Free Agents Next Year

I think I touched on it a little bit in talking about the Teixeira signing, but regardless next years free agent class pales in comparison to what was available this year. Rob Neyer, as usual had some pretty good comments on someone elses comments on that issue today.

Matt Holliday is considered the best available hitter next year, with Jason Bay and Chipper Jones behind him. John Lackey is considered the best available pitcher next year, with Justin Duchscherer and Rich Harden behind him. That's pretty good except the problem that Neyer points out is who is actually going to be available? How are the Angels going to let John Lackey go? Would the Sox trade for Jason Bay just to have him leave after the following year? Chipper Jones will be 38 and hasn't played for any other team in the majors besides the Braves. That doesn't leave us with much to talk about next offseason. Holliday will probably be the only available primetime bat next offseason, that's why the Yankees snagged Teixeira now while he was available, not to mention Sabathia and Burnett. Could you imagine if the Yankees sign the top 3 free agents in 2008, then get the top one in 2009? It's certaintly possible, and even though Neyer says that next year "we probably won't have to hear any owners in huge markets [Houston] talking about salary caps", I'm not sure that's true if the Yankees were to snag Holliday, not that there needs to be one (of course their doesn't) just that there will still be reason for rich owners to complain.