64/60 Sports Fantasy Spin On The Hot Stove

Rather slow week on the Hot Stove. Only two notable deals were made. As we turn the calender to 2012 here are the best of the remaining Free Agents on the market.

1B- Prince Fielder, Derrek Lee, Carlos Pena
2B- Orlando Cabrera, Ryan Theriot
3B- Wilson Betemit, Miguel Tejada
SS- None of Note
C- Jorge Posada, Ivan Rodriguez, Chris Snyder
OF- Rick Ankiel, Pat Burrell, Coco Crisp, Johnny Damon, JD Drew, Kosuke Fukudome, Vladimir Guerrero, Raul Ibanez, Hedeki Matsui, Magglio Ordonez, Juan Pierre, Cody Ross, Luke Scott, Ryan Spillborghs
SP- Jeff Francis, Jon Garland, Rich Harden, Edwin Jackson, Kenshin Kawakami, Hiroki Kuroda, Paul Maholm, Roy Oswalt, Joel Pineiro, Javier Vazquez, Joe Saunders, Jo Jo Reyes
RP- Francisco Cordero, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Fernando Rodney, Kerry Wood

* As you can see from the list above, not many Franchise builders to be had. Lee and Pena will likely be nabbed soon after Fielder signs, which should be sometimes within the next two weeks. In the OF look for Coco Crisp or Cody Ross to be the first to sign. Outside of the 1B crop and the Crisp/Ross OF combo expect most of the remaining offensive players to be late off-season signings. I prefer Oswalt and Kuroda to the other arms available but as you can see with the limited drop off to the fallback options expect this market to continue to be slow. Five options remain with closing experience. Madson is clearly the best arm given his track record of success both closing and in 8th inning work. Madson should be the first to sign as Wood will head back to Chicago and Lidge, Cordero, and Rodney will likely go anywhere that gives them a chance to close.

- Red Sox acquire Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney from A's for Josh Reddick, Miles Head, and Raul Alcontara. I have often said I'm not a fan of signing Closers to big contracts or acquiring one in a deal. To me there is a long track record of successful closing stints from unheralded arms. With that said I actually like this deal from the Red Sox perspective. Bailey may not have the most dominate stuff but he does have a very solid track record and above all he is young and under team control beyond this season. In addition Sweeney will make for a great OF platoon due to his .296 career AVG vs. RHP. I like Reddick as a 4th OF but in Oakland he will likely be a everyday play making him a marginal play in standard mixed leagues. Head is a prospect in the loosest since given his advanced age (20) and 3 unspectacular seasons in A-Ball. Alcontara is only 19 but has only 4 appearences above Rookie Ball under his belt.

- White Sox trade Carlos Quentin to Padres for RHP Simon Castro and LHP Pedro Hernandez. I suppose when you make it evident to 29 teams, how bad you want to get rid of someone, you lose leverage. Otherwise you expect more in return for a former MVP. To be honest the deal doen't make much sense from either side. The White Sox don't get much in return and the Padres dealt for a position where they already have plenty of depth. Quentin will likely bat in the middle of the Padres order and in effect take away AB's from Will Venable, Jesus Guzman, and Kyle Blanks. The move will also likely mean Anthony Rizzo will be dealt or begin the season at AAA as Alonso or Blanks will likely be the Opening Day 1B. Quentin isn't your 40 HR threat so his value should sustain given the move to Petco. Expect 20+ HR power with a AVG in the 250-265 range with the chance to drive in 90+ if he can manage to stay healthy. Castro has a higher upside than Hernandez as he was at one time a Top 10 prospect within the Padres. However that star has faded rather quickly and at the close of last season neither prospect cracked the organizations Top 25 prospect list in most scouting services.