“Free agency?” you ask. “But the season isn’t over.” That’s true, particularly for the Cubs, who still are in the hunt for the National League Central division. But both Chicago teams are on the cusp of becoming solid contenders in 2008 — if they catch a few breaks in free agency. And given this season’s troubles with injuries, it’s never too early to see if help’s around the corner.
*Note: All statistics are year-to-date entering Tuesday’s games.
Joe Crede
third base, white sox
Yes, there’s a chance the Sox lose Crede. Back surgery makes him an expensive gamble for a team that has an option available for $5 million less in Josh Fields. The decision on Crede doesn’t have to be made until mid-December, however, and could come down to whether they have traded one of their four veteran starting pitchers.
Juan Uribe
shortstop, white sox
.224, 13 HR, 48 RBI, 1 SB
The chances of Uribe sticking around are better than you might think. David Eckstein, Omar Vizquel and maybe Marco Scutaro are the only potentially signable players who could become regulars. Eckstein would be worth a run if the Cardinals let him get away, but Sox General Manager Ken Williams will be in a tough spot because he has to make a decision on Uribe at the start of the off-season.
Torii Hunter
center field, Twins
.290, 23 HR, 79 RBI, 12 SB
Hunter and Andruw Jones are pie-in-the-sky for the Sox’s price range and may land elsewhere. Also, Philadelphia might keep ex-Sox Aaron Rowand, who’s having a career year. But the list is deep at the position. Mike Cameron still looks in great shape at 34.
Jeremy Affeldt
Reliever, Rockies
2.53 ERA, 4-2, 36 SO
He’s the kind of guy who gets Williams’ blood flowing. It’s hard to see how Colorado can let him reach the market. The Sox need a veteran or two to add to their mix, such as Luis Vizcaino, Joe Beimel, Scott Linebrink or Shawn Chacon.
Craig Monroe
left field, Tigers
.222, 11 HR, 55 RBI
Detroit faces an interesting decision with Craig Monroe, who could be priced out of his job, especially with Marcus Thames available as a cheaper alternative. He would be an interesting name for the Sox. Ditto Bobby Abreu, but only if his price tag comes down a bunch. A versatile veteran such as Endy Chavez, So Taguchi or Brad Wilkerson could fit in the outfield mix.
Carlos Zambrano
starting pitcher, Cubs
3.69 ERA, 14-8, 139 SO
They’re going to either lose Zambrano or have to give him a six- or seven-year deal to keep him if they allow him to reach the market in November, when he’d be a 26-year-old with (probably) 80-plus wins and five consecutive years of at least 31 starts. There won’t be one guy remotely comparable in the group of free agents. The Mets are going to come after Zambrano, and they will hardly be alone. If he leaves, the Cubs would have money to spend but no safe bets to spend it on.
Mark Prior
starting pitcher, Cubs
(Has not played in 2007)
The Cubs have invested so heavily in Mark Prior that it would be silly to bail out now that he’s finally had the first surgery of his star-crossed career. But they may do exactly that when it is time to tender him a contract. If so, they are running the risk of having him to do to them what Chris Carpenter did to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kerry Wood
relief pitcher, Cubs
5.79 ERA, 0-1, 4 SO
The Cubs have another decision to make on Wood. Hopefully he won’t be too hard to sign if his shoulder does hold up down the stretch.
Jason Kendall
catcher, Cubs
.242, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 3 SB
Catcher is the big question on the roster. Jason Kendall says he’d love to stay and could get an offer after the season. Assuming the Yankees keep Jorge Posada and the Tigers hang on to Ivan Rodriguez, there’s not a really great name on the list of options.
Curt Schilling
starting pitcher, Red Sox
4.06 ERA, 6-5, 76 SO
What are the options if Zambrano is lured away? A bunch of injury risks, including Schilling, Kenny Rogers, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Randy Wolf, Matt Clement, Rodrigo Lopez and Jon Lieber. But if you want someone healthy, you are down to the likes of Carlos Silva, Livan Hernandez, Jason Jennings and maybe Daniel Cabrera, Oliver Perez or Josh Towers. Kind of gives you an idea how much leverage Zambrano has, doesn’t it?
– – –
= GOOD CHANCE OF BEING SIGNED
= COULD GO EITHER WAY
= SLIM CHANCE OF BEING SIGNED
