The Free Agent Front, Part Two

by RotoRob

Yesterday, we started our free agent discussion with the first half of the American League. Today, let’s look at the rest of the Junior Circuit.

Los Angeles

Bartolo Colon : He’ll likely have to settle for a one-year deal and prove he’s healthy. Possible takers include Oakland, the Mets (although that’s a long shot) and the Cardinals (who have a good history in helping revitalize these types of pitchers, Mark Mulder notwithstanding). One thing is certain: don’t expect the Halos to re-sign the oversized Colon, who served up too many gopher balls in the rare times he was able to actually pitch last season.

Minnesota

Carlos Silva : Of Seattle, the Dodgers, KC and Arizona, whichever teams don’t land Hiroki Kurado will likely make a play for Silva. He’s looking for four years for $40 million, so that will probably eliminate the Royals, unless he lowers that price. Silva did a great job keeping the ball in the park last year, leading to a nice rebound after his horrible 2006 campaign.

New York

Roger Clemens : Could this finally be the end of the line for the Rocket, expected to work in a suit for the ‘Stros next season. Of course, would anyone be shocked if come next May, Clemens again starts getting the itch to pitch? He looked rather ordinary last year, but how many times have we thought he was done? Hell, Dan Duquette believed the Rocket had fizzled out back in 1996, but Clemens still had four Cy Young awards ahead of him. Oops.

Alex Rodriguez : He rejected salary arbitration, but once his physical is completed, A-Rod is expected to re-sign with the Yanks for 10 years and $275 million. Oh, another $30 million if he breaks Barry Bonds’ career home run mark. Rodriguez is coming off a career year and he’s now drawn at least 90 walks in three straight seasons, as he becomes an even better asset for those in OBP leagues.

Mariano Rivera : Same situation as Rodriguez here, but with a lot less cash involved. Still, no one needs to cry for Mo given that he’ll make $45 million over the next three years as soon as he adds his John Hancock to a new deal. Rivera had an off year, yet still reached 30 saves for the 10th time. Best closer of all time? He’s certainly getting there.

Ron Villone : He won’t be back with the Yankees, but he’s a lefty. So even though Villone’s K rate dipped and he had health problems, he’ll find a job. He did, after all, do a good job of keeping the ball in the park and recovered from a down 2006 season.

Luis Vizcaino : He’s in all likelihood done as a Yank after rejecting salary arbitration. Other than Rivera, New York won’t give any reliever a multi-year deal, but Vizcaino will get more than one year from someone. The Mets, ChiSox, KC and the Dodgers are possible suitors here. Although he didn’t enjoy his strongest season, Vizcaino is the kind of workhorse reliever plenty of teams will covet. I’d like him better if an NL team signs him.

Oakland

Mike Piazza : Piazza could be done his superb career after declining the A’s offer of salary arbitration. He’s no longer a catcher, but with the majority of his 1,335 career RBI and a lifetime BA of well over .300 coming with him behind the plate, he’s a sure Hall of Famer.

Shannon Stewart : Stewart also rejected arbitration, but he’s not done. However, don’t expect to see him back in Oakland. Stewart is an excellent contact hitter who will hit close to .300 with decent on-base skills, so he remains a good candidate for a top-of-the-order job with someone.

Seattle

Jeff Weaver : There’s a chance the Cardinals will look to bring back Weaver, but he won’t command much after taking a serious shellacking in Seattle. I’ll give him this: he doesn’t walk many (of course, that’s only because they are teeing off on him before ball four ever comes close to arriving). Then again, Weaver’s K rate is unacceptably low.

Tampa Bay

Greg Norton : There is a chance the Rays will re-sign this “professional hitter,” but the team may want to let him walk to open up PT for Jonny Gomes. Of course, Norton was limited last year because of his knee, so he couldn’t come anywhere near duplicating his big 2006 season.

Josh Paul : Tampa Bay could also move to re-sign this perennial back-up catcher. Of course, if the Rays are desperate to find a seldomly-used catcher who manages to hit all of .190, I might be able to do the job.

Texas

Jerry Hairston : Teams aren’t exactly going to be busting down his door with offers while he’s being investigated for steroids. Texas might re-sign him, but considering how poorly he hit while supposedly juiced, how crap will Hairston be straight? Sure, he’ll swipe the occasional base, but over the last two seasons combined, his BA is under .200 – through 329 at-bats. If this dude was buying HGH as has been alleged, he should ask for his money back.

Sammy Sosa : He’s been linked to KC, but the Royals shot down that rumour. Of course, Texas may still bring back Slammin’ Sammy, who made a fairly impressive return to the bigs last season, although I’m concerned about his lack of walks and poor strike zone judgment.

Brad Wilkerson : With Tampa Bay seeking a left-handed stick, Wilkerson is a possibility to wind up on the Rays. He flashed more of the power we’ve expected to see of him before he had shoulder problems, and his batting eye also rebounded somewhat, so there’s definitely hope Wilkerson could return to the kind of numbers he was putting up in Montreal back in the day.

Jamey Wright : He was not offered arbitration by the Rangers, but they still may want him back after he had solid results as a swingman (despite his crappy command).

Toronto

Sal Fasano : Fasano has garnered interest from the Braves, and the Jays — as mentioned yesterday — are considering re-signing the handlebar-‘stached back-up backstop. Fasano barely saw any action with the Jays last season, and he couldn’t hit his way out of wet paper bag, but don’t you want him around in case a bar fight breaks out?

Next up, we’ll tackle the remaining free agents from the National League teams.

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