Master Index of Archived Threads


Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

metirish Jan 28 2010 07:24 AM

SI had ranked the Top 50 and 10 of those players available. After Tuesday's flurry of signings, just 10 members of the Reiter 50 -- SI.com's ranking of the top 50 free agents on this winter's market -- remain available. On Tuesday clubs snapped up four players on the list: Ben Sheets (who got a one-year, $10 million deal from the A's); Jon Garland (one year, $5.3 million from the Padres); Xavier Nady (one year, $3.3 million from the Cubs); and Ronnie Belliard (who re-signed with the Dodgers for one year and $835,000). The 10 players left have a good deal in common. They are, generally, somewhat advanced in years (average opening day age: 34). Several of them are coming off years in which they suffered injuries, or are perceived to be injury risks. And all of them will likely end up disappointed by the result of their experience as free agents. There are not that many starting gigs left, and none of these players is likely to earn anything better than a one-year deal at discounted rate. With every team scheduled to hold its first full spring training workout in a month or less, this is the time of year when most (if not all) of the negotiating power rests in the hands of the clubs. Bobby Abreu, for instance, last season did not sign with the Angels until Feb. 11, and he could only extract $5 million from them, which proved to be a bargain indeed. There are, in other words, impactful players to be had among the top 10 free agents who remain on the market. Those players are: 1 - Felipe Lopez (original rank: 7) Age: 29 Position: 2B 2009 Stats: .310/.383/.427, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 6 SB Perhaps the greatest mystery of this year's market is why Lopez has not drawn much interest. He's one of the younger players out there, so clubs' fears of being saddled with a declining player don't seem to apply. He's a strong defender -- the fifth-best among second baseman last season, as measured by Ultimate Zone Rating -- so his case should, if anything, have been helped by the new obsession with fielding. And he ranked third at his position in batting average and 10th in OPS (.810), in a year he split between Arizona and Milwaukee. For whatever reason, he should at this point be available at a price that might be attractive to a team that a few weeks ago might have thought they could never afford him. The Cubs remain a possibility, but another is the Cardinals, for whom Lopez could play third (he has started 85 games there during his career), and for whom he would represent a significant upgrade over current projected starter David Freese. 2 - Erik Bedard (11) Age: 31 Position: SP 2009 Stats: 5-3, 2.82 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 9.8 K/9 Bedard is now far and away the leader in "upside" among available starting pitchers. His ceiling is as high as anyone's in the game -- much higher than, say, that of 42-year-old John Smoltz. His downside, though, is significant, as indicated by the fact that he pitched 81 and 83 innings in his two injury-plagued seasons as a Mariner, and that he hasn't reached 200 innings in any of his six big league seasons. A return to Baltimore, which is looking like a high-ceiling club even in the AL East and which could use a cheap, and potentially dominant, veteran starter, makes sense. 3 - Johnny Damon (13) Age: 36 Position: OF 2009 Stats: .282/.365/.489, 24 HR, 82 RBI, 12 SB I extensively examined the reasons behind Damon's ongoing availability on Monday, and not much has changed since then. The A's, though, have emerged as a favorite for his services, and even though they seem to have a full cache of outfielders (Rajai Davis, Coco Crisp and Ryan Sweeney), Damon would make a nice veteran addition, one who could split his time between left field and DH. And then if they're out of it at the trading deadline -- which, in the suddenly loaded AL West, they might well be -- the A's could deal him for a prospect or two. 4 - Orlando Hudson (14) Age: 32 Position: 2B 2009 Stats: .283/.357/.417, 9 HR, 62 RBI, 8 SB Poor O-Dog; free agency has never been kind to him. Not last year, when he was searching for a multi-year deal but was forced to settle for a one-year, $3.4 million offer from the Dodgers, and not this year, when he the same exact thing appears as if it's about to happen. The Mets would love to have him, but they're still hamstrung by the absurd 4-year, $25 million contract GM Omar Minaya gave to Luis Castillo in Nov. '07, rendering him completely untradeable. The beneficiaries of Hudson's ongoing predicament will likely be the Nationals. 5 - Orlando Cabrera (21) Age: 35 Position: SS 2009 Stats: .284/.316/.389, 9 HR, 77 RBI, 13 SB Cabrera's situation, in some ways, mirrors that of the slightly more highly rated Orlando. All he wants is a long-term home, but he's played for six different teams since 2004. He's played in the post-season, though, in five of those six seasons -- mostly due to luck, of course, but he's had something to do with it, hasn't he? The Reds just dumped a truckload of money on Aroldis Chapman, but Cabrera's price might be just low enough for them to bring him aboard too, as a nice veteran influence on a young club on the rise, and as an improvement on incumbent Paul Janish (.601 OPS in '09). 6 - Carlos Delgado (30) Age: 37 Position: 1B 2009 Stats: .298/.393/.521, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 0 SB I originally thought that the Braves might want to pick-up Delgado as a placeholder for Freddie Freeman, but they opted to sign a player who is perhaps an even bigger injury risk, Troy Glaus. It was just a year and a half ago that Mets fans were chanting "M-V-P!" every time Delgado strode to the plate, and a return engagement might work well for both parties. So he reportedly limps when he plays first base, a lingering effect of his hip surgery. So what? That will just make him a few million dollars cheaper, and even a one-legged Delgado is probably a better hitter than Daniel Murphy. 7 - Jermaine Dye (31) Age: 36 Position: 2B 2009 Stats: .250/.340/.453, 27 HR, 81 RBI, 0 SB If Damon does not re-sign with the Yankees -- and that looks extremely likely -- GM Brian Cashman will need to find an everyday left fielder, and he'd prefer him to be a right-handed hitter. Dye could nicely fit that bill, and would probably be a bargain for a player whose OPS ranked him between David Ortiz and Adam Jones last year. He's declining defensively -- his UZR as a right fielder with the White Sox in '09 was a terrible -20.0 -- but would constitute less of a liability in left than in right, and he could be spelled late in games by the defensively outstanding Brett Gardner. 8 - Russell Branyan (46) Age: 34 Position: 1B 2009 Stats: .251/.347/.520, 31 HR, 76 RBI, 2 SB Count Branyan as another player on this list who was looking for a multi-year deal -- the first of his career -- but hasn't gotten one, and won't. The Mariners tried to re-sign him for a single year in November, but he turned them down, and GM Jack Zduriencik subsequently continued his quest to assemble a team that allows no batted ball to fall to the earth by trading for Casey Kotchman in January. The White Sox, who once seemed to be composed entirely of first baseman/DH-types, could actually now use a first baseman/DH-type, and they might represent one of the last options for one of 2009's breakout players 9 - Jarrod Washburn (47) Age: 35 Position: SP 2009 Stats: 9-9, 3.78 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5.1 K/9 Despite their terrific co-aces (Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee), the rest of the Mariners' rotation -- Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell, whoever -- doesn't look like that of the genuine contender that they (and many others) believe they are. Washburn's numbers don't look that good because of his miserable second-half stint in Detroit, but before that he was fantastic (8-6, 2.64 ERA) in the Mariners' big yard and pitching in front of their speedy fielders, and he wants to return. 10 - Yorvit Torrealba (50) Age: 31 Position: C 2009 Stats: .291/.351/.380 2 HR, 31 RBI, 1 SB Now that the Mets' rather inexplicable pursuit of Bengie Molina has borne no fruit (Molina re-signed with the Giants), they might turn to Torrealba, a player whom I (for one) considered to be a better option all along. Torrealba filed a grievance against the club after they backed out of a deal with him in '07, but we're now in the late-January free agent market, in which strange bedfellows often abound. Slim pickings for the Mets needs

Edgy DC Jan 28 2010 07:39 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

I think everybody hates Felipe Lopez. He generally joins teams --- often bad teams --- and starts the season as the reserve infielder. Somebody gets hurt, he steps in, and finishes the season as one of the team's top offensive and defensive players, and they don't bother re-signing the guy.

bmfc1 Jan 28 2010 07:41 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

I would support signing Washburn if he's OK (have the Mets crack medical staff, lead by Dr. Nick, give him the once over). He was great in the first half of last season--look at his July--before breaking down. Given what they have and the available options, including the fragile Bedard, Washburn looks like a good choice.

Frayed Knot Jan 28 2010 07:57 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

and Pedro's still out there too.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 28 2010 07:58 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

One of the things I learned yesterday while looking over evidence that Erik Bedard was a douche was that Jerrod Washburn is also a douche.

metirish Jan 28 2010 08:00 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Oh and get this from Rubin By Adam Rubin John Smoltz could choose not pitching over pitching for the Mets ... at least for now. But Smoltz isn't retiring yet. An insider tells the Daily News he believes the 42-year-old Smoltz could follow the route Pedro Martinez went last season -- wait and sign mid-season. That could give Smoltz a better opportunity to be at full strength late in the regular season and for any potential postseason activity.

Edgy DC Jan 28 2010 08:04 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Et tu, Rubine?

smg58 Jan 28 2010 08:10 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

I'd take Russ Branyan and Erik Bedard, and Kiko Calero (who should be on this list) as well, plus Garko to platoon with Branyan. Then I'd send a small package headed by Murphy to the Marlins for Ricky Nolasco. If the price for Lopez or Hudson comes significantly down, I might be willing to make Castillo a very expensive reserve.

bmfc1 Jan 28 2010 08:16 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="smg58":11rpjn1a]I'd take Russ Branyan and Erik Bedard, and Kiko Calero (who should be on this list) as well, plus Garko to platoon with Branyan. Then I'd send a small package headed by Murphy to the Marlins for Ricky Nolasco. If the price for Lopez or Hudson comes significantly down, I might be willing to make Castillo a very expensive reserve.[/quote:11rpjn1a] Whoa! Slow down! You want Omar's head to explode? One thing at a time. No multi-tasking allowed in Omar's world.

metirish Jan 28 2010 08:19 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

All that should be done by the next trading window.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 28 2010 08:34 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="smg58":b1bdttv7] If the price for Lopez or Hudson comes significantly down, I might be willing to make Castillo a very expensive reserve.[/quote:b1bdttv7] I think this is a good idea, or a good theory at least. Castillo is a switch-hitter, a good bunter, knows how to reach first base, has decent wheels, can start now and again. Also exce;lent insurance if for some reason there's something to the fact that Hudson and Lopez can't get signed.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 28 2010 08:39 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 28 2010 08:44 AM

The price for Lopez or Hudson IS down. But, you know, you have to actually negotiate-- or SPEAK-- with the guy in order to sign him. I have every confidence that instead of signing one of these guys for 3-4 million-- relegating Castillo to said very expensive backup role-- the team will almost definitely spend said money on 1-2 other deals on players that won't help nearly as much as the offensive/defensive upgrade at second would. (And why IS Lopez so apparently unpopular? Do teams underrate his abilities, or merely the importance of a second baseman with his skills? Or did he, like, drunkenly paw some GM's wife long ago, and let word get around about it?)

metirish Jan 28 2010 08:42 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Castillo would really add to the bench Blanco/Santos - Cora , Pagan/Matthews Jr , Tatis....

Edgy DC Jan 28 2010 08:44 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"](And why IS Lopez so apparently unpopular? Do teams underrate his abilities, or merely the importance of a second baseman with his skills?)

I think we might need to consult the Douchebag Almanac.

Centerfield Jan 28 2010 09:43 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

You know, if they lose out on all these guys, I think the best thing they could do is pay off Bobby Bonilla and get him off the books.

MFS62 Jan 28 2010 10:01 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="Edgy DC"][quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"](And why IS Lopez so apparently unpopular? Do teams underrate his abilities, or merely the importance of a second baseman with his skills?)

I think we might need to consult the Douchebag Almanac.
I thought it may have been his defense. I went to check out his stats on baseball-reference.com and my PC keeps hanging up when I search for his name. Shows the top of the page (his name), but that's all.
Can someone else please try and post a link to them?
Thanks,
Later

attgig Jan 28 2010 10:33 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

link: http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... fe01.shtml

attgig Jan 28 2010 10:36 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

and fangraphs of him. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?pl ... S#fielding his UZR last year was 7.8, thought he year before was -5.3 career has him at 5.1

Nymr83 Jan 28 2010 10:38 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

have the Mets crack medical staff, lead by Dr. Nick, give him the once over Hello everybody! who needs a cortisone shot?

Ashie62 Jan 28 2010 10:48 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Do you want the Mets to sign any of these last 10? I don't

metirish Jan 28 2010 10:55 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="Ashie62":2vki1l5a]Do you want the Mets to sign any of these last 10? I don't[/quote:2vki1l5a] You're just pissed that Looper isn't in that list.

Vic Sage Jan 28 2010 11:23 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="Ashie62":10p3nah8]Do you want the Mets to sign any of these last 10? I don't[/quote:10p3nah8] If we had Lopez or O-dog at 2b, Torrealba behind the plate, and Bedard (if he could pass a physical) or Washburn (if he can't) in the rotation, I think we'd win more games next year, maybe enough to get into the post-season. How much the Mets would have to shell out to make that happen is a separate question, but i'd want them to make it happen.

Nymr83 Jan 28 2010 11:25 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

There isn't a player on that list that wouldn't help the mets on a 1 year deal.

Ashie62 Jan 28 2010 11:47 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Not if they show up hurt..Your also simplifying it. Cut Castillo and sign Hudson?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 28 2010 12:34 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="Vic Sage"]If we had Lopez or O-dog at 2b, Torrealba behind the plate, and Bedard (if he could pass a physical) or Washburn (if he can't) in the rotation, I think we'd win more games next year, maybe enough to get into the post-season. How much the Mets would have to shell out to make that happen is a separate question, but i'd want them to make it happen.

149M payroll last year.

Approximately 121M at present, as per Cot's. (Including everyone currently under contract, but not including those who've yet to settle/go to arb or the league-minimum Buffalo shuttlers.)

Figure on at least 10-12 ML-minimum-ish deals at about 400-500K each (4-5M) for the Nieves and Murphys, and a 1.25-1.75 salary for Pagan, settlement-or-arb-wise. That brings us to 127M.

Seems like there's at least $20-22M to play with then, no? (I'm giving the team the benefit of a budget-- we'll say last year's-- since things generally run smoother with one.)

-- Lopez gets a one-year deal for 4-5M.
-- Assuming he's healthy or will be there by, say, May/June (for the sake of argument, I'm also assuming a good evaluative medical staff), Bedard gets something like 6-7M plus incentives. If he isn't, then Washburn gets a similar offer.
-- Tatis gets 2M. 'Cause he plays 17 different positions, can spot our cornermen 2-3 starts a week, and he's one of O's guys.
-- Cherry on top? Fine. Torrealba for 2M. Or Wang or Lowry at 1-2M plus massive incentives.

Payroll's hovering around $141-142M. You're now looking at a infield that-- assuming returns-to-form by Wright and Reyes and continued performance from Murph-- is a potential defensive STRENGTH.

SS Reyes
3B Wright
CF Beltran/Pagan
LF Bay
1B Murphy
RF Francoeur/GMJ
2B Lopez
C Torrealba or Blanco/Omir/Thole platter
P

BENCH
GMJ
Castillo
Cora
(Omir or Blanco and/or Thole)
Evans/Carter
Tatis

Santana
Bedard/Wang/Lowry
Pelfrey
Maine
Perez

[IN RESERVE/BUFFALO: Bedard/Wang/Lowry, Nieve, Nelly Figs (if he passes waivers), Niese, Misch, Stoner]

Green
Parnell
Igarashi
Feliciano
Escobar
Rodriguez

[IN RESERVE/BUFFALO: Egbert, Everts, Kunz, Marshall, and plenty more!]

I'm sure there's something I'm neglecting here... but it seems like there's PLENTY of money available at this point... enough to add Delgado if you feel like it, or eat Castillo's deal... twice, really. (Add Hudson for 5M here, and-- though you don't have a place to play him-- you're still only at 147M.)

Vic Sage Jan 28 2010 02:06 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

this is what i'm saying...

metirish Jan 28 2010 02:22 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

By way of Metsblog Lastly, free-agent OF Timo Perez – yes, that Timo Perez – signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Timo lives.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 28 2010 02:25 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Natcherly, the latest rumor involves someone who didn't even make the top ten of the remaining dregs. It's Josh Fogg, who apparently pitched fairly well for Colorado last year.

metirish Jan 28 2010 02:27 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Fogg didn't even make the Top 50.....probably not the Top 100.......oh what a mess this is.....Josh fucking Fiogg

metsmarathon Jan 28 2010 02:28 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1sz00ufn]blah blah blah, what the mets should do, blah blah blah[/quote:1sz00ufn] [table:1sz00ufn][tr:1sz00ufn][td:1sz00ufn]like[/td:1sz00ufn][/tr:1sz00ufn][/table:1sz00ufn]

Ashie62 Jan 28 2010 07:05 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"][quote="Vic Sage"]If we had Lopez or O-dog at 2b, Torrealba behind the plate, and Bedard (if he could pass a physical) or Washburn (if he can't) in the rotation, I think we'd win more games next year, maybe enough to get into the post-season. How much the Mets would have to shell out to make that happen is a separate question, but i'd want them to make it happen.

149M payroll last year.

Approximately 121M at present, as per Cot's. (Including everyone currently under contract, but not including those who've yet to settle/go to arb or the league-minimum Buffalo shuttlers.)

Figure on at least 10-12 ML-minimum-ish deals at about 400-500K each (4-5M) for the Nieves and Murphys, and a 1.25-1.75 salary for Pagan, settlement-or-arb-wise. That brings us to 127M.

Seems like there's at least $20-22M to play with then, no? (I'm giving the team the benefit of a budget-- we'll say last year's-- since things generally run smoother with one.)

-- Lopez gets a one-year deal for 4-5M.
-- Assuming he's healthy or will be there by, say, May/June (for the sake of argument, I'm also assuming a good evaluative medical staff), Bedard gets something like 6-7M plus incentives. If he isn't, then Washburn gets a similar offer.
-- Tatis gets 2M. 'Cause he plays 17 different positions, can spot our cornermen 2-3 starts a week, and he's one of O's guys.
-- Cherry on top? Fine. Torrealba for 2M. Or Wang or Lowry at 1-2M plus massive incentives.

Payroll's hovering around $141-142M. You're now looking at a infield that-- assuming returns-to-form by Wright and Reyes and continued performance from Murph-- is a potential defensive STRENGTH.

SS Reyes
3B Wright
CF Beltran/Pagan
LF Bay
1B Murphy
RF Francoeur/GMJ
2B Lopez
C Torrealba or Blanco/Omir/Thole platter
P

BENCH
GMJ
Castillo
Cora
(Omir or Blanco and/or Thole)
Evans/Carter
Tatis

Santana
Bedard/Wang/Lowry
Pelfrey
Maine
Perez

[IN RESERVE/BUFFALO: Bedard/Wang/Lowry, Nieve, Nelly Figs (if he passes waivers), Niese, Misch, Stoner]

Green
Parnell
Igarashi
Feliciano
Escobar
Rodriguez

[IN RESERVE/BUFFALO: Egbert, Everts, Kunz, Marshall, and plenty more!]

I'm sure there's something I'm neglecting here... but it seems like there's PLENTY of money available at this point... enough to add Delgado if you feel like it, or eat Castillo's deal... twice, really. (Add Hudson for 5M here, and-- though you don't have a place to play him-- you're still only at 147M.)


Ah, Castillo on the bench..COOL!

Edgy DC Jan 28 2010 07:30 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Fuck some guy's top fifty free agent list and fuck some guy's top fifty prospect list. These thiings are to inform --- not to define the market. The game is still between the lines.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 28 2010 07:32 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Who did this, anyway? Heyman?

metirish Jan 28 2010 07:41 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":knhfbgm1]Who did this, anyway? Heyman?[/quote:knhfbgm1] Sorry , I thought I had a link there. Some guy named Ben Reiter. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/w ... index.html

Fman99 Jan 28 2010 07:55 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="bmfc1":3994k3n9][quote="smg58":3994k3n9]I'd take Russ Branyan and Erik Bedard, and Kiko Calero (who should be on this list) as well, plus Garko to platoon with Branyan. Then I'd send a small package headed by Murphy to the Marlins for Ricky Nolasco. If the price for Lopez or Hudson comes significantly down, I might be willing to make Castillo a very expensive reserve.[/quote:3994k3n9] Whoa! Slow down! You want Omar's head to explode? One thing at a time. No multi-tasking allowed in Omar's world.[/quote:3994k3n9] He's like an iPod.

Edgy DC Jan 28 2010 08:05 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

A Lopez examination here. This guy calls him a "talentless hack." Some folks think he's a dog and that comes out when he's playing for a second division club like the Nats, but he can get his shit somehow together in a pennant race. I don't buy that shit, but there's something to him folks don't seem to like. The guy replaced Barry Larkin, put up a Larkin-esque year, and was dealt in a big huge (mostly pointless) four-way trade half-way through the next season.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 28 2010 09:10 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

MINUSES: Possible Alomar-like effort issues. Alternatively, gives off weird pheromone that makes teammates not like him, despite no publicly-revealed reasons. PLUSES: Decent-to-good glove with range. Versatility, given experience at SS. Solid bat for middle-infielder. Excellent taste in spousery.

MFS62 Jan 28 2010 09:52 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Sign her, er, I mean, him, immediately. Later

Nymr83 Jan 28 2010 10:27 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="Edgy DC":tabluj0x]Fuck some guy's top fifty free agent list and fuck some guy's top fifty prospect list. These thiings are to inform --- not to define the market. The game is still between the lines.[/quote:tabluj0x] its useful in that it gives us a quick look at some guys that were successful last year to talk about, that doesnt mean we have to swear by the ranking or not want guys that arent on it. edit- i think i'm agreeing with you

Edgy DC Jan 29 2010 06:17 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Yeah, I just don't want to use it as one more thing to be bitter about.

metirish Jan 29 2010 06:30 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Jeez , you make an effort here to get discussion going and all you get is grief, talk about bitter. mild sarcasm, only mild

Fman99 Jan 29 2010 06:31 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]MINUSES: Possible Alomar-like effort issues. Alternatively, gives off weird pheromone that makes teammates not like him, despite no publicly-revealed reasons. PLUSES: Decent-to-good glove with range. Versatility, given experience at SS. Solid bat for middle-infielder. Excellent taste in spousery.

Felipe Lopez rules! Ye gods, look at that (those).

attgig Jan 29 2010 11:13 AM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

[quote="Edgy DC"]A Lopez examination here. This guy calls him a "talentless hack." Some folks think he's a dog and that comes out when he's playing for a second division club like the Nats, but he can get his shit somehow together in a pennant race. I don't buy that shit, but there's something to him folks don't seem to like. The guy replaced Barry Larkin, put up a Larkin-esque year, and was dealt in a big huge (mostly pointless) four-way trade half-way through the next season.

just wanted to make sure that everyone knows that the second source is the onion....

but anyways... lopez seems like he should have a job by now, and he doesn't. perhaps he plays with a chip on his shoulder if given an opportunity..... or perhaps he doesn't do anything...

all that said, castillo isn't going anywhere, so it seems pointless to continue having wet dreams about odog, or even now, lopez (the baseball player, not the model...)

smg58 Jan 29 2010 07:17 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Lopez was inexplicably awful for the Nats. Even though he's been good every place else, it's conceivable that teams are worried that they'll pay for an .800 OPS second baseman with a good glove and then get what the Nationals got.

Fman99 Jan 29 2010 07:26 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Cards and Rockies kicking the tires on [crossout:qvq3qogb]the guy married to the hard-on lady[/crossout:qvq3qogb] Lopez.

Ashie62 Jan 29 2010 08:07 PM Re: Top 10 Remaining Free Agents

Cross Lopez off