January 05, 2009
The Free Agent Team
Tyler Kepner puts together a pretty good team from the remaining free agents:
The number of prominent unsigned free agents is staggering. You could make an impressive team from the list: Jason Giambi (1B), Orlando Hudson (2B), Orlando Cabrera (SS), Joe Crede (3B), Manny RamÃrez (LF), Ken Griffey Jr. (CF), Bobby Abreu (RF), Jason Varitek (C), with names like Garret Anderson, Rocco Baldelli, Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn left over. And the free-agent rotation would be at least six strong: Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, Jon Garland, Andy Pettitte, Braden Looper and Randy Wolf, with Juan Cruz and Brandon Lyon in the bullpen. This could be the busiest January in years as frustrated agents deal with the economic downturn.
I'm not sure that's a playoff team, but it would finish over .500. The infield defense would be okay, but lots of balls would drop in the outfield.
Add ben sheets to the starting rotation, and it looks even better.