It's probably too early to tell whether this will be a warmer offseason for veteran free agents than the last one was for some, when a number of players who turned out to be quite serviceable in 2009 went through December and well into the calendar year without deals.
But the climate seems to be starting out cozier for a few elder statesmen, at least.
Catcher Ivan Rodriguez, at 38, is in a better place, that's for sure, wrapped up for two years and $6 million with the Nationals. He'd played for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic last March sans a Major League contract, not signing with the Astros until March 20.
Certainly, Randy Wolf's experience is decidedly different heading into 2010, too. Going 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA with the Dodgers after signing with them Feb. 9, the 33-year-old lefty earned three guaranteed years with the Brewers worth $29.75 million, signing with them on Wednesday.
It also looks like Orlando Hudson won't have to wait till springtime to sign, bringing a fourth Gold Glove and an All-Star appearance with the Dodgers with him into this offseason, where he rates as the top second baseman currently available. Pedro Martinez isn't planning on summer auditions this year, he's talking about a full season -- and people just might have to listen after the way he pitched into November with the Phillies.
Whether that handful of players tells the tale of two offseasons remains to be seen, and with Saturday's deadline to tender contracts delivering 15 younger free agents, there are no guarantees for the thirtysomething crowd.
The main targets this offseason are all in their primes and ripe for their first big paydays, first-time free agents in pitcher John Lackey and outfielders Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. They're being sought for their potential, not necessarily their resume.
With the Nationals doubling Rodriguez's salary and its term from last year's $1.5 million deal with the Astros, it's worth keeping an eye on one of the niche markets of any baseball offseason -- age and experience.
Pudge's 19 years of experience was the biggest factor, the hope in D.C. being he serves as an able mentor to young catcher Jesus Flores and a relatively young team as a whole, as he has in the past with the Marlins and Tigers. His age? Well, we'll see what kind of factor that is.
"He brings with him a laundry list of accolades and career records," Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said in introducing Rodriguez on Friday. "We feel this is a player that will take us into the next level of competition. He is part of what we call the building process. He is a good piece of what we are doing currently in 2010 and in the future."
Experience counted on the trade market at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, with the Orioles picking up starter Kevin Millwood in part because he's a veteran who can show young players the ropes. In essence, with the trade of reliever Chris Ray and the cash the Orioles are receiving, they've got Millwood on a one-year deal, the last of his five-year contract with the Rangers.
"We were looking for a veteran starter who had demonstrated that he was capable of anchoring a young pitching staff, much like Kevin did last year with the Rangers and the talented young pitchers they have," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said following the swap.
There remains a stockpile of experience out on the market. Their fate remains undecided, but here are a few veteran free agents to keep an eye on the rest of the offseason, perhaps into the spring:
Orlando Hudson, 2B: Only 32 but with eight full seasons under his belt, Hudson didn't sign until Feb. 22 with the Dodgers. He was coming off his second season-ending wrist injury, but this year he's coming off a Gold Glove and an All-Star appearance.
Vladimir Guerrero, OF/DH: The forgotten man for some in this year's free-agent class, Vlad was a huge signing for the Angels, a deal that wound up being six years for $85 million. He's not the same guy, obviously -- who is? He'll be 35 next season, and 2009 happened to be as difficult a season physically as he has endured, with his knees and other ailments limiting him to 100 games.
Carlos Delgado, 1B/DH: Much of the same said about Guerrero can be said about Delgado, and he enters the market when he'll be turning 38 in June. He hit 38 homers in 2008, and if he's healthy after an even more injury-plagued season than Guerrero's, he's a left-handed power threat for either league.
Russell Branyan, 1B: He's already turned down a one-year overture from the Mariners, but he wants to stay with them. He had a career year in Seattle, going for 31 homers and 76 RBIs on a one-year, $1.4 million contract. The down side is those numbers could have been bigger if a back injury hadn't sidelined the 34-year-old in August.
Johnny Damon, OF: The latest word on the Red Sox champion turned pinstriped champion is he may have outpriced the Yankees at the outset, according to a New York Daily News report. That'll be a good one to watch develop, as the 36-year-old and agent Scott Boras explore his options.
Pedro Martinez, RHP: He has said flat out that he's ready to roll for an entire season next year, and he's said to be preparing to pitch in the Dominican Winter League for the Licey Tigers. At 38, it'll be another interesting offseason, though perhaps a shorter one after his performance with the Phillies.
Those are just a few of the elder statesemen for hire, just part of the range of various ages and extended experience out there on the free-agent market.
Time will tell how the niche plays out this year.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment