A look ahead at 2008 Free Agency

I thought it would be interesting to try and figure out where the possible 2008 free agents will sign. So below are my predictions as of now. Feel free to rip them to shreds because these are just my opinions and even at the beginning of free agency this task is nearly impossible.

* List as of 4-26-07
** ’08 age in ()

Catchers

Jorge Posada (36) – Resigns with Yankees
Ivan Rodriguez (36) ($13MM club option for '08) – Option is used
Paul Lo Duca (36) – Boston Red Sox
Michael Barrett (31) – Resigns with Cubs
Jason Kendall (34) – New York Mets

First basemen

Adam Dunn (28) ($13MM club option for '08) – Option is used

Second basemen

Jeff Kent (40) ($9MM club option vests with 550 PAs this year) – Option vested
Marcus Giles (30) ($4MM club option for '08) – For only 4 million you have to use the option
Luis Castillo (32) – San Fransisco Giants
Tadahito Iguchi (33) – Traded before he hits FA

Shortstops

Omar Vizquel (41) - Retires
David Eckstein (33) – Minnesota Twins
Juan Uribe (29) - $5MM club option for '08 – Traded before he hits FA
Cesar Izturis (28) - $5.45MM club option for '08 – San Fransisco Giants

Third basemen

Alex Rodriguez (32) – Stays with Yankees
Mike Lowell (34) - Angels
Mike Lamb (32) - Resigns
Pedro Feliz (33) - Resigns

Left fielders

Eric Byrnes (32) – Baltimore Orioles
Adam Dunn (28) ($13MM club option for '08) – Option is used
Geoff Jenkins (33) ($9MM club option for '08) – Brewers but not with the option
Luis Gonzalez (40) - Retires
Barry Bonds (43) - Retires
Brad Wilkerson (31) – Washington Nationals

Center fielders

Ichiro Suzuki (34) – Texas Rangers
Andruw Jones (31) – Los Angeles Angels
Torii Hunter (32) – Seattle Mariners
Eric Byrnes (32) – Baltimore Orioles
Corey Patterson (28) – Philadelphia Phillies
Milton Bradley (30) - Resigns
Aaron Rowand (30) – Chicago White Sox
Mike Cameron (35) – Minnesota Twins
Kenny Lofton (41) – Retires

Right fielders

Jermaine Dye (34) – San Fransisco Giants
Bobby Abreu (34) ($16MM club option for '08) – Tough Call but I say they use the option
Ichiro Suzuki (34) – Texas Rangers
Milton Bradley (30) - Resigns
Geoff Jenkins (33) ($9MM club option for '08) – Brewers but not with option
Trot Nixon (34) – Resigns
Jose Guillen (32) ($9MM club option for '08) – Option is used
Shawn Green (35) ($10MM club option for '08) – Resigns but not with option
Eric Hinske (30) - Resigns

DHs

Shea Hillenbrand (32) - Resigns
Mike Piazza (39) - Retires
Barry Bonds (43) - Retires
Mike Sweeney (34) - Athletics

Starting pitchers

Carlos Zambrano (27) - Resigns
Curt Schilling (41) - Resigns
Jason Jennings (29) - Resigns
Freddy Garcia (32) - Resigns
Kenny Rogers (43) - Retires
Mark Buehrle (29) - Cardinals
Jon Lieber (38) – Traded prior to hitting FA
Bartolo Colon (35) – Texas Rangers
Joe Kennedy (29) - Athletics
Tomo Ohka (32) - Resigns
John Thomson (34) - Resigns
Kip Wells (31) - Resigns
Wade Miller (31) - Resigns
Livan Hernandez (33) - Resigns
Randy Wolf (31) ($9MM club option for '08) – Option is used
Paul Byrd (37) ($8MM club option for '08) – Resigns but not with option
Jeff Weaver (31) - Cardinals
Tom Glavine (42) ($9MM player option for '08) – Option is used
Kris Benson (33) ($7.5MM club option for '08) - Resigns
Jaret Wright (32) - Royals
David Wells (45) - Retires
Eric Milton (32) – Resigns
Kyle Lohse (29) - Resigns
Matt Clement (33) – Forced to retire due to injury
Rodrigo Lopez (32) - Resigns
Josh Fogg (31) – Resigns
Byung-Hyun Kim (29) – Traded prior to FA
Odalis Perez (31) ($9MM club option for '08) - Resigns
Brett Tomko (35) ($4.5MM mutual option for '08) – Option is used

Closers

Mariano Rivera (38) - Resigns
Jason Isringhausen (35) ($8MM club option for '08) – Option is used
Bob Wickman (39) - Retires
Francisco Cordero (33) - Resigns
Armando Benitez (35) - Resigns
Eric Gagne (32) - Resigns
Todd Jones (40) - Retires
Jorge Julio (29) - Phillies

Middle relievers

Scott Linebrink (31) - Resigns
Kerry Wood (31) – Resigns

Don’t get mad at me, I did this really fast. Have fun reading and debating. If you have any questions email me: stew0610@ameritech.net