy, but rather to serve as a #3. I understand he is getting old, but I also saw when he threw 7 shutout against the Angels in the ALDS. This guys can still pitch. I also understand his price tag may be a little above what the a pitcher of his caliber, at this age, should be paid. Any thoughts?