Free, but Not Cheap

Dave Paisley

Now that we've got the Subway Series and its dismal ratings out of the way, it must be time to look ahead to see how our favorite teams can summon up the wherewithal to dethrone the Yankees. We have a couple of months of serious wheeling and dealing ahead of us as the free agent crop of 2000 hits the stores.

Of course, some teams who shall remain nameless but who maybe reside in, say, Minnesota, will be doing nothing but window shopping. On the other hand, the free agent crop always has one or two bargain-basement items that just about any team can afford. Except maybe the aforementioned unidentified team from the Land O' Lakes.

Whether it's a minor tweak or a full-scale makeover, building a team is no easy business, as Kevin Malone can no doubt attest. No sooner do you address one deficiency than another pops up. Overspend on that desperately needed slugging outfielder, and maybe you can't afford to bid on that pricey lefty setup guy. Or spend the money on the wrong guy and you may just as well have tossed it in the furnace.

Bearing that in mind, I figured the easiest way to help you wend your way through the free agent maze would be to show you what kind of talent is available at each position, with a quick look at their 2000 performance compared with past career performance. Note also that many of these guys haven't formally filed for free agency yet, but they will if they have any sense.

Here's what's available at first base:

Player	Team	OPS 2000	OPS Pre-2K	Option	Comments
Carlos Delgado	Tor	1.134	.892	tr	signed 4-year, $68M extension
Jeff Bagwell	Hou	1.039	.961	co
Will Clark	StL	.964	.874
David Segui	Cle	.898	.787
Andres Galarraga	Atl	.895	.851
Mark Grace	ChN	.823	.833
Lee Stevens	Mon	.818	.772		signed 2-year, $8M extension
Mike Stanley	Oak	.768	.832
Wally Joyner	Atl	.767	.806	co
Rico Brogna	Bos	.635	.785

Key to contract status (as of the end of the 2000 regular season):

tr -- could demand a trade.
co -- club option.
po -- player option.
mo -- mutual option.

You've already heard, no doubt, about Bud Selig's displeasure about Delgado's new contract. Too bad, Bud. That's life. And while Jeff Bagwell looks tempting, don't expect Houston to pass on that club option. Which leaves us with some not-so-great options at first. Obviously Will Clark is tempting, given the rejuvenation he experienced in St. Louis. Don't expect a repeat of this year, although he should be respectable. He hasn't hit that age cliff yet. Similarly, don't expect David Segui to continue producing at the pace he did this past season. Whoever picks up either of these guys is probably going to pay over the odds.

The Braves have two first basemen on the way out in Andres Galarraga and Wally Joyner. Joyner is just about done, and Atlanta has no interest in keeping him, while they are apparently interested in keeping the 39 year-old Galarraga if the price is right, i.e., a lot less than they've been paying him. With Chipper Jones' new contract, and a possible run at Alex Rodriguez and others, the Braves won't be shopping for an expensive first baseman.

Mark Grace probably isn't going anywhere, either. He's been content to wallow in Cub mediocrity for his entire career, so why change now with the end in sight at age 36? The Cubs always seem to be on the lookout for something better when Grace's contract comes up, but they always settle for the known quantity, too. Besides, they have Sammy Sosa to worry about. Finally, Mike Stanley and Rico Brogna aren't going to make the difference on anyone's club this year, although you can expect Brogna to rebound from a truly awful year.

Over at second base, the pickings are slimmer, both literally and figuratively.

Player	Team	OPS 2000	OPS Pre-2K	Option	Comments
Luis Alicea	Tex	.769	.785
Bret Boone	SD	.747	.722	co
Jeff Frye	Col	.751	.752
Lenny Harris	NYM	.698	.673
Mark McLemore	Sea	.669	.681

Cream of the crop, if I stretch a point, is Luis Alicea, followed by Bret Boone and Jeff Frye. None of those will be making the difference in a pennant race next year, I'm guessing. Lenny Harris? Mark McLemore? Pass...

Third base could have featured a couple of big ticket names, but the options there narrowed down when the Braves locked up Chipper.

Player	Team	OPS 2000	OPS Pre-2K	Option	Comments
Chipper Jones	Atl	.970	.923		Signed 6-year, $90M extension
Ken Caminiti	Hou	1.001	.790	co	Club declined option
Shane Andrews	ChN	.803	.711
Dave Magadan	SD	.781	.771
Ed Sprague	SD	.749	.735
Charlie Hayes	Mil	.718	.716
Sean Berry	Cle	.444	.786		50 AB in 2000

Ken Caminiti is an interesting case. Half a great year, followed by an injury and a relapse into his drinking problem doesn't bode well for a 37-year-old who can pull a hamstring getting out of bed. The Astros obviously didn't think the option was worth taking a risk on. On the other hand, he could end up as a great one-year pickup for a team with a hole at third base (hello, Seattle?).

Shane Andrews had a nice year, and may genuinely turn out to be an .800 OPS guy. And maybe not. Caveat emptor. Dave Magadan continues to be one of those guys whose OBP is higher than his slugging, but he is a useful puzzle piece in the right situation. Ed Sprague and Charlie Hayes -- blecchhh! And Sean Berry is apparently done. A free agent bust at Milwaukee, he amassed a mere 50 AB in the majors this year, 46 for Milwaukee and 4 for Boston before landing in Cleveland as a minor leaguer. Unless he can come back from shoulder and hamstring problems, it's over.

And that's all we have time for today. Tune in next time for outfielders, catchers and yes, shortstops, including the highly coveted Alex Rodriguez. All to be followed by the pitching free agents.

about the author

Dave Paisley is currently subject to a club option with Strikethree.com. Advise him as to whether we should pay him the club or eat it ourselves at drdjp@strikethree.com.