Free agent frenzy starts Sunday
It is that time of year again when all the speculation begins about who is going where in the Major League, and who will be in what uniform, and what their specific contract length should be. This year’s free agent pool is much deeper than any we have seen
before, and it starts with the main event. This is a list of some of the most sought-after players this winter.
Number one on most teams’ lists is Texas Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee. He was one of the most feared pitchers in the post-season, having a record of 7-0 going into the World Series this year, where he lost both of his starts to the San Francisco Giants Tim Lincecum.
Lee has been on four different teams in the past, starting with the Cleveland Indians, the Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and he finally ended up with the Rangers this summer.
His career numbers are pretty spectacular for a 32-year-old. He has 1085 career strike outs compared to only giving up 350 walks in 1409.0 innings pitched. His WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched) is a miniscule 1.26, and he has 102 career wins. The
odds are he will be going to the New York Yankees to replace the aging veteran Andy Pettitte.
Carl Crawford of the Tampa Bay Rays is one of those players you can build a team around. He has speed (409 career stolen bases), power (104 career home runs), and can put the ball in play (.296 batting average). Not to mention, his speed not only helps him
on the base paths, but it is a huge asset in the outfield where he has made 51 career outfield assists for a .991 fielding percentage over his eight years in Tampa Bay.
He is out there almost every day, only missing 15 games last year, and anchoring the Rays into the play-offs. People are rumouring that the Yankees are looking for a replacement for Curtis Granderson, but it is thought that Crawford’s loyalties still lie
in the Sunshine State, so they will have the first opportunity.
Adrian Beltre has been on career resurgence last year with the Boston Red Sox. In his 12th year in the league he is looking for a place to play for the rest of his career. It is no doubt that the right-handed, friendly confines of Fenway Park appeal
to him, but it might just be that the Red Sox are going in a different direction. He has played in 1835 games over his twelve years, accumulating 1008 runs batted in, 278 home runs, and a batting average of .275.
He is recognizable around the field with his famous swing, when he goes down to one knee and crushes the ball out to left field. His defence is average, as he made 19 errors at the hot corner last season with the Sox, but he also has a career fielding percentage
of .957. If he chooses to test the market, he will need to find teams outside of the American League East, where it is almost impossible to make the play-offs if you have any sort of losing streak during the year.
Those are just three of the big names that will be on the market starting Sunday morning. Other names include Carl Pavano, Jayson Werth, Trevor Hoffman, Jim Thome, Adam Dunn, Adam LaRoche, and the long time catcher Jason Varitek. It will certainly be exciting
to see where these names are headed for the 2011 season.
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