List of 2008 Free Agent Players

I got this from MLBTradeRumors.com : Also remember that options can be exercised and in several cases will definitely be exercised (Delgado etc.). Also remember this are just estimations about Type of FAs but they should be pretty accurate. Also some people may retire from the MLB.

Catchers
Brad Ausmus (40)
Paul Bako (37)
Rod Barajas (33) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Josh Bard (31)
Michael Barrett (32)
Henry Blanco (37) - $3MM mutual option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Johnny Estrada (33)
Toby Hall (33)
Jason LaRue (35)
Paul Lo Duca (37) - Type B
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM mutual option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout - Type B
Ivan Rodriguez (37) - Type A
David Ross (32)
Javier Valentin (33)
Jason Varitek (37) - Type A
Gregg Zaun (38) - Type B

First basemen
Rich Aurilia (37)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) - $12MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout - Type B
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with a $5MM buyout
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29) - Type A
Daryle Ward (34)

Second basemen
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Craig Counsell (38)
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
David Eckstein (34)
Mark Grudzielanek (39) - Type B
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Orlando Hudson (31) - Type A
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41) - Type B
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37) - Type B
Nick Punto (31)

Shortstops
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Orlando Cabrera (34) - Type A
Alex Cintron (30)
Alex Cora (33)
Craig Counsell (38)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33) - Type A
Juan Uribe (30) - Type B
Ramon Vazquez (32)
Omar Vizquel (42) - $5.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout

Third basemen
Rich Aurilia (37)
Casey Blake (35) - Type B
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Aaron Boone (36)
Russell Branyan (33)
Craig Counsell (38)
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Mark Loretta (37) - Type B
Juan Uribe (30) - Type B
Ramon Vazquez (32)

Left fielders
Moises Alou (42) - Type B
Garret Anderson (37) - Type B
Milton Bradley (31) - Type A
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32) - Type A
Adam Dunn (29) - Type A
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41) - Type B
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Raul Ibanez (37) - Type A
Gabe Kapler (33)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Craig Monroe (32)
Greg Norton (36)
Jay Payton (36)
Manny Ramirez (37) - Type A
Juan Rivera (30)

Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Mike Cameron (36) - $10MM club option for '09 with a $750K buyout - Type B
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Gabe Kapler (33)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)
Scott Podsednik (33)

Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (35) - Type A
Casey Blake (35) - Type B
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (38) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout - Type A
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - Type B
Gabe Kapler (33)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Brad Wilkerson (32)

DHs
Milton Bradley (31) - Type A
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with $5MM buyout
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41) - Type B
Jose Vidro (34)

Starting pitchers
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season - Type A
Paul Byrd (38) - Type B
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Bartolo Colon (36)
Ryan Dempster (32) - Type A
Shawn Estes (36)
Josh Fogg (32)
Freddy Garcia (33)
Jon Garland (29) - Type B
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
Kenshin Kawakami (34)
Jon Lieber (39)
Braden Looper (34) - Type B
Rodrigo Lopez (33) - club option for '09
Derek Lowe (36) - Type A
Greg Maddux (43) - Type B
Pedro Martinez (37)
Sergio Mitre (28)
Jamie Moyer (46) - Type A
Mark Mulder (31)
Mike Mussina (40) - Type A
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout - Type B
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27) - Type A
Andy Pettitte (37) - Type A
Sidney Ponson (32)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
Glendon Rusch (34)
C.C. Sabathia (28) - Type A
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30) - Type A
John Smoltz (42) - Type B
Koji Uehara (34)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option - Type B
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32) - Type B

Closers
Chad Cordero (27)
Brian Fuentes (33) - Type A
Eric Gagne (33) - Type B
Eddie Guardado (38)
Trevor Hoffman (41) - Type B
Jason Isringhausen (36) - Type A
Brandon Lyon (29) - Type B
Francisco Rodriguez (27) - Type A
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout - Type B
Kerry Wood (32) - Type A

Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30) - Type B
Luis Ayala (31)
Joe Beimel (32) - Type B
Joe Borowski (38)
Doug Brocail (42) - Type A
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (30) - Type A
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09 - Type B
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Casey Fossum (31)
Keith Foulke (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Matt Herges (39)
Bob Howry (35) - Type B
Jon Lieber (39)
Jason Johnson (35)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout - Type A
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout - Type B
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38) - Type A
Chan Ho Park (36)
Horacio Ramirez (29)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32) - Type B
Arthur Rhodes (39)
Juan Rincon (30)
Glendon Rusch (34)
Rudy Seanez (40)
Brian Shouse (40) - Type B
Russ Springer (40) - Type A
Mike Timlin (43)
Ron Villone (39)
David Weathers (39) - Type B
Kip Wells (32)
Matt Wise (33)
Jamey Wright (34) - Type B

Fernando's back!

The Mets and Fernando Tatis have a greed to a one year deal. I think this is a great move by the Mets. He is a very valuable bat off the bench and can start if necessary. Good move Omar.

Congratulations Phillies

The Phillies won the World Series last night just as I had a feeling they would once the Rays were their opponent. Congrats, they deserved it. I don't hate the Phillies like a great deal of Mets fans do, I just don't like them. Also, I do not see the Phillies as our rivals. Our rivals are and forver will be the Braves. The Rays aren't the new rivals to the Red Sox just because the Yankees weren't in the equation this year. I don't like Jimmy Rollins, Brett Myers, or Cole Hammels but I do like Ryan Howard, Lidge, and Utley. I hate Phillie fans more than I hate the Phillies themselves. Anyway, Mets '09!

Garret Anderson?

The Angels have just declines next year's option on Garret Anderson. Anderson is a left handed LF who hit .293 with 15 HR and 84 RBI in 145 games this season. He has always put up solid number but he is also 36 and played a good chunk of his games this year at DH. He could be willing to sign a one or two year deal to play LF until F-Mart is ready. The Mets could go this route if they decide not to go with one of the bigger FA's or explore the trade market. He should be fairly cheap and the Mets could spend the extra money on pitching. I wouldn't sign him unless Manny wants 4+ years, we don't go for Dunn or Ibanez. Thoughts?

Matt Holliday

It is rumored that the Rockies have made outfielder Matt Holliday available to other teams for mainly pitching. The Mets are one of several teams rumored to be interested. If you are the Mets how much would you be willing to give up. Holliday playing half his games at Coors Field is one of the best hittters in the game. He will no doubt be a good hitter playing half his games else where but how good is the question? He is great at Coors and only good elsewhere. As a fan would you want the Mets to give up a package of Niese, Murphy, Kunz, and Heillman for Holliday? I would actually probably say no to this deal (although it would be a tough call). I would say no because there are a few OFs on the Free Angent market who we could sign without giving up these players: Dunn, Manny, Ibanez, Burrell, Abreu, etc. While only Manny is the only one who is as good/better than Holliday the others are still solid options.

Poll

On the right I added a poll. Answer and comment here if u choose other.

Congrats Fernando Tatis

Fernando Tatis was voted NL Comeback Player of the Year by fellow MLB players. "The career of Tatis, 33, took a steady downturn after his breakout season of 1999, when he batted .298 with 34 home runs and 107 RBIs with the Cardinals. By 2003 with the Expos, Tatis had skidded to .194 in 53 games. He did not play professionally in 2004 or 2005."- MLB.com This year Tatis in 92 games with the Mets hit .297, with 11 homers, 47 RBI and 33 runs scored. Also remember that Tatis did not start all of those games. Tatis was a huge part of the Mets resurgance in teh second half and helped them contend for the NL East title. Tatis hurt his shoulder in mid September and missed the rest of the season. Tatis is one of my new favorite players. The only reason Tatis came back to professional baseball after the 2005 season was so he could make enough money for his hometown so they could build a church in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. He is a good guy and a hard worker. I love when he hits a homeroom and he does his sidestep, clap, and point to God. I think it's very classy without being too show offish. Here is a video of an interview with Tatis after he found out about his winning of the award. I really hope the Mets bring Tatis back next year. He was a great addition to the team and was a catalyst for the team for a long period of time. He provides the Mets with a great backup outfielder/infielder who can start when needed.

CentSports

Hey guys I am doing this thing where you bet imaginary money on actual games and when you make $20 or more you can cash out and get real $. It's pretty cool. If you click on this link http://www.centsports.com/?opcode=256759 and sign up we become "cronies" and when one of us wins we get 5% of the other person's bet so it's a good way to rack up some money. It's pretty fun. Try it out. The link is also on the top right of the page.

Prior and Mulder

Today the Cardinals declined their option on Mark Mulder's contract for next season thus making him a free agent. Mark Prior is also a free agent. Both of these players have had a lot of success when healthy, but their problem is staying healthy. Prior is only 28 and Mulder is only 31. I personally am a huge fan of signing talented guys coming off of surgery to minor league deals with incentives. I would sign both of these guys to contracts because neither would cost much and could probably sign both to minor league deals. I wouldn't rely on either but if even one of them could help out the team he would be a huge boost and cheap. Signing them, especially Prior, is one of the ultimate low risk/high reward type of move. Think about if Mark Prior could come back healthy pitching even in the realm of his prime, we would have a good rotation. If BOTH of them could come back and pitch like they have the ability to, we would have a great rotation. I am a big supporter of signing both of them to minor league deals. Please Omar listen to me for once and sign them.

Playoff Hopes and Predictions: World Series

Well the Red Sox were eliminated but did come close to winning it. As soon as they put in Price to close the game I knew it was over for the Sox. It's a Phillies vs. Rays matchup. I want the Rays to win but I have a gut feeling that the Phillies will. I love Cliff Floyd and Carl Crawford so I am pulling for the Rays. They should win because of their superior pitching but many many times the best team does not win. So here we go. I can't wait unitl the Hot Stove begins, one of my favorite parts of the year.