NewsDamon, Matsui among free-agency filers
Thirty-one players file Monday to bring total number to 151
By Tom Singer / MLB.com
11/09/09 8:31 PM EST
Led by a quintet of New York Yankees who last week were too preoccupied celebrating a World Series championship, 31 more eligible players filed for free agency on Monday, swelling the total of declared players to 151. Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui were joined in declaring by two other New York outfielders, Eric Hinske and Xavier Nady, and catcher Jose Molina on what otherwise was a red-letter day for teams which will be seeking relief help in this offseason's marketplace. Monday's filers included 13 ranked free agents, nine of them bullpen denizens. Damon, top-rated Type-A in the annual rankings by the Elias Sports Bureau, and Type-B Nady were two of the four ranked position players to file. The other two were Type-A shortstop Orlando Cabrera, lately of the Minnesota Twins, and Type-B catcher Rod Barajas of the Blue Jays. Although Type-A closer Jose Valverde was among the filers, the day otherwise featured the cream of one of the offseason's most bountiful free-agent categories: setup relievers. The other Type As were Kevin Gregg of the Cubs, who posted 23 saves before being removed from his closer's role in mid-August, and Octavio Dotel of the White Sox, who has appeared in 134 games the past two seasons. Type-B relievers jumping into the pool were Joe Beimel (Rockies), Brandon Lyon (Tigers), Doug Brocail (Astros), Will Ohman (Dodgers), David Weathers (Brewers) and Chan Ho Park of the Phillies. Park, who opened the season in Philadelphia's starting rotation then emerged as a solid long-reliever for the National League champs, was one of four Phillies to file. Third baseman Pedro Feliz filed the day after the Phillies had declined his 2010 option, and was joined by teammates Paul Bako and Matt Stairs. The rankings for free agents are significant because they are the only ones who would bring compensation Draft picks in return if signed away by another team after the window for widespread negotiations opens on Nov. 20. Until then, free agents can negotiate only with their 2009 teams. That's not to say those without the A or B label do not present appealing options to teams seeking help. In fact, without the attachment of a compensatory price, some may be even more appealing. These unranked free agents filing Monday included shortstop Alex Gonzalez, whose option was declined by the Red Sox earlier in the day, and Coco Crisp, still one of the youngest true center fielders among free agents. Gary Sheffield, hopeful of continuing his career after a productive if injury-limited season with the Mets, filed. So did first baseman Russell Branyan, whose remarkable comeback season for the Mariners included 31 home runs before a herniated disk shut him down for the final five weeks.Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Change for a Nickel. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
