Baldelli to Phillies?

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies have had interest in outfielder Rocco Baldelli for a long time and may look to sign him for a three way platoon with Matt Stairs and Geoff Jenkins. Baldelli suffers from a disease that causes serious muscle fatigue, so he may be only to play in 60-70 games over the course of a season. Baldelli, 27, is a free agent and hit .263 with 4 HR in 28 games, but is a career .281 hitter in 447 career games. While it is unlikely that Baldelli will leave the Rays, it is even more unlikely that he will leave for the Phillies, who recently beat the Rays in the World Series.

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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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Brewers Bring Back Sveum

The Milwaukee Brewers have decided to bring back interim coach Dale Sveum to be their new hitting coach. "This is something I have always wanted to do," Sveum said Saturday, "This has been a passion of mine, and I'm glad Ken is giving me the opportunity." Sveum is very familiar with the team and should help Macha early on familiarize himself with the team. If the Brewers have success in 2009, it is possible Sveum will find himself managing again. However, he didn't prove himself in his first attempt at it. 

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Dempster To Test Open Market

According to Ken Rosenthal, Cubs starter Ryan Dempster will test the open market before listening to offers from the Cubs. Nearly everyone in baseball thought the Cubs would resign Ryan Dempster, but after posting 17 wins and an ERA under three, he wants to see what he can get. Negotiations will be tough because the Cubs and Dempster's agents feel very different on what Dempster should be paid. Dempster's agent will likely factor in this year heavily, in hopes of landing him a deal comparable to A.J. Burnett. However, the Cubs will look at Dempster's struggles in years past and wonder whether or not he can have success again in 2009.

The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Braves are all looking for a top of the line starter, so Dempster could receive big time money on the open market.

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Mets After Ibanez?

According to the Boston Globe, the Mets will pursue outfielder Raul Ibanez, in hopes of adding a consistent bat to their lineup. Ibanez, who hit .293 with 23 HR in 162 games this season, is also being pursued by the Phillies, Braves, Cubs, and Blue Jays. He is likely to receive a three year deal, which is very reasonable and affordable for the teams listed above. Although Ibanez is 36, he is a proven veteran with playoff experience.

The Mariners are not expected to retain him, so he should be signed soon after the exclusive negotiating rights window ends.

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Wood to Angels, Indians, Diamondbacks?

According to the Daily Herald, the Cubs are interested in offering Kerry Wood a one year deal and will talk with his agent next week. Wood is coming off a pretty solid year and would likely receive a multi-year deal on the open market. However, since 2004 (not including 2008), Wood has pitched in 69 games, four more than what he pitched in this season. The Cubs know better than anyone that they need to be careful with Wood, and giving him a multi-year contract is very risky. 

What will probably happen is that the Cubs will give Wood a one year deal worth about 5-7 million dollars, and performance based incentives that would trigger an option if incentives are met. However, if Wood is looking for more money, the Cubs may let him walk. They have Marmol, and the impending sale has already made spending tough. The Angels and Indians are looking for closers, but the Diamondbacks probably have the best shot on the open market. Not only does Wood live in Arizona, but he has ties to several players within the organization, including commentator Mark Grace.

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Phillies To Name Amaro Jr. GM

The Phillies are set to announce that Ruben Amaro Jr. will be their next GM. Amaro, who went to Stanford, had two stints with the Phillies before joining the Front Office. Amaro is very experienced when it comes to Front Office operations, not to mention being mentored by Pat Gillick for the past three seasons. He is very familiar with contract negotiation, the draft, and arbitration, so the transition should be very smooth. The other executive competing for the job was Mike Arbuckle, who has decided to leave the organization after news of Amaro "winning" the job. 

Arbuckle has been with the team since 1993, and has a GM position waiting for him in his future. The Brewers and Mariners are expected to talk with him about openings in their Front Office, among several other teams.

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Sheets to Rangers?

While the Brewers are open to bringing back Ben Sheets, they will likely let him walk and collect the draft picks. The Rangers are pursuing a trade for pitcher Scott Olsen, but may settle on a short term contract with a low base salary. Sheets is injury-prone, but when healthy he can be very effective. The Rangers are in desperate need of an ace, and could offer him a deal that would give him 8-11 million dollars. Sheets went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 games this past season, his first time starting over thirty games in three seasons. Although he is a Type-A free agent, the Rangers have the fourteenth pick in the draft, and MLB rules state that you do not lose your first round draft pick by signing a Type-A free agent if your are in the top fifteen for the following years draft. Instead, they will lose their second round pick, which is okay considering they still will have a first round pick as well as one more if the Rangers lose Milton Bradley.

The Astros, Phillies, Indians, Giants, and Braves are all interested in Sheets, so his price could shoot up. 

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White Sox Offseason Update

The White Sox have indicated that they will attempt to trade Javier Vazquez this offseason, despite having two years and twenty-three million dollars left on his contract. Vazquez went 12-16 this past season, but won 15 games the year before. Several teams are pursuing pitchers through trade, and may turn to Vazquez if they miss out on Jake Peavy or Scott Olsen. With that said, the Phillies could make a move for him. They have a history of trading with the White Sox and this type of trade would be no different. Other possibilities include the Dodgers, Indians, Braves, and Astros.

The White Sox announced yesterday that they will move Alexei Ramirez to shortstop next season, suggesting that they will pursue a second baseman this offseason. Joe Crede is gone, and Josh Fields is taking over, so don't expect the White Sox to go with two in-house options for 2009. They have money to spend and will likely pursue Orlando Hudson on the open market. The White Sox have been interested in Chone Figgins for a long time, and may look to include Vazquez in a deal involving Figgins. 

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Varitek to Tigers?

According to the Detroit Free Press, agent Scott Boras is pitching free agent catcher Jason Varitek to the Tigers. Varitek would be a great pick up by the Tigers, especially because he is in no position to command a long term, lucrative deal. Although his offense has been declining, Varitek would help their young pitching staff as well as be a leader in the clubhouse.  The Red Sox are reportedly interested in bringing him back, but they are pursuing Jarrod Saltalamachhia and Gerald Laird, and will probably just settle for one instead of giving money to Varitek.

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Tazawa Race Heating Up

Japanese phenom Junichi Tazawa is meeting with the Braves and Mariners next week, while the Cubs, Red Sox, and Phillies are also vying for his services. Tazawa is the best young pitcher in Japan, and recently went undrafted opening the way for him to sign with an MLB team. Aside from the teams mentioned above, the Pirates, Tigers, and Rangers are also believed to be interested.

At this point, it is hard to say where he will sign. But it is likely the Mariners, Red Sox, Cubs, and Phillies are the front runners because of the Japanese presence the teams already have, as well as the recent success of most those teams.

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Source: Cubs Will Not Pursue Abreu

According to source close to Cubs executives, the Cubs have no interest in pursuing outfielder Bobby Abreu. Despite Abreu's strong year, he is a Type-A free agent and would cost the Cubs two draft picks. The Cubs are very big on making improvements through the draft, and will look elsewhere for help in the outfield. With that said, Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley was rated a Type-B free agent and has been a Cubs' target for several years. If the Cubs were to make an aggressive offer for the switch hitter, they could probably land him. He would fit in at right or center, and would help balance the Cubs' middle part of the order. 

The Mets are believed to be interested in Abreu, but several teams will likely drop out now that the rankings are out.

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