As we inch closer and closer to Spring Training (only 18 days left!!!), there’s still plenty of offseason activity. For the most part, the bulk of the news involves teams negotiating with their players to avoid the ugliness of an arbitration hearing, but there are still a number of MLB free agents out there that are looking to sign on for the 2010 season. While most of the big names are off the boards, there are still plenty of guys that should have a strong impact on your 2010 fantasy baseball season. Let’s just do a recap of some of the latest important signings and then sprinkle in a bit of rumor and conjecture as well…
MLB Free Agent Signings
Orlando Cabrera, SS CIN — While it really hasn’t been confirmed just yet, a source inside the Reds told MLB.com that Cabrera is about to sign a 1 year, $3M contract to play in Cincinnati. There’s also word of an option on 2011, but details haven’t been given. While it might be a defensive downgrade for the Reds to go from Paul Janish to Cabrera, fantasy owners have to be happy about the move. His power over the last few years has all but dried up, but Cabrera had an outstanding September last year and was an integral performer in the Twins run for the playoffs. He’s still got something left in the tank. Cabrera should hit second in the lineup and gets a much friendlier ballpark to call home; not to mention, his veteran presence could have a positive impact ont he younger guys who will be learning from him.
Melvin Mora, 3B COL — If it wasn’t for good ol’ Craig Counsell, Mora (37) would be the oldest utility man in the majors these days. According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal on Twitter, Mora has signed a 1 year deal worth about $1.3M. He’ll spell the infielders all over the diamond, but will likely be more of a late inning pinch hitter with youngsters like Ian Stewart and Troy Tulowitzki playing the left side of the infield while Eric Young, Jr. backs up Clint Barmes at second. Mora’s value is pretty low right now and should be nothing but a waiver pickup later on in the season if/when an injury occurs.
Eric Byrnes, OF SEA — Remember when this guy stole 50 bases in 2007 and was climbing draft boards like crazy in ‘08? Wow, have things changed in the last 2 years. Between injuries and younger, more productive up and comers, Byrnes found himself on the outs in Arizona and was given his walking papers in the offseason. So Byrnes signs a one year deal (likely for the league minimum) and gets to play 4th outfielder for the Mariners. Actually, he’s probably going to compete with Michael Saunders for the job this spring, so there’s no guarantee that he’ll even see time this season. My guess is his days as a fantasy asset are long gone.
Fernando Tatis, 1B NYM — I guess Carlos Delgado wasn’t looking so good for Puerto Rico as the Mets have made their move re-signing Tatis to a one year deal. This puts a damper on thoughts that the team would bring back Delgado for one more year and also puts a damper on things for fantasy owners as the Mets first base situation looks to be a platoon between Tatis and Daniel Murphy. If you’re looking for a little bit of bench help, then maybe one of these guys will outshine the other, but when it comes to my fantasy baseball draft, I won’t be looking at either.
Xavier Nady, OF CHC — Now I’m not a 100% that I didn’t report on this earlier, but I know I posted it on my Twitter account. With Nady signing a 1 year, $3.3M contract with the Cubs, it almost ensures that the outfield will be a shared situation. Alfonso Soriano is a lock to start but has been hampered with plenty of injuries these last few years, Marlon Byrd was a huge over-achiever last year for the Rangers, and we all know how streaky and often unreliable Kosuke Fukudome has become. Nady will almost certainyl steal at bats from each of them making the Cubs outfielders a little less appealing come draft day.
Jim Edmonds, OF MIL — OK, so it’s hard to even type all of this with a straight face, but yes, you did read that correctly…Jim Edmonds has signed a deal with the Brewers. It’s just a minor league contract, but apparently the team has told him that he will get a chance to play everyday against right handers. I’m a little skeptical about it, but if anyone could still have some stick left after a full year of retiurement, it would be Edmonds. Secretly though, I’m hating this because I was tabbing Carlos Gomez as a fantasy sleeper this season. Now it looks like that pick could be headed down the toilet.
Jose Contreras, SP PHI — A one year, $1.5M contract comes just in the nick of time as the former Cuban defector was starting to investigate a move to Japan this year. I don’t really know what to say other than stay away from him in your fantasy baseball league. He’ll likely end up in the bullpen, but even so, I just don’t see him doing anything to help you out this year and beyond.
MLB Rumors
Reed Johnson, OF — His name has been on the back burner for some time now as the last real rumors we heard were of Johnson being courted by the Yankees back in late December. But with Randy Winn signing with the Bombers, Johnson has had to sniff around elsewhere, most notably, these days, with the Dodgers. Johnson would work very nicely for L.A. as a right handed bat off the bench and late inning defensive replacement for Manny Ramirez, but unless there’s a major injutry, it doesn’t look like his fantasy value would increase at all with a move to SoCal.
Garrett Anderson, OF — Another guy whose name is being linked to the Dodgers. Johnson would be a better fit as he has more to offer with his ability to play the field, but if the Dodgers are just looking for a bat off the bench, Anderson could prove to be a better choice for the team over Johnson and current 4th OF on the depth charts, Jason Repko. Fantasy wise, Anderson’s value would drop even lower than it was last season with the Braves.
Johnny Damon, OF – With rumors swirling that Damon turned down a 1 year, $6M offer from the Yankees, I’m not really understanding what his contract expectations are right now. Word on the street is that the A’s have started to lose interest and there’s nothing new in the mill about a possible move to Tampa Bay. The Rays would be a nice fit, I think, although a move over to right field in place of Matt Joyce would be the case, and Damon’s arm isn’t nearly that good to take over in right. There’s the possibility of Pat Burrell playing right and Damon DHing, but that’s probably worse, defensively speaking. The market is slowing down for outfielders right now, so we may not even get resolution on this until the spring starts.
Gabe Gross, OF — With the A’s interest in Damon cooling, it looks like the team is content to go with a starting outfield of Rajai Davis, Coco Crisp and Ryan Sweeney. That being said, the team is now looking to upgrade their bench depth and could be zeroing in on th eformer Rays right fielder. If this does happen, you can probably say goodbye to both Matt Carson and Travis Buck, both looking for bench roles with Oakland. Carson was expected to start in the minors, but this could be a huge blow to Buck whose career .257 average continues to hold him back.
Orlando Hudson, 2B — Still nothing concrete for the O-Dog as he continues to look for employment. The lastest word was that the Nationals wanted him, but apparently he is looking for something in the $9M range, about $6M more than the Nats want to spend. If Hudson does end up with the Nats, then that pushes Ian Desmond’s debut off another year as Hudson playing second shifts Cristian Guzman back over to short. Personally, I had Desmond tabbed as a 2010 fantasy baseball sleeper, but if this signing happens, he won’t be anything more than a late season waiver pick up.
Felipe Lopez, 2B — And while the rest of the league is waiting to see where Hudson ends up, guys like Lopez just sit and wait in the wings despite a quality season in 2009. Rumors have Lopez linked to the Cardinals and the Rockies, but for me, there are other tewams where he’d be a better fit, especially since the Rox have already signed Mora and the only real place for Lopez in St. louis would be at thrid in place of David Freese. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Lopez will sign anywhere until the infieder market is more clear — translation: no one’s signing Lopez until the Hudson market sets the price.
Kevin Gregg, RP — Look out Leo Nunez supporters! Apparently the Marlins have made an offer to Gregg and we’re still waiting to hear the terms and the reliever’s thoughts. This could clutter things up in the bullpen, especially if you were looking to scoop up Nunez late in your draft for some cheap saves. The two would likely compete in Spring Training, but with two moderately experienced closers in the pen, whichever guy ends up winning the gig, he will certainly have a vulture on his shoulder watching his every move.
Now sure, there are a few more minor league contracts that were given out, but for the most part, for the players you’re going to want to use this year, that’s about all the important news to report. There will be a few more signings coming up, but fo rthe most part, it looks like most teams have finished their pre-spring shopping. Plenty of things can change once Spring Training kicks off, but for now that seems to be it for the Hot Stove action.
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Good luck and I’ll see you all in the money this year!
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