Free agents hit the open market

[nyy26wc]

1) The free agents hit the open market.

Here's the list--

1B--Carlos Baerga, Ron Coomer, Tony Clark, Wil Cordero, Julio Franco, Matt Franco, Andres Galarraga, Mark Grace, Eric Karros, Travis Lee, Dave McCarty, Fred McGriff, Rafael Palmeiro, J.T. Snow, Scott Spiezio

2B--Roberto Alomar, Jay Bell, Luis Castillo, Miguel Cairo, Andy Fox, Mark Grudzielanek, Denny Hocking, Pat Meares, Jeff Reboulet, Pokey Reese, Terry Shumpert, Fernando Vina, Todd Walker, Eric Young

SS--Rich Aurilia, Mike Bordick, Royce Clayton, Deivi Cruz, Chris Gomez, Tony Graffanino, Rey Ordonez, Miguel Tejada, Jose Vizcaino, Tony Womack

3B--Tony Batista, Vinny Castilla, Shane Halter, Lenny Harris, Mark McLemore, Greg Norton, Joe Randa, Rey Sanchez, Chris Stynes, Fernando Tatis, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile

LF--Jeromy Burnitz, Rickey Henderson, Todd Hollandsworth, Raul Ibanez, Brian Jordan, Al Martin, Troy O'Leary, Shannon Stewart, B.J. Surhoff, Rondell White, Gerald Williams

CF--Marvin Benard, Mike Cameron, Carl Everett, Doug Glanville, Tom Goodwin, Jeffrey Hammonds, Kenny Lofton, Eric Owens

RF--Darren Bragg, Jose Cruz Jr., Juan Gonzalez, Ben Grieve, Vladimir Guerrero, Jose Guillen, Felix Jose, John Mabry, Orlando Merced, Raul Mondesi, Orlando Palmeiro, Eduardo Perez, Reggie Sanders, Gary Sheffield, Matt Stairs, Mark Sweeney, Michael Tucker, John Vander Wal

C--Sandy Alomar Jr., Brad Ausmus, Pat Borders, Mike DiFelice, John Flaherty, Brook Fordyce, Joe Girardi, Bill Haselman, Javier Lopez, Brent Mayne, Keith Osik, Eduardo Perez, Todd Pratt, Tom Prince, Benito Santiago, Kelly Stinnett, Chris Widger, Gregg Zaun

DH--Albert Belle, Ellis Burks, Dean Palmer, Ruben Sierra

P--Terry Adams, Antonio Alfonseca, Kevin Alvarez, Brian Anderson, Kevin Appier, Andy Ashby, Pedro Astacio, Miguel Batista, Rod Beck, Armando Benitez, Dave Burba, John Burkett, Chris Carpenter, Hector Carrasco, Roger Clemens, Bartolo Colon, Mike DeJean, Cal Eldred, Kelvim Escobar, Shawn Estes, Scott Erickson, Jeff Fassero, Keith Foulke, Chad Fox, John Franco, Tom Gordon, Jason Grimsley, Eddie Guardado, Mark Guthrie, Shigetoshi Hasegawa, LaTroy Hawkins, Rick Helling, Dustin Hermanson, Pat Hentgen, Felix Heredia, Roberto Hernandez, Sterling Hitchcock, Darren Holmes, Todd Jones, Steve Kline, Curtis Leskanic, Al Levine, Cory Lidle, Kerry Ligtenberg, Jose Lima, Graeme Lloyd, Greg Maddux, Tom Martin, Kent Mercker, Jose Mesa, Jose Mercedes, Dan Miceli, Kevin Millwood, Brian Moehler, Terry Mulholland, Mike Myers, Jeff Nelson, Darren Oliver, Jesse Orosco, Antonio Osuna, Lance Painter, Robert Person, Andy Pettitte, Dan Plesac, Sidney Ponson, Paul Quantrill, Rick Reed, Steve Reed, Shane Reynolds, Arthur Rhodes, Ricardo Rincon, Todd Ritchie, Kenny Rogers, Glendon Rusch, Steve Sparks, Russ Springer, Garrett Stephenson, Scott Sullivan, Jeff Suppan, Julian Tavarez, John Thomson, Mike Timlin, Brett Tomko, Ugueth Urbina, Ismael Valdes, Todd Van Poppel, Dave Veres, Ron Villone, David Wells, Turk Wendell, Gabe White, Rick White, Mike Williams, Tim Worrell, Jamey Wright

2) The GM meetings begin today.

3) The Expos may have to cut their payroll by another $12-15 million from the 2003 figure.

4) According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers are expected to trade 1B Richie Sexson and/or LF Geoff Jenkins. The Diamondbacks have been rumored for a while interested in Sexson, while the paper reports such a trade could involve "a three- or multiplayer package that might include some combination of the following names: infielder Junior Spivey, first baseman Lyle Overbay, outfielder Danny Bautista, pitchers John Patterson and Oscar Villarreal and catcher Chad Moeller." The paper also reports the Dodgers are interested in Sexson.

5) According to the Rocky Mountain News, the agents for free agent Ps Robert Person and Rick Helling have told the Rockies they are interested in signing with them.

Helling is #1 among active pitchers in worst HR vs. the league average. So, maybe he wants to go to Colorado to see if he can make a run at Bert Blyleven's record of 50 HR allowed in a season.

The top 10--

HOMERUNS                        DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE
1    Rick Helling                -61      239      178
2    Brian Anderson              -59      224      165
T3   Kevin Jarvis                -52      140       88
T3   Jose Lima                   -52      200      148
5    Steve Trachsel              -45      265      220
6    Denny Neagle                -38      250      212
7    Pedro Astacio               -37      258      221
8    Rick Reed                   -36      213      177
9    Rob Bell                    -34       95       61
10   Brett Tomko                 -32      154      122

6) Orioles VP Jim Beattie says that, although they are rumors that they are interested in acquiring a #1 starter, their top priority is to acquire a bat. Beattie says "I think he'd [Vladimir Guerrero] certainly be one of the top two or three." Meanwhile, the team has also been rumored to be interested in free agent Ivan Rodriguez.

7) According to the Baltimore Sun, while the Orioles have been rumored to be interested in Miguel Tejada, they are now believed to prefer going after Kazuo Matsui and, if they are unsuccessful, then they'd move Brian Roberts from 2B to SS.

8) According to the Boston Herald, the Redsox are interested in trading P Scott Williamson for a show up in the 9th inning pitcher. The paper also reports that RF Trot Nixon could go to the Mariners for P Freddy Garcia, CF Johnny Damon could be on the trading block and they are interested in free agent Ps Andy Pettitte and Keith Foulke. Meanwhile, Manny Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez are also expected to be frequently mentioned names on the rumor front.

9) According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Twins are expected to listen to offers for P Eric Milton.

10) According to the Boston Globe, if the Marlins put 3B Mike Lowell on the trade block, the Redsox might be interested.