When Curt Flood sued Major League Baseball for the right to be a free agent in 1970, he opened the floodgates — unoriginal pun most definitely intended — for what would grow into the most exciting offseason in all major sports: MLB’s “Hot Stove,” the annual winter pursuit of free agents. Sure, the NBA and NFL drafts are captivating and draw many viewers once each year, but MLB free agency is a few months’ worth of fun rumors and huge contracts.
I wanted to write about some of the big free agents this year, but because of limits on how long this column can be, I could only write about three. Noticeably missing from this list are Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett, Ben Sheets and Derek Lowe. But, for those players I did write about, here’s why I think they do, or don’t, deserve the big bucks they certainly will be commanding. Listed in parentheses next to their names is how much each player earned last year.
Manny Ramirez ($20 million with the Red Sox and Dodgers)
The Dodgers have until Thursday before other teams can negotiate with Ramirez, and if they don’t give Manny what Manny wants, they would be making a huge mistake. Ramirez put fans in the stands and made the Dodgers all sorts of money last year by increasing ticket, concession and merchandise sales. He also carried them into the playoffs with his ridiculous numbers after the trade from the Red Sox, hitting .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs in 53 games for the Dodgers.
But, considering the Dodgers already made an offer of only two years (albeit for $45 million guaranteed), I don’t see Manny staying in Los Angeles when he can make more money — and get the longer contract he desires — elsewhere. His agent, Scott Boras, already told the Dodgers that two years isn’t long enough, even though Ramirez is 36 years old. Expect Manny to leave LA-LA land for the Big Apple and sign with the deep-pocketed Mets unless the Dodgers can up their ante.
CC Sabathia ($9 million with the Indians and Brewers)
Sabathia is the other player the Yankees have been salivating over, and they will possibly make him the highest-paid pitcher of all time. Fellow lefty Johan Santana received a six-year, $137.5 million contract from the Mets last year, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sabathia get a contract of similar length for between $21 and $23 million per year, especially after his 11-2 record, 1.65 ERA and seven complete games (including three shutouts) in 17 starts for the Brewers last year, almost single-handedly pitching them into the playoffs.
Joining Sabathia in the Yankees rotation could be aging free agents Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte, who made $11 million and $16 million last year, respectively. Both could return to the Yankees for somewhere near a combined $24 million, as Pettitte is expected to take a pay cut, while Mussina could earn a similar number to last year in what could be his final season.
Francisco Rodriguez ($10 million with the Angels)
Rodriguez set the Major League record for saves in a season with 62 this year, and many teams will be throwing huge offers in his direction. He will likely command about $15 million per year, which is how much the highest-paid relief pitcher in the majors (Yankees closer Mariano Rivera) currently makes. And, at 26 years old, Rodriguez is young enough to sign a contract of four years or more, which would give him the most lucrative deal for a reliever in Major League history. Many baseball insiders predict Rodriguez will end up with the Mets, and I would have to agree, because they have plenty of money and need a closer badly. And when I say badly, I mean badly. Consider this: The Mets bullpen last year had a 4.27 ERA, and blew 28 saves. Enough said.
One other thing to note: Brian Fuentes, who made $5.05 million as the closer for the Rockies last year, could join Rodriguez in New York if he is willing to accept the role of highly paid setup man. Or, if Rodriguez signs elsewhere, expect the Mets to offer the closer job to Fuentes (though for less money than they would offer Rodriguez). Either way, one of these guys will be replacing Charlottesville-resident Billy Wagner as the Mets’ closer.
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