Jim Bowden has where he thinks Choo, Elsbury and Beltran may sign. I don't have insider and just wondering where he thinks not that I believe that is what will happen but just curious. Thanks
...I don't have insider...no way I'm paying ESPN the extortion money...and Bowden's guesses are about as good as ours.
Here you go guys. talking with a lot of executives and agents over the past week, and based on those conversations, here is my best estimate of where these free-agent outfielders will land: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | B/T: L/L | Age: 30 | .355/.426/.781 | SB: 52 | WAR: 5.8 Ellsbury’s first choice is to return to the Red Sox and help them defend their World Series title. The Red Sox have also made it known that they’d like him to return, and apparently he’s their No. 1 priority. However, they also don’t appear willing to go to the seven years Boras intimates might take to sign him. Boras has always encouraged his players to take the best offer, but he also works hard to get the team his players want to match that best offer or beat it. Further, the Red Sox have been burned by long-term deals and have a history of walking away when it escalates beyond a number of years they are comfortable with. But they aren’t afraid to offer higher average annual values to try to persuade the player to sign. If the Rangers, Nationals or Yankees offer seven years, they’ll be able to get Ellsbury. If he does depart, expect the Red Sox to answer by signing Beltran to play a corner and allow rookie Jackie Bradley Jr. to take over in center field. But my instincts say if it’s close, he’ll stay in Boston. Likely destination: Red Sox Other possible destinations: Nationals, Yankees, Cubs, Rangers, Mariners -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Shin-Soo Choo | Age: 31 | .423/.462/.885 | HR: 21 | SB: 20 | WAR: 4.2 This is the most difficult free-agent outfielder to predict a destination and contract for. According to several clubs, he’s looking for a deal similar to the seven-year, $126 million pact that Werth received in 2011. That type of asking price severely limits the market. His defensive ability is also debatable; some clubs think he can play center field if it’s a smaller park like Great American Ball Park, but most clubs believe he belongs in right field. His occasional bad angles and jumps concern some, but others view him as a solid outfielder with a strong arm. Offensively, Choo has proved he’s an OBP machine with 20-home run, 20-stolen base potential. His inability to hit left-handed pitchers (.215) compared right-handed pitchers (.317) bothers serious title contending teams more than those teams just trying to make the playoffs. His likely destination is probably the highest bidder, which could be the Rangers. Likely destination: Rangers Other possible destinations: Reds, Mariners, Tigers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Carlos Beltran | Age: 36 | .339/.491/.830 | HR 24 | WAR: 2.4 With the St. Louis Cardinals no longer an option after trading for Peter Bourjos, Beltran told me his preference is a team that offers him the best chance to win a world championship. he would also prefer to go to the AL, where he can DH from time to time and give his knees an occasional rest. There is no shortage of interest in Beltran among contending teams. The best story would be a return to where he started his career, Kansas City, but Beltran’s urgency to win a World Series over the next couple of years might prevent that. The best fit for him and the place that would make him the happiest is Boston. If they don’t re-sign Ellsbury, I think that’s where he lands. In lieu of that, Beltran’s next best choice to get to the World Series might be the Yankees. Beltran is by far the best postseason outfielder in this free-agent class. He could play left field as well as DH intermittently. A switch-hitter, Beltran just might be the next guy to enjoy Yankee Stadium’s ridiculously short porch in right. Likely destination: Yankees Other possible destinations: Royals, Red Sox, Tigers, Mariners, Indians -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Curtis Granderson | Age: 32 | .317/.407/.724 | HR 15 | WAR: 1.1 Granderson wants to sign with a team that gives him the best chance of winning, but neither of the two AL favorites -- Boston or Detroit -- have any interest. Granderson grew up in the Chicago area and attended the University of Illinois-Chicago. While a return to Chicago to play for the White Sox would make sense, Chicago is trying to get younger and has already acquired Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia. The Mets aren’t ready to contend; the Giants already spent their money on pitching, so they need a less expensive left-field option. Likely destination: Yankees Other possible destinations: White Sox, Mets, Giants -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Nelson Cruz | Age: 33 | .327/.506/.833 | HR 27 | WAR: 2.0 Cruz loves New York City and would love to sign with the Mets and help them become legitimate contenders over the next three seasons. Cruz has belted 22 or more home runs in each of the last five seasons and is one of the more consistent right fielders in baseball. He’s a two-time All-Star and a player who is well-respected by his teammates because of his work ethic and the way he carries himself. Cruz wants a fourth year but might have to settle for three if the Mets offer the right average annual value. Likely destination: Mets Other possible destinations: Rangers, Giants -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Corey Hart | Age: 31 | .334/.507/.841 | HR 30 | WAR: 1.8 Hart told me last week he is 100 percent physically, but he’s waiting for the official medical clearance that he’ll receive Dec. 3, when he returns to Los Angeles to visit his doctors. Hart underwent right knee surgery before spring training to repair a depression on the joint surface, then he injured his left knee during his rehabilitation in July. Hart has lost 20 pounds during his rehab and told me that he’s open to playing right field, first base or both. He told me he will decide on the club that best fits his family, which probably means a team that has spring training in Arizona. One good fit would be the Colorado Rockies, who could choose between him and Michael Cuddyer at first base and right field. Likely destination: Rockies Other possible destinations: Red Sox, Rays, Rockies, Orioles, Brewers, Mets
Thanks Major...If they sign Beltran I would be surprised if they signed Grandy also. If they did that I wonder if they would try and trade Gardner?
I always felt that Gardner was being shopped this winter. I am hoping to SD as part of a package that would garner them Headley
...thanx for the post, mb...not happy to see Grandy's name as a "likely destination"...hopefully, he'll wind up in Chicago...and fwiw, I'm all for dealing Gardner for the right deal.
