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RINGOLSBY: Team-by-team report

Published August 17, 2007 at midnight

A look at potential free agents on each team, as well as a position-by-position breakdown of potential free agents.

National League

ARIZONA signed center fielder Eric Byrnes to a three-year, $30 million extension. Third baseman Jeff Cirillo, first baseman Tony Clark, and right-handed pitcher Livan Hernandez are potential free agents.

ATLANTA signed John Smoltz to an extension for $14 million in 2008 with options at $12 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2010. Center fielder Andruw Jones, right-handed pitchers Bob Wickman and Tanyon Sturtze, and infielder Chris Woodward are headed to free agency.

CHICAGO is optimistic it will be able to re-sign righty Carlos Zambrano. The Cubs have mutual options for 2008 with outfielder Cliff Floyd and first baseman Daryle Ward. Right-handed pitcher Kerry Wood will be on the open market.

CINCINNATI is expected to opt out of the $13 million option for outfielder Adam Dunn. First baseman Scott Hatteberg, catcher Javier Valentin and left-handed pitcher Eddie Guardado also have club options. Lefty Eric Milton is a potential free agent.

COLORADO agreed to allow second baseman Kazuo Matsui to become a free agent. Left-handed pitcher Jeremy Affeldt, righties Rodrigo Lopez, Josh Fogg, Jorge Julio, Elmer Dessens, Ramon Ortiz, LaTroy Hawkins and Matt Herges, and catcher Yorvitt Torrealba are potential free agents.

FLORIDA has only two potential free agents – infielder Aaron Boone and right-handed reliever Armando Benitez.

HOUSTON second baseman Craig Biggio has announced retirement plans. Second baseman Mark Loretta, third baseman Mike Lamb, right-handed pitchers Jason Jennings and Brian Moehler, and outfielder Orlando Palmeiro are potential free agents.

LOS ANGLES second baseman Jeff Kent has a club option for 2008 that vests at 550 plate appearances. The Dodgers have a club option on infielder Ramon Martiez, and mutual option they won’t exercise with right-handed pitcher Brett Tomko. Outfielder Luis Gonzales, first baseman Mark Sweeney , catcher Mike Liberthal, first baseman Olmedo Saenez, right-handed pitcher Roberto Hernandez and lefty Randy Wolf are potential free agents.

MILWAUKEE will opt out of the $9 million option for outfielder Geoff Jenkins. Other free agents include catcher Damian Miller, and righties Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink.

NEW YORK lefty Tom Glavine has a $9 million player option with a $3 million buyout, but it becomes guaranteed at 160 innings, and then increased by $1 million for each 10 innings he pitches above 160 to a maximum of $13 million. The Mets won’t pick up second baseman Jose Valentin’s $4.3 million option and figures to pay the buyout of $2 million on outfielder Shawn Green’s $10 million option, and $1 million on outfielder Moises Alou’s $7.5 million option. Second basemen Luis Castillo and Damion Easley, catchers Paul Lo Duca and Ramon Castro, and right-handed pitchers Brian Lawrence and Aaron Sele are potential free agents.

PHILADELHIA second baseman Tadahito Iguchi’s contract that he signed with the White Sox allows him to become a free agent. The Phillies have options on infielder Abraham Nunez and catcher Rod Barjas. Center fielder Aaron Rowand will be a free agent along with third baseman Russell Branyan, Lefty J.C. Romero, and righties Jon Lieber, Kyle Loshe, Jose Mesa, Antonio Alfonseca and Freddy Garcia.

PITTSBURGH has a $5 million mutual option or $500,000 buyout on right-handed pitcher Tony Aramas, and a $300,000 buyout on shortstop Cesar Iztruis’ $5.45 million. Righty Shawn Chacon can be a free agent.

ST. LOUIS signed right-handed pitcher Ryan Franklin to a two-year, $5 million extension during the season. It still has free agent potential with shortstop David Eckstein, righties Troy Percival, Kip Wells, Joel Pineiro and Russ Springer, catcher Gary Bennett and outfielder So Taguchi.

SAN DIEGO center fielder Mike Cameron, second baseman Marcus Giles, catcher Michael Barrett, left fielder Milton Bradley and third baseman Morgan Ensberg are potential free agents.

SAN FRANCSICO left fielder Barry Bonds, first baseman Ryan Klesko, shortstop Omar Vizquel, third baseman Pedro Feliz and right-handed pitcher Russ Ortiz are potential free agents.

WASHINGTON signed contract extensions already with first baseman Dmitri Young for $10 million for two years and infielder Ronnie Belliard for $3.5 million over two years. Infielder Tony Batista, left-handed pitcher Ray King and utility man Robert Fick are potential free agents.

American League

BALTIMORE doesn’t figure to pick up the options for right-handed pitchers Steve Traschel and Kris Benson, but first baseman Kevin Millar has an option that vests at 475 plate appearances. Outfielder Corey Patterson, catcher Paul Bako and right-handed pitcher Jaret Wright are pending free agents.

BOSTON faces free agent negotiations with right-handed pitcher Curt Schilling, Mike Timlin, Eric Gagne, Matt Clement and Julian Tavarez, third baseman Mike Lowell and catcher Doug Mirabelli.

CHICAGO’s major free-agent question was answered when it signed left-handed starter Mark Buehrle to a four-year, $56 million extension in July. Right fielder Jermaine Dye is in negotiations for an extension to keep him from free agency. The White Sox hold a $3.5 million option on outfielder Darin Erstad and a $5 million option on shortstop Juan Uribe for 2008.

CLEVELAND signed extensions with potential free agent right-handed pitcher Jake Westbrook (three years, $33 million) and designated hitter Travis Hafner (four years, $57 million). The Indians hold options for righties Paul Byrd and Joe Borowski, and lefty Aaron Fultz. Outfielders Trot Nixon and Kenny Lofton are in the final year of their contracts.

DETROIT will exercise its $13 million option on catcher Ivan Rodriguez, and it took care of a four-year, $48 million extension for shortstop Carlos Guillen on the final day of spring training, although he figures to move to first base. The Tigers have potential free agents with right-handed pitcher Todd Jones, lefty Kenny Rogers, first baseman Sean Casey and shortstop Neifi Perez, who is serving a suspension for performance enhancement drugs.

KANSAS CITY most likely will pay the $1.5 million buyout on left-handed pitcher Odalis Perez’s $9 million option. Royals players with free agency on the horizon are second baseman Mark Grudzielanek , catcher Jason LaRue, outfielder Reggie Sanders, designated hitter Mike Sweeney and right-handed pitcher John Thomson.

LOS ANGELES has a $250,000 buyout on a $2 million option for lefty Darren Oliver, and already decided on the $500,000 buyout for Shea Hillenbrand, who they released. The Angels also are expected to let right-handed starter Bartolo Colon test the free-agent market.

MINNESOTA will exercise its $6 million option on closer Joe Nathan. The Twins also face free agency with outfielder Torii Hunter, right-handed pitcher Carlos Silva and outfielder Rondell White.

NEW YORK might not find out until Nov. 10 whether third baseman Alex Rodriguez will opt out of the remaining three years and $81 million on his contract to become a free agent. Left-handed pitcher Andy Pettitte has an option on a $16 million deal. The Yankees have a $16 million option for outfielder Bobby Abreu. Yankees free agents include right-handed pitchers Roger Clemens, Mariano Rivera, Luiz Vizcaino and Jim Brower, catchers Jorge Posada and Jose Molina, left-handed pitcher Mike Myers and Ron Vilone, infielder Miguel Cairo and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz.

OAKLAND already traded potential free agents Milton Bradleyand Jason Kendall, and released Jay Witasick and Bobby Kielty, leaving designated hitter/catcher Mike Piazza and outfielder Shannon Stewart as their only free-agent candidates.

SEATTLE took care of its major challenge by signing outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to an extension during the All-Star break, but no decision has been made on outfielder Jose Guillen, and right-handed pitchers Jeff Weaver and Chris Reitsma.

TAMPA BAY has to decide prior to Opening Day next year on the $4 million buyout on the 2009 option for oft-injured outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who receives $17 million in 2010-11 if the option is exercised. The Rays have options at the end of this season on first baseman Greg Norton and closer Al Reyes. Right-handed pitcher Jay Witasick and catcher Josh Paul are potential free agents.

TEXAS doesn’t figure to make a push for outfielder/designated hitters Brad Wilkerson and Sammy Sosa, and infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston, Jr.

TORONTO first baseman Matt Stairs is the team’s only potential free agent.

Potential offseason free agents

A position-by-position shopping list of potential free agents:



Starting pitchers

Carlos Zambrano, Bartolo Colon, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Carlos Silva, Kenny Rogers, Freddy Garcia, Livan Hernandez, Randy Wolf, Jason Jennings, Joe Kennedy, Jeff Weaver, Matt Clement, Ramon Ortiz, John Thomson, Jaret Wright, Brian Lawrence, Aaron Sele, Jon Lieber, Kyle Lohse, Rodrigo Lopez, Josh Fogg, Russ Ortiz, Eric Milton, Kip Wells, Joel Pineiro, Brian Moehler.



• Options that might not be exercised: Tom Glavine (player option), Orlando Perez, Darren Oliver, Steve Trachsel, Kris Benson, Tony Armas Jr., Brett Tomko.



• Possible non-tenders: Mark Prior, Oliver Perez, Horacio Ramirez, Daniel Cabrera, John Patterson, David Bush, Mike Maroth, Tim Redding, Josh Towers, Sergio Mitre, Mark Hendrickson.



Relief pitchers



Mariano Rivera, Francisco Cordero, Todd Jones, Eric Gagne, Bob Wickman, Scott Linebrink, Kerry Wood, Luis Vizcaino, Armando Benitez, Ray King, Jeremy Affeldt, Jorge Julio, LaTroy Hawkins, Roberto Hernandez, Antonio Alfonseca, Shawn Chacon, Chris Reitsma, Troy Percival, Russ Springer, Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez, Michael Myers, Ron Villone, Jim Brower, Jay Witasick, Jose Mesa, Tanyon Sturtze, J.C. Romero, Elmer Dessens, Byung-Hyun Kim,



• Options that might not be exercised: Eddie Guardado, Aaron Fultz, Al Reyes.



• Possible non-tenders: Joe Beimel, Juan Cruz, Brendan Donnelly, Ryan Wagner, Frank Francisco, Kiko Calero, Jason Frasor, Chad Paronto, Gary Glover, Grant Balfour, Luis Ayala, Jesus Colome, Brandon Lyon, Neal Cotts, Chad Qualls, Josh Grabow, Brian Shouse, Chris Spurling.



Catchers



Jorge Posada, Paul Lo Duca, Michael Barrett, Jason Kendall, Mike Lieberthal, Jason LaRue, Ramon Castro, Paul Bako, Doug Mirabelli, Jose Molina, Yorbit Torrealba, Damian Miller, Gary Bennett.



• Options that might not be exercised: Ivan Rodriguez, Rod Barajas, Javier Valentin.



• Possible non-tenders: Matt Treanor, Geronimo Gil.



First base



Sean Casey, Ryan Klesko, Jeff Conine, Doug Mientkiewicz, Kevin Millar, Tony Clark, Olmedo Saenz, Aaron Boone, Robert Fick.



• Options that might not be exercised: Scott Hatteberg.



• Possible non-tenders: Ben Broussard, Ross Gload, Josh Phelps.



Second base



Luis Castillo, Tadahito Iguchi, Marcus Giles, Mark Loretta, Mark Grudzielanek, Kaz Matsui, Jerry Hairston, Jr., Damian Easley, Marlon Anderson, Miguel Cairo.



• Options that might not be exercised: Jeff Kent, Jose Valentin.



• Possible non-tenders: D'Angelo Jimenez, Esteban German.



Shortstop



Omar Vizquel, David Eckstein, Chris Woodward, Neifi Perez.



• Options that might not be exercised: Juan Uribe, Cesar Izturis, Ramon Martinez.



• Possible non-tenders: John McDonald, Marco Scutaro, Ramon Vazquez, Augie Ojeda.



Third base



Mike Lowell, Tony Batista, Morgan Ensberg, Pedro Felix, Mike Lamb.



• Options that might not be exercised: Greg Norton, Alex Rodriguez (player’s choice).



• Possible non-tenders: Joe Crede, Casey Blake.



Center field



Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter, Aaron Rowand, Mike Cameron, Kenny Lofton, Corey Patterson.



• Options that might not be exercised: Darin Erstad, Rocco Baldelli (complicated contract).



• Possible non-tenders: Marlon Byrd, Endy Chavez, David Newhan, Alex Escobar, Cory Sullivan.



Corner outfielders



Jermaine Dye, Barry Bonds, Jose Guillen, Trot Nixon, Reggie Sanders, Milton Bradley, Shannon Stewart, So Taguchi, Brad Wilkerson, Matt Stairs, Luis Gonzalez, Mark Sweeney, Orlando Palmeiro.



• Options that might not be exercised: Moises Alou, Bobby Abreu, Geoff Jenkins, Sean Green, Cliff Floyd, Daryle Ward.



• Possible non-tenders: Craig Monroe, Kevin Mench, Xavier Nady, Wily Mo Pena, Scott Podsednik, Juan Rivera, Emil Brown, Chris Snelling, Jayson Werth, Ryan Langerhans.



Designated hitters



Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa, Shea Hillenbrand, Mike Sweeney, Rondell White, Russell Branyan.

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