Sunday, December 12, 2010

Outfield/DH Free Agent Special

This week I will give some analysis and predictions for the top free agent outfielders/DHs. Once Cliff Lee makes his decision, I’ll post some analysis on that, so come back during the week for an update.

Magglio Ordonez (.303 AVG, 12 HR, 59 RBI)
Prediction: Detroit Tigers – The Tigers are pushing hard for Magglio and seem to be willing to pay him some serious dough. Ordonez had a very good year last year, and if you eliminate his injury that kept him out for half the season, his power numbers would pace out to be 24 home runs and 118 RBIs. Those are pretty good numbers, and I don’t see the Tigers letting him go.

Vladimir Guerrero (.300 AVG, 29 HR, 115 RBI)
Prediction: Texas Rangers – The Rangers want him back and Vlad wants to come back. Guerrero wants a multi-year contract, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is willing to give that to him. And as with all one-year contracts, he’ll go where he wants to go, and that’s in Texas.

Jim Thome (.283 AVG, 25 HR, 59 RBI)
Prediction: Minnesota Twins – Thome was a big part of the Twins’ success last year, and obviously still has it. He it 25 home runs in 108 games last year, which is a very impressive ratio (about 1 home run every four games). He also hit for a solid batting average, and I just don’t see the Twins letting him go, or any other teams jumping in and blowing him away.

Hideki Matsui (.274 AVG, 21 HR, 84 RBI)
Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays – Here’s a rundown of who all the Rays have lost this offseason and who they will and might lose:
Lost – Joaquin Benoit
Lost – Carlos Pena
Lost – Carl Crawford
Will Lose – Rafael Soriano
Will Lose – Grant Balfour
Will Lose – Randy Choate
Looking to Trade – Matt Garza
Looking to Trade – Jason Bartlett
After all of those losses, they have to add someone, right?

Come back next week for a recap of Newberg Night and come back during the week after Cliff makes his decision.

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