Hardy To Twins; 79 hit FA; Myers out of PHL

It's going to be another busy day for baseball outside of NY. Seventy-nine players including John Lackey, Jason Bay, and Matt Holliday have filed their papers and are ready to play the market. I'm very upset that Bay has hit the market because I can almost commit myself that he won't be coming back to Boston. He'll either be in a Giants uni or even worse a Yankees uni. The Red Sox will definitely be persuing Holliday at that point, but Holliday isn't a prolific hitter(.298) in AL parks. It will be interesting how this plays out. Rumor also has it that OF Rocco Baldelli may have played his last season in Boston with recently acquired Jeremy Hermida coming in. This is a tilt either way offensively and Hermida gets the advantage because of his health.

Twins make a big move today trading OF Carlos Gomez ( similar numbers as Hardy) for SS J.J. Hardy( .229, 53 runs, 95 hits, 11 HRs, 47 RBIs, and 85 SO's.) This can only mean Orlando Cabrera will not be re-signed despite putting up decent numbers with the Twins this season (.289, 32 SO's, 70 hits, 42 runs, 5 HRs, 36 RBIs). I think this trade will benefit both teams. However, both players are going to have to work on their batting averages. Hardy gets the advantage here as Mall of America Field is the 6th most hitter friendly park and Miller Park is 27th. I look for Hardy to hit at least .300 this season, a .71 increase on his current average. Gomez needs to prove he is an up and coming player in MIL and try to elevate his play. I think this season his average will increase minimally.

It's been decided today that Phillies RHP Brett Myers (4-3 4.84 ERA in 18 games) will not be offered a new deal. Myers has had his share of troubles (on and off the field) in the organization and is easily coming off two bad seasons where his ERA has risen .51 in two seasons. Tim Dierkes of MLBtraderumors.com believes he could a low value opportunity for many teams looking for a reliever. Philadelphia smartly exercise Cliff Lee's options ($9MM). Next, they must talk extension with him if they want to keep their stranglehold on the NL East. Amaro Jr. (Phils GM) must make a decision soon (Monday) on 3B Pedro Feliz's option ($5.5M). There are no FA 3B so I can't see why the Phils wouldn't being Feliz back at least 1 more season.

In other champions news, Yankees DH Hideki Matusi has sparked the Mets interest. I can't see why in any respect Matsui would be useful. His defensive range is horrible and the NL rarely uses DH's. The Mets also decline their option on J.J. Putz. White Sox have bought out OF Jermaine Dye's contract. Dye still has some left in the tank so I expect him to catch on with someone. D'backs exercise option on SP Brandon Webb and are currently trying to negotiate a new contract. Webb was injured most of the season after coming off a dream season tow seasons ago. The Royals have declined options on OF Coco Crisp, C Miguel Olivo, and bust reliever Yashuiko Yabuta. This marks the second day the Royals have been busy after trading 3B/OF
Mark Teahan to the White Sox.

List of FA's available aside from big names (Matt Treanor and Marcus Thames just hit the market as well):

Catchers
Gary Bennett (37)
Rob Bowen (28)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Toby Hall (33)
Paul Lo Duca (37) - Type B, not offered arb
Javier Valentin (33)

First basemen
Tony Clark (37)
Richie Sexson (34)

Second basemen
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
Mark Grudzielanek (38)

Shortstops
None

Third basemen
None

Left fielders
Moises Alou (42) - Type B, not offered arb
Chris Duncan (28)
Luis Gonzalez (41) - Type B, not offered arb
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27)
Dave Roberts (37)
Shannon Stewart (35)

Center fielders
Jim Edmonds (39)

Right fielders
Geoff Jenkins (34)

DHs
Frank Thomas (41) - Type B, not offered arb
Jose Vidro (34)

Starting pitchers
Brandon Backe (31)
Tom Glavine (43)
Chuck James (27)
Mark Mulder (31)
Odalis Perez (32)
Sidney Ponson (32)
Kenny Rogers (44)
Ben Sheets (30) - Type A, offered arb

Relievers
Winston Abreu (32)
Jesus Colome (31)
Scott Elarton (33)
Tom Gordon (41)
Mike Koplove (32)
Aquilino Lopez (34)
Al Reyes (38)
Ricardo Rincon (39)
B.J. Ryan (33)
Justin Speier (35)
Derrick Turnbow (31)
Jamie Walker (37)