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Features Remaining FA's Old, Unimpressive?
According to our good pals over at ESPN.com, there are still 53 free agents left on the market. Should make for a pretty good "All-Free Agent" team, huh? Actually, maybe not so much.

And the real question is, who do you really want from this group? ...

... After all, you end up with no backup catcher, the worst defensive outfield in the history of the game, and just a WHOLE bunch of former Rangers and Astros for some reason. Two Alex Gonzalezes make the team -- and they are just two of the five "-ez Riders." There's a Hall of Famer at the top of the rotation, and a former All-Star to close, if he can stay out of prison that is, but overall the pitching staff is basically Mysterion and the Question Marks.

So again, who do you really want from this group? And if not these guys, from the other 28 free agents still available?

Starting Lineup
C Bengie Molina
1B Daryle Ward
2B Fernando Vina
SS Royce Clayton
3B Alex S. Gonzalez
LF Juan Gonzalez
CF Richard Hidalgo
RF Sammy Sosa
DH Erubiel Durazo

Bench
C VACANT
IF Rey Sanchez
IF Alex Gonzalez
OF Danny Bautista
OF BJ Surhoff (emergency backup C)
UTIL Jose Hernandez

Rotation
RHSP Roger Clemens
RHSP Jeff Weaver
RHSP Kevin Brown
RHSP Jose Lima
RHSP Ismael Valdez

Bullpem
CL-RH Ugueth Urbina
RHRP Paul Quantrill
LHRP Jason Christiansen
RHRP Shigetoshi Hasegawa
LHRP Buddy Groom

Sorry Larry Walker ... "retired" means "retired" until you change your mind in July, Captain Canada.

Posted by Mick Doherty on Monday, January 30 2006 @ 10:40 AM EST.
Remaining FA's Old, Unimpressive? | 35 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Skills - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 11:13 AM EST (#140368) #
I'm unaware of the status of Durazo's injury, but if it is going to cause him to miss the beginning of the season, I'd still consider giving him a 1 year minor league deal with incentives. It would give us some depth and perhaps the flexibility to trade later on. Of course this assumes that the market isn't very hot on him right now. If it is, then this probably wouldn't be enough to make the signing.
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3RunHomer - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 11:18 AM EST (#140369) #
Hey! A post that isn't about names or birthplaces! 8P

The free agent lineup reminds me of the Nats. Jim Bowden is one strange dude.

Can we look forward to BBFL and Andujar topics in the coming weeks?
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Marc Hulet - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 11:25 AM EST (#140371) #
Daryl Ward and Jose Hernandez are both off the list now: Ward signed a minor league deal with Washington and Hernandez signed a minor league deal with, I believe, Pittsburgh.
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BCMike - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 12:08 PM EST (#140381) #
That's a pretty good team...


...if everyone was in still in their prime ;)
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ayjackson - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 12:36 PM EST (#140382) #
where's matt lecroy
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Donkit R.K. - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 12:46 PM EST (#140383) #
What are the odds of Brown or JuanGone signing a minor league deal with someone?
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King Ryan - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 01:24 PM EST (#140389) #
the worst defensive outfield in the history of the game

Worse than Matsui-Williams-Sheffield? :)

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MatO - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 01:53 PM EST (#140391) #
That Hidalgo is some kind of player. He's the CF and a bench player at the same time. You can never have enough of those guys :-)
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Mick Doherty - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 02:07 PM EST (#140393) #
MatO, no idea what you're talking about, and you have no way of proving that I ever did.
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actionjackson - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 02:47 PM EST (#140394) #
I believe Fernando Vina also signed a minor league deal with Seattle.
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TexMex - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 02:48 PM EST (#140395) #
Even though Hatteberg had an off year riding the pine, he gives you more options. ie DH-First & Cather. Wards
options are limited to first and the DL.
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actionjackson - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 02:48 PM EST (#140396) #
Oh and Shigetoshi Hasegawa retired, if that means anything these days.
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Marc Hulet - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 03:48 PM EST (#140397) #
Danny Bautista retired last year due to back problems.
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Ron - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 04:34 PM EST (#140398) #
I'm a little bit surprised a team like the Royals hasn't shown any interest in Kevin Brown. I haven't heard anything about him retiring and I think there's a chance he won't get anything more than a minor league contract with an invite to ST.
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melondough - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 05:11 PM EST (#140401) #
Has anyone heard a reason why Takatsu fell so far off his 2004 mark last yr? Is it possible that he was injured and has now recovered? If so, then he may be a steal (see his #'s from '04). I specifically like the stat that shows only 3 inherited runners scoring of the 25 he inherited in '04.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=5881

According to SI, Jim Mecir is a free agent. I can't find anything showing he signed with anyone either. His #'s are decent if he is available.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3345

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Gitz - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 05:13 PM EST (#140402) #
Other than what are no doubt outrageous demands by Scott Boras, it's surprising that Jeff Weaver is out there. If the Tigers are willing to give Kenny Rogers $16 over two years, it's not like a player's attitude is the final decision. I'd rather have Weaver than Rogers, but then again I'd rather have Rich Harden than either of them. Ooooh, neat. I already do! (Speaking from a position of ownernship as an A's fan, of course.)
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nicton - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 06:13 PM EST (#140403) #
My sources ( CBSSportsline ) says Mecir retired...
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daryn - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 06:13 PM EST (#140404) #
I don't hate Weaver, but Sullivan is also available and I'd take him first.
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Chuck - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 06:22 PM EST (#140405) #
What are the odds of Brown or JuanGone signing a minor league deal with someone?

Juan Gonzalez is in year 6 of his 8-year $120M contract that he signed with Detroit.

What? He didn't sign? Never mind.

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Glevin - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 06:41 PM EST (#140406) #
"Juan Gonzalez is in year 6 of his 8-year $120M contract that he signed with Detroit."

I think it was either 7 years-120 or 8 years 140. Sure, he would have sucked, but his proven RBIness alone would have accounted for 30 wins a year from the dugout.
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Glevin - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 06:58 PM EST (#140408) #
"What are the odds of Brown or JuanGone signing a minor league deal with someone?"

Gonzalez had one of the best moments of the year in 2005 in IMO. First AB of the year (first, second pitch?) he went out for the year with a hamstring problem.
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smcs - Monday, January 30 2006 @ 10:50 PM EST (#140411) #
...is basically Mysterion and the Question Marks

I believe you mean to say Question Mark and the Mysterians. I don't think I'd shed 96 tears if the jays disn't sign any of these guys.

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dp - Tuesday, January 31 2006 @ 12:19 AM EST (#140416) #
I'd give JuanGone $1 million. It can't hurt...

I'm a little surprised JP couldn't grab Piazza. Though it's tough to have your backup catcher be your DH- basically you need to carry 3 catchers or else you're going to wind up without a DH a few times when you swap the DH onto the field. If JP could've gotten him for $3 million, I would've been all for it, but I suspect the possibility of catching every day (Piazza loves to catch, it's why he was so upset about moving to 1B) and living in SoCal was more important than the extra $1 mil.
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Geoff - Tuesday, January 31 2006 @ 12:34 AM EST (#140417) #
Is Alomar retired? Planning an improbable comeback? Rolling in endorsement deals? Fishing his way to old age?

I understand he retired with Bautista last year as both got out of their Rays contracts that way. I suspected (and heard it suggested) that they were weasling out of the Tampa situation only to come back the following year with a new team, and presumably more sense than to sign with the Devil Rays again. (if they wind up with the Marlins this year, they might as well hire Boras to get them in baseball again)

I also wonder if it can be as easy as that for veterans to get out of contracts or simply walk away from them, and if MLB would prevent a player from unretiring.
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Jesse - Tuesday, January 31 2006 @ 03:57 AM EST (#140418) #
It might be tough to shake Urbina from his contract with the Venezuelan Penal League.
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joemayo - Tuesday, January 31 2006 @ 04:17 PM EST (#140446) #
lol
Hayes - what league are you from?
Vaughn - california penal
Hayes - never heard of it. how'd you end up playing there?
Vaughn - stole a car
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actionjackson - Tuesday, January 31 2006 @ 10:47 PM EST (#140467) #
Robbie is looking for another "Catch the taste" endorsement deal from McCain for their Fruit Punch line.
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eeleye - Wednesday, February 01 2006 @ 01:32 PM EST (#140479) #
HEY IS IT JUST ME OR IS JEFF WEAVER'S REQUEST FOR 5 YEARS AND 50 MILLION DOLLARS ABSOLUTELY LUDICRIOUS? Seriously, am I crazy? This guy's stats show he's a total journeyman pitcher. Its ridiculous.
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Dr. Zarco - Wednesday, February 01 2006 @ 03:24 PM EST (#140482) #
Check out this article:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20060131&content_id=1304062&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp

Very sorry about the long link. It's great to see someone actually praise JP for improving the team. Too many, both here and nationally, have been wildly pessimistic. I loved reading it. Favorite-Blue Jays. Great ring to it, eh?
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BallGuy - Wednesday, February 01 2006 @ 03:40 PM EST (#140483) #
Wow, when was the last time the Jays were referred to as favourites? It's fun to see.
I can't wait to see this team take the field in April.
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mathesond - Wednesday, February 01 2006 @ 10:44 PM EST (#140487) #
I can't believe Ruben Sierra didn't make the list
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6-4-3 - Wednesday, February 01 2006 @ 10:55 PM EST (#140488) #
Sierra got the Brett Boone special, taking a minor league deal with the Twins.

Now, I can't believe that Matt LeCroy didn't make the list. I'm sure that he's a free agent, but he's not on ESPN's list.
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melondough - Wednesday, February 01 2006 @ 11:36 PM EST (#140489) #
Well it officially looks like Rios and Johnson will only play against lefites. This leaves the Blue Jays with Hinske and Cat manning the corner outfield most of the season. Its a long season and I still cannot believe that this is how things will evolve. The more I read comments made by Hinske, the more I like him and his team first approach.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060130&content_id=1303544&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Sorry to post this here but the last "notes from nowhere" thread is now almost as ancient as my memory of R.Sierra ever playing for the Jays.
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Eric Purdy - Thursday, February 02 2006 @ 02:20 AM EST (#140491) #
Like ESPN's horrible columnists weren't enough to piss me off, they decided to give me a heart attack by offering up the headline "Surgery could sideline Speier for the season". Thankfully it was about Justin's little brother, Ryan, who plays for the Rockies.
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Chuck - Thursday, February 02 2006 @ 07:25 AM EST (#140492) #
The more I read comments made by Hinske, the more I like him and his team first approach.

Hinske's words may be driven by a noble heart... or they may simply be driven by pragmatism. His performance beyond his rookie year has not suitably armed him to assume a selfish posture about playing time. He's gotta take what he can get it and he knows it. If he's to sign a meaningful contract beyond his current one, it'll have to be on the strength of more than 150 AB per year in a backup role.

[ Reply to This ]
Remaining FA's Old, Unimpressive? | 35 comments | Create New Account
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