Despite the fact that it is July 29, I thought that with the Trading Deadline on Monday, I’d take an early look at free agency.Here are some notable starting pitchers that are set to become free agents:
Tony Armas Jr- Nationals- gives up less than 1 hit
per inning, but walks too many. Control and
shoulder issues plague Armas. Ideal for a team
who wants a #4-#5 starter.
Barry Zito- Athletics- Has he rebounded into his
old Cy Young form? He has good stuff, but is
another one who walks too many batters. Ideal for
a team that wants a #1-#2 starter
John Smoltz- Braves- Smoltz has shown no signs
of aging (39). He has the stuff to strike people out
(more than 1K per inning). The fastball is still up in
the mid 90’s, and his breaking stuff is as good as
anybody’s. He also has a low earned run average.
It’s just that the Atlanta bullpen blows his leads.
Ideal as a #1 starter.
Vicente Padilla- Rangers- Although he has pitched
okay for the Rangers (10-5 4.15 ERA), he is
questionable, at best. He has won his last three
decisions, but walks entirely too many batters.
Opponents don’t hit him well, but he is good
enough for the back of the starting rotation.
Gil Meche- Mariners- Meche is good for a team
that needs a #3 starter. The Mariners have moved
him up the rotation. (He started out #4, then got
the first start after the All-Star Break). Meche has
great stuff, when healthy. The only problem for
him is injuries, but, aside from that, he is a perfect
#3-#4 starter. Hey, Yankee fans, want him?
Ted Lilly- Blue Jays- Lilly has pitched decently all
year, but walks a ton of batters. He won’t last
deep into ball games, but he keeps you in them,
all at the same time. The overhand 12-6 curve
and the mid-90’s fastball are in Lilly’s arsenal,
and when he has good control, he is as good as
anybody. He has not hit a batter this year. Ideal
for someone seeking a #3-#4 starter.
Roger Clemens- Astros- Should he stay or should
he go? If he stays in Houston, he will continue to
lose close games courtesy of a dormant Astro
offense. His won-lost record is deceiving, but his
ERA isn’t. Even at 43, he still throws the fastball in
the low to mid 90’s. Ideal for the Yankees and a
team that needs a #1-#2 starter.
Mark Buehrle- White Sox- By far, the most
overrated free agent on the market. He has been
pummeled in his past 4 starts. Righties are hitting
over .300 against Buehrle, and his ERA of 4.81
reflects that. His arsenal consists of many breaking
pitches- slider, circle change, slurve, and 12-6
curve. However, that arsenal has been hammered.
Even though he was an all-star in 2006, stay away
from Mark Buehrle.
Any Johnny Pencil pusher could sit back, look at
this section of free agency, and say it stinks.
There are only four relievers even worth looking
at.
Mike Timlin- Red Sox- A hard thrower, Timlin
continues to be a dominant setup man for
Jonathan Papelbon. At age 40, Timlin is still
among the AL’s best in holds for a setup man.
Ideal for a team lacking an eighth inning stopper
(Yankees, Indians, Reds, Brewers, Phillies,
Braves; just to name a few)
David Riske- White Sox- Although health issues
have plagued Riske, he continues to be a
magnificent force out of the bullpen. He isn’t
easy to hit, and is ideal for a team who wants a
fireballer out of the bullpen, one that has good
control of his pitches.
Dennys Reyes- Twins- He bombed out
everywhere else, but is thriving in small-market
Minnesota. In short, Reyes is a lefty specialist.
Ideal for teams who need a lefty out of the
bullpen who can actually get them out.
Ron Villone- Yankees- The Italian Stallion
deserves an honorable mention. He continues to
do any job the Yankees ask him to do (I.e long
relief, lefty-lefty, setup). His ERA is magnificent.
One negative is his high walk total, but Villone
would be ideal for the Yankees and any team
needing an experienced relief pitcher to get outs.
(Hint, Hint; Yankees, Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Philadelphia, Atlanta, and all those other teams
with terrible bullpens.)
C- Jorge Posada, Yankees
Solid hitter and good defensive catcher.
C- A.J Pierzynski, White Sox
Hits all types of pitching, and does so
consistently.
C- Bengie Molina, Toronto
Has a mutual option for 2007. Solid offensive
catcher.
1B- Sean Casey, Pittsburgh
Proven hitter, but injury-prone
1B- Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers
Hasn’t hit this well since 1999. But it’s the
National League. Poor attitude, at times. On
the DL right now.
1B- Shea Hillenbrand, Giants
Congrats on adopting a baby girl- from JP
Riccardi. Poor attitude does no good. Cancer to
anyone’s clubhouse.
2B- Mark Loretta, Red Sox
Good hitter, over .300, but 34 years old.
2B- Luis Castillo, Twins
Speed demon, a slap-hitter ideal for the top of
the lineup.
2B- Adam Kennedy, Angels
Expendable in LA, interesting to see whether he
rebounds back into old form
Utility- Alex Cora, Red Sox
Reliable utility man comes through in a pinch.
Hits well, even when he’s cold.
Utility- Miguel Cairo, Yankees
Consistently praised by the Yankees, but Cora is
a better hitter.
Trade Bait: 3B Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
All or nothing type hitter. Struggles on defense.
Noted free-swinger. Has potential, though.
Here are the outfielders:
Moises Alou- San Francisco- Age 40
- oft-injured
- 11 homers in 49 games
- .378 average versus lefties
Barry Bonds- San Francisco- Age 42
- Balco Barry and the steroid controversy
- struggling to stay healthy
- .467 on base percentage
Jeromy Burnitz- Pittsburgh- Age 37
- 25 of 60 hits for extra bases
- only hitting .233
- 14 homers in 81 games
Mike Cameron- San Diego- Age 33
- Injury-Prone
- Good power (15 homers in 84 games)
- Free-Swinger (Strikes out often)
David Dellucci- Philadelphia- Age 32
- .320 average; .367 on base percentage
- Great Pinch-Hitter
- No hits against left handed pitching
Jermaine Dye- Chicago White Sox- Age 32
- .316 AVG, 26 homers, 70 RBI, .394 OBP
- 7th in BA, 10th in OBP, 4th in OPS
- 8th in HR, 2nd in SLG
Jim Edmonds- St. Louis- Age 36
- Great defensive player
- Health an issue
- .303 average versus right handed pitching
Steve Finley- San Francisco- Age 41
- .254 hitter
- 36 RBI
- All numbers below career norms
Cliff Floyd- NY Mets- Age 33
- Horrible start to season
- Hitting well of Late
-.275 average vs. RHP; .175 vs. LHP
Luis Gonzalez- Arizona- Age 38
- .287 BA, .377 OBP, 10 HR
- .305 vs. RHP
- Still truckin’ at age 38
Ken Griffey Jr- Cincinnati- Age 36
- Great when healthy
- Only hitting .240; .297 on base percentage
- 20 HR
Torii Hunter- Minnesota- Age 31
- Great defensive center fielder
- good, not great hitter (.269 average)
- .323 versus LHP
Carlos Lee- Texas- Age 30
- .288 average, 28 HR, 81 RBI on the year
- Out of shape to play LF (6-2 240 lbs)
- Power hitter
Kenny Lofton- Los Angeles Dodgers- Age 39
- Speed Demon
- 7 triples
- .292 BA is ideal for a leadoff hitter
Gary Matthews Jr.- Texas- Age 31
- Rare switch-hitting leadoff batter
- .323 batting average, 10 HR, 49 RBI, .373 OBP
- Batting average is 6th in American League
Juan Pierre- Chicago Cubs- Age 28
- Speed Demon
- Slap hitter; good for turf teams
- 37 SB is second in the National League
Gary Sheffield- NY Yankees- Age 37
- Retirement?
- How will he respond to wrist injury?
- 453 career homers, .298 career BA
Alfonso Soriano- Washington- Age 30
- Whiffing away
- .289 BA, 32 homers, 64 RBI
- 2nd in HR, 8th in OPS, 7th in SB, 4th in R and SLG
Bernie Williams, NY Yankees- Age 37
- Forever A Yankee
- An absolute legend
- Either a Yankee in `07 or he’ll retire
This should be an interesting off-season, even taking an early look at it on July 29, 2006.