Free Agent Whispers

by Eli Greenspan on Oct 11, 2009 10:18 AM EDT Comment 4 comments

With a two game lead over the Boston Red Sox, Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu to the LA Daily News that he would like to return to the Angels next season. Abreu put up solid numbers this season, posting a .293 average with 15 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He is likely up for a two year deal.
The Chicago Sun-Times spoke to Dodgers first baseman Jim Thome about his future. Thome said he would be open to returning to the White Sox next season, assuming they were interested. Thome hit .249 on the year with 23 home runs, but he'd have to take a serious pay cut to return to the White Sox in 2010.
Newsday is reporting that Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui is telling friends he wants to stay in New York next season. Matsui saw a dip in his average, but hit 28 home runs and drove in 90 runs. It is going to be a tough decision for the Yankees with Matsui and Johnny Damon up for new contracts, but one of them will have to go. Matsui could end up with the Giants if they think he can still play the outfield, but he may stay in the AL so he can DH. The Mets could be an option if he takes the NL route.
As for Damon, Damon could be an option for the Cubs in center field. The Cubs are looking for a lefty-hitting stopgap, and Damon could be that guy on a two-year deal. He would bring a positive attitude to the Cubs clubhouse, but he wouldn't be the leadoff hitter the Cubs are also looking for.
Free agent manager Manny Acta reportedly has the inside-track for the Astros job, according to the Houston Chronicle. Jim Fregosi is right on his back, but Acta spent sixteen years in the Astros organization and may still have friends in the organization.

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Why do the Yankees have to make a choice between Mats and Damon?

To stay under the cap?

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 11, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

There is no salary cap in baseball. The Yanks could bring both back if they really wanted to.

Nick

by niko68 on Oct 13, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's correct.

There’s no salary cap, although each team may or may not set its own internal limits on payroll from season to season.

I think the main reason that the Yankees may be forced to choose between Damon and Matsui is that catcher Jorge Posada has seen his best days at catcher already and the Yankees may be forced to use him at DH. Jesus Flores is their catcher of the future, although everything I’ve heard about him suggests he may not stick at catcher in the long term, either.

As a result, Hideki Matsui really couldn’t be brought back to DH if they have Posada at DH, and so it would be a choice between either Damon or Matsui for LF(with the Cabrera/Gardner platoon in CF, at least until prospect Austin Jackson is ready, and Nick Swisher in RF). I don’t think Matsui’s legs are up to the challenge of playing 130+ games in the OF though, and I could easily see him signing with another AL team as a DH.

Also, it could be that the Yankees bring back neither of them, if they choose to pursue one of Matt Holliday or Jason Bay for LF. ;)

And I thought I posted this yesterday, but came back today to find no post! :(

by jimolson3 on Oct 13, 2009 6:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Jesus Flores

Maybe I missed something, but I thought Flores was the Mets property.
I dont think the Yankees or Posada think he’s done yet.
Jesus Montero will have to prove next season he’s close enough to handle the everyday catching chores or he just might find himself in a Twins uniform.

by outrigger on Oct 21, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions