2008 free-agent class.. I know its early for this. Curious others thoughts

[redsfan4445]

per mlbtraderumours.com
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/


"2008 MLB Free Agents
Presenting...your 2008 free agent class.

Of course, some of these players will be signed or retired before reaching free agency. I've changed the post to categorize them by position; the player's 2008 age is in parentheses. 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 season and make it a permanent sidebar link.

(Random thought - anyone else think Scott Boras is going to get Corey Patterson a Gary Matthews Jr. deal?)

Updated 3-17-07

Catchers
Jorge Posada (36) - $12MM club option for '08
Ivan Rodriguez (36) - $13MM club option for '08
Paul Lo Duca (36)
Michael Barrett (31)
Jason Kendall (34)

First basemen
Carlos Guillen (32)
Adam Dunn (28) - $13MM club option for '08

Second basemen
Jeff Kent (40) - $9MM club option vests with 550 PAs this year
Marcus Giles (30) - $4MM club option for '08
Luis Castillo (32)

Shortstops
Carlos Guillen (32)
Omar Vizquel (41)
David Eckstein (33)
Juan Uribe (29)
Cesar Izturis (28) - $5.45MM club option for '08

Third basemen
Alex Rodriguez (32)
Mike Lowell (34)
Mike Lamb (32)
Pedro Feliz (33)

Left fielders
Eric Byrnes (32)
Adam Dunn (28) - $13MM club option for '08
Geoff Jenkins (33) - $9MM club option for '08
Luis Gonzalez (40)
Barry Bonds (43)
Brad Wilkerson (31)

Center fielders
Ichiro Suzuki (34)
Andruw Jones (31)
Torii Hunter (32)
Eric Byrnes (32)
Corey Patterson (28)
Milton Bradley (30)
Aaron Rowand (30)
Mike Cameron (35)
Kenny Lofton (41)

Right fielders
Jermaine Dye (34)
Bobby Abreu (34) - $16MM club option for '08
Ichiro Suzuki (34)
Milton Bradley (30)
Geoff Jenkins (33) - $9MM club option for '08
Trot Nixon (34)
Jose Guillen (32) - $9MM club option for '08
Shawn Green (35) - $10MM club option for '08
Eric Hinske (30)

DHs
Shea Hillenbrand (32)
Mike Piazza (39)
Barry Bonds (43)
Mike Sweeney (34)

Starting pitchers
John Smoltz (41)
Carlos Zambrano (27)
Curt Schilling (41)
Jason Jennings (29)
Jake Westbrook (30)
Freddy Garcia (32)
Kenny Rogers (43)
Mark Buehrle (29)
Jon Lieber (38)
Bartolo Colon (35)
Joe Kennedy (29)
Tomo Ohka (32)
John Thomson (34)
Kip Wells (31)
Wade Miller (31)
Livan Hernandez (33)*
Randy Wolf (31) - $9MM club option for '08
Paul Byrd (37) - $8MM club option for '08
Jeff Weaver (31)
Tom Glavine (42) - $9MM player option for '08
Kris Benson (33) - $7.5MM club option for '08
Jaret Wright (32)
David Wells (45)
Eric Milton (32)Kyle Lohse (29)
Matt Clement (33)
Rodrigo Lopez (32)
Josh Fogg (31)
Byung-Hyun Kim (29)
Odalis Perez (31) - $9MM club option for '08

Closers
Mariano Rivera (38)
Jason Isringhausen (35) - $8MM club option for '08
Bob Wickman (39)
Francisco Cordero (33)
Armando Benitez (35)
Eric Gagne (32)
Todd Jones (40)

Middle relievers
Scott Linebrink (31)
Kerry Wood (31)
Jorge Julio (29)
Brett Tomko (35) - $4.5MM mutual option for '08

*or something"


Of whats available and what players are saying. I would love to see the Reds go after Andrew Jones, or Tori Hunter for CF

And out of the starting pitchers.. Only Zambrano is the best option for big money (if he leaves the Cubs)and or Westbrook as well

Whats everybodys take?

[TOBTTReds]

Outfielders
Andruw Jones

Starting pitchers
Carlos Zambrano (27)
Jason Jennings (29)
Jake Westbrook (30)
Mark Buehrle (29)
Joe Kennedy (29)
Tomo Ohka (32)
John Thomson (34)
Randy Wolf (31) - $9MM club option for '08
Jeff Weaver (31) - Depending on his season this year
Kyle Lohse (29) Depending on his season
Rodrigo Lopez (32)

Closers
Jason Isringhausen (35) - $8MM club option for '08
Francisco Cordero (33)
Armando Benitez (35)
Eric Gagne (32)

Middle relievers
Scott Linebrink (31)
Kerry Wood (31)
Jorge Julio (29)

Those are the only players I would really go for. The position players don't intrigue me much considering contract size.

[Tom Servo]

I just hope we let Milton and Lohse walk and sign a good starter to go with Harang, Arroyo, and Bailey. Unfortunatly next year's class doesn't have anyone who strikes me as the type of pitcher the Reds would want to commit big money to. Maybe a 1 year deal for someone like Benson (who won't pitch this season) or Colon (who probably won't pitch all that much this season).

Knowing the Kriv's love for "good catching", we could be in line to sign one of those guys if Ross falls back to earth.

[mth123]

I'd pursue Scott Linebrink and Jason Jennings. The team shouldn't need position players with Votto, Hamilton and Deno all emerging and Jay Bruce, Paul Janish, Cody Strait and Jerry Gil could be knocking on the door to fill roles by 2008.

Need to lock-up Dunn IMO.

[redsgabp]

Jake Westbrook would make an #1 3rd pitcher for the reds

PLEASE Jake Westbrook

had we got him for kearns last year

jake westbrook
2006 /\ W15 /\ L10 /\ ERA 4.17 /\ IP 211.1 /\ SO 109
as opposed to eric milton our #3
2006 /\ W8 /\ L8 /\ ERA 5.19 /\ IP 152.2 /\ SO 90

with a 2008 staff of
1. A. Harang
2. B. Arroyo
3. J. Westbrook
4. H. Bailey
5. who cares....

that would be a playoff team.

[Falls City Beer]

Already scoping out 2008?

That's depressing. I was under the impression that a team should make every attempt to compete every year. But after watching this offseason, it seems abundantly clear to me that this FO is willing to roll the dice with "unsexy" moves.

[ND_redsfan10]

I'd suggest Andruw Jones but I'm not sure there are any Gold Clubs in the Tristate area. I don't think the Reds would go after any of the higher name players; Krivsky has shown a knack for making brilliant small moves necessary in a small market. If our pitching rotation continues to improve (+ Bailey next year), I think we might just be one good bat from being one of the better NL teams.

[Falls City Beer]

I'd suggest Andruw Jones but I'm not sure there are any Gold Clubs in the Tristate area..

[tripleaaaron]

Those are the only players I would really go for. The position players don't intrigue me much considering contact size.

I completely agree, but the only position player who does intrigue me is Ichiro, but I know that is probably out of the question, as for the Pitchers, I would LOVE to steal a Carlos Zambrano from the Cubs, but would settle for much of that list, but I do believe I would look to improve with a trade as most Free agents dont impress me due to the fact that most free agents are over 30 and lately have been way inflated in price. But if I were putting a list of targets together it would look like this:
Jason Jennings (29)
Jake Westbrook (30)
Byung-Hyun Kim (29) Fall-back option for a closer, available now
Francisco Cordero (33)
Scott Linebrink (31)
Jorge Julio (29)
But only if the price was right on each, obviously