Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at the 2010 free agent class by team. I’ll list all of the free agents along with their Free Agent Status (A/B).
A few notes I forgot to mention yesterday:
– All stats are compiled by Elias Sports Bureau, who are the official stat-keeper for the MLB.
– When figuring the stats for the rankings, all stats are weighed equally, except innings pitched for relievers.
– The rankings are determined by where a player ranks within their group.
– Eddie Bajek of the Detroit Tiger Thoughts has reversed engineered the rankings. These are based off stats through last weekend and are not the official A/B rankings.
First up…
AL East
Baltimore Orioles
Danys Baez
Mark Hendrickson
Chad Moeller
Melvin Mora – B (Option)
Max Potential Picks Added: 1
Pretty much all are gone. They’ve been hinting Mora’s option will be decline and that he won’t be back. I don’t think they’ll offer him arbitration to get the extra pick. The other 3 are easily replacable.
Boston Red Sox
Rocco Baldelli
Jason Bay – A
Alex Gonzalez (Option)
Victor Martinez – A (Option)
Jason Varitek
Billy Wagner – A (Option)
Tim Wakefield – B (Option)
Max Potential Picks Added: 7
First off, Bay will be offered arbitration and it will be declined. I have a feeling they will re-sign him, so those 2 picks will be lost. The options for Victor Martinez and Tim Wakefield will be picked up; Alex Gonzalez’s won’t. There are conflicting rumors as to the status of Billy Wagner; some rumors had his option being declined and the Red Sox were not able to offer him arbitration in exchange for him waiving his no trade clause. I don’t know if it’s true, but that would kill 2 more picks.
Varitek will be sent out, finally. With Martinez and George Kottaras, he’s expendable. I’d wouldn’t be surprised if he gets nothing more than an invite to spring training next year.
Baldelli is easy to replace.
New York Yankees
Johnny Damon – A
Jerry Hairston Jr
Eric Hinske
Hideki Matsui – B
Jose Molina
Xavier Nady – B
Andy Pettitte – A
Max Potential Picks Added: 6
Damon, Matsui, and Pettitte all want to come back; only Matsui will be shown the door, as they don’t need a DH. Since they passed on offering arbitration to Bobby Abreu last year, I don’t expect them to offer it to Matsui (and Nady too).
Their other free agents won’t be back, as all have no real role with the team.
Tampa Bay Rays
Chad Bradford
Carl Crawford – B (Option)
Jason Isringhausen
Gabe Kapler
Troy Percival
Brian Shouse – B (Option)
Russ Springer – B
Gregg Zaun (Option)
Max Potential Picks Added: 3
Upper management has already stated that Crawford will be back next season; it’ll give him a chance to jump to Type A status. I expect that Shouse’s option will be declined, but he and Springer will be offered arbitration. If they accept, they have affordable middle relievers; if not, they get additional picks.
The others are easily replacable.
Toronto Blue Jays
Rod Barajas – B
Michael Barrett
John McDonald
Kevin Millar
Marco Scutaro – A
Max Potential Picks Added: 3
Scutaro and Barajas will both be offered arbitration for the simple fact that GM J.P. Riccardi wants the picks. Neither player will hurt the team, but the picks would be a nice additon if they leave. Scutaro will draw interest from other teams, so he would most likely decline arbitration if it’s offered.
The other 3 are minor league invites with other teams.
