FanPost

2007 FA Market For M's

I thought I’d do a little FA review after this season.  I know its early and there is going to a bunch of stuff between now and the offseason going on but hey I'm trying to look ahead to better times.

Team 2007 Salaries
(I estimated some of the guy’s salaries who are under team control.  If you see any problems with any parts of this let me know.  I mostly used mlb4u.)

Infield
14 m – Sexson
450 k - Lopez
400 k – Betancourt
11 m – Beltre
850 k – Bloomquist

Outfield
11.5 m – Ichiro
450 k – Reed
5.5 m – Ibanez
450 k – Snelling

Catcher
5.2 m – Jojhima
400 k – Rivera

DH
3.5m – Everett (if option vests)

Starting Pitchers
9.4 m – Washburn
450 k – Felix

Bullpen
1 m – Mateo
500 k – Putz
450 k – Sherrill
750 k – Soriano
350 k – Woods
350 k - Green

Assuming Everett’s deal does not vest
Total = 63 million
Payroll is missing 6 players.  Need 3 SP, 1 bullpen, and 2 bench players.
Expected Payroll ~90 million
FA budget = 27 million
1 bullpen arm = 400 k
2 bench players = 1.6 m
Money left for SP = 25 million
25/3 = 8.33 million

Possible combinations
12-8-5 good/ok/acceptable
If Moyer comes back then we get one good guy and one guy who is ok.

15-11-1 stud/good/AAA
If we go with Nageotte or Livingston or some other AAA guy, then we can go out and really get a couple studs.

Questionable Resigning w/ estimated salaries
5 m – Meche
Not likely to resign.  Should get a decent deal in FA even though he isn’t very good.  If he pulls it together during the 2nd half of the year it will be harder not to resign him but he will get more money in FA.  Not a bad 5th starter if the price is right if he can continue doing better than shitty.  Is very expensive if used in the bullpen.

6 m – Moyer
If he want to play another year (and he sounds like he does) this could happen.  It will be interesting to see if he can continue to pitch in the majors.  Price is ok for a 4/5 starter that can be depended on to eat innings.  Mostly for PR because who doesn't like Moyer.

750 k – Petagine
Not significant to team’s performance so far.  Be interesting to see how he does after Hargrove is fired.  If Sexson continues to suck, he could see extended playing time at 1B.

8 m – Pineiro
Could be resigned depending on performance for the rest of this year and if he is traded during the year.  Junk ball pitcher.  Occasionally successful.  Better than Meche.  Decent 3/4 pitcher.  Much easier to watch since Bret Boone's influence on his hair style is gone.

Most Interesting Free Agents

Daisuke Matsuzaka
Jason Schmidt
Kerry Wood (has huge option which I hope is not signed i think)
Mark Mulder
Barry Zito
Andy Pettitte
Greg Maddux
------Kelvim Escobar (Signed a 3yr - $28.5 million extension)
Orlando Hernandez
Tomo Ohka
Craig Wilson (order of most played position:  RF, 1B, LF, C, DH)

This FA market has some big SP names out there but they are going to be expensive and command long deals.  The question is how comfortable are the M's with signing one of these FA pitchers to a huge contract.  Also, keep in mind that they need to keep some room in the payroll for all the young guys who may be coming out from team control in a couple years and they will need some money for Ichiro if he wants a raise (another issue).