Free Agent Predictions....

With only a few free agents, and no big ones, signed so far this offseason, here's some predictions on where I think the major free agents at each position will be heading. I am also going to include some potential players to be traded this offseason and where they'll be headed as well. Analysis on some is offered below as well. Only position players who figure to be starters are listed.


First Basemen

Paul Konerko - Red Sox
Frank Thomas - White Sox
Erubiel Durazo - Blue Jays
Jeff Conine - Marlins or retirement

Second Basemen

Mark Grudzielanek - Cardinals

Shortstops

Rafeal Furcal - Cubs
Nomar Garciaparra - Dodgers
Rich Aurilia - Marlins (if Castillo goes)
Alex Gonzalez - Twins

Third Basemen

Bill Mueller - Phillies
Joe Randa - Twins
Abraham Nunez - Cardinals

Catcher

Mike Piazza - Twins
Brad Ausmus - Astros
Bengie Molina - Diamondbacks
Ramon Hernandez - Mets


Outfielders

Jeromy Burnitz - Rockies
Johnny Damon - Red Sox
Juan Encarnacion - Nationals
Carl Everett - Mariners
Brian Giles - Cardinals
Jacque Jones - Padres
Reggie Sanders - Royals
Preston Wilson - Rangers

Closers

Kyle Farnsworth - Yankees
Tom Gordon - Blue Jays
Trevor Hoffman - Braves
Bob Wickman - Indians
Todd Jones - Marlins
Brandon Looper - Reds
Jose Mesa - Pirates
B.J. Ryan - Mets
Ugeth Urbina - Jail
Billy Wagner - Phillies

Starting Pitchers

A.J. Burnett - Red Sox
Paul Byrd - Rangers
Kevin Millwood - Tigers
Matt Morris - Rangers
Jamie Moyer - Mariners or retirement
Kenny Rogers - Indians
Jarrod Washburn - Brewers
Jeff Weaver - Blue Jays


Possible Players to be Dealt (player, possible landing spots)

1) Manny Ramirez - Angels, Dodgers, D-backs, Mets
The BoSox will look to get both established players and prospects back in this deal. Depending on who else is included Boston will most likely have to eat some of the contract left (3yr/$57 mil). David Ortiz went on record the other day saying that he talked to Manny and Ramirez said he will not be back in Boston next year, but Ortiz also said that Pedro wasn't leaving town last offseason. Right now the Angels aren't ga-ga over him and he has said many times he'd rather not go to the Mets, but the Dodgers are in need of a big bat and tons of young pitching. Prediction: Stays with the Red Sox

2) David Wells - Padres, D-backs, Dodgers, Angels
He requested a trade to get out of town and go back to the southern California area and was told he'd be granted that request. Wells wants to go back to the Padres but the Sox will probably only oblige to that if they get CF Dave Roberts and relief pitcher Akinori Otsuka back. Prediction: Goes to San Diego

3) Carl Pavano - Mariners, Tigers, Mets, Indians, Brewers, Rangers
Pavano is reported to be very unhappy in New York and wouldn't be distraught if he were sent out of town. The Yankees are probably just as disappointed in him and with thier excess of starting pitching they can deal Pavano and load up some prospects or get a CF to fill thier hole there. The Tigers and Mariners wanted him very badly last offseason, and he'll probably end up at one of those to places. The Tigers have extra CF's. Prediction: Tigers

4) Carlos Delgado - Baltimore, Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Angels, Mariners, White Sox
Delgado was promised by Marlins owner Jeffery Loria that he would not be dealt during his contract length in Florida, unfortunately for Delgado Loria power was supplanted by his stepson and he has ordered the team dismantled. Baltimore, the Mets, and the Angels all need 1B and power lefty sticks, but who will give up the prospects first to get him. Prediction: Baltimore

5) Juan Pierre - Cubs, White Sox, Yankees
Pierre seems to have regressed lately but is still a good man to stick at the top of the order. For some reason the White Sox have been rumored to be going after him, but the Cubs and Bombers need a CF who can hit leadoff even more. Hopefully the Cubs can get Patterson and an okay prospect done for him, but I believe they will overpay. Prediction: Cubs

6) Luis Castillo - Mets, Cubs, Cardinals, Twins, Yankees, Rangers
The Cubs will only get involved if the lose out on Pierre and Furcal and the Rangers only if they deal Soriano. With no 2B prospects in sight and still a need for a leadoff man Castillo may be the one guy Florida doesn't trade out of this group. Afterall - someone has to take up the payroll. In fact, thats what I'll predict. Prediction: Stays with the Marlins

7) Paul LoDuca - Rockies, D-backs, Mets, Padres
How much demand will there be for a 34 year old catcher due $12.5 mil over then next two seasons? Not too much. In fact the only team I can see seriously going after him is the Rockies. So...Prediction: Going to Denver

8) Jim Thome - White Sox, Twins, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, Angels, Mariners, Cardinals
Thome probably won't be dealt until closer to spring training, basically till teams have a chance to see if he has recovered from his elbow surgery this past season. And when they finally do deal him, they will have to eat a lot of his contract, or get minimal prospects in return. Thome would be best suited to going to the AL and DH'ing his career out. Prediction: Angels

9) Bobby Abreu - Mets, Cubs, Orioles, Angels, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cardinals, Tigers, Mariners
Abreu is a 5-tool player but has dealt with some chatter of him not being a 'team guy' in the clubhouse. Whether it's true or not, I don't know. But I do know that since new Phillies GM Pat Gillick took over trade rumors of Abreu have persisted. He has a huge deal ($30 mil over next two years) and the Phillies payroll is already at $73 million without adding arbitration for Vincente Padilla and a new contract for either Billy Wagner or B.J. Ryan. Only a few teams will be able to absorb his contract, and Manny doesn't want to go to Philly - and the Phillies won't just give Abreu away. Prediction: Stays with Philly

10) Austin Kearns, Ken Griffey Jr., Wily Mo Pena, Adam Dunn -
One of these four men will be dealth this offseason according to the Cincinatti Red officials. There best bet will be to either try and peddle Sean Casey this season, but he has two years and $17 million left on his contract, and with his power numbers they would have to take 15 cents on the dollar to trade him. Dunn is thier most valuable chip, but he's also thier best player. They would love to deal the oft-injured Griffey, but who would risk him for another three years on his monster deal. Kearns has inexplicable regressed the last couple seasons and his value is down. Pena is young and powerful but inconsistent. If I ran the Reds I would keep all these guys and move Dunn to first by just dumping Casey, and I mean for like two bags of baseballs and some ranch sunflower seeds. Prediction: Kearns will be dealt for two decent prospects

11) Todd Walker - Rangers, Mets, Royals, Cardinals
Hendry pretty much said he picked up Walker's option to deal him so the best thing they can hope for is that Grudzielanek signs with the Royals, then they'll have the Cardinals and either the Met or Rangers (whoever has Soriano) needing a 2B and nobody left on the market. The Cubs won't get much in a deal if they do trade him though. Prediction: Rangers

12) Corey Patterson - Yankees, Phillies, Marlins, Orioles
A true tragedy so far, as this kid has a ton of ability. The Yankees need a CF who can cover ground and Patterson has been rumored to be part of a deal to Florida for Juan Pierre. If the Cubs cannot land Giles I feel thier best move is to trade other parts for Pierre and move Patterson to RF, but that probably will not happen. Prediction: Florida

13) Aaron Rowand - Yankees, Phillies, Orioles, Marlins
Two CF's from the same city being looked at by the same teams? Tell me its not true. The Yankees appear to have really liked Rowand since a series in August against the White Sox. The Sox have about 50 OF prospects on the verge and have another CF playing in left currently. Rowand had a down year at the plate in 2005 so they might want to wait another season to deal him as he's under contract through 2007. Prediction: Stays with the White Sox

14) Lyle Overbay - Mets, Dodgers, Orioles, Red Sox, Angels, White Sox
Prince is here to stay. No I'm not stuck in 1983 I'm talking about Prince Fielder, Cecil's son. He's ready to take over 1B in Milwaukee but Overbay is in the way. Since he cannot play the OF Lyle will be moved to someone in need of a 1B, namely the teams listed after his name. All of the teams listed have solid pitching prospects available, which the Brew Crew desperately needs, and a hole 1B. Milwaukee will do best to sit on him till Konerko and Delgado situations are resolved as the price will then go up. If Milwaukee can get an elite pitching prospect and another decent one they'll pee themselves. The best thing that can happen is if the Mets miss on everyone this offseason as they will then probably give away thier farm system. Prediction: Dodgers
15) Barry Zito - Everyone except Florida
Who couldn't use a former lefthanded Cy Young winner who is 26 years old. Seriously, the A's will most likely deal him this offseason as he becomes a free agent after the next season. If Burnett is going to get $10+ mil this offseason imagine what Zito will command. And even though he has been down the last couple of seasons, he had a great bouceback 2nd half of 2005. Oakland will not be able to afford him after this year so he must go. Prediction: Mets

16) Alfonso Soriano - Mets, Yankees
Unless he decides to start playing the OF the teams interested in him will pretty much be limited to the New Yorks, and most likely only the Mets at that. Soriano is in his final year of arbitration and will get around $10 mil for the next season. I really can't see anyone other than the Mets going after him, so...Prediction: Going to Queens

17) Milton Bradley - Tigers, Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Cardinals, Phillies
Bradley is a talent but has serious clubhouse, off-field, and on-field issues. In fact, lets just say he has 'issues' period. The Dodgers want to get rid of him and there are always teams ready to take on guys with problems who can produce. The Yankees sure seem to have gotton a bunch of these guys lately. Prediction: The Yanks

18) Ichiro Suzuki - Mets, Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, Braves, Cubs, Cardinals, Tigers, Angels, D-backs, Dodgers
If this guy is really available...look out. Even though he bad-mouthed manager Mike Hargrove and GM Bill Bavasi in a Japanese newspaper saying he would like to be dealt this past week, the Mariners would really have to be bowled over by an offer to dump Ichiro. That said...Prediction: Staying with the Mariners

19) Javier Vazquez - Cardinals, Cubs, Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, Braves, Orioles
Vazquez has recrently enacted the clause in MLB where a player traded in the middle of a multiyear contract may ask to be dealt after the season in which he has been traded. So now the D-back have until March 15 to trade him or release him outright. My guess is he will be dealt. Vazquez is allowed up to six teams to say he cannot be traded to and those reported are Philadelphia, Colorado, Seattle, and Texas - with Seattle being the only team west of Arizona listed. This is significant since the reason he cited for the request was to be closer to Puerto Rico and shorten the trip for his family from his home and the place he plays at. With him only including Seattle on the west coast he is gambling that the D-backs will not trade him to a division rival or the Angels (since the A's cannot afford him). Smart move on his part if you ask me. Once this request came through, and before the Josh Beckett/Mike Lowell trade I would have guaranteed you that Vazquez and 3B Troy Glaus were going to Boston for LF Manny Ramirez, but now....Prediction: Orioles


Well that's it, that is the look at the major Free Agents and players most likely to be dealt this offseason. Will I get them all right? Will I get any of them right? Who knows, but we'll see. If you want to talk trash on me copy and paste the free agent section and make your own picks in the comments area.



Obligatory Brian Giles Plea....

With the Cardinals now backing off of Giles to pursue a Free Agent SP (A.J. Burnett and Kevin Millwood) I say we not only scoop up Giles while they're not paying attention, but then nab whatever pitcher they want more away at same time. Double Whammy.