RealGM

(From: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/)

Presenting...your 2008 free agent class. Still plenty left to choose from.

I've categorized them by position; the player's 2008 age is in parentheses. Also Type A or B status is included; otherwise there's no compensation. If I saw someone as a possibility at more than one position I put them at both. I'll keep this post updated throughout the offseason and make it a permanent sidebar link.

Updated 1-23-08

Catchers
Johnny Estrada (32)
Damian Miller (38)

First basemen
Sean Casey (34) - Type B
Tony Clark (36)
Ryan Klesko (37)
Doug Mientkiewicz (34)

Second basemen
Nothin' left.

Shortstops
Sorry, there's pretty much nothing here.

Third basemen
Morgan Ensberg (32)
Pedro Feliz (33) - Type B
Corey Koskie (35)
Dallas McPherson (27)

Left fielders
Barry Bonds (43) - Type A
Luis Gonzalez (40) - Type B
Kevin Mench (30)
Reggie Sanders (40)
Shannon Stewart (34) - Type B
Brad Wilkerson (31)

Center fielders
Kenny Lofton (41) - Type B
Corey Patterson (28)

Right fielders
Shawn Green (35) - Type B
Kevin Mench (30)
Trot Nixon (34)
Reggie Sanders (40)

DHs
Barry Bonds (43) - Type A
Mike Piazza (39) - Type B
Sammy Sosa (39)
Mike Sweeney (34)

Starting pitchers
Tony Armas Jr. (30)
Kris Benson (32)
Shawn Chacon (30)
Roger Clemens (45)
Bartolo Colon (35)
Josh Fogg (31)
Casey Fossum (30)
Freddy Garcia (32) - Type B
Livan Hernandez (33) - Type B
Byung-Hyun Kim (29)
Kyle Lohse (29)
Rodrigo Lopez (32)
Mike Maroth (30)
Eric Milton (32)
Tomo Ohka (32)
Russ Ortiz (34)
Odalis Perez (31)
John Thomson (34)
Steve Trachsel (37)
Jeff Weaver (31)
David Wells (45)
Jaret Wright (32)

Closers
Armando Benitez (35)
Keith Foulke (35)
Bob Wickman (39)

Middle relievers
Antonio Alfonseca (36)
Shawn Chacon (30)
Jorge Julio (29) - Type B
Jose Mesa (42)
Trever Miller (35) - Type B
Akinori Otsuka (36)
Rudy Seanez (39)
Aaron Sele (38)
Ron Villone (38)

Thoughts?

I'd like to take a look at Damian Miller to share the catching duties with Zaun. (Estrada probably wants too much $$$).

And there are a few SP's in there that could be nice cheap fliers. O.Perez? J.Wright shows up about every 3rd season?

I thought estrada was signed?

I wouldn't mind giving Morgan Ensberg, Kevin Mench, and Tony Armas Jr. a look.

xAIRNESSx wrote:I wouldn't mind giving Morgan Ensberg, Kevin Mench, and Tony Armas Jr. a look.

I don't see spots for Mench and Ensberg and have to assume that both of them want a few million for their troubles.

I do like the Armas idea. I wonder how much he'd be looking for?

Lohse would be a decent add

I'd sign Benson. That way Anna could give us some excitement this season on our yearly journey to 3rd place

Looking at this list actually made me realize that I'm really liking our current roster. Although there's a few players on that list that I wouldn't mind having, I wouldn't want to replace any of our starters in their current positions. As long as they stay healthy, I think we are all set with what we have.

We should offer Tomo Ohka a small 1 year deal and see if he pans out.

Oh wait...

I really wouldnt mind adding another lefty. I am not huge on throwing out the Wolfman this year. We have Downs, and a broken down Chacin (unless he can bounce back). Guys like Maroth and Perez may be worth a look to me.

whosthebosh? wrote:We should offer Tomo Ohka a small 1 year deal and see if he pans out.

Oh wait...

I really wouldnt mind adding another lefty. I am not huge on throwing out the Wolfman this year. We have Downs, and a broken down Chacin (unless he can bounce back). Guys like Maroth and Perez may be worth a look to me.

I've always wondred about that - with teams wanting to have at least one lefty starting pitcher on the rotation. Is it really necessary? I understand the need of having southpaws in the bullpen to face specific matchups, but considering most hitters bat right, is there really a problem of having all 5 starting hurlers to be right-handed?

Adding Clemens would be a real "shot in the arm" to our starting rotation...

i wouldnt mind signing Benson for cheap to fill up that 5th spot.

Odalis Perez or Byung-Hyun Kim. Both have been terrible the past few seasons but are the best options in the list for a cheap low-risk high reward signing.

If Perez can turn it around he has the most upside. Kim still has a sparkling strikeout per inning ratio despite terrible numbers all around so he still has a weapon for getting people out.

We need a top tier playerr and we gota make it count.

We need to add talent not trade for it.