Renewed for Two

Let's look at the owners who have taken the pledge for season two.

AL
AllSox::Boston
madmuldoon::New York
dflinn0728::Augusta
bentschnride::Pittsburgh
reigny::Monterrey
leblanc2::Seattle
andypavlovic::Las Vegas

NL
spenny33::Columbus
jjirish70::Burlington
bkevin::Chicago
paulbliss612::Santa Fe
the412::San Juan
Sandleaguer::Los Angeles
mark3313::San Fran
rbedwell::Portland

Memphis will be back next season. We just have to get up off our fat asses and pay up. It sounds easier than it actually is.

MarketWatch: Catchers

In the spirit of Peter Gammons, let's look at the top free agents for this coming off-season. Now, the backstops.

Victor Armas, WAS, 28 -- Batting .293 with 19 homers and 44 RBI. .941 OPS. $4.6m.

Todd Riley, MIL, 32 -- .290 BA, .906 OPS, 15 homers, 47 RBI, 94 BB, 64 Ks.

MarketWatch: Infielders

In the spirit of Peter Gammons, let's look at the top free agents for this coming off-season. Now, the infielders.

Don Foster, 1b, 33 -- .331 BA, 1.026 OPS, 33 homers, 101 RBI. Makes $4.4m.

Len Heiserman, 1b, 31 -- .322 BA, 1.143 OPS, 52 homers, 117 RBI. Makes $6.5m.

Buck Tucker, ss, 28 -- Terrible name. .310 BA, 31 SB, .358 OBP.

Andy Vickers, 3b, 30 -- .308 BA, 1.032 OPS, 35 homers, 82 RBI. Makes $1.5m.

Lorenzo DeRojas, 2b, 36 -- .298 BA, .889 OPS, 18 homers, 41 RBI. Makes $705k.

MarketWatch: Outfielders

In the spirit of Peter Gammons, let's look at the top free agents for this coming off-season. Next, the outfield.

Stone Cold Steve Austin, CIN, 30 -- .339 BA, 1.045 OPS, 25 homers, 54 RBI. $4.9m.

Roger Wulf, BUF, 32 -- .299 BA, 1.055 OPS, 43 homers, 117 RBI. $2.4m.

George Cora, COL, 34 -- .326 BA, 1.116 OPS, 37 homers, 107 RBI, 24 SB. $5.6m.

Javier Johnson, NAS, 33 -- .321 BA, .406 OBP, 15 HR. $5.6m.

Al Ward, PHI, 31 -- .441 OBP, 19 HR, 79 RBI, 25 SB. $7.75m.

MarketWatch: The Pitchers

In the spirit of Peter Gammons, let's look at the top free agents for this coming off-season. We'll start with the pitchers.

Erubiel Durazo, WAS, 34 -- 13-4, 4.21 ERA, 2:1 K/BB. Eight-year vet making $5.8m.

J.J. Lambert, MIL, 33 -- 12-7, 3.70 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2:1 K/BB. Six-year vet making $5.8m.

Mikey Hall, MIL, 27 -- 11-7, 3.48 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3:1 K/BB. Five-year vet making $4.63m.

Nash Kendall, SFE, 38 -- 11-1, 2.44 ERA, 1.10 WHIP. Setup guy. 12-year vet making $870k.

Vicente Nieves, MNT, 33 -- 7-10, 3.84 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 2:1 K/BB. 12-year vet making $4m.

Cody Case, MIN, 32 -- 9-9, 4.13 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 2.5:1 K/BB. Eight-year vet making $6.5m.

Arbitration Eligible:::Pitchers

These are the arbitration-eligible pitchers for this coming off-season, with their ages and current salary:

Greg Brown (L) , ATL , P , 29 , $3.8M
Jimmy Vogelsong (R) , MEM , P , 30 , $3.5M
Eric Meluskey (R) , LA , P , 30 , $3.4M
Kris Smith (L) , DET , P , 27 , $3.4M
Luke Swindell (L) , PHI , P , 30 , $3.3M
Felix Garcia (L) , AUS , P , 27 , $3.2M
Rocky Hooper (R) , LA , P , 28 , $3.2M
Sandy Smith (R) , KC , P , 30 , $2.8M
Alex Moreno (L) , COL , P , 29 , $2.5M
Frank McGee (R) , NAS , P , 26 , $2.5M
Edgar Gonzalez (L) , SEA , P , 30 , $2.4M
Keith Phelps (R) , SEA , P , 31 , $2.1M
Allan Palmer (R) , RIC , P , 30 , $2.0M
Esteban Aparicio (L) , COL , P , 26 , $2.0M
Russ Branson (L) , SEA , P , 31 , $2.0M
Gene Collins (R) , SEA , P , 27 , $1.9M
Felipe Johnson (L) , NY1 , P , 28 , $1.7M
Vic Alston (R) , COL , P , 28 , $1.6M
Brad Cambridge (R) , RIC , P , 29 , $1.4M
Gabby Connelly (L) , COL , P , 27 , $1.4M
Joe Swann (L) , SEA , P , 27 , $1.3M
Brad Bird (L) , CIN , P , 26 , $1.2M
Tom Miller (R) , KC , P , 28 , $1.2M
Harold Appier (R) , SF , P , 29 , $1.1M
Ignacio Escobar (R) , POR , P , 26 , $1.1M
Daryn Randall (R) , NY1 , P , 24 , $1.0M
Quinn Stevenson (R) , PHI , P , 29 , $1.0M
Tomas Ayala (L) , KC , P , 27 , $1.0M
Desi Pujols (L) , AUG , P , 26 , $945K
Esteban Castillo (R) , COL , P , 24 , $800K
Armando Hernandez (R) , NY1 , P , 25 , $710K
Greg Sturtze (R) , BUR , P , 25 , $665K
Kennie Walker (R) , CH1 , P , 24 , $665K
Earl Paige (R) , CHA , P , 25 , $650K
Mark Hiller (L) , WAS , P , 27 , $625K
Victor Belliard (R) , SEA , P , 26 , $610K
Jose Bonilla (R) , ATL , P , 29 , $6.5M
Doug Linton (L) , CIN , P , 27 , $5.6M
Giomar DeJesus (R) , DET , P , 25 , $4.7M
Vic Brock (R) , CHA , P , 29 , $4.1M
Al Machado (R) , SFE , P , 26 , $365K
Bum Bennett (L) , AUG , P , 26 , $328K
Chad Wagner (L) , SJU , P , 27 , $328K
Diego Castillo (L) , DET , P , 26 , $328K
Louie Dali (L) , PHI , P , 27 , $328K
Ralph Clark (R) , SFE , P , 25 , $328K
Ray Waters (R) , ATL , P , 26 , $328K
Vic Barrett (L) , MEM , P , 24 , $328K
Al McNamara (R) , BUR , P , 24 , $327K
Albert Alcantara (R) , BUR , P , 25 , $327K
Chief Webster (R) , PHI , P , 28 , $327K
Deacon Barkley (R) , CLE , P , 27 , $327K
Groucho Hunter (L) , BOS , P , 24 , $327K
Magglio Rodriguez (R) , ATL , P , 24 , $327K
Pat Maeda (L) , AUG , P , 24 , $327K
Peter Gray (R) , PIT , P , 26 , $327K
Raymond North (R) , COL , P , 26 , $327K
Roscoe Street (R) , ATL , P , 24 , $327K
Ugueth Neruda (L) , KC , P , 25 , $327K

Arbitration Eligible::Position Players

In the coming weeks, we'll jump ahead of ourselves and begin looking at the top eligible free agents. Right now, we'll just jump a little bit ahead and look at this off-season's arbitration eligible players. These are the major-league eligible position players in this upcoming off-season with their ages and current salaries:

Timo Phillips (R) , SJU , RF , 31 , $7.4M
Chul Tabaka (R) , DET , 2B , 28 , $4.1M
Jerry Ruffin (R) , ATL , 2B , 30 , $4.0M
Xavier Olsen (R) , CLE , SS , 27 , $3.9M
Tim Easterly (R) , RIC , LF , 27 , $3.5M
Jeff Oliver (R) , MIL , SS , 26 , $3.5M
Ronn Swann (R) , ATL , 1B , 26 , $3.2M
Bill Gibson (R) , AUS , 2B , 30 , $3.1M
Bobby Ray Norman (L) , SEA , 1B , 30 , $2.9M
Moose Feliciano (R) , DET , 2B , 31 , $2.9M
Vladimir Cust (R) , CIN , 3B , 25 , $2.9M
Raul Pescado (L) , SJU , LF , 30 , $2.9M
Rich Shipley (R) , CLB , 3B , 26 , $2.8M
Benito Cervantes (R) , LV , 1B , 28 , $2.5M
Mikey Grey (R) , MIL , 2B , 29 , $2.5M
Calvin Borders (R) , KC , LF , 31 , $2.5M
Joey Leach (R) , CH1 , 2B , 27 , $2.4M
Juan Santos (L) , CSP , CF , 28 , $2.4M
Roy Combs (R) , COL , SS , 26 , $2.4M
Bobby Ray Bonham (R) , CLB , RF , 28 , $2.2M
Gerald Neugebauer (R) , CLE , SS , 29 , $2.2M
Moose Lewis (R) , WAS , 1B , 29 , $2.0M
Edwin Underwood (R) , COL , 2B , 28 , $2.0M
Gookie Mann (R) , SF , CF , 27 , $2.0M
Pascual Park (R) , MIN , RF , 28 , $2.0M
Orber Nieto (R) , PIT , RF , 24 , $1.9M
Tom Burns (L) , NAS , LF , 27 , $1.7M
Max Cora (R) , PHI , 2B , 30 , $1.5M
Al Johnson (R) , BUF , 3B , 28 , $1.5M
Orlando Martinez (R) , NY1 , 3B , 28 , $1.5M
Placido Cruz (R) , SEA , C , 29 , $1.5M
Tyrone Thomas (R) , RIC , C , 28 , $1.5M
Devon Gentry (L) , SJU , CF , 27 , $1.5M
Louie McBride (L) , BUR , CF , 30 , $1.5M
Irv Hall (R) , CLE , LF , 28 , $1.5M
Nerio Turner (R) , CLE , RF , 26 , $1.5M
Moe Leach (R) , SEA , 3B , 28 , $1.4M
Robert Riggs (R) , POR , 3B , 26 , $1.4M
Charlie Swann (L) , ATL , CF , 27 , $1.4M
William Comer (L) , CSP , CF , 27 , $1.4M
Dario White (L) , NY1 , RF , 26 , $1.4M
Graham Kennedy (R) , COL , SS , 26 , $1.4M
Felipe Hernandez (R) , MIL , 1B , 28 , $1.3M
George Blair (R) , KC , 2B , 28 , $1.3M
Skeeter May (R) , CLB , SS , 25 , $1.3M
Zip Burke (R) , SF , SS , 26 , $1.3M
Gus Mitchell (R) , SF , 2B , 29 , $1.2M
Yuniesky Cornejo (R) , CHA , C , 27 , $1.2M
Tanner Howard (R) , COL , DH , 28 , $1.2M
Larry Simmons (R) , SEA , LF , 25 , $1.2M
Billy Weston (R) , RIC , 3B , 29 , $1.1M
Felix Matsuzaka (L) , SFE , RF , 26 , $1.1M
Jesse Woods (R) , SF , SS , 27 , $1.1M
Jose Colon (R) , COL , SS , 26 , $1.1M
Lenny Kershner (R) , LV , 3B , 28 , $1.0M
Clay Sefcik (R) , NAS , CF , 26 , $1.0M
Derek Mullaney (R) , SEA , SS , 27 , $1.0M
Bucky Woods (R) , AUG , 3B , 26 , $900K
Steve McDonald (R) , CH1 , 3B , 28 , $900K
Javier Osuna (L) , LV , CF , 27 , $900K
Sandy Jones (R) , COL , SS , 28 , $885K
T.J. Perkins (R) , CIN , C , 26 , $880K
Mitchell Richards (R) , MIN , CF , 29 , $880K
Charlie Ruth (R) , SEA , 2B , 28 , $845K
Harry Caballero (R) , BUR , 3B , 29 , $815K
Charley Stieb (R) , BUF , C , 26 , $800K
Javy Castilla (R) , PIT , 3B , 27 , $795K
Felipe Sierra (L) , MIN , LF , 30 , $770K
Richard McMasters (L) , PHI , 1B , 26 , $760K
Craig Jacquez (R) , SF , SS , 24 , $750K
Tomas Cervantes (R) , CLB , SS , 26 , $750K
Darrin Simmons (R) , LA , 1B , 27 , $718K
Vicente Ozuna (R) , CLB , C , 27 , $700K
Alex Cust (R) , MEM , SS , 25 , $700K
Julio Estrada (R) , WAS , CF , 25 , $675K
Bob West (R) , NY1 , LF , 27 , $605K
Bert Jones (R) , SFE , SS , 27 , $580K
Joe Hogan (R) , SFE , LF , 26 , $505K
Carlos Johnson (R) , MIL , 1B , 23 , $328K
Walt Clement (R) , BUF , 1B , 25 , $328K
Wayne Ramsey (R) , CH1 , 1B , 25 , $328K
Nomar James (R) , CLB , 2B , 25 , $328K
Alan McBride (R) , NY1 , 3B , 25 , $328K
Hack Farr (R) , SFE , 3B , 23 , $328K
Javier Macias (R) , PIT , 3B , 27 , $328K
Julio Mateo (R) , LA , 3B , 23 , $328K
Julio Posada (R) , BUR , 3B , 26 , $328K
Duke Harper (R) , BUR , C , 25 , $328K
Henry Wyatt (R) , PHI , C , 22 , $328K
Darryl Coles (L) , BOS , CF , 25 , $328K
Lou Coles (R) , RIC , CF , 24 , $328K
Thomas Wood (R) , CH1 , CF , 26 , $328K
Adrian Rogers (R) , KC , LF , 26 , $328K
Manuel Gomez (L) , PIT , LF , 23 , $328K
Happy Campbell (L) , MEM , RF , 26 , $328K
Odalis Lee (L) , MIL , RF , 25 , $328K
York Muratore (R) , SEA , RF , 25 , $328K
Joel Hutch (R) , NAS , SS , 26 , $328K
Wes Harmon (R) , LA , SS , 25 , $328K
Dick Brown (L) , POR , 1B , 26 , $327K
Stevie Michaels (R) , RIC , 1B , 27 , $327K
Cristian Chen (R) , LV , 2B , 25 , $327K
Max Griggs (R) , CLB , 2B , 28 , $327K
Richard Coppinger (R) , DET , 2B , 26 , $327K
Andre Canseco (R) , CLB , 3B , 28 , $327K
Hideo Xaio (R) , MEM , 3B , 25 , $327K
Quentin White (R) , RIC , 3B , 26 , $327K
Stan Bowie (R) , MIL , 3B , 25 , $327K
Alfredo Gabriel (R) , LA , C , 25 , $327K
Eli Reynoso (R) , WAS , C , 25 , $327K
Nick Farnsworth (R) , CHA , LF , 26 , $327K
Denny Katou (L) , CLE , RF , 27 , $327K
Howie Fitzgerald (R) , POR , RF , 26 , $327K
Tony Moraga (R) , MNT , RF , 24 , $327K

Deadline Deals Under Review

With the trading deadline passed, let's look at the deals that will shape the rest of the season:

MEMPHIS sends OF Mark Long (AAA), SP Al Barajas (AAA) and P Randall Wheat to BURLINGTON for OF Gary Gruber and P Jimmy Vogelsong plus cash.

I made the deal for Randall Wheat and was unconvinced of his stuff after two starts. jjirish approached me on the Gary Gruber deal and we were able to work in the pitching swap. Vogelsong and Wheat are in their walk years and Gruber has another season at $6.5M. The two prospects hurt, but Long was expendable given my minor league depth in the outfield. A good deal for me in the short term. Probably a better deal for Burlington in the long run.


PORTLAND sends 2B Doug Corrino and P Peter Surhoff to PITTSBURGH for P Ignacio Escobar.

Pittsburgh inherits two rookies from the Beavers organization. Surhoff is a three-pitch starter with okay ratings. He is 5-13 with a 7.30 ERA. Corrino is batting .243 with four homers, 26 RBI
and 21 stolen bases. In return, Portland gets a 26-year-old starter who has spent time between AAA and the majors. Pittsburgh gets a chance to reload here. No slight on Portland but any deal involving Pittsburgh getting new players will benefit the Diamond Kings more.


BURLINGTON sends RF Dario White to NEW YORK for SS Kevin Caufield (AAA) and P Denny Yang (AAA)

Dario White signed out of arbitration, was traded to Burlington and now plays for New York. So, New York gets a solid hitter and an expiring contract in return for a pair of AAA players. Caufield is batting a combined .306 while Yang is 9-7 with a 3.12 ERA and 130 Ks at HiA and AAA.


CHARLOTTE sends P Carlos Eusebio to SANTA FE for CF Jay O'Keefe (AA)

Eusebio is a sinker-slider veteran arm and has solid credentials. He got rocked in his first start with Santa Fe, taking the loss after surrendering seven earned in 3.2 innings. O'Keefe comes
to the Webs organization with a nice swing and quick feet, batting .324 with 36 stolen bases.