2009 MLB Free Agent List

With the Tigers basically out of it I figured I'd put up the list of the free agents to be for next year. The Tigers have needs that don't involve getting suspended for steroiids or some stupid rule that makes diet pills that work some sort of banned substance. Big ones To me they need a revamp of almost the entire pitching staff. Other than Justin Verlander, and maybe Armando Glaraga, who has had an outstanding rookie season filling in for injured, and busted pitchers we have a lot of needs.

Not to mention we could probably say goodbye to Renteria at SS, although I doubt it happens. Left Field can be improved as well, but the pitching staff should be top priority.

Many major pitching names are out there. Francisco Rodriguez, the closer for the Angels, who will probably break the single season saves record this year. CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, and a few other stud starting pitchers are also going to be free agents.

Catchers

Rod Barajas (33)- $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Michael Barrett (32)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Jason Kendall (35) - club option for '09; vests with 110 games played in '08
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM club option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38)

First basemen

Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) - $16MM mutual option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
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)

Second basemen

Ray Durham (37)
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Aaron Miles (32)
Jose Valentin (39)


Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera (34)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33) - $12MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Juan Uribe (30)
Omar Vizquel (42) - $5.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout

Third basemen

Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) - $3.75MM club option for '09
Chipper Jones (37) - $8-11MM vesting option for '09
Dallas McPherson (27)

Outfielders

Moises Alou (42)
Garret Anderson (37) - $14MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41)
Raul Ibanez (37)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Craig Monroe (32)
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27) - $5MM club option or $2MM player option for '09
Manny Ramirez (37) - $20MM club option for '09
Juan Rivera (30)
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Mike Cameron (36) - $10MM club option for '09 with a $750K buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
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
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - $16.5MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Bobby Kielty (32)
Brad Wilkerson (32)

DHs

Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
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
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41)
Jim Thome (38) - $13MM club option for '09 with $3MM buyout; vests with 564 PAs in '08
Jose Vidro (34) - vesting option for '09

Starting pitchers

Tony Armas Jr. (31)
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Josh Fogg (32)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Esteban Loaiza (37)
Braden Looper (34)
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
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
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42) - $12MM club option for '09
Brett Tomko (36)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)


Closers
Joe Borowski (38)
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Todd Jones (41)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Kerry Wood (32)

Middle relievers

Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Doug Brocail (42) - club option for '09
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (28)
Chad Durbin (31)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Keith Foulke (35)
Aaron Fultz (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
Eddie Guardado (38)
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Matt Herges (39) - club option for '09
Bob Howry (35)
Steve Kline (36)
Jon Lieber (39)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Juan Rincon (30)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Timlin (43)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
David Weathers (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Dan Wheeler (31)
Matt Wise (33)

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/2009-mlb-free-a.html

Detroit Tigers are Surely Finished Now

Losing 6 straight and at the hands of teams they need to beat to contend for a spot, the Detroit Tigers have been pathetic. The trade of Pudge to the Yankees for RP Kyle Farnsworth-less has come and gone, but Farnz has been a huge disappointments thus far. HE has blown 2 games straight out of the gate. Coming in wwith a lead and giving up detrimental HRs to give up the lead late in the game. Yes...he has been no better than the rest of our crappy late inning fireballers.

The Tigers can't beat anyone. The bullpen is costing a game every single night. Leyland has given Rodney, Fransworth, and Zumaya too long of a leash and they continue to disappoint. These guys can just chill out in their hammock chair and not worry a bit about losing their jobs.

Who misses Todd Jones? I do.

It is to the point where I am calling for Bobby seay to get a shot at closing duties. Only he, Lopez, and Dolsi have any confidence from me in the late innings with any sort of pressure.

Yes...the season is pretty much over. We have too many holes, and too many losers on this team to come out of this funk now.

Todd Jones Loses Closer's Job, Tigers Lose Crucial Series

The Tigers have been hot. Their hitting has started to come around, and they have been winning. After a sweep of division foe Kansas City, the Tigers were set for a huge series with division leading Chicago.

Game 1 was a game they had in the bag. Taking a lead late, only to get caught from behind late. Not just caught from behind, but Todd Jones, under the outdoor lighting, blew the game with a 1 run lead, and 2 outs in the 9th. With Quentin down 0-2 int he count he got a seeing eye single. Then getting Jermaine Dye down 0-2 next he slots one over the plate for a 2 run bomb to lose the lead.

Game 2 was no different. Tigers were in the game the whole time. Verlander got rocked, but Detroit was right there all the way until the end. No clutch hitting came and the game was lost.

Finally they were able to stop the bleeding Sunday to win and take one out of 3.

Game 3 was a bit different. Fernando Rodney was used to finish the game off. HE came in to pitch in the 8th and gave up 2 runs to make the score 6-4, but was sent back out in the 9th to close it out rather than Todd Jones. So...it appears that Rodney is now the closer. At least for the time being. I predict Jones will be closing again with in a week.

Tigers Sweep Royals, Best Record in Baseball Last 41 Games

After finishing the 3 game sweep of the Royals, the Tigers continue to hold the best record in baseball over the last 40+ games going 28-13. Coming back from the dead they have picked up quite a few games over the last couple month and only train in the division by 5.5 games behind the White Sox.

Now it is time to decide if they are actually going to be buyers in the trade market. Many speculate that Edgar Renteria will be hiring moving services in the coming weeks as he has been horrid since joining the team at the beginning of the year.

Most believe that we could use another reliable starting pitcher. Armando Galaraga has filled in nicely for the Tigers this season, although he was not expected to be a big help. HE jsut finished off a perfect game bid that lasted into the 7th inning.

Zach Miner has been given the nod as the 5th starter for the time being. Miner has had his ups and downs this year in the bullpen. In fact he was probably responsible for more than half the bullpens runs allowed in the first month or two. He looked at home in this first start of the year by shutting down the Royals on Monday, however.

We can just wait and see. Dombrowski never shows his hand so we can only speculate at this point, and there really isn't a whole lot out there to grab onto. Jack Wilson's name popped up again, although there is no way we trade for that scrub. Can't believe his name is ever brought up actually. the guy is trash. Other than that there isn't a whole lot of news on the subject.