You can't help but notice all the marquee players available in this years Free Agent Pool. You almost wonder where to start? With arguably the best players in the league and Hall of Famers too all available to the highest bidder this year many franchises are 'Miami Heating' their roster's in hopes of landing some of the games best. Almost every team in the league expects to have the money to offer a Max Contract to a player or two, with some of the leagues top teams having multiple offers at their disposal. Where player's will land is still a mystery as many are guarding their futures tight, nobody has yet decided to create their own TV Show to make their decision known.
With that let's get these meaningless introductions of this Free Agent class underway!
(This post will be a work in progress - I will publish it with every player added.)
First let's take a look at the players that are likely to get multiple max offers out of the gate.
Do I even need to speak about Chad Lamb's resume? He is a 4 time All-Star with a Cy Young and 3 World Series Rings under his belt - At 29. I expect numerous teams to offer him right out of the gate. It will be interesting to see if he will stay with the Anaheim Pepperchuckers or if he is willing to move to another city. Rumor has it he is high on the Wichita Black Lightning's wish list as well as Kansas City Black and Blue Brachiosaurus' and Syracuse Tyrants if they are unable to bring back both of their Cy Younger's.
And don't count out a return to the Salem Witch Doctors, where he has already won two rings.
Pat Politte needs no introduction either, as no 7 time All-Star should. Pat finally won his first World Series ring last year with the Syracuse Tyrants. Now he has a big decision on his hands. He has already stated he will be testing the market but it is unsure where he might land. Polite is on many teams wish list, including the Kansas City Black and Blue Brachiosaurus, Wichita Black Lightning, Pittsburgh Pranksters, among other clubs. Polite did bring a title to Syracuse before his contract ended. Insiders believe he is leaning towards staying in Syracuse but wants to 'experience being a Free Agent'.
The most decorated pitcher in Ripken Jr, Oscar Baumann, finally has his ring.. The 8 time All-Star and 4 time Cy Young winner won the Ring last year with the Syracuse Tyrants. Rumors within the league have said that he is the top priority of the Wichita Black Lightning this winter. The club has tried to trade for him numerous times, to no avail. Many other teams should in in on Baumann as well.
Red Parker is the oldest among this years Top Tier of pitchers, at age 36 Parker has 114 wins to go along with a 3.93 era and an All-Star appearance in Season 6. Parker will likely not command a max deal but will still be rewarded nicely.
Len Knott is not an Ace but is the top among the next tier of pitchers. Len has played his entire Major League career for the Iowa City I Wanna Score More. Knott does not have an amazing stat line but has proven he can be a reliable middle of the rotation starter.
The leagues Top Player and 7 time All-Star, Philip Cashman is the prize to be had this Free Agency Period. Cashman has been the leader for the Kansas City Black and Blue Brachiosaurus for the past 4 seasons, leading them to the #1 seed in the Playoffs last year. Rumors have swirled that Cashmen is top priority for the Salem Witch Doctors this post season and it would seem like a good fit for Cashman if he were to leave Kansas City.
Most years Larry Carver would sit atop the Free Agency Wish-Lists of hopefully clubs, this year though he may be the forgotten. With so many Cy Young caliber pitchers and Star Phillip Cashman all testing Free Agency, there has been little buzz around Carver apart from a feeling that he is many clubs "I-lost-out-on-Cashman" backup.
Achilles Cohen, the leagues all time Home Run leader is recieving even less attention from the top tier clubs. In fact, according to many sources within the league many clubs haven't even considered him. Cohen will likely get a solid deal, and with how much money is on the table it might be near max.
In a surprising move that many journalists (including this one, but more on that later) have questioned, the Kansas City Black and Blue Brachiosaurus decided to cut last seasons MVP, Ted Wilson, loose and not renew their end of the mutual option. Wilson's market value might be higher if he was not isolated to LF/1B, where many of the top clubs are locked and ready to go. It has been rumored that Kansas City is hoping to re-sign their star for less then they owed him but with the money on the market it would be shocking not to see Wilson get a near max deal.
Roland Rivers played last season for three clubs, Salem Witch Doctors, Pittsburgh Pranksters and the Boston Puritans. He likely will not see any max money come his way but would be a nice consultation prize for whoever misses out on any of the big names.
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