MLB Free Agents

With around 3 weeks to go until the more fortunate players report to Spring Training, February is not a good month if you’re still on the MLB free agent market. If it was a member of your family, February would be a mother in law from hell, constantly reminding you how worthless you are. And how painful must that be? In an off season where Ben “Sicknote” Sheets managed to bag a $10 million contract for 2010 (plus up to $2 million in incentives) the remaining Type A free agents must be wondering what they need to do to get a job this season.




Looking at the Type A free agents in alphabetical order, we’ve got Johnny Damon up first. Damon is fresh off a World Series win and fresh out of a 4 year $13 million contract and he was adamant that the Yankees would have to match his salary to keep his services. They didn’t. It was rumored that Damon wanted a Bobby Abreu type deal (2 year $19 million) but the Yankees were probably thinking more of the 1 year $4.5 million deal Abreu signed last off season. Coming off a respectable 2009 season, it seems that Damon has misjudged his worth on the market, especially with the contracts given to the likes of Mike Cameron (2 year $15.5 million) – despite poor defensive skills, last season he enjoyed his highest OPS since 2004 along with 24 homers but only 5 of those came away from the new Yankee Stadium where a well hit pop up can leave the park. Damon wants to play for the Detroit Tigers, his agent Scott Boras claimed this week - if he does end up in Detroit, the payroll dumping Tigers likely won’t be offering the deal Damon thought he would be getting.



After the White Sox declined their $12 million 2010 option on him, Jermaine Dye entered the free agent market after hitting for .250 with 27 homers over 141 games. More worryingly is his OPS+ which dropped off from 126 to 103 and is the lowest in his career after he became an everyday starter in 1999, aside from his injury plagued 2001 season. Dye was most recently linked with a move to the Cubs who were reputedly considering a choice of Dye along with Xavier Nady, Reed Johnson, Jonny Gomes to fill their 2010 outfield. Signings of Johnson and Nady over the past week by the Cubs has left Dye with one less option. It’s a shame, it would have made the Crosstown Classic more interesting this year.



Finally we get to Orlando Hudson. Although he had a good season overall, having a career high OPS+ and winning his 4th Gold Glove as well as hitting for the cycle in May, his offense dipped towards the end of the season and he was only a pinch hitter in October for the Dodgers. Ronnie Belliard took his place in the post season and is in the running for the full time job in a battle with utilityman Jamey Carroll and Blake DeWitt who spent most of last season in the minors. After earning $7 million with all incentives from the Dodgers, Hudson is another free agent holding out and not willing to take a pay cut. Although the Mariners have been rumored to be interested in Hudson, the Nationals are looking the prime candidate; however, his wage demands are speculated to be in the region of $9 million to move to Baseball’s Graveyard.



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But at least they can take heart that one of the four remaining Type A free agents this remaining on Monday morning, former Cubs pitcher Kevin Gregg, signed a 1 year $2.75 million deal with the Blue Jays yesterday with options making it worth up to $12 million over 3 years. So, hang in there guys.