Let the Bidding Begin, 2010 MLB Free Agency

So the season is over, the champagne has finally dried from the obnoxious beard of Giants closer Brian Wilson. Fans around baseball were treated to the San Francisco Giants winning their first World Series title in a long time, Lincecum got high, no one watched and I could care less. As a Phillies fan, 2010 will sting for a long, long time. The image of Ryan Howard looking a strike three will haunt me until March, when I’m sitting at Brighthouse Networks Field with Justin and Kevy, sipping on a beer and gearing up for another Phils season. In the meantime, I will pacify my frustration by reading all the different blogs and tweets trying to get the low down on free agency.

Fact is, I love this stuff. Free Agency is such an exciting part of the year, and I waste hours at a time looking at rumors, researching and analyzing all those weird statistics, and taking inventory on clubs minor league systems. I’m a baseball nut, and really I wouldn’t have it any other way. So here is my prediction on a few of the big name free agents on the market as well as my take on what the Phillies should do this off-season.


Free Agents

Cliff Lee- Texas Rangers

Lee is the best free agent on the open market. I’m still trying to gauge what the market is actually going to be for him, and it’s going to be really interesting. He is a top of the line starter, an unquestioned ace no doubt about that. Lee is 32 years old and he will most likely want years as well as top dollar, not to mention a no trade clause after bouncing around to 3 teams in 3 years. Lee will get the big contract he is looking for, and it won’t be with the New York Yankees. Maybe it’s my unbiased hatred for the evil empire, but I just don’t think Lee signs with the Yanks. He will ultimately resign with the Texas Rangers for around 6 years and 120 million dollars. Nolan Ryan has the money to spend and he will open up the check book for Lee. Look for the Yankees to make the strongest push for Lee, along with many teams who will inquire. Don’t be surprised if the Phillies name gets thrown around, more on that later.

Carl Crawford- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Crawford is the prize of the position players in the very weak 2010 free agent class. The market is small, and Crawford is mega-talented, a young 5 tool player who could only be scratching the surface as to how productive he can be. Again because of a small market, there will only be a handful of teams that can afford Crawford. I believe that the Angels are a logical fit for Crawford; he can play in the outfield with Torii Hunter who can help mold him into and ever bigger star. Aside from the Angels, I expect the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers and Mets to be in on Crawford. In the end he will sign with Angels, to try and help them get back to the top in the AL West.

Jayson Werth- Boston Red Sox

Jayson Werth has been a key part to the Phillies success the past 3 seasons. His right handed bat serves as big time protection for Ryan Howard in a lineup chock full of lefties. Werth comes out at a perfect time. Like I said the market is weak and it makes a guy like Werth even more appealing. I’m a Jayson Werth fan and it will be sad to see him go, but he has some flaws in his game. I believe someone will extremely overpay for him, and I hope it’s not the Phillies. Boston makes the most sense here they lack in the power department and they weren’t able to fill the void left by Jason Bay in 2009. Werth could play every outfield spot for the Red Sox, and I think he will eventually find a home in right after JD Drew leaves after the 2011 season. Werth will get somewhere along the lines of a 5 year 85 million dollar deal. Somewhere in the middle of the contract that super agent Scott Boras got for his clients Matt Holiday and Jason Bay. The Phillies won’t let Werth go without a fight though, and it will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks.

Phillies Off-season

Ok Phils fans this off-season don’t expect a major move, just a little bit of tweaking done by GM Rueben Amaro Jr, but if I could be GM, here is what I would do.

Sign Relief Help

I like the idea of Chad Durbin and Jose Contreras coming back, they are two solid guys at the end of the bullpen. What they really need is a reliable left handed option and there will be some available. I like Toronto’s Scott Downs, but he may come with a high price tag. Also a pair of Mets are out there in Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi. To reestablish the bullpen as one of the best in the MLB could go a long way.

Acquire Josh Willingham

I’ve wanted to see him in red pinstripes for a few years now. He has put up solid numbers in a terrible Washington Nationals lineup and not to mention he kills the Phils at CBP. I believe if you put him in a lineup as potent and as powerful as the Phillies, he will put up offensive numbers comparable to Jayson Werth. He isn’t as talented in the field as Werth and he is a bit of an injury risk. but he may be expendable because the Nationals may not be able to afford him. I think Joe Blanton for Josh Willingham straight up will get this deal done.


Sign Cliff Lee

I know, I know it's not going to happen, but just hear me out. The Phillies have plenty of money and all this talk about a self imposed salary cap is complete bullshit. If it were up to me, I’d take the money that is being offered to Werth and package it to Cliff Lee in the form of a 4 year 80 million dollar deal. My sales pitch would be look Cliff, we’re sorry we traded you, but it was a business decision. We can’t offer you as much money as the Yankees, but the fans love you, you loved playing for this team and this group of guys and with you Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels at the top of the rotation, you can start planning the parade down Broad Street. Hey man, it could happen.

- Zorzi