Adam Dunn
Toronto fans will remember him as someone who criticized former Jays GM JP Ricciardi as well as The Toronto Blue Jays team as a whole. Dunn can still contribute offensively on a regular basis though he has stated that he won’t be a DH which rules out any American League teams. After trading Derek Lee to the Braves at the deadline, look for the Cubs to make a run at Adam Dunn.
Prediction: New York Mets
Honorable Mentions: Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants
Rafael Soriano.
Soriano have two huge reasons to be smiling right about now: he is arguably the best closer available in free agency. He’s also a client of super agent Scott Boras which means the Soriano family should have a nice Christmas this winter. Look for a bidding war between closer-starved teams like the Mets, Angels, White Sox.
Prediction: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Honorable Mentions: New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays.
Paul Konerko
With heavy hitters like Dunn, Martinez, Werth and Crawford in the market, look for Konerko to sign after most Type-A free agent signs. I see Konerko signing with a team like Baltimore or Washington after the big spenders dashed out blank cheques to all the other Type-A free agents.
Prediction: Baltimore Orioles
Honorable Mentions: Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs
Manny Ramirez
Early predictions may have the Blue Jays as front-runner for Manny Ramirez’s service. However, though there is definitely interest in the Ramirez camp, I feel as though there’s little interest from Alex Anthropoulos and co. Do the Blue Jays really have room for Manny in their line-up next season? Manny has shown throughout last season that his best defensive days (if any) are well behind him. Manny is nothing more than a designated hitter at this point in his career, a spot that should be occupied by Adam Lind.
Look for Manny to finish his career where it started, in Cleveland.
Prediction: Cleveland Indians
Honorable Mentions: Oakland A’s, Toronto Blue Jays
Derek Jeter
Okay, I had to do this. Technically Derek Jeter is a free agent. However, Derek Jeter will not wear anything other than the black and white pinstripes for the rest of his career. Jeter represents a new era of Yankee legends. Though both Jeter and Yankees camp are struggling to agree on terms, look for both sides to reach an agreement sooner rather than later.
