2009 Top 50 Free Agents Predictions: 11-20

11. Orlando Hudson, Diamondbacks

- Although Hudson has been injury-prone, he puts up great numbers when he is healthy and is a leader in the clubhouse. Several teams will be pursuing Hudson, and he has already indicated that he will likely not be returning for next season.

Prediction: Cardinals

12. Jason Giambi, Yankees

- Giambi's time in New York has been up and down and the Yankees have a decision to make within the next few weeks. The Athletics have been linked to Giambi, but several other teams might be pulled in by his big bat.

Prediction: Blue Jays

13. Milton Bradley, Rangers

- Bradley is coming off the best year of his career and will certainly look to cash in. Several teams have already said they plan to go after, and that list should only grow as players start to sign.

Prediction: Rangers

14. Brian Fuentes, Rockies

- Fuentes is the second best closer on the market and is set to cash in once Rodriguez signs. With that said, several teams will be eying him knowing that there are not too many options beyond Fuentes. It should be very interesting

Prediction: Cardinals

15. Mike Mussina, Yankees

- Mussina is coming off the best year of his career and wants to stay in New York. If Mussina indicated he wants to pitch again in 2009, the Yankees will get a deal done. It will probably have to be a two year deal, but they will get it done.

Prediction: Retire

16. Bobby Abreu, Yankees

- Abreu put up a great season with the Yankees and has recently indicated that he would like to stay in New York at a reduced price. The Yankees will likely hold onto Abreu for another year or two.

Prediction: Yankees

17. Orlando Cabrera, White Sox

- The White Sox and Orlando Cabrera had a rough relationship this season and they will not bring him back. They announced yesterday that they will move Alexei Ramirez to shortstop, further comfirming that Cabrera will not be back.

Prediction: Orioles

18. Raul Ibanez, Mariners

- Ibanez will be a sought after free agent, but since he is thirty-six, he is a fall back option to most teams. Being a lefty and strong fielder, several teams should be in on him early. However, his price may fall if teams look elsewhere before signing Ibanez.

Prediction: Mets

19. Oliver Perez, Mets

- This season was quiet a disappointment for Perez after putting up 15 wins in 2007. However, his strikeouts and ERA are right on cue so he should still be in for a fairly good deal. Teams in need of a starter with strong defenses should look at Perez as a good option, considering most scouts believe his numbers were improved by the Mets' good defense.

Prediction: Mets

20. Ben Sheets, Brewers

- Sheets has had an up and down career in Milwaukee, and the consensus is they will let him walk in an attempt to bring back CC Sabathia. Odds are no in their favor, and they risk losing both Sheets and Sabathia. We'll see what happens.

Prediction: Astros

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Yankees Scouting Blanton?

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Yankees have sent scouts to watch Joe Blanton. Blanton, who is off to an okay start, has been the subject of several rumors over the past couple of months. I never saw the Yankees jumping in on Blanton talks, but I am not surprised to hear it now. Although some of the younger pitchers are doing very well, I do not think Joba Chamberlain should start the season in the rotation. He has pitched in just twenty-four major league innings, so you could argue that he is very unproven. Although I think he will be a solid player in the future, giving him twenty to thirty games out of the bullpen would not be terrible for his development. Also, by acquiring Blanton, it would allow them to rotate Mussina, Kennedy, and Chamberlain in the fifth spot. The Red Sox pitching is hurting right now, and it would not surprise me if they took a look at him as well. I think if the Yankees acquired Blanton, it would make the race for the playoffs much more interesting. Both rotations have their holes, along with aging players trying to provide run support. The Yankees are hesitant to give up any prospects, so I would be surprised to see him go to the Yankees. However, if one of their pitchers faces a setback, they probably would not hesitate to make a move.

Yankees Not Interested In Teixeira?

According to the New York Post, top Yankee executives agree that they need to get a first baseman, but have barely mentioned Mark Teixeira in their talks. Jason Giambi had a pretty decent year hitting 32 homeruns for the club, but he may want more money than the Yankees are willing to spend. There are some reports that the Blue Jays or Athletics may take a chance on Giambi, meaning the Yankees would have to fill a void. They have Juan Miranda in Triple-A, who hit .287 with 12 HR, but he isn't ready to play everyday. 

If the Yankees are to explore the trade market, it is possible they will call the Padres about Adrian Gonzalez. The Padres struggled this season losing 99 games, and Kevin Towers said no one is untouchable. The Yankees could trade a couple prospects, maybe include Igawa and cash, to land Gonzalez. He hit .279 with 36 HR, but may be in for a big year in New York because of the short right field fence at Yankee Stadium. Other options for the Yankees include Ryan Howard, Derrek Lee, Garrett Atkins, or Andy LaRoche, among others. 

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Sherman: Yankees Have A Plan

According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, the Yankees have about 90 million dollars available and plan to spend it on the market. Of the pitchers available, they would like to sign two of the top three pitchers: CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Derek Lowe. While the list grows if one of those players goes elsewhere, the point is they would like to sign two top of the line pitchers. As for Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte, they will make the players similar offers and whoever takes it first is the one they are going to go with. Mussina has actually faired better than Pettitte over the past year or so, putting up better numbers and focusing on the Yankees, instead of whether or not to retire. 

Since Pettitte has come back to the Yankees, we've seen nearly a two point drop in K/9, a thirty point increase in AVG, and a full point increase in BB/9. As for Mussina, he returned to 2006 form this year and looked even better. 2007 was a minor hiccup, where he tried to hard to make the adjust to finesse, and it showed. He was trying to strikeout batters a lot more, and it lead to him getting hit a lot harder. While Pettitte is younger and probably has a couple years left, him struggling may put more of a focus on retiring, where as Mussina seems fine with pitching another year or two before hanging it up. 

The third step in the Yankees prospect is to trade a pitching prospect or two for a solid first baseman or corner outfielder. It is possible that the Yankees will trade Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Jeff Marquez, or Dellin Betances in a package for someone like Prince Fielder or Derrek Lee, if they do pursue a first baseman. If they want a corner outfielder, they could go after Matt Holliday of the Rockies. Other options include Matt Kemp, Hunter Pence, and Magglio Ordonez, among others. 

It is possible they will go after a high profile outfielder and sign a first baseman like Sean Casey or Tony Clark, opening the way for prospect Juan Miranda, assuming he does well in Triple-A to start next season.

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Yankees Update

The Winter Meetings are slower than normal, but it does not stop them from talking to the press. This morning, I had the privilege of talking with several GM's including Brian Cashman, Jim Hendry, Ed Wade, Ned Colletti, and several others from the night before. I also had time to chat with reporters like Ken Rosenthal, Buster Olney, Jayson Stark, and more. I picked up some good information, but let's start with the Yankees. Many have been talking about Joba Chamberlain and whether or not he will be in the rotation or back in the bullpen, where he had most of his success. Cashman told me that "he is probably just starting his throwing program...I'm sure he is doing fine. He has always prepared as a starter, even during the last two months of the season." First base seems to be up in the air right now with the Yankees, so it brings up the possibility whether or not they will give Juan Miranda a shot: "He finished at Trenton. [He was] fantastic, he did really well. He is certainly pushing himself up the ladder in our organization, and the industry." Finally, many were wondering whether or not pitcher Edwar Ramirez would get a shot at cracking the bullpen, and Cashman told me that "he will definitely compete, no question about it. He was asked about quite often in trade discussions..by the end of the day, he is going to have a lot of opportunities." The Yankees could be entering a new faze where younger players begin to take over. However, they are still going after Ron Mahay, and are looking into the possibility of LaTroy Hawkins and Octavio Dotel.

Here are some other rumors flying around as the GMs close up:

- Alexei Ramirez is drawing serious interest from two teams, according to his agent Jaime Torres.

- Aaron Boone has signed with the Nationals.

- There is no truth to the rumor that the Cubs will send Rich Hill and Eric Patterson to the Orioles for Brian Roberts, according to a Cubs executive with knowledge of the situation.

- According to Peter Gammons, the Rays are looking into signing Michael Barrett.

- There is "no truth" to the rumor that Miguel Tejada is heading to the Astros for Adam Everett, Chris Burke, and a pitcher. Just like there is no truth to the rumor that a three-way deal involving Santana, Haren, and Jose Reyes was going to happen, which was reported by the same site.

- According to one AL GM, the Giants are engaging in talks with both the Yankees and Blue Jays about a trade for an outfielder. Hideki Matsui and Alex Rios are the outfielders they are probably talking about, but J.P. Ricciardi has left the meetings so I do not expect anything to happen today.

More from Astros GM Ed Wade and Ned Colletti in a little bit.

Yankees Trade Wright

The Yankees have traded Chase Wright to the Brewers for OF/C Eric Fryer. Wright, 25, went 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA with the Double-A, Triple-A, and Gulf Coast affiliates of the Yankees. He had some success in the majors for the Yankees, and could be given another opportunity with the Brewers. 

The Yankees receive Eric Fryer, 23, who hit .335  with 10 HR in 104 games at Class A for the Brewers, and will likely be assigned to Class A Tampa for the start of the 2009 season.

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Yankees Sign Cabrera

The Yankees and Melky Cabrera have agreed to a one year deal worth 1.4 million dollars, avoiding arbitration. Cabrera originally asked for 1.7 million dollars, and the Yankees responded with 1.2 million dollars. Cabrera hit .249 with 8 HR in 129 games for the Yankees last season, and is a career .268 hitter. Cabrera will likely return to the .270-.280 average mark where he was in 2006 and 2007, as well as an OBP around .340. He has decent speed and is just 24, so he could really break out this year for the Yankees if he plays everyday. 

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Yankees Targeting Ramirez

According to the New York Post, the Yankees may target outfielder Manny Ramirez despite saying they would like to get younger and more athletic. GM Brian Cashman said the top priority is starting pitching, but he didn't rule out going after a corner outfielder. The Yankees plan to target CC Sabathia and Derek Lowe, but plan to talk with other pitchers like Ryan Dempster if the Yankees miss out on their top targets.

They will likely let Bobby Abreu walk, so that opens up a lot of money to spend elsewhere. Signing Ramirez is a huge risk, but it would do wonders for marketing and jersey sales, and may be worth a two or three year deal. The Yankees would be smart to invest in someone young, perhaps Jeremy Hermida, to than waste money on someone like Ramirez.

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Yankees Sign Pettitte

The Yankees and Andy Pettitte have agreed to a one year deal worth 5.5 million dollars. The Yankees had a one year offer on the table for 10 million dollars, but pulled that after Pettitte refused to back down from his sixteen million dollar contract demand. Pettitte went 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA in 33 games for the Yankees last season, but was 10-7 with a 4.03 ERA in his first twenty starts. 

Pettitte will become the Yankees fifth starter behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, and Joba Chamberlain. Its possible that Chamberlain will be moved back to the bullpen, so expect top prospect Phil Hughes to get at least 15-20 starts. 

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Buyers and Sellers

Here is a list of teams you should expect to buy, and a list of teams expected to sell:

BUYERS

Yankees
- Without a doubt. Losing Alex Rodriguez hurts, but what hurts even more is stating all season that they will not negotiate once he opts out. We know the Yankees are dieing to talk money with Rodriguez, but have made no indication that they actually will. Because of it, expect the Yankees to basically unload their farm system again for players Miguel Cabrera and possibly Johan Santana. I expect them to get Cabrera, and then go after a solid pitcher to help the rotation now thatPettitte is gone.

Potential Sellers: Marlins, Twins, Mariners, Rockies, and Orioles.

Rangers
- The Rangers have some solid players that are drawing interest. And the Rangers, are looking for solid upgrades around the field. They are looking to find a first baseman, while exploring the market for another infielder and center fielder. They have talked with the RedSox about a potential deal for Coco Crisp, but no real progress has been made. They are also looking into the possibility of acquiring RichieSexson from the Mariners in exchange for Vicente Padilla.

Potential Sellers: Red Sox, Mariners, Cubs, Dodgers, Braves, and White Sox.

Dodgers
- They bought Joe Torre and are already a better team because of it. They are very interested in Alex Rodriguez, Andruw Jones, Hiroki Kuroda, and even Johan Santana. Obviously, they will not get them all, but one, maybe two is a definite possibility. They have the money to spend, and will definitely be spending.

Potential Sellers: Twins, Marlins, White Sox, Cubs, Braves, and Rangers.

Giants
- The Giants have a lot of wholes to fill now that Barry Bonds has left and are already looking at possibilities such as Alex Rodriguez, Carl Crawford, andDelmon Young. All they will be selling some of their pitchers, I think there best bet is signing Rodriguez, and holding on to some of their pitchers for just a little bit longer.

Potential Sellers: Devil Rays and Phillies.

Twins
- They will probably lose both Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva and are exploring all options. They are looking at Rocco Baldelli, Coco, Crisp, and according to MLB Rumors Correspondent Steve Wilson, Felix Pie as well. Not only that, but they are exploring the possibility of trading for Jon Garland, but I doubt that will happen. Despite them trying to trade Johan Santana, more upgrades will come from buying.

Potential Sellers: Devil Rays, Athletics, and Rockies.

SELLERS

White Sox
- They can probably be considered both, but they are definitely selling right now. They are shopping their whole pitching staff in exchange for some solid prospects while looking for a suitor for JoeCrede. They are very interested in Torii Hunter, but I see them taking the trade route to find better upgrades.

Potential Buyers: Yankees, Rockies, Astros, Mariners, Dodgers, Rangers, and Braves.

Marlins
The Marlins have two solid players that they have put on the market, and they are already drawing a lot of interest. I do not expect them to tradeDontrelle Willis, but we could see Miguel Cabrera on the move. The list won't be too long because the Marlins asking price is so high, but there will be interest. Other than Cabrera, expect them to shop Anibal Sanchez, who they have had some problems with over the past year.

Potential Buyers: Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Giants.

Athletics
The Athletics have admitted that their farm system is weak and will probably look to restock this off season. The three players that plan to trade are JoeBlanton, Dan Haren, and Dan Johnson. Blanton and Haren are already drawing interest while Johnson could easily be dumped for some low level players. I expect many teams to be interested in the two pitchers because the market is so weak, so they will probably get a lot in return.

Potential Buyers: Rockies, Mets, Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Phillies, and Reds.

If you have any others, leave me a comment and I will add them.

Yankees Waiting On Brewers?

The Yankees are reportedly interested in Brewers outfielder Mike Cameron, who is currently waiting to see whether or not the Brewers pick up his 10 million dollar option. According to the NY Post citing industry sources, the Yankees are waiting to see if the Brewers pick up his option because they think he is an upgrade over Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera. Damon had a solid for the Yankees, and is a lefty, so it is possible they would trade him and pursue a better option, or platoon between Gardner and Cabrera. The Cubs and Mariners are possible destinations for Damon.

The Yankees are reportedly targeting Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and Derek Lowe, so adding Mike Cameron will only increase their payroll. 

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Burnett Waiting On Market?

According to a source close to Darren Braunecker, the agent of A.J. Burnett, they plan to let the market set the value of his pitcher, considering he is the next best pitcher behind CC Sabathia. The Yankees are believed to be interested, and rumors are swirling that they are more interested in him than Sabathia because of Burnett's competitive mindset. CC Sabathia is a great pitcher, but Yankee officials are concerned that he might be "too laid back" for the Yankees.

Anyways, the Blue Jays believe they can sign the pitcher, who was 38-26 with a 3.93 ERA in three seasons with the Jays. The Red Sox, Orioles, Braves, and Dodgers are among many teams interested in the pitcher, who is expected to get a five year deal worth about 15-17 million dollars annually. If the Yankees want him, they will get him. Money is no object, they have a new stadium, and the offense and bullpen to back him.

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Yankees Want Teixeira, Not Helton

When Internet rumors spread about the Yankees working a trade for Todd Helton, both sides were quick to downplay that. The Yankees were not interested because they need to get younger to keep up with the rest of their division, and why would they put Todd Helton, 33, at first base when they could put a younger and better first baseman in Mark Teixeira for young pitching, which they have a lot of. Not only is Teixeira 27, but he has the potential to hit 30+ home runs for the next 6-7 years. The only thing holding any team back is that he is a free agent in 2008 represented by Scott Boras, so knowing Boras' style, the team that trades for him will only have him for a season and a half. That is also raising the asking price of the Rangers, who are desperate to get a lot in return after trading away two future All-Stars in Adrain Gonzalez and Chris Young. The Rangers would be smart to hold on to Teixeira til the winter, and trade him when desperate teams come calling after failing to sign a premiere free agent; then he can bulk up the asking price. Or he could do what Billy Beane did with Barry Zito and hope the Rangers can turn it around in 2008. Then, he can wait for the right offer to come at the deadline, or make a run at the playoffs with Teixeira leading the way. And if they fail to make the playoffs or they win the World Series, the Rangers still get two first round draft picks. This season, Teixeira is batting .308 with 8 HR and 29 RBIs. The Yankees first basemen are batting a combined .251 with 6 HR and 22 RBIs.

Possible Yankee 3B Replacements

The Yankees have restocked their farm system over the past couple years, so making a trade for an above average player really wouldn't hurt them in the long run. While there are in-house options, there is no one that has the experience to play everyday. Here are a couple possible replacements:

Mark Teahen, Royals: Teahen is a career .268 hitter who is just starting to come into his form as a major league ball player. He is very versatile and hits left handed, so he would give the Yankees several options off the bench when A-Rod did return. Teahen has never carried much of an average, but he finished the season with a strong September and could be in for a solid season. I expect Teahen to hit around .265 with 15 or so homeruns and an OBP around .325.

Likelihood of being with Yankees: Not very likely. Teahen is a solid player, but he saw a big drop in his OBP and AVG. The drop in walks and increase in homeruns means he was more aggressive at the plate in 2008, but he scored 12 less runs which managers don't really like to see.

Blake DeWitt, Dodgers: DeWitt is coming off his first full season in the big leagues and was very successful. He hit .264 with 9 HR in 117 games last season for the Dodgers, while playing average defense at third and second. He had a .344 OBP and struck out just 68 times. He's off to a slow start this spring, but has a lot of upside. 

Likelihood of being with Yankees: Not very likely. DeWitt's best years are ahead of him, but we likely won't see that in 2009, at least not fully. With Rodriguez coming back in May and Robinson Cano already playing second, there really isn't room for DeWitt to get serious at-bats when Rodriguez returns. 

Other possibilities: Brendan Harris, Twins. Hank Blalock, Rangers. Chone Figgins, Angels.

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Offseason Day 2

Well the off-season was full of news, reports, and rumors today. It was reported by more than one source that the Red Sox have won the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding and bid 42 million dollars. An announcement is expected tomorrow. Jose Valentin and Kaz Matsui signed with their respective teams. Valentin with the Mets and Matsui with the Rockies. Joe Girardi was named to the Yankees TV Booth. I think he is one in line to manage for the Yankees when Joe Torre is done. The Phillies and Red Sox were active in the off-season today, the Phillies offered Soriano a deal (5 yr. 73 million) and the Red Sox offered J.D. Drew a deal (terms not reported). Justin Verlander and Hanley Ramirez won the Rookie of the Year Awards. The Cubs contacted Ted Lilly's agent and told him that Lilly was one of their prime targets to join their rotation. The White Sox are shopping around some of their pitchers, they are interested in acquiring hitting. Nomar Garciaparra is still drawing interest. Garciaparra could fit at first base for the Yankees, Orioles and Indians, and the Padres are interested in signing him to play second. Finally, Dave Roberts has begun preliminary negotiations with the Brewers.

Day 2 Recap
- Red Sox posted highest big for Daisuke Matsuzaka
- Jose Valentin agreed to a one year deal with the Mets
- Kaz Matsui agreed to a one year deal with the Rockies
- Joe Girardi will be broadcasting for the Yankees this year.
- The Phillies offered Alfonso Soriano a contract
- The Red Sox offered J.D. Drew a contract
- Justin Verlander won AL Rookie of the Year. Hanley Ramirez won NL Rookie of the Year
- Cubs contacted Ted Lilly about pitching for them
- White Sox shopping around Freddy Garcia and Mark Buerhle
- Brewers began preliminary talks with Dave Roberts
- Nomar is drawing interest to play different positions (1B,3B,2B)

Source: FOXSPORTS and ESPN

2009 Top 50 Free Agents Predictions: 21-30

21. Casey Blake, Dodgers

- Blake is coming off a big year, having helped the Dodgers reach the NLCS. However, he prefers to play at a small venue and will likely return to the Midwest.

Prediction: Twins

22. Jon Garland, Angels

- Garland is a solid pitcher who will eat a lot of innings. He is coming off a 14-win season and has dominated in years past, so he is an interesting character. I expect teams that miss out on their first targets to go after him.

Prediction: Dodgers

23. Andy Pettitte, Yankees

- Pettitte wants to play with the Yankees, and the Yankees would like him. Seems like a solid match.

Prediction: Yankees

24. Jamie Moyer, Phillies

- Moyer had a great year with the Phillies and is a leader in the clubhouse. Another one year deal after a sixteen win season makes sense.

Prediction: Phillies

25. Randy Wolf, Astros

- Wolf did a great job for the Astros after he was let go by the Padres, and the Astros have already expressed interest in resigning him. 

Prediction: Astros

26. Edgar Renteria, Tigers

- Renteria was let go by the Tigers after a rough season, but would likely bounce back playing for a good team in a strong, close clubhouse. A reunion in St. Louis makes sense.

Prediction: Cardinals

27. Brad Penny, Dodgers

- Penny was let go by the Dodgers despite winning 38 games over the past three seasons. He is hurt, but I'm sure several teams will be in on him.

Prediction: Angels

28. John Smoltz, Braves

- A career Brave, GM Frank Wren will bring him back.

Prediction: Braves

29. Mark Grudzielanek, Royals

- Grudzielanek has kept a pretty solid average over the past couple of seasons and will likely land a back up or platoon job somewhere.

Prediction: Rockies

30. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks

- The Diamondbacks cannot afford to bring Randy Johnson back, so he will hit the open market looking to reach 300-wins. 

Prediction: Rangers

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Dodgers Interested In Pettitte?

According to MLB Rumors correspondent Thomas Reiss, the Dodgers are making it known that they are interested in a short term deal for Andy Pettitte. Maybe this is Joe Torre's work, but I think Pettitte and the Dodgers are a good fit. Pettitte was 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA this season for the Yankees, and is just 35. He would benefit from a two year deal, worth 23-26 million dollars. He would have a great defense behind him, and a solid bullpen backing him up. Most importantly however, he would be under the guidance of Joe Torre. I'm sure Pettitte is waiting to see what happens with Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada, so we will not know if he opts out till the Yankees solve those problems. It would be hard for any 35 year old to turn down sixteen million dollars for one year, but Pettitte has always been beyond the money, going where he felt most comfortable. I see him taking a pay cut and walking from the troubled Yankees to a team on the rise, like the Dodgers. Although he has said he will retire if he does not exercise his clause with the Yankees, I doubt that is the case because of the Dodgers interest.

Yankees Extend Cashman

The Yankees and Brian Cashman have agreed to a three year extension through 2011. "I've got a job to finish here," Cashman said in a statement. "That's the bottom line." The Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but saw great strides from some of their younger players. Cashman was criticized for not making a move for Johan Santana, which was made worse when Kennedy and Hughes combined to go 0-8. However, both Kennedy and Hughes are young and need to work through the growing pains of a major league pitcher. 

Cashman is one of the best GM's in baseball and the Yankees should be looking like a playoff team again next season. 

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Yankees Sign Burnett

The Yankees have reached a preliminary agreement with free agent right hander A.J. Burnett, Ken Rosenthal is reporting. The Yankees and A.J. Burnett have agreed to a five year deal worth 82.5 million dollars, joining C.C.'s 161 million dollar contract in the rotation. You would think this puts a lot of pressure on the Red Sox to make a big signing, but GM Theo Epstein is not worried. "You have to put your best team on the field," Epstein said. "You can't worry about what other teams are doing. We hope they sign bad players for a lot of money, as opposed to good players for short money. But the reality is, they're going to do a great job." 

Signing Burnett gives the Yankees one of the, if not the best rotation in all of baseball. Headed by Sabathia, followed by Wang, Burnett, Hughes, and Aceves, Chamberlain, or another free agent. It is important to point out that giving 30 starts to Burnett takes away starts from Ian Kennedy, Sidney Ponson, and others that filled in along the way in 2007. This signing makes the AL East incredibly competitive and the early favorite to have a team in the World Series. 

Quote of the week: "The AL East is incredibly competitive. The team that [wins the division] is really prepared - and tired- for the postseason." - Red Sox GM Theo Epstein

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Catcher Grumblings

There are several catchers on the market and it appears a lot of them will be switching homes. Here is the breakdown on these catchers:

C Jorge Posada, Yankees
Posada's negotiations have turned south, and the Yankees are hoping a new contract will change his mind. Most people still believe he will return to the Yankees, but the recent fallout of several players makes me think he will test the market. The Mets are pursuing Yorvit Torrealba, but are keeping Posada at their side. If Posada hits the market, expect the Mets to make a "very aggressive" offer.

C Yorvit Torrealba, Rockies
Torrealba put up solid numbers in the postseason raising his value a little more. He is drawing serious interest from the Marlins and Mets, but the Rockies still hope to hold on to him. Torrealba probably plans to test the waters, and if he does, the Rockies might look elsewhere. According to MLB Rumors Correspondent Brady Yu, they have talked with the representatives of Michael Barrett, and consider him the favorite to land the job if Torrealba walks.

C Michael Barrett, Padres
Barrett will probably get a two to three year deal with annually salary of about 5-6 million. The Padres do not plan to bring him back and all teams are looking at him as an option. The Rockies are most serious about him, I think it is because they know his past numbers and what he could do at Coors Field. The Marlins have expressed interest, along with the Orioles, but only if they trade Ramon Hernandez.

C Jason Kendall, Cubs
The Cubs were very pleased with Geovanny Soto and have said that Kendall is free to test the waters. Although Kendall would love to return, he would love a starting job. The Padres, who have long enamored Kendall, would love to bring him in. Not only would he help some of the Padres pitchers, but he could work with Colt Morton.

C Paul Lo Duca, Mets
If Jorge Posada leaves, the Yankees might go in and sign Paul Lo Duca. But for now, it is up in the air. The Mets, Marlins, and Rockies all look at him as a fall back option, with a dark horse as the Pirates, if they trade Ronny Paulino. The Mets were displeased with the negative attention Lo Duca carried around with him, which is why many think negotiations have stopped. A possibility is the Blue Jays, who would like an upgrade over Greg Zaun.

C Ramon Castro, Mets
Castro put up great numbers as a backup and will probably seek a starting job somewhere. I think a good option is the Nationals, who have yet to find a good catcher and are stuck with Schneider. It is possible he could be the Mets starting catcher in '08, but I think they are looking to make a splash, and will see how the market turns out.