Posted on November 3, 2006 by Andrew Flynn
Free Agency Dispatches
From Rotoworld:
Free agent Moises Alou intends to play in 2007, but it won’t be with the Giants. “I’m almost sure, more than 99.9 percent sure, that I won’t return with the San Francisco Giants,” Alou told The Associated Press. Alou said he planned to go elsewhere partly because the Giants did not renew the contract of his father at the end of the season. The Mets and Indians are believed to be considering him right now. There might be more interest in him once the Gary Sheffield situation gets settled.
The Rockies, who could use both a center fielder and a leadoff hitter, have started talks with free agent Dave Roberts. “Of course Dave has interest in Colorado. And I told them that. He likes the direction they are going,” agent John Boggs said. “He’s not going to just wait around (for San Diego).” Although Roberts is 34 and has durability issues, he could be just as effective as and much cheaper than Gary Matthews Jr. and Juan Pierre for the short-term. That will make him very popular.
The Cubs are expected to buy out their $13 million option on Kerry Wood for 2007. Wood would receive $3 million in the buyout and then the Cubs will try to re-sign him for a much lower base salary with a deal that included many incentives. Wood, out of a sense of obligation, wants to return, but if another team dangles enough money and the promise of returning to the rotation in 2008, he’d have to take the offer.
After filing for free agency, Dave Roberts has expressed a lot of interest in signing with the White Sox to be their leadoff hitter. “The White Sox would be a good fit for him,” Roberts’ agent John Boggs said. “With their lineup, it’s a tempting proposition.” He is coming off his most productive season, stealing a career-high 49 bases with a .293 average. The Padres are also expected to try to re-sign him.
Pending free agent Dave Roberts said if the Giants hire Bruce Bochy as their new manager, he’d be interested in signing with San Francisco. “He and I have a great relationship,” said Roberts. The Giants are expected to make a big push for Gary Matthews Jr. for center field, but are said to be interested in Roberts as a Plan B. At the age of 34, Roberts might be a bit young to fit in with the Giants, however.
Cleveland is interested in pending free agent Moises Alou. With Travis Hafner locked into DH duties, the Indians don’t seem like the best for Alou, who is going to continue to have health issues if he’s asked to play the outfield most of the time. The Mets are also looking hard at Alou.
Francisco Cordero will make $5.4 million in 2007 after the Brewers exercised his club option on Friday. It’s not exactly a bargain, but had Cordero been set free, he would have been the most heavily pursued closer on the market and he likely would have received at least $20 million for three years. He had a 1.69 ERA in 26 2/3 innings after being acquired from the Rangers in July. It’s unknown whether Cordero triggered the games finished clause that would have boosted the option’s value from $5 million to $6 million. The Brewers were going to keep him either way. Since Derrick Turnbow never bounced back in the second half, Cordero will spend 2007 as Milwaukee’s closer.