Baseball free agency starts early this year Buyers are not letting hot stove fever get the best of them

Major League Baseball moved up its date for negotiating with free agents, but it has not had any impact on signings yet.

Cliff Lee, the top pitcher on the market, is only beginning to hear pitches from prospective suitors. Outfielder Carl Crawford, a five-tool threat, is available, too. In fact, the open market seems to be moving as slow as ever.

"I think it's moving at a regular pace, normal pace," Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "You don't know what page all the other clubs are on, from our standpoint, I think it's been this way every off-season."

This year baseball and its union allowed teams to discuss contracts with free agents five days after the World Series, instead of the former 15-day delay, meaning the market opened for business on Sunday night.

But unlike the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association, where the big names seem to drop as soon as teams are allowed to sign players or announce their signings, there has been little of note this week.

"It seemed a lot quicker last year, maybe because there was the lull of not being able to talk financial parameters," Anthopoulos said. "The first few weeks, a lot of people are kicking tires. Everyone's gathering information because there are a lot of options. You're trying to sift through all the options that are there, all the GMs are trying to work through connecting with all the teams to see if any [trades] line up. The same with free agents. People are making calls and trying to get a sense of where the market is for certain players."

Player agent Paul Cohen seconded the notion that little had changed this year.

"I haven't seen anything overly dramatic as opposed to other years," said Cohen, who represents Colorado Rockies pitcher Jorge de la Rosa, among others.

Cohen did suggest that, despite what is seen as a shallow talent pool of free agents, the market could be vigorous after a couple of relatively down years for big contracts.

"Generally I'm an optimist," he said. "With the economy somewhat stabilizing -- maybe it's not what it was a few years ago -- my hope and expectation is we have a fluid market that is positive for everybody."

There will certainly be a big market for Lee, the left-hander many believe is seeking a contract similar to the seven-year, US$161-million one the New York Yankees gave good friend CC Sabathia two years ago.

Although, at 32, he is four years older than Sabathia when the Yankees handed out his huge deal, Lee is a former Cy Young Award winner who helped Texas reach the World Series this year. He is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA in 10 post-season starts over the last two years.

Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, made clear in comments to the New York Post this week that his client is open to anything, though that is a common negotiating tactic of agents seeking to drive up offers.

"He has worked very hard and persevered through a lot," Braunecker said. "For him to close down things at this point wouldn't make sense."

Among the other big names in this year's group of more than 160 free agents are Philadelphia outfielder Jayson Werth, Boston third baseman Adrian Beltre and defensively challenged first baseman Adam Dunn of the Nationals.

Others on the market include White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, Tampa Bay closer Rafael Soriano and future Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, both of whom have spent their entire careers with the New York Yankees.

Both Yankees legends are widely expected to wind up back in pinstripes.

The rest of the market seems to be waiting, as it always does, for one shoe to drop.

"It all depends, someone always has to go first," Anthopoulos said. "I don't know that there's one catalyst per se. Everyone's in talks, everyone has dialogue. It's just a matter of how quickly people work through the process. Things get slowed up because people have alternatives and they have an option, that's what it comes down to."\

THE TOP FREE AGENTS

CLIFF LEE

Starting pitcher, Texas

2010: 12-9, 3.18 ERA

JAYSON WERTH

Outfielder, Philadelphia

2010: .296, 27 HR, 85 RBI

CARL CRAWFORD

Outfielder, Tampa Bay

2010: .307, 19 HR, 90 RBI

ADAM DUNN

First baseman, Washington

2010: .260, 38 HR, 103 RBI

THE TOP FREE AGENTS

PAUL KONERKO

First baseman, Chi. White Sox

2010: .312, 39 HR, 111 RBI

MARIANO RIVERA

Relief pitcher, N.Y. Yankees

2010: 3-3, 1.80 ERA 33 saves

RAFAEL SORIANO

Relief pitcher, Tampa Bay

2010: 3-2, 1.73 ERA, 45 saves

VICTOR MARTINEZ

Catcher, Boston

2010: .302, 20 HR, 79 RB

AUBREY HUFF

First baseman, San Francisco

2010: .290, 26 HR, 86 RBI

Oakland Athletics lose Vin Mazzaro for David DeJesus

Akland Athletics lose Vin Mazzaro for David DeJesus

The Major League Baseball season may have concluded earlier this month but the action, off field is only beginning to heat up. It’s only a matter of good decisions that land the best flock of players at either side and it remains to be seen, who goes where when the time for spring training comes knocking at the door.

The seamless strides down free market has earned many veteran and experienced players comfortable deals, but the effort to restructure a roster and strategy comes at a cost and it only manifests when the formation and roster go through practical match experience.

The teams in both American League and National League are looking for ways to plug their holes out and sign in good players, who will contribute to the elevation of the teams’ success. That is something every club supporter will be hoping for and as time goes by, the need to interchange players will come.

The Oakland Athletics are a similar team that has been striving for gold and an opportunity in the league. The club has broken ground by bagging rights to negotiate with Japanese star, Hisashi Iwakuma. Now the A’s have made another breakthrough in the off season by signing in David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals.

However, the cost of signing the premium star has been realized in a trade of two pitchers. Right Hand ball thrower Vin Mazzaro is one of the stars to make his way to the Central side and a prospect in the minor league, Justin Marks is the other player.

DeJesus is a speedy hitter and his batting average of .318 makes him a good commodity. He smashed 5 homers, along with 37 RBIs (Runs Batted In) in 91 games for the Royals. The veteran 30 year old player commented on his move by saying, “Going to Oakland, they've got great pitching, and if we can get some bats over there, I think it'll be an exciting year. They play the game right, and it seemed like if they can get some bats, they could be right in it”.

DeJesus is an outfielder, who can play on either side of the field. General Manager of the A’s, Billy Beane, realizes that and recently issued a statement saying, "He's a guy we always liked. He's a great defender and a good base runner as well, and right now, the plan is to play him every day at the corners”.

Chicago White Sox: Scandal Hits The South Side

Chicago White Sox scandals are among the most famous in baseball. Or at least one is: the Black Sox allegedly throwing the 1919 World Series.

A century later, the Chicago Tribune is reporting that former executive David Wilder and two former scouts stole (by skimming off the top) over $400,000 in contract and bonus money due to young baseball prospects in Latin America

An FBI investigation turned up enough evidence for Wilder to be charged yesterday. The White Sox fired Wilder (who was reportedly a close friend of team general manager Ken Williams) from his job as senior director of player personnel , when it learned about the investigation.

Mudcats Capture the 12 U ASO Fall Baseball Championship

Monday November 8th marked the championship night for ASO Fall League Baseball. The 6:30 12 U ASO Fall League Baseball Championship game featured the Dragons versus the Mudcats. The Mudcats defeated the Dragons 10-8. Mudcats’ Adam Carter pitched a complete game and had 8 strikeouts. Aidan Waters went 3-3 including a triple and 2 singles, had 4 RBI’s on the night, and scored 2 runs. Jacob McLaughlin reached base four times, scored a run, and hit a double. Andrew Patterson hit a double and scored a run. WM Bettis reached base three times and scored a run. Grant Brown reached base 3 times. Additionally Brown in the bottom of the last inning made a SportsCenter top 10 catch in left field to help secure the victory.



The Dragons’ Evan Keller went 2-3. Will Rooney had a double and score 3 runs. Sam Bickers scored 2 runs on the night. Jake Campbell hit a double and had 2 RBI’s.