Free
Agency Wrap Up 2009
By
Chris Blake
The 2009
edition of BRASSWORLD Free Agency went off with fewer issues than
previous
years. There were a few spurious bids by last minute bidders adding
too many
zeroes, and a mysterious time-display problem some folks
encountered,
but overall it was a success.
Annadale
and Taggart had the big bankrolls and were in a race to spend it. In
the end,
Robert Smith pulled ahead spending an enormous $118 Million in
guaranteed
money over the next 5 years. Mark’s Taggart came in a close
second
with $106 Million.
For it’s
money, Annadale
got
premier lefty Johan Santana with the premium
$11M per
season pricetag. In fact, Robert picked up a lot of pitching help, also
signing
John Garland to a long term contract , John Grabow, and Heilman. He
also won
out on injured shortstop Furcal, who was possibly the best shortstop
in this
year’s free agent class, and center fielder Aaron Rowand who had a bit
of a down
year in spacious SF. Annadale signed 11 players.
Taggart also
signed a premier starter to head is rotation for the next 5 years,
inking CC
Sabathia to a $50M contract. He’ll not only provide an instant bump
to the
rotation, but his bat should help as well. Brian Roberts was one of the
premium
infielders on the market and Mark got him for a fairly steep $7.5M a
year.
Others of note: fallen ace Barry Zito will try a comeback and provide
innings,
Jody Gerut had a good season on a pitiful
slugging
champion Dallas McPherson will try to turn those minor league
numbers
into major league success with Taggart. They signed 12 players.
payroll.
Rene got the multi-talented Orlando Hudson and his gold glove
defense
(and good bat, as well) for a reasonable 5Y-$4.6M – provided he returns
from
injury as good as new. Other signings were super utility man Chone
Figgans,
and the solid Japanese import starter Hiroki Kuroda.
quite a
bit of pitching including Mike Adams – who has rotator cuff damage, the
resurgent
Jeff Karstens, closer BJ Ryan, Stults, and Darren Oliver. At $2.5M
over 4
seasons, Rene is hoping Balfour repeats his 2008 success, rather than his
previous
seasons when we went unsigned. Aspen signed 9 players.
Lafontaine
Park signed
14 players to $74M in guaranteed money, lead by 1
year
rentals Mike Mussina and Greg Maddux. Both will provide excellent
innings,
but Mussina has already retired so the $4M 2010 contract will be
wasted.
Ramon Ramirez will provide great bullpen help vs righties. Leo Nunez
will be a
great setup man, and Zobrist can play LF and Short with better than
usual
offense this season. Pierzynski was the only full time catcher in the draft
and he
provides above average offense for his position. Hinske will provide
good
power, at least for 2009, but is only on a 2-year deal. Lowry could be OK
if he
recovers from his injury.
Plum
Island signed
$47.6M in guaranteed money, most going to Starter Tim
Wakefield
and 1st baseman Adam Laroche. Wakefield is a knuckleballer and
could
pitch another 5 years, and had his best season in years in 2008. But in his
40s, he could
also decide to hang it up at any time if the grind becomes too
much.
Laroche provides good power and solid D at first and is still in his prime.
Also
signed was Jorge Cantu, who wasn’t on anyone’s roster in 2008. He
regained
his offense from 3 years ago and had a great season. Henry is hoping
he stays
at that level for the next 5 years. Jerry Hairston rejuvenated his
career as
well with solid offensive numbers in a utility role. The rest are fillers
Erstad,
Bard, Lieber, Wright, Mota, Stairs and Glavine. They are not signed
long term
and are flyers.
Northwoods
signed
2 blue chippers in Brandon Phillips and JP Howell, both for
reasonable
contracts (3.75M, and 3.5M) but for long deals. Phillips is worth it.
Howell
could be too if he stays healthy. Marte had a decent year and was
signed for
a 1.3M 3Y deal. The rest are roster filler, Branyan giving his usual
awesome
power versus righties and awesome strikeout numbers. Corey spent
$44.4M
guaranteed, $12.8M in 2009 payroll.
Palm
Harbor had
little money to spend and picked up underrated Ted Lilly for
4Y at
4.9M/year. Good innings and a fairly reliable starter. The rest are
position
filler. Fred spent $30.5M, $8 in 2009 for 4 players.
Bloomington
was
next at $25.6M in guaranteed money, $9.7M in 2009. They
got
Colorado shortstop Barmes for 3Y at $1.7M per year. Clint was an injury
fill-in
and can’t hit away from Denver, so Vaughn is hoping he becomes the
utility
man and can keep hitting at home. Geary is a nice pickup giving reliable
relief versus
righties. Tatis came back from nowhere to post good numbers in
2008.
Edmonds was a reasonable $1.3M signing and Durham was a steal at
$800K.
Cruz could be a steal if he can regain his stuff. At $1M per it is a good
gamble.
Alaska was next
at $25.5M guaranteed, $8.7M for 2009. Little money room to
play with,
Alaska had to settle for whoever could give innings. They signed
Brian
Moehler, a mediocre pitcher but with 150 much needed innings for 2Y at
$2M per,
and relievers Bell, Crain, and Chan Ho Park. All are OK, and Chris is
hoping
Heath Bell at 5Y, $1.8M per year stays a good setup man. Vazquez gives
the Hot
Stoves some needed Shortstop at bats to try to replace Furcal. Other
attempts
at getting short stop at bats ended in getting outbid. Kapler and Ross
are
filler, Kapler a good deal at $667K
West
Oakland was next at $21.8 Guaranteed, most to one player Mark Buehrle,
who Bill
signed for 5Y at $4M per year. Bill is hoping he returns to form and
keeps
being a workhorse, innings-eater. The rest are filler.
Dublin is next
with $20M guaranteed, $5.4M in 2009. The Gael Force got a
bargain in
Jack Wilson at 3Y $905K per year. Dana Eveland was the big
purchase
at 5Y $2.8M per year. Dana is young and did well in his shot in 2008.
Doug is
betting he’ll continue progressing.
number of
serviceable guys, making the most of short money. He picked up 10
players,
most notably Cameron and Emil Brown in the OF, bullpen help Grilli,
Shouse,
and Rusch, and a flyer on Shealy.
heading
the list (3Y $2.7M/yr). Bullpen help was needed and Mike added 3
decent
ones in Billy Wagner, Chad Bradford and Reyes all on short contracts.
reliever
Joe Nelson, who had a great year coming back from injury at 3Y
$1.25M,
and utility guy Amezaga (everyone needs one of those guys) at $800K.
The rest
were decent value signings Romero, Eckstein, Torrealba, and Jay
Payton.
The
He might
have overpayed for both, but he has plenty in the bank so why not
grab the
guys you want?
headliner
at 2Y for $3.8M per. At that stage of the draft there was a scramble
for
innings and Paul was the last decent starter available. The rest were filler,
all signed
for close to minimum.
Montreal was next
at $10.6M and picked up a bunch of pitching on the cheap.
10 players
for $5.4M in 2009 – all are mediocre lead by Ponson (1Y $1.5M)
Waikiki followed a
course similar to Montreal, signing a lot of players to short
money. 11
signings for $6.8M in 2009 ($10.2M guaranteed). Guillen is the
headliner,
with decent players Sean Green, Inge, Weathers, Mike Lincoln,
Patterson,
Howry, and filler.
Silver ($9M
guaranteed) signed Mark Ellis to man 2B at $1.55M 4Y. and Jeff
Kent to a
cheap $785K.
Mequon was next
at $7.75M guaranteed to Ron Belliard (3Y $1.75 per) and 1
year
rental Salomon Torres.
Georgia ($3.8M), Hoboken ($3.8M),
and Palo
Alto ($2.4M)
all had very limited
cash, so
picked up whatever cheap filler they could, most notably Chad
Cordero on
Palo Alto.
The league
spent a total of $727M in guaranteed money in this year’s free
agency.
This was down from the $1.1B spent last year.