Baseball Free Agency 2009 – Big Week in Baseball Free Agency 2009

While last week's winter meetings were supposedly the main shopping spot in baseball betting's hot stove season, expect there to be more movement this week as teams begin to want to tie up some loose ends before heading off for the Christmas break.

The major dominoes to fall will be some big-ticket free agents. Many reports on Saturday had the Red Sox abandoning hopes of resigning free agent outfielder Jason Bay after Bay reportedly turned down a four-year deal for $60 million. Other players believed in the hunt for Bay are the Mariners and the Mets.



Matt Holliday is another free agent outfielder that's still out there. The Cardinals said that they made a proposal to Holliday's agent, Scott Boras, for resigning the left-fielder. Knowing Boras' style, it would seem unlikely that he would just take the first offer. The Red Sox, Yankees and Mets also figure in this mix as well. Ditto those names for John Lackey, the best starting pitcher on the market.

The Phillies have filled a number of holes already, but continue to look for arms in the bullpen. Now that the non-tender list is out, perhaps there are some names they would be interested in like Matt Capps (Pirates).

Ruben wouldn't mind a lower-budget starter either to fill out the rotation and one that possibly could be out there is Chien-Ming Wang, the injury plagued but talented Yankees pitcher who was non-tendered over the weekend. Wang is only 29, came off two 19 win seasons in 2006 and 2007 before injuring his foot in 2008. He had authroscopic surgery in July on a tear in the right shoulder, but he should return at some point in the first two months of the season. It wouldn't be a bad risk for the Phils at this point, better than the recycled crew of Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer.

There's also the trade market for pitching, which includes this obscure Toronto starter that nobody ever talks about...

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