2009 Free Agent Class

[Kalapse]

• All players listed should be eligible for free agency following the 2008 Season.

• Free agents may negotiate and sign with a Club other than their former Club starting the 16th Day After World Series.

• All ages have been adjusted for the 2009 season.

• Some players may have options for the 2009 season, any options will be listed next to the player's age.

• The option abbreviations are as follows:
 

VO: Vesting Option

TO: Team Option

PO: Player Option

MO: Mutual Option
 

#  NAME             AGE  OPTIONS
 

CATCHERS

1. Ivan Rodriguez    37  [bORAS CLIENT] [TYPE A]

2. Miguel Olivo      30 - RE-SIGNED w/ ROYALS on 11/4/08 [1 year, $2.7M]

3. Rod Barajas       33 - OPTION EXERCISED by TWINS on 10/9/08 [1 year, $2.5M]

4. Mike Redmond      38 - OPTION EXERCISED by TWINS on 10/9/08 [1 year, $950K]

5. Jason Varitek     37  [bORAS CLIENT] [TYPE A]

6. Jason Kendall     35 - OPTION VESTED w/ 110 G on 8/1/08 [1 year, $4.25M]

7. Henry Blanco      37  TO: $3M - SIGNED WITH SD [1 year, $750k]

8. Toby Hall         33  TO: $2.25M SIGNED w/ HOU

9. Gregg Zaun        38 - SIGNED WITH BAL[?]

0. Michael Barrett   32  - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL WITH TOR
 

OTHERS: M. DiFelice, S. Fasano, R. Fick, W. Gonzalez, J. Lopez, A. Melhuse, C. Moeller, J. Paul,

P. Lo Duca, D. Mirabelli, P. Bako, B. Ausmus, J. LaRue, J. Valentin, G. Bennett, V. Wilson, J. Estrada, Dave Ross
 

FIRSTBASEMEN

1. Mark Teixeira     29  - SIGNED WITH NYY [8 years, ~$180M]

2. Carlos Delgado    37 - OPTION EXERCISED by METS on 10/20/08 [1 year, $12M]

3. Eric Hinske       31

4. Kevin Millar      37

5. Sean Casey        34

6. Tony Clark        37 - RE-SIGNED WITH ARZ [1 year, 800k]

7. Daryle Ward       34

8. Richie Sexson     34

9. Doug Mientkiewicz 35

0. Ben Broussard     32  [bORAS CLIENT]
 

OTHERS: G. Norton, Ma. Sweeney, S. Hatteberg
 

SECONDBASEMEN

1. Orlando Hudson    31 [TYPE A]

2. Mark Ellis        32 - RE-SIGNED w/ ATHLETICS on 10/20/08 [2 years, $11M]

3. Ray Durham        37

4. Mark Grudzielanek 39

5. Jeff Kent         41 - RETIRED

6. Jamey Carroll     35 - OPTION EXERCISED by INDIANS on 1016/08 [1 year, $2.5M]

7. Felipe Lopez      29 - SIGNED WITH ARZ [?]

8. Mark Loretta      37 - SIGNED BY LAD [?]

9. Damion Easley     39

0. Jerry Hairston Jr 33 - RE-SIGNED WITH CIN [?]
 

OTHERS: T. Iguchi, L. Rivas, C. Woodward, M. Giles, C. Gomez, P. Ozuna, M. Cairo
 

THIRDBASEMEN

1. Chipper Jones     37 - OPTION VESTED w/ 450 PA on 8/26/08 [1 year, $15M]

2. Casey Blake       35 - RE-SIGNED w/ LAD [?]

3. Joe Crede         31  [bORAS CLIENT]

4. Hank Blalock      28 - OPTION EXERCISED by RANGERS on 11/7/08 [1 year, $6.2M]

5. Ramon Vazquez     32 - SIGNED WITH PIT [?]

6. Rich Aurilia      37

7. Russell Branyan   33 - SIGNED WITH MARINERS ON 12/3/08,  [1 year, $1.4M]

8. Wes Helms         33 - RE-SIGNED w/ MARLINS on 10/3/08 [2 years, $1.8M]

9. Mike Lamb         33 SIGNED w/ MIL [MIN picking up partial salary, ?]

0. Morgan Ensberg    33
 

OTHERS: A. Boone
 

SHORTSTOPS

1. Rafael Furcal     31 - RE-SIGNED w/ LAD [?]

2. Edgar Renteria    33  SIGNED w/ SFO [?] TO: $12M [TYPE A]

3. Orlando Cabrera   34 [TYPE A]

4. David Eckstein    34 - SIGNED WITH SD [?]

5. Juan Uribe        30 - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL WITH SF 

6. Nick Punto        31 - RE-SIGNED WITH MIN [?]

7. Omar Vizquel      42  TO: $5.2M - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL w/ TEX [?]

8. Alex Cora         33  SIGNED w/ NYM [?] [bORAS CLIENT]

9. Adam Everett      32 - SIGNED WITH DET [?]

0. Cesar Izturis     29 - SIGNED BY BAL [?]
 

OTHERS: W. Bloomquist, J. Castro, C. Counsell, T. Perez, Ra. Martinez, N. Garciaparra, A. Cintron, C. Gomez
 

DESIGNATED HITTERS

1.Jason Giambi       38 - SIGNED w/ OAK [1 year, $5M] TO: $22M

2. Jim Thome         38 - OPTION VESTED w/ 564 PA on 9/20/08 [1 year, $13M] [TYPE A]

3. Frank Thomas      41

4. Mike Sweeney      36 - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL w/SEA

5. Jose Vidro        34
 

OUTFIELDERS

1. Manny Ramirez     37  TO: $20M [bORAS CLIENT] [TYPE A] 

2. Vladimir Guerrero 33 - OPTION EXERCISED by ANGELS on 10/28/08 [1 year, $15M] [TYPE A]

3. Pat Burrell       32 SIGNED w/ TB [2 years, $16M] [TYPE A]

4. Milton Bradley    31 SIGNED w/ CHC [3 years, $30M] [TYPE A]

5. Adam Dunn         29 [TYPE A]

6. Bobby Abreu       35 [TYPE A]

7. Raul Ibanez       37 SIGNED by PHILLIES on 12/12/08 [3 years, $30M][TYPE A]

8. Mike Cameron      36 - OPTION EXERCISED by BREWERS on 11/3/08 [1 year, $10M]

9. Ken Griffey Jr    39  TO: $16.5M

10. Juan Rivera      31 - RE-SIGNED w/ LAA [?]

11. Mark Kotsay      33 SIGNED w/ BOS [1 year, $1.5M]

12. Garret Anderson  37  TO: $14M

13. Rocco Baldelli   27 SIGNED w/ BOS [1 year, ?$]

14. Brian Giles      38 - OPTION EXERCISED by PADRES on 11/7/08 [1 year, $9M] [TYPE A]

15. Emil Brown       34

16. Wily Mo Pena     27 - OPTION EXERCISED by PENA on 10/28/08 [1 year, $2M]

17. Cliff Floyd      36  TO: $3M

18. Jason Michaels   33 - SIGNED WITH HOU [?]

19. Shannon Stewart  35

20. Jim Edmonds      39

21. Luis Gonzalez    41

22. Jay Payton       36

23. Craig Monroe     32 SIGNED w/ PIT, MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

24. Darin Erstad     35 - RE-SIGNED w/ ASTROS on 8/29/08 [1 year, $1.75M]

25. Gabe Kapler      33 - SIGNED WITH TB [?]

26. Rob Mackowiak    33 - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL WITH THE METS

27. Trot Nixon       35 - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL WITH MIL

28. Kevin Mench      31 - SIGNED WITH HANSHIN TIGERS, JAPAN

29. Jacque Jones     34

30. Corey Patterson  29 - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL w/ WAS [bORAS CLIENT]
 

OTHERS: B. Wilkerson [bORAS] , M. Alou, S. Podsednik, A. Jones [bORAS]
 

STARTING PITCHERS

1. CC Sabathia       29 - SIGNED BY NYY [7 years, $161M][TYPE A]

2. Ben Sheets        31 [TYPE A]

3. Ryan Dempster     32 - RE-SIGNED w/ CUBS on 11/18/08 [4 years, $52M] [TYPE A]

4. Jon Garland       29 - SIGNED w/ DIAMONDBACKS [1 year]

5. Kyle Lohse        30 - RE-SIGNED w/ CARDINALS on 9/30/08 [4 year, $41M]  [bORAS CLIENT]

6. AJ Burnett        32 - SIGNED BY NYY [5 years, $82.5M] [TYPE A]

7. Brad Penny        31 - SIGNED WITH BOS [1 year, $5M] TO: $8.75M

8. Mike Mussina      40 - RETIRED [TYPE A]

9. Derek Lowe        36  SIGNED w/ ATL [4 years, $60M] [bORAS CLIENT] [TYPE A]

10. Pedro Martinez   37

11. Oliver Perez     27  RE-SIGNED w/ NYM [3 years, $36M][bORAS CLIENT] [TYPE A]

12. Odalis Perez     32

13. Randy Wolf       32

14. Paul Byrd        38 SAYS HE IS STAYING HOME UNTIL AT LEAST THE ASB

15. Livan Hernandez  34

16. Braden Looper    34

17. Randy Johnson    45 - SIGNED WITH SFO [?]

18. Greg Maddux      43  RETIRED [bORAS CLIENT]

19. Brian Moehler    37 - RE-SIGNED w/ ASTROS on 8/29/08 [1 year, $2.3M]

20. Jason Jennings   31

21. John Smoltz      42  SIGNED w/ BOS [?] TO: $12M

22. Chan Ho Park     36 - SIGNED BY PHI [?]

23. Kip Wells        32

24. Jamie Moyer      46 - RE-SIGNED WITH PHI [?][TYPE A]

25. Andy Pettitte    37 - RE-SIGNED WITH NYY [1 year, $5.5M][TYPE A]

26. Brian Lawrence   33

27. Mark Mulder      31  TO: $11M

28. Woody Williams   42 - RETIRED

29. Matt Clement     34

30. Mark Prior       28 SIGNED w/ SD [?]
 

OTHERS: K. Benson, S. Chacon, B. Colon, C. Pavano, J. Sosa, M. Morris, Ma. Redman, C. Schilling, J. Fogg, B. Tomko

S. Trachsel, T. Wakefield, S. Estes, T. Glavine, M. Hampton, M. Hendrickson, G. Rusch, K. Rogers
 

RELIEF PITCHERS

1. Scott Downs       33 - NOT AN FA

2. Bob Howry         35 - - SIGNED w/ GIANTS on 12/3/08 [1 years, $2.75M]

3. Will Ohman        31

4. Jeremy Affeldt    30 - SIGNED w/ GIANTS on 11/18/08 [2 years, $8M]

5. Juan Cruz         30 [TYPE A]

6. Dan Wheeler       31 - SIGNED EXTENSION WITH TB [3 years]

7. Damaso Marte      34 - RE-SIGNED w/ YANKEES on 11/12/08 [3 years, $12M] [TYPE A]

8. Eddie Guardado    38 - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL w/ TEX 

9. Joe Beimel        32

10. Brian Shouse     40 - SIGNED w/ TAM 

11. Luis Ayala       31

12. Russ Springer    40 [TYPE A]

13. Dennys Reyes     32

14. Aaron Fultz      35

15. Rudy Seanez      40

16. Trever Miller    36  TO: $2M - SIGNED w/ CARDINALS on 12/3/08 [1 year, ???]

17. David Weathers   39 ACCEPTED ARB FROM CIN

18. Jon Lieber       39

19. Al Reyes         39

20. Darren Oliver    38 [TYPE A], also: ACCEPTED ARB FROM LAA

21. Scott Eyre       37 - RE-SIGNED w/ PHILLIES on 11/10/08 [1 year, $2M]

22. LaTroy Hawkins   36 - RE-SIGNED w/ ASTROS on 11/7/08 [1 year, $3.5M]

23. Alan Embree      39  TO: $3MSIGNED WITH COL [1 year, $2.25M]

24. Mike Stanton     42 - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL W/ CHC [?]

25. Matt Herges      39  TO: $2.5M - SIGNED MINOR LEAGUE DEAL W/ CLE [?]

26. Tom Gordon       41  TO: $4.5M

27. Matt Wise        33

28. Jorge Julio      30 - SIGNED WITH MIL [1 year, $?]

29. Kyle Farnsworth  33 - SIGNED WITH KC [?]

30. Doug Brocail     42 - SIGNED WITH HOU [?] [TYPE A]
 

OTHERS: G. Mota, M. Timlin, J. Tavarez, A. Rhodes, K. Foulke, E. Dessens, J. Brower, J. Towers, S. Proctor, T. Saito
 

CLOSERS

1. Francisco Rodriguez 27 - SIGNED WITH NYM [3 year, $37M] [TYPE A]

2. Kerry Wood          32 - SIGNED BY CLE[2 years, $20.5M plus VO $11M 3rd year] [TYPE A]

3. Brian Fuentes       32 - SIGNED WITH LAA [2 years, $17.5M] [TYPE A]

4. Brandon Lyon        29 - SIGNED WITH DET [?]

5. Trevor Hoffman      41 - SIGNED WITH MIL [?]

6. Jason Isringhausen  36 [TYPE A]

7. Chad Cordero        27

8. Todd Jones          40 - RETIRED

9. Eric Gagne          33  [bORAS CLIENT]

0. Joe Borowski        38
 

OTHERS:

Edited February 4, 2009 by santo=dorf

[southsider2k5]

Is there a significance to the order the players are listed in?

[southsider2k5]

Is there a significance to the order the players are listed in?

[Chisoxfn]

Awesome stuff Kalapse

[NorthSideSox72]

Here's a random question about a maybe-free agent. Is Ehren Wassermann a free agent after this season? He's got his minor league time in, plus some major league time, but I'm not sure which set of rules apply here.

 

[southsider2k5]

Here's a random question about a maybe-free agent. Is Ehren Wassermann a free agent after this season? He's got his minor league time in, plus some major league time, but I'm not sure which set of rules apply here.

 

I believe as long as they are on the 40 man roster, the major league rules apply.

[Brian]

I love these lists, Kalapse. Mostly cuz I don't realize how old some guys are.

[Kalapse]

Is there a significance to the order the players are listed in?

They're my own rough rankings. Just kind of off the top of my head.

[DABearSoX]

wow, the starting pitching pool after this season is pretty deep...and I didn't realize F-Rod was a free agent either....damn he is going to make a pretty penny.

[bighurt4life]

nice list, looks like a lot of talented SP available this winter, all the more reason in my mind to not trade away prospects for a pitcher this season

[joejoedairy]

I'll take sheets and rocco baldelli. And maybe O'dawg

[witesoxfan]

I'll take sheets and rocco baldelli. And maybe O'dawg

 

Rocco Baldelli is currently on a rehab assignment and his future in baseball is very much in doubt. He's playing, but I wouldn't count on anything from him ever with the health problems he's had. If he can make it back, that'd be a great story(maybe they can give him an MVP if he hits a few homers in the derby come next July), but I don't think you can completely count on him being a full-time contributer ever again.

 

I would love Orlando Hudson though.

[southsider2k5]

They're my own rough rankings. Just kind of off the top of my head.

 

Excellent. Great work as always

[chiguy79]

Not a lot of infielders of quality. Looks like the entire cubs bullpen are free agents after this year outside of Marmol. Also a lot of highly paid guys in steep decline always interesting to see which of those guys can put up a few more productive years maybe on the cheap.

 

SP depth doesn't look that good to me, outside of CC most of the top guys are injury risk or really old, Garland probably the most attractive outside of CC unless you take Sheets health risk. Dempster is clearly going to get overpaid by someone.

[joejoedairy]

I was just thinkin about Baldelli in terms of a buy low hope for him to avoid injury and be the player everyone thought he could be like Carlos

[GoodAsGould]

I wouldnt mind taking a look at Zaun, Orlando Hudson, and however unlikely Mark Texiera. Like its been said a plenty of times definitely wouldnt mind seeking out a trade for Beltre either. We could dumb Konerko, I know he has a no trade clause but im sure there is some team he would approve. I would also dump Masset.

Edited July 29, 2008 by SoxFan101

[Texsox]

Any team that refuses to speak with Boras clients immediatly cuts themselves out of a lot of quality players.

[DBAHO]

I would love Orlando Hudson though.

I can see either Furcal, Hudson or Ellis being one of KW's main targets this off-season. Solidfy that middle infield with Ramirez being in one of the spots, unless they want to turn it over to Danny.

 

Maybe Juan Rivera could be a type of guy if an OF spot became available after a trade (or Dye moving to 1B/DH) who could be interesting.

 

How's he doing this season actually?

[Kalapse]

Any team that refuses to speak with Boras clients immediatly cuts themselves out of a lot of quality players.

What Boras client even interest you? Aside from Mark Teixiera who's going to get an absurd amount of money I don't see any players that I particularly like.

[Balta1701]

Any team that refuses to speak with Boras clients immediatly cuts themselves out of a lot of quality players.

When is the last time a team set itself up for a long term championship-level run by giving a lot of money to a Scott Boras managed player?

[witesoxfan]

When is the last time a team set itself up for a long term championship-level run by giving a lot of money to a Scott Boras managed player?

 

The Red Sox contract to JD Drew. Also, the two New York teams are pretty solid though not championship level at the current moment.

[Texsox]

When is the last time a team set itself up for a long term championship-level run by giving a lot of money to a Scott Boras managed player?

I believe Atlanta also did nicely with Maddux. The Tiggers seem ok with a couple of Boras clients as well.

[Texsox]

What Boras client even interest you? Aside from Mark Teixiera who's going to get an absurd amount of money I don't see any players that I particularly like.

Doesn't matter. A team that doesn't want to even talk with Boras is not even going to look over his list to see if there is a good fit.

[Kalapse]

Doesn't matter. A team that doesn't want to even talk with Boras is not even going to look over his list to see if there is a good fit.

The truth about Scott Boras is that he has a few high profile clients that will make a s***-ton of money and the rest are relatively unimpressive unless you like the Lohses, Weavers and Millwoods of the world. There's nothing wrong with avoiding Boras clients, there's always cheaper alternatives available. If you can acquire them some time in the first 5 years of their career before they hit free agency, that's fine but there's really no reason to even bother with Boras clients on the open market. More often than not it's not worth it.

[GoSox05]

When is the last time a team set itself up for a long term championship-level run by giving a lot of money to a Scott Boras managed player?

 

 

Look at how well the Giants are doing with Barry Zito. Oh wait. Nevermind.