The list of MLB Free agents is growing, and will likely continue until Nov 13th, the deadline for eligible players to file.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BALTIMORE (1) — Paul Bako, c.
BOSTON (4) — Matt Clement, rhp; Eric Hinske, 1b/of; Bobby Kielty, of; Curt Schilling, rhp.
CLEVELAND (3) — Chris Gomez, inf; Kenny Lofton, of; Trot Nixon, of.
CHICAGO (2) — Darin Erstad, of; Mike Myers, lhp.
DETROIT (3) — Sean Casey, 1b; Todd Jones, rhp; Neifi Perez, ss.
KANSAS CITY (3) — Jason LaRue, c; David Riske, rhp; Reggie Sanders, of.
LOS ANGELES (1) — Bartolo Colon, rhp.
MINNESOTA (3) — Torii Hunter, of; Carlos Silva, rhp; Rondell White, of.
NEW YORK (6) — Doug Mientkiewicz, 1b; Jose Molina, c; Jorge Posada, c; Alex Rodriguez 3b; Mariano Rivera, rhp; Luis Vizcaino, rhp.
OAKLAND (3) — Jeffrey DaVanon, of; Mike Piazza, c; Shannon Stewart, of.
SEATTLE (1) — Arthur Rhodes, lhp.
TAMPA BAY (1) — Josh Paul, c.
TEXAS (2) — Jerry Hairston, 2b/of; Sammy Sosa, of.
TORONTO (3) — Sal Fasano, c; Joe Kennedy, lhp; Matt Stairs, of.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
ARIZONA (4) — Jeff Cirillo, 3b; Tony Clark, 1b; Livan Hernandez, rhp; Bob Wickman, rhp.
ATLANTA (3) — Julio Franco, 1b; Ron Mahay, lhp; Chris Woodward, ss.
CHICAGO (2) — Jason Kendall, c; Kerry Wood, rhp.
CINCINNATI (1) — Eric Milton, lhp.
COLORADO (3) — Jeremy Affeldt, lhp; Elmer Dessens, rhp; Jorge Julio, rhp.
FLORIDA (2) — Armando Benitez, rhp; Aaron Boone, 3b.
HOUSTON (7) — Brad Ausmus, c; Jason Jennings, rhp; Mike Lamb, 3b; Mark Loretta, ss; Trever Miller, lhp; Brian Moehler, rhp; Orlando Palmeiro, of.
LOS ANGELES (3) — Rudy Seanez, rhp; Mark Sweeney, 1b; David Wells, lhp.
MILWAUKEE (7) — Francisco Cordero, rhp; Tony Graffanino, inf; Geoff Jenkins, of; Ray King, lhp; Corey Koskie, 3b; Scott Linebrink, rhp; Damian Miller, c.
NEW YORK (9) — Sandy Alomar, c; Marlon Anderson, of; Luis Castillo, 2b; Ramon Castro, c; Mike DiFelice, c; Damion Easley, 2b; Shawn Green, of; Paul Lo Duca, c; Aaron Sele, rhp.
PHILADELPHIA (6) — Antonio Alfonseca, rhp; Jon Lieber, rhp; Jose Mesa, rhp; Abraham Nunez, 3b; J.C. Romero, lhp; Aaron Rowand, of.
PITTSBURGH (2) — Tony Armas, rhp; Shawn Chacon, rhp.
ST. LOUIS (5) — Russell Branyan, 3b; Miguel Cairo, inf; David Eckstein, ss; Troy Percival, rhp; Kip Wells, rhp.
SAN DIEGO (4) — Michael Barrett, c; Geoff Blum, 2b; Milton Bradley, of; Doug Brocail, rhp.
SAN FRANCISCO (3) — Barry Bonds, of; Pedro Feliz, 3b; Russ Ortiz, rhp.
WASHINGTON (3) — Tony Batista, 3b; Robert Fick, 1b; D’Angelo Jimenez, 2b.
From the Major League Baseball Players Association:
Arizona
Cirillo, Jeff (3B); Hernandez, Livan (SP); Wickman, Bob (RP) Atlanta
Franco, Julio (1B); Mahay, Ron (RP) Chicago Cubs
Wood, Kerry L. (RP) Cleveland
Nixon, Trot (OF) Colorado
Affeldt, Jeremy (RP); Julio, Jorge (RP) Detroit Tigers
Casey, Sean T. (1B); Jones, Todd (RP) Florida
Benitez, Armando (RP) Houston
Ausmus, Brad (C); Lamb, Mike (3B); Loretta, Mark D. (INF); Miller, Trever D. (RP); Moehler, Brian (RP); Palmeiro, Orlando (OF) Kansas City
LaRue, Jason (C); Sanders, Reggie (OF) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Colon, Bartolo (SP) Milwaukee
Cordero, Francisco (RP); King, Ray (RP); Koskie, Corey L. (3B); Linebrink, Scott (RP); Miller, Damian (C) Minnesota
Hunter, Torii K. (OF); Silva, Carlos (SP) NY Mets
Anderson, Marlon (OF); Castillo, Luis A. (2B); Castro, Ramon Abraham (C); Easley, Damion (INF); Green, Shawn (OF); Lo Duca, Paul (C) NY Yankees
Mientkiewicz, Doug A. (1B); Posada, Jorge (C); Rivera, Mariano (RP); Rodriguez, Alex (3B); Vizcaino, Luis (RP) Oakland
DaVanon, Jeff (OF); Stewart, Shannon H. (OF) Philadelphia
Lieber, Jon (SP); Mesa, Jose (RP); Nunez, Abraham O. (3B); Rowand, Aaron (OF) Pittsburgh
Armas Jr., Tony (SP) St. Louis
Cairo, Miguel J. (INF); Eckstein, David (SS); Percival, Troy (RP); Wells, Kip (SP) San Diego
Barrett, Michael P. (C); Bradley, Milton (OF) San Francisco
Bonds, Barry (OF); Feliz, Pedro (3B) Toronto
Kennedy, Joe (P); Stairs, Matt (OF) Washington
Fick, Robert (1B)
10.29.07 - The Wire Tap
By Evan Dickens & Tony Cincotta
In the midst of Red Sox fever and eternal Yankees drama, Evan and Tony
unveil their 2008 Top 12 draft picks–and there is no shortage of
controversy!
Here is the top 10, you won’t believe who got the last 2 spots!
1. Alex Rodriguex -
2. Matt Holliday -
3. David Wright -
4. Prince Fielder -
5. Albert Pujols -
6. Ryan Braun -
7. Jimmy Rollins -
8. Hanley Ramirez -
9. Ryan Howard -
10. David Ortiz -
If I Were My Favorite Team’s RL GM
By Jay the Techie
Each year we get a chance to play Fantasy General Manager (GM) by drafting our own Fantasy Team and anyone who says an experienced Fantasy Manager doesn’t know a thing about being a real life (RL) General Manager isn’t playing the Fantasy Sports. The fact is, to a degree, we do a lot of the things a RL GM does. We evaluate talent, we draft players, we make trades, we pick up Free Agents and we try and build the best team possible to win us a Championship.So each off-season I put myself in the shoes of my favorite team’s GM and think of the best moves I’d make that would allow my team the best opportunity to win a World Series Championship.This would be my list of free agent acquisitions and player trades if I were General Manager of the New York Yankees.Free Agent Signed
Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez, Joe Kennedy, Mariano RiveraPlayers to potentially offer in Trades (not all of them of course)Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, TJ Beam, Brian Bruney, Chris Britton, Tyler Clippard, Matt DeSalvo, Sean Henn, Kei Igawa, Jeff Karstens, Russ Ohlendorf, Darrell Rasner, Humberto Sanchez, Chase Wright, Alberto Gonzalez, Juan Mirando, Shelly DuncanPlayers to attempt to acquire in Trade (not all of them of course)Ryan Garko, Todd Helton, Paul Konerko,, Heath Bell, Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Bentancourt, Juan Cruz, Jonathon Broxton, Damaso Marte, CJ Wilson, Carlos MarmolResigning A-Rod, Posada and Mo would be my top 3 priorities.
Priority 4 would be to sign a Free Agent pitcher and among this years choices, I think Joe Kennedy would be a good fit..
Priority 5 would then be to try and trade, either and or both, Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi for a First Basemen understanding we would most likely have to pay a considerable portion of their salaries.
Priority 6 would be to acquire middle and back end relief.I would foresee a Starting Rotation of Wang, Hughes, Mussina, Pettitte (if he executes his player option) and either Ian Kennedy, Tyler Clippard, Russ Ohlendorf, or Joba Chamberlain (if he’s not in the SR, then he’s Mo’s setup guy).Garko would be my first choice for a First Baseman followed by Konerko then Helton.Lastly, after the Spring Training started, I let Don Mattingly have the say in all on field moves as new Manager for the New York Yankees.If readers would reply with what they’d do with their favorite team if they were the RL GM, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Early 2008 Top Ten Fantasy Picks Here Is My First Five What’s Yours?
1. A-Rod- Doesn’t matter where he plays he will score you points. Just not in the playoffs. 2. Hanley Ramirez- Probably doesn’t get the press he deserves since he is playing for Florida, but will get you points.
3. Jose Reyes- This point phenom continues to impress and should continue to do well for fantasy players.
4. Albert Pujols- Even though he had a down year he should bounce back for you.
5. Jimmy Rollins- MVP type year this year and next year should be just as good.
From the Major League Baseball Player’s Association: Finalists include
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Outstanding Player: Curtis Granderson (Detroit), Magglio Ordonez (Detroit), Alex Rodriguez (NY Yankees)
Outstanding Pitcher: Josh Beckett (Boston), C.C. Sabathia (Cleveland), Chien-Ming Wang (NY Yankees)
Outstanding Rookie: Brian Bannister (Kansas City), Dustin Pedroia (Boston), Delmon Young (Tampa Bay)
Comeback Player of the Year: Jon Lester (Boston), Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay), Sammy Sosa (Texas)NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Outstanding Player: Prince Fielder (Milwaukee), Matt Holliday (Colorado), David Wright (NY Mets)
Outstanding Pitcher: Jeff Francis (Colorado), Jake Peavy (San Diego), Brandon Webb (Arizona)
Outstanding Rookie: Ryan Braun (Milwaukee), Hunter Pence (Houston), Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado)
Comeback Player of the Year: Rick Ankiel (St. Louis), Josh Hamilton (Cincinnati), Dmitri Young (Washington)EITHER LEAGUE:
Player of the Year: Matt Holliday (Colorado), Magglio Ordonez (Detroit), Alex Rodriguez (NY Yankees)
Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Tom Glavine (NY Mets), Torii Hunter (Minnesota), Jake Peavy (San Diego)Yahoo! Sports webcast schedule of the 2007 Players Choice Awards:
Tuesday, October 23 – AL & NL Outstanding Pitchers
Wednesday, October 24 – AL & NL Outstanding Players
Thursday, October 25 – AL & NL Outstanding Rookies
Friday, October 26 – AL & NL Comeback Players
Saturday, October 27 – Player of the Year/Marvin Miller Man of the Year
Everything you hear is how great A-Rod is and how his agent Scott Boras thinks he is worth more than Fort Knox. I don’t know if Boras has watched his client, but when the playoffs come he is nowhere to be found. This is when you earn your money. Now on the other hand Josh Beckett has mowed down the competition at every turn.
A-rod probably will be the AL MVP, but it will be Beckett wearing the World Series ring. I guess maybe the Yankees should seriously consider getting pitching help and hope A-Rod opts out or it will be another October to forget come next year for Yankee fans.
Ed Montague who is known for his consistent strike zone will serve as crew chief, while Ted Barrett, Laz Diaz, and Mike Everitt will be doing their first World Series. Chuck Meriwether and Mike Reilly make up rest of the crew.
I hope this umpiring crew can be more consistent that the things that went on in the American League Championship Series. Consistency is all I ask for on both sides. Umpiring this year has been deplorable at best. Major League Baseball needs to do something about getting either better umpires or at least more consistent ones.
Trey Hillman has been around baseball for over 20 years. Insiders consider Hillman as one of the classiest and most qualified baseball people in the business. Trey attended the University of Texas at Arlington where he excelled at baseball and was named to the UTA Athletic Hall of Honor in 1992.
Trey and the Yankees spent 13 years together in New York, primarily as a manager at every level and won three Manager of the Year awards and helped guid his teams to three first-place finishes. In 2002, Trey was named Director of Player Development for the Texas Rangers. In 2003 Hillman signed on to be the manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japanese professional baseball’s Pacific League land ed them to the Japan Series title last year and has them contending for a second this year.
On Friday, Hillman was hired as manager of the Kansas City Royals. The Royals have not qualified for the U.S. Major League Baseball playoffs since 1985. “In baseball circles on a national level, this couldn’t be perceived as a better hire,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. The 44-year-old Hillman has never played, coached or managed in American MLB. “There is not a more qualified person out there to lead,” Moore said by teleconference. “He’s been a winner his whole life. There’s a lot of guys with great bubble gum cards who aren’t great managers.”
The Seattle Mariners who for most of the season were in contention for the American League West title until they faded at the end have added some pitching help. It’s not in the form of active players either. They have picked up some really good coaches that should help the Seattle staff.
Seattle signed Norm Charlton who will be the bullpen coach. Mel Stottlemyre will be the pitching coach a similar job he held with the Yankees and Mets. These two coaches should help the pitchers tremendously in Seattle as Seattle ranked 11 out of 14 teams in team ERA. These new coaches will bring that number down some. They also hired Jim Riggleman as a bench coach and Eddie Rodriguez as the new first base coach.