Unless you’re a huge Ryan Dempster or Jeremy Affeldt fan,this year’s free agency period has started out quite slowly.
It’s no surprise though. The big fish need to be signed in order to establish the market for all the others.
Dempster’s 4 year,$52M deal should be a little disconcerting for everyone. $13M a year for a guy who had 6 starts in the 4 years prior to this season? Who’s ONLY good season as a starter before ‘08 came in 2000 with the Florida Marlins? Sign me up.
This contract has all the makings of an albatross for a Cubs franchise that is already stuck with Alfonso Soriano’s horrible deal.
Anyway,here’s my thoughts on the big boys:
CC SABATHIA - If someone offered you $140M,how long do you think it would take you to say “Yes”? I was already nervous about offering a 300lb pitcher with 1,600+ innings on his arm a 6-year deal,but now it’s clear that Carsten Charles doesn’t want to pitch in New York.
And if that’s the case,I’m not so sure I’d want him. Okay,I’d still want him because I think there’s a great chance he’ll be very very good,but I’d still be uneasy.
AJ BURNETT - If anyone wants to offer this 32 year-old guy a five year deal,more power to you. That’s insanity for a guy that has started 30 games in a season 3 times in 8 years –with the last 2 times coming in contract years.
DEREK LOWE - He’ll wait until the other 2 guys sign and make a lot of money. I still think he’d be a great fit for a National League team.
His last year in the AL East wasn’t pretty,but you can bet that if the Yankees lose out on Sabathia (and I think they will),they’ll offer Lowe too much money for him to pass up.
MARK TEIXEIRA - At the end of the season I was almost certain he’d re-sign with the Angels. But his agent is Scott Boras,who loves to drag things along slowly,and the Angels have said they’re not going to wait around forever. Right now,I think he could end up anywhere.
FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ - If people thought the Mets would jump at the chance to over pay K-Rod,think again. The market for closers isn’t a good one this year. There are a lot on the market and not a lot of teams that need them.
And with his stuff in decline,I’d be shocked if anyone offered him more than 3 years.