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ESPN’s potential free agent list
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19 Responses to “ESPN’s potential free agent list”
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Twittah
We can get both Quinton McCracken AND Darren Bragg
After looking through this list one thing jumps out at me… Why are we all talking about the M’s signing Beltran or Beltre (or, God forbid, Troy Glaus) when a more productive and cheaper option is available in J.D. Drew? He’s a lefty who hits for average and power, he has good plate discipline, plays above-average defense and the kicker is that he’s making HALF what Beltran makes. I know there are some knocks against him (injury-prone, older than Beltran/Beltre), but given his numbers, he’s a bargain and he’s still under 30.
The odds are pretty good that Drew will re-sign with the Braves.
Here’s my ex-M’s starting lineup from this list (not including the current guys we’ll likely re-sign):
C: Varitek
1B: T. Martinez
2B: Mark Maclemore
SS: Omar Vizquel
3B: Desi Relaford
LF: Ruben Sierra
CF: Darrin Bragg
RF: Q McCracken
DH: David Segui
Bench: Dave Hansen; Ruben Sierra; Greg Colbrunn; Rey Sanchez; Pat Borders; John Olerud
SP: Derek Lowe
SP: Aaron Sele
SP: Ishmael Valdez
SP: Shaun Estes
SP: John Halama
RP: Dave Burba
RP: Jeff Nelson
RP: Armando Benitez
RP: Jose Mesa
RP: Jim Mecir
Yep, it’s entirely possible that the M’s can COMPLETELY rebuild this team with M’s retreads. Yikes…
Although, I might be okay with bringing Mecir in to bolster the bullpen, at the right price, of course…
Whoops. Strike Sierra off my bench and replace his spot with Rey Sanchez…
Except that I had Sancez on the bench. Let’s get this straight then:
Sierra off my bench, replace with an extra reliever:
C: Varitek
1B: T. Martinez
2B: Mark Maclemore
SS: Omar Vizquel
3B: Desi Relaford
LF: Ruben Sierra
CF: Darrin Bragg
RF: Q McCracken
DH: David Segui
Bench: Dave Hansen; Greg Colbrunn; Rey Sanchez; Pat Borders (why isn’t he listed on ESPN’s list???); John Olerud
SP: Derek Lowe
SP: Aaron Sele
SP: Ishmael Valdez
SP: Shaun Estes
SP: John Halama
RP: Dave Burba
RP: Jeff Nelson
RP: Armando Benitez
RP: Jose Mesa
RP: Jim Mecir
RP: Terry Mullholland
We will likely re-sign Pat Borders, if that counts.
Borders wasn’t on the free agent list because the Twins were so impressed with his defensive performance in the playoffs that they signed him to a two-year contract extension! No, no, just kidding…
Hey, you forgot John Mabry! Since Woody Woodward (’99) and Gillick (’03) already signed the bum, Bavasi could be the third Seattle GM to sign him to a free agent contract — that would be some sort of record, wouldn’t it? Even though Mabry had a good year with STL, I wouldn’t touch him — he ALWAYS sucks when he’s a Mariner.
Here’s a few more FA’s for your ex-M’s team: Brett Tomko, Rich Aurilia, Greg Colbrunn, Jeff Fassero, Jeff Nelson, David McCarty, Mike Myers, John Olerud, Brent Mayne, Carlos Baerga, Manny Alexander (the final three never appeared in a reg. seson game with Seattle but spent one spring training w/ the M’s).
Anybody notice Mo Vaughn? Maybe Bavasi could sign Vaughn.
Please don’t take me seriously on this one, I am trying to be sarcastic.
I hope we can get Kevin Millwood. Then all we need is another starter whose name starts with an M and we’ll have the M’s rotation – Meche, Moyer, Madritsch, Millwood, and…
Re #10.
If that happened, Mabes would be the first player in history to have 3 different stints with 2 teams each.
Actually, assuming we sign a Beltre/Beltran, picking up Tino Martinez as a role player for 1st base wouldn’t be bad.
A couple questions, I hope someone can explain to me on the nitty gritty of free agency filing
1) Why has Edgar filed for free agency? Isn’t he retired. Does it cost the M’s something if he doesn’t file?
2) What happens if an eligible player doesn’t file? Can he only negotiate with his current team? I.e., why wouldn’t someone file?
Adam —
Uh, this gets really complicated, and that list doesn’t include players that have *filed* in all cases (Guardado, for instance, hasn’t filed).
But to answer your second question: weird things happen. Tony Phillips, I believe, didn’t get offered arbitration and didn’t file for free agency just to screw with the team, and it was strange all around. A detailed explanation of this would take me a long time, but maybe at some point this off-season we’ll get to this.
#14- Matsuzaka
Does anyone know the health of Travis Lee? If the M’s could get him at a very cheap price and he is expected to be healthy, I think he would be a better gamble than getting Hillenbrand. If we can’t sign any of the top 1B free agents out there Lee may be a gamble that is worth it. If he is healthy, he could bat .270, hit15HR, draw a decent number of walks, and play very good defence. He is not a good option, but if we could get him at $1.5 million or so (if healthy), he may be worth it.