2010 MLB Free Agent Predictions

Major League Baseball free agency kicks off when the clock hits midnight on November 20, 2009 and here are Empire Sports Now’s free agent predictions as it pertains to the Yankees and Mets and also the top free agents so it should make things very interesting for online betting.

Matt Holliday LF – Cardinals. Holliday will be the first left fielder to sign and will stay in St. Louis. Dark Horse – Mets

Jason Bay LF – Red Sox. Bay already rejected Boston’s four-year, $60 million deal but they’ll get something done, especially once Holliday signs. The Red Sox don’t want to be left without Holliday or Bay. Dark Horse – Yankees

Johnny Damon LF – Athletics. Former Athletic Jason Giambi signed with Oakland after the Yankees, Damon will do the same. If not Oakland, he’ll be back with the Yankees.

Hideki Matsui LF/DH – Yankees. The Yankees and Matsui will come to an agreement on a one-year deal.

Andy Pettitte SP – Yankees. It’s either retirement of the Bronx for Pettitte and it looks like he wants to pitch one more year.

John Lackey SP – Mets. The Mets won’t get Holliday, Bay or Figgins so they’ll spend on Lackey to pitch behind Santana. Dark Horse – Yankees

Marlon Byrd LF – Mets. He’s the next best option at left field for the Mets behind Holliday and Bay. He’ll also be a lot cheaper.

Other notable predictions:
Carlos Delgado – Marlins
Jason Marquis – Mets
Chone Figgins – Angels

Agree or disagree? Let us know.

Mets Trade and Free Agent Rumors

Here are some rumors going around about the Mets as of November 12, 2009.

The New York Post suggests Omar Minaya has met with Scott Boras to talk about free agent left fielder Matt Holliday. Boras is pushing Teixeira-like salary figures for Holliday. Read the article

The Mets have a lot of needs and left field is where they’ll begin. A big bat in left will go a long way making it easier for the Mets to go with lower priced players at other positions. Holliday’s contract will be big but it would be worth it for the Mets. Other teams may get involved in the bid and drive the price up and the Mets out of the discussion.

SI reports the Mets are interested in free agent pitcher Joel Pineiro.

Pineiro picked the right time to have a decent season after he had some really bad years from ‘04-’08. In ‘09, Pineiro went 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA. That’s his lowest ERA since 2002 (14-7, 3.24 ERA). The Mets should remain cautious that he can take another nosedive in 2010.

The Mets will be players in the signings of Chone Figgins and Orlando Hudson and are looking to trade Luis Castillo. Read the article

The Mets would love to have either Figgins or Hudson but have nowhere to put them. In order to open second base for one of the two, the Mets would have to find a trading partner for Luis Castillo. Figgins can play anywhere on the field and would be a great addition to the Mets. He’s the type of player that can make things happen and fuel the top of a lineup. The versatile Figgins in Queens would be a great signing by Minaya.