FanNation - The Republic of Sport

The World Series is over and now players are able to file for free agency. This year unlike last year where Carlos Silva was the number one pitcher on the market, who made 48 Million over a four year contract, this offseason there are some serious talents for the taking. CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, Fransisco Rodriguez aka K-Rod lead the free agent class of 2008-2009 in pitching where Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira are trying to find a home to actually stay for years to come. Who will go where, well last year the offseason told us the unthinkable can happen. Johan Santana went to the New York Mets instead of the heavily favorite Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera in a package deal both traded to the Detroit Tigers and who can forget the Mariners attempt to re build with Erik Bedard and etc. etc. etc. We don't know where anyone will end up but we can make some educated guesses. Top 10 Free Agent Market Players for 2008-2009 offseason predictions: 1. CC SABATHIA: CC almost became a back to back Cy Cy Young award winner. He proved to us no league can stop this 6'7" 290 pounder. Carrying the Milwaukee Brewers on his back to the 2008 playoffs, and a 2007 Cy Young award recipient, this offseason for Sabathia just might break the record set by Johan Santana just last year for a contract by a pitcher. Sabathia has stated that he wants to play in the National League so he can maybe add to his two long balls this year in 2009. But will a persuasive AL team throw him to much cash to keep him out of the National League? PREDICTION: LA DODGERS, 7 YEARS; 145 Million 2. FRANSISCO RODRIGUEZ: He has 208 saves in 6 seasons, he is the all time save leader in a single season with 62 and a World Series Champion, oh and by the way he'll only be 27 in January. This kid is that good, every team that is looking for a closer will be looking to K-Rod. Even though he will be asking for about 15 million a year, looking never hurt i guess. With that in mind only a few teams can afford him and would be willing to shed that much green to get him. Does he stay home in Anaheim or head else where to begin a new chapter in his young baseball career? PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, 5 YEARS; 70 Million 3. MANNY RAMIREZ: What can I say that hasn't already been said about this guy. He is amazing with that bat, well when he feels like it. What we all saw him do with the LA Dodgers was pretty phenomenal, 17 homers, 53 RBI's in 53 games, taking the team all the way to the NLCS, Wow. But then there is his other side, the side that got him kicked out of Boston where he won two World Series Championships, what side will his new team get? Dreadlocks n' all Manny will be asking for almost 20 Million a year. Like the other two, only few can afford the 9 time all-star. Will he stay in Mannywood or seek else where, knowing Manny he just wants a team to "show him the money." PREDICTION: NEW YORK METS, 4 YEARS; 75 Million 4. AJ BURNETT: 32 year old Burnett is a very solid righty, when he's healthy. He has played on a World Series team and has played next to one of the best in the game, Roy Halladay. The guy has pitched basically under 4 ERA for his whole career and has won 10 games or more since 2005. He can except his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for two more years worth 30 Million or opt. out and try the market. I think he should stay but we all know he won't. PREDICTION: NEW YORK YANKEES, 4 YEARS; 60 Million 5. MARK TEIXEIRA: He is a traveling man the past few seasons. Rangers, Braves and Anaheim this kid must be wondering why are they trading me!? As he should because this guy is one of the best young first basemen in major league baseball. In six major league seasons he's hit 203 home runs, a 290 AVG, .541 slugging percentage, and has only 39 errors in his baseball career, just 5 all last year. Mark is looking for a stable home, we are all sure he is sick of being a traveling man when he should be anything but. He wants to be grounded, paid and a chance to win a World Series. He is from Maryland, but will that play a factor in his decision? PREDICTION: NEW YORK YANKEES, 5 YEARS; 90 Million 6. BEN SHEETS: This guy gets hurt a lot, but I saw Sheets pitch at Shea and he is one of the best when healthy. He might be injury prone but Sheets is an ace hands down. He is 86-83 for his career but has won 10 games or more 7 out of the 8 seasons he's pitched and has an ERA under 4 for his whole career, in fact the past 5 seasons he hasn't pitched an ERA over a 4. Another plus is he strikes out a lot of batters but like Burnett he gets hurt a ton... It's a gamble but a good one at that. PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, 3 YEARS; 43 Million 7. DEREK LOWE: One of the most reliable pitchers in baseball. Lowe has pitched above expectations for the Dodgers. He has never been on the DL and the highest ERA he's gotten up to since being a Dodger is 3.88. He is getting older but he's still a number two guy for sure, maybe an ace for some clubs. Teams all over would be happy to sign the once World Series Champion even if he is 36 year old. PREDICTION: BOSTON RED SOX, 3 YEARS; 45 Million 8. BRIAN FUENTES: 115/139 in save attempts and is 34 years old. A consistent closer for the Rockies, pitching in a park that is a hitters paradise. A control pitcher who only gave up three home runs this past season. A cheaper choice then if you are going for K-Rod, manny teams will be in the hunt for the closer who saved 30 games in 2008. PREDICTION: NEW YORK METS, 3 YEARS; 28 Million 9. ADAN DUNN: 40 homers and 100 RBI's in 2008. A power lefty but doesn't field well. Dunn would be great for an AL team, to play outfield and DH. One of the most reliable power hitters in the game, hitting 40 plus home runs for the past 5 seasons. PREDICTION: MINNESOTA TWINS, 5 YEARS; 75 Million 10. ORLANDO HUDSON: Probably the best middle infielder on the market, defiantly the best second basemen. A switch hitting speedster who is coming off an injured year but should bounce back fine. Will probably reach the 1000 hit plateau this year and could be a great leadoff or number two batter for any lineup in need. His AVG has been climbing every year and this year can hit for 310 if healthy. PREDICTION: NEW YORK METS, 4 YEARS; 45 Million OTHER NOTABLE PREDICTIONS: RAFEAL FURCAL: LA DODGERS PAT BURRELL: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES RYAN DEMPSTER: CHICAGO CUBS OLIVER PEREZ: HOUSTON ASTROS RAUL IBANEZ: CLEVELAND INDIANS MILTON BRADLEY: TAMPA BAY RAYS IVAN RODRIGUEZ: FLORIDA MARLINS EDGAR RENTERIA: CHICAGO CUBS ORLANDO CABRERA: DETROIT TIGERS BOBBY ABREU: NEW YORK YANKEES