Free Agent Predictions

[jersey cubs fan]

Everyone but the Yankees needs to be cost efficient. And even they do to some degree.

 

Yeah, no crap. The point is you don't need the most cost efficient lineup. Cost efficiency isn't the goal. Winning games is the goal and you do that with the best players possible. As a big market team with the highest payroll in the division the Cubs might have the most flexibility outside of the Yankees to overpay on occasion and they absolutely should for the best of the best.

[mul21]

Do these WAR/dollar figures translate so that a 1 WAR player is technically worth $5 million? Because if that's the case, it's incredibly stupid.

 

In this simplified example it does, but this is just an "average" dollar figure per WAR. Like Kyle said, it's certainly not linear in real life because the number of players who even get to 4, 5, or 6 WAR are so few and far between.

[bukie]

Albert Pujols - Cubs

Prince Fielder - Cardinals

CC Sabathia - Yankees

CJ Wilson - Red Sox

Jose Reyes - Cubs

Jimmy Rollins - Phillies

Aramis Ramirez - Cubs

Carlos Beltran - Angels

David Ortiz - Rangers

Jonathan Papelbon - Red Sox

Francisco Rodriguez - Red Sox

Heath Bell - Padres

Brad Lidge - Cardinals

Joe Nathan - Twins

Jonathan Broxton - Yankees

Ryan Madson - Phillies

Mark Buehrle - Cardinals

Michael Cuddyer - White Sox

Carlos Pena - Brewers

Yu Darvish - Yankees

Edwin Jackson - Cubs

Johnny Damon - Rays

[toonsterwu]

I'll take some stabs on what I think will happen -

 

Albert Pujols - Cardinals. I think the Cardinals pony up in the end, particularly coming off this surprise run to the World Series. I don't know how they make it happen, but it's hard for me to think he'll be in another uniform.

 

Prince Fielder - Cubs. I think this ends up being a 7 year deal. Despite public reports suggesting otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised if the Blue Jays are in it. Contract guess - 7/168. I think the biggest concern may come from an AL club if they are willing to get aggressive and give more years, thinking that Fielder could move to DH down the line.

 

CC Sabathia - Yankees. I don't see him leaving now that he knows he actually enjoys New York.

 

CJ Wilson - Nationals. My guess is that Washington will come in and over-bid on him. They still need a top of the order guy, but I don't see them pursuing Reyes when Desmond/Espinosa/Rendon are all in the mix for middle infield (of course, Zimmerman could shift to 1st with Rendon at 3rd, so there is that possibility).

 

Aramis Ramirez - Angels. Arte Moreno just fired Tony Reagins. They want to win now, and they need offense. Will Theo over-bid, knowing Aramis is at the end of his prime? I have my doubts.

 

Yu Darvish - Blue Jays. They've got money to spend and want to be aggressive. I actually want to write the Cubs in here ... but it's hard for me to see Anthoupoulos missing out on landing a top target this offseason.

 

Ryan Dempster - Cubs. I think he rejects the player option, and signs a 2/23ish deal with us, along with a 3rd year option to push it to possibly 3/33.

 

- Of course, with the top arms off the market, that begs the question of what the Rangers do. I don't think they go after Edwin Jackson. They could look internally, shifting Feliz to the rotation, or they could go into the trade market.

 

I'll add some later. Not sure where I think Reyes lands as of now. I also think the Rangers are going to be aggressive, but for who? Granted, with their system, they could be more aggressive in the trade market.

[THISisTHEyear09]

Cubs get Fielder, Aaron Hill, Encarnacion, and Edwin Jackson