Top 20 Free Agents

1) Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees: Best player in the game, adds some credibility to a lineup wherever he goes, is an above average fielder and still runs well.

Prediction: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, on an 8 year, $240 million deal.

Actual: New York Yankees, on a 10 year, $275 million deal

2) Andruw Jones, CF, Braves: Best outfielder available, coming off bad ’07 season. Monster power, doesn’t always walk, above average defender, strikes out a lot, may take a 1 year deal and is a Type B free agent

Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers, on a 6 year, $96 million deal.

Actual: Los Angeles Dodgers, on a 2 year, $36.2 million deal

3) Torii Hunter, CF, Twins: Excellent defensive outfielder off a career year in ’07. Above average righty power, but doesn’t take many pitches.

Prediction: Chicago White Sox, on a 7 year, $126 million deal.

Actual: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, on a 5 year, $90 million deal.

4) Mariano Rivera, RP, Yankees: Elite relief pitcher, among top closers of all time, older but still dominant stuff. Prone to bloop hits and broken bats

Prediction: New York Yankees, on a 3 year, $45 million deal.

Actual: New York Yankees, on a 3 year, $45 million deal.

5) Eric Gagne, RP, Red Sox: Top-flight reliever coming off shaky two months in Boston which were so bad he was demoted to mop up duty. Still good change and decent fastball, someone will take a shot on a big deal with him since he is a type B.

Prediction: Atlanta Braves, on a 1 year, $8 million deal.

Actual: Milwaukee Brewers, on a 1 year, $10 million deal.

6) Jorge Posada, C, Yankees: Best catcher available via trade or free agency, coming off best year ever in ’07, likely to seek 4 year deal, always a question mark on defense but his bat carried him.

Prediction: New York Yankees, on a 4 year, $56 million deal.

Actual: New York Yankees, on a 4 year, $52.4 million deal.

7) Mike Lowell, 3B, Red Sox: Middle of the road 3B in a market filled with them, strong offensive and defensive season, winning the WS MVP, much better hitter in Fenway Park.

Prediction: Boston Red Sox, on a 3 year, $36 million deal

Actual: Boston Red Sox, on a 3 year, $37.5 million deal

8) Aaron Rowand, CF, Phillies: Very good defensive center fielder, some righty power, never walked much until ’07, will be a risk to see if ’07 was a break out or a fluke

Prediction: Washington Nationals, on a 5 year, $75 million deal

Actual: San Francisco Giants, on a 5 year, $60 million deal

9) Kosuke Fukudome, OF, Chunichi Dragons: Good defensive outfielder, Ichiro-like throwing arm, walks a ton with considerable doubles power, runs well and has Paul O’Neill personality

Prediction: San Francisco Giants, on a 5 year, $50 million deal

Actual: Chicago Cubs, on a 4 year, $48 million deal

10) Francisco Cordero, RP, Brewers: 2^nd Best available closer, good repertoire, high k/9 rates in career, makes sense in anyone who misses out on Rivera, may set up

Prediction: Cleveland Indians, on a 4 year, #40 million deal

Actual: Cincinnati Reds, on a 4 year, $46 million deal

11) Barry Bonds, OF, Giants: 2^nd best bat of all free agents, comes with tons of steroid baggage and is a poor defender in left, best suited for DH duty

Prediction: Texas Rangers, on a 1 year, $12 million deal

Actual:

12) Carlos Silva, SP, Twins: Top free agent starting pitcher and type B free agent, gets a ton of ground balls, and is best off away from the dome in Minnesota

Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies, on 3 year, $39 million deal

Actual: Seattle Mariners, on a 4 year, $44-48 million deal

13) Mike Cameron, OF, Padres: Very good defensive outfielder, nice power, still good speed, brings some steroid baggage and will be a nice alternative for whoever misses out on Jones, Rowand and Hunter

Prediction: Atlanta Braves, on a 3 year, $30 million deal

Actual:

14) Milton Bradley, OF, Padres: Good defender at a corner spot, good power, volatile personality, coming off major injury, looks like he belongs in San Diego

Prediction: San Diego Padres, on a 1 year, incentive-laden $6 million deal

Actual: Texas Rangers, on a 1 year, $5 million deal

15) Roger Clemens, SP, Yankees: Older, and unlikely to return to pitching a full season, did a decent job in ’07 for the Yankees but not great and injury issues plagued him

Prediction: Retirement

Actual:

16) Bartolo Colon, SP, Angels: Major injury concern, but still talented, despite a weight problem, and will benefit from leaving the DH league, and could find a fit with a team that loves Dominican players

Prediction: New York Mets, on a 2 year, $10 million deal

Actual:

17) Scott Linebrink, RP, Brewers: Not a great pitcher, helped out by that ballpark, but his numbers are pretty and someone will take a chance, given the lack of available relief pitching, could get a multi-year deal

Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies, on a 4 year, $24 million deal

Actual: Chicago White Sox, on a 4 year, $18 million deal

18) Octavio Dotel, RP, Braves: Great arm, major injury concerns, could close when healthy, very good stuff, should find a home with an NL team, and may be best off as a set up man in a more limited role to protect his arm

Prediction: New York Mets, on a 1 year, $6 million deal, with a vesting option for ‘09

Actual:

19) Michael Barrett, C, Padres: Decent offensive and defensive player, probably won’t get the multi-year deal he desires, and will likely follow the best chance to start and that will be with the team that misses out on the Musical chairs for catchers

Prediction: Colorado Rockies, on a 1 year, $5 million deal

Actual: San Diego Padres, on a 1 year, $3.5 million deal

20) Luis Castillo, 2B, Mets: Above average speed and defense, with a decent but powerless bat and he becomes an interesting choice to lead off and play 2B for a lot of teams, should get a 2 or 3 year deal, switch hitting ability adds flexibility to a lineup

Prediction: Houston Astros, on a 3 year, $18 million deal

Actual: New York Mets, on a 4 year, $25 million deal