I wonder how long it will take for somebody to come up with a system that can lend some predictability to the new free agency for Type A free agents. What is common to the players who were signed by new teams? What is common to the players that were re-signed by their former teams? What is common to the players that are as yet unsigned?

What is common to the players that were signed by new teams is that they are all right in the prime of their careers, and the new teams used free agency to fill specific needs (with the possible exception of the Angels who may just be playing hog again like the Yankees used to do).

The three players who re-signed with their former teams apparently were still wanted by their respective teams, but at a lower price and under better contract language than the players' agents were wanting. Lohse would likely have fallen into this grouping also had the Cardinals had not taken the opportunity to sign Westbrook. In looking back it seems that if the Cardinals had not signed Westbrook, they could now sign Lohse for less money than they gave to Westbrook. Also, if that happened, then the salary structure on the whole would probably come down somewhat since Lohse would now be signed to play for less money than he would have gotten under the old system. Most of this is hypothetical, but it still feels pretty good that the salary structure could come down, or at least, be brought under control.

What the three as yet unsigned players have in common is that they all have Boras for an agent, they are all past their prime years which are generally thought to be between 28 and 32 years of age, and their respective teams have each filled the opening left by them.

There isn't much data to go on yet, and who knows what else will happen? But this is a place to start trying to figure out the new free agency for Type A players.

mudville wrote: ... In looking back it seems that if the Cardinals had not signed Westbrook, they could now sign Lohse for less money than they gave to Westbrook. ...

Do you realize that you are saying that you believe that Lohse would settle for a one-year deal for less than $8.75 million with a second-year option for less than $9.5 million or less than a $1 million buyout?

No way on the money and no way on the years.

He might resist the years, but I think he would be thrilled to get the 8.75 million at this point in the offseason. The Cardinals can't do it now because they have already committed that money to Westbrook. It sounds absurd to say it, but its starting to look like, that if the Rangers don't sign Lohse, he might be taking the season off.

My view is different. I think the Cards could still sign Lohse if they were willing to pay the price in dollars and years. Partially because they signed Westbrook and partially because they have young arms ready, Lohse is not needed.

I do not believe that Lohse would accept Westbrook terms - before, now or later in the off-season. I do not think that Lohse will have to. I predict that he will find a new home by spring training and will make more than Westbrook in both money and years.

Finally, this does not appear to be the end of free agency as we know it. It is simply a point in time in a very high stakes poker game with many players.

We should know the answer to most all of this except for the last item in the next 60 days or so.

Seven down, two to go. Boras works his magic with one of his favorites, Washington.

Yahoo's Jeff Passan is reporting that Rafael Soriano has agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Nationals. It includes a vesting option for a third year also at $14 million if he closes 120 games in the first two years (corrected from initial post). Three years, $42 million potential is pretty sweet!

P.S. Note that the AAV is greater than the $13.3 million for 2013 that he turned down from the Yankees. With Soriano coming out of it this nicely, I like Lohse's situation even more.

Domeboys wrote: Seven down, two to go. Boras works his magic with one the teams he manages, Washington.

Fixed your post Brian. Is anyone surprised by this? There was all that talk last year about how Washington is both Boras' team and safety net for unsigned clients. Johnson and Rizzo are just puppets for the Scott Boras show. And, it seems the show will go on in 2013.

In addition to the cash outlay for Soriano, the Nats surrender the #29 pick in the 2013 draft and associated budget.

Tidbit from Jon Morosi of FOX.

"Rafael Soriano is currently the highest-paid relief pitcher in baseball, at $14 million per year. Second-highest AAV for a reliever ever."

.....and the cost for a closer just escalated again. Too bad.
We have to give Boras credit for finding ways to get exorbitant amounts of money out of Ownership. Apparently, that's the only thing he thinks he's supposed to do as an Agent, and he does it well. I'm going to guess that some of these teams have so much money that if they add a few million here or there to a contract...... Who cares? Many of these Owners are just owning a baseball team for fun, so they don't really care too much about how much money they spend on their fun. This is sad. Many people look for guidance from those who appear to have achieved great success.

On a better note, and this may not be the right thread for this, but I have a friend whose parents emigrated from Cuba in 1961. So for those who are interested, the correct Spanish pronunciation of Aldemis Diaz first name is 'owl-DAY-mees'.
In English it is probably 'al-DEM-is'. I don't think they have the nickname 'Al' for Spanish-speaking guys.

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--- mudville wrote:

So for those who are interested, the correct Spanish pronunciation of Aldemis Diaz first name is 'owl-DAY-mees'.
In English it is probably 'al-DEM-is'. I don't think they have the nickname 'Al' for Spanish-speaking guys.

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As the resident Spanish translator here at The Cardinal Nation, please allow me to inject that you are 100% correct, sir! Furthermore, if something should happen to me, let it be known that in absyentia, please toss my hat into the ring for Mudville as my successor in the coveted position I presently maintain. Buenos dias.

Did you happen to see contract details?  Soriano will receive $7MM in 2013, $7MM in 2014 and the remaining $14MM in deferred payments from 2018-2025, reports Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The deal includes a 2015 option valued at $14MM that will vest if Soriano finishes 120 games over the course of the next two seasons.

No, I did not see the contract details. This sounds a little better than it did before you posted the details of the contract. Thanks. Looks like there may be a ray of hope for contracts leveling off, and maybe coming down, after all. The new CBA has changed free agency some. We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out.

......and Pugs.....thanks for the endorsement. I would accept that role but only on a purely interim basis not to last more than three days. Auf wiedersehen.

As folks may remember, Michael Bourn is the other remaining qualifying free agent along with Lohse. Jon Heyman says eight teams are supposedly in on the outfielder.

Would anyone else like to see the Cardinals get involved in his free agency?

I know they have Jay on the roster and Taveras knocking on the door. I know the money would be a little high for the Cardinals payroll, but I really like the idea of adding an elite defensive CF with his speed atop the lineup. Bourn is only 30 years old and one of the few legitimate lead-off hitters in baseball. Adding Bourn would take away the Cardinals reliance on Furcal in the lineup and would be an upgrade to the teams speed and defense up the middle. I know it would leave Jay out as a fifth OF, but you're talking about one of the top CF in baseball.

All this is just for fun, of course. Who knows what Boras is looking for in contract length and terms?

Interesting story that touches on how the Pirates have indirectly kept the Mets from signing Bourn or Lohse.

KylMss wrote: Would anyone else like to see the Cardinals get involved in his free agency?

I know they have Jay on the roster and Taveras knocking on the door. I know the money would be a little high for the Cardinals payroll, but I really like the idea of adding an elite defensive CF with his speed atop the lineup. Bourn is only 30 years old and one of the few legitimate lead-off hitters in baseball. Adding Bourn would take away the Cardinals reliance on Furcal in the lineup and would be an upgrade to the teams speed and defense up the middle. I know it would leave Jay out as a fifth OF, but you're talking about one of the top CF in baseball.

All this is just for fun, of course. Who knows what Boras is looking for in contract length and terms?

Not really. Bourn's value is highly dependent on his legs. Don't get me wrong, I like Bourn as a player, but Jay is cheaper, younger and a better hitter. I just feel that money would be better spent elsewhere, rather than upgrading something that isn't a weakness.

Also, Tilson and Ramsey should be making strides this year, and if we're going to get Adams' bat into the lineup any time soon, then Craig will have to play right field and Taveras will be in center. Bourn would be an upgrade, but IMO not enough to justify moving Jay, a player that we watched make his way through our system.

There was a tweet from Cleveland that Lohse has signed with the Indians but it was from a fake account created to look like the Plain Dealer's beat writer's.