Every day it now it seems as if another big name is coming off the free agent market. With reports indicating that Ichiro Suzuki and the Seattle Mariners are close to reaching a 5 year deal worth around $100 million dollars, the all of the sudden potential wealth of outfielder is coming down to one man. This winter is going to be the Torii Hunter Show. If Ichiro is demanding $20 million for five years, who knows what kind of money will be thrown Hunter's way.
Hunter will produce much more with the bat than Ichiro will. Take into account the stolen base edge that Ichiro has over Hunter, which is only 23 to 11, and that does not outweigh the homeruns and rbi's that Hunter brings to the table. I think it is almost impossible to choose a side when it comes to defense because both are spectacular and the Gold Glove for centerfield will be a toss up.
With Andrew Jones struggling mightly in Atlanta, his stock is dropping daily. So when it comes down to it, is somebody going to throw $120 million at Torii Hunter? It is obvious the Twins cannot match that type of money, but at this rate, how much of a home-town discount would be reasonable? If Torii Hunter's market value is $110 million or more, I don't think he can drop that price down enough to match an offer from Minnesota.
Andrew Jones will still get substantial money in the scheme of things, but it will not be what Ichiro or Hunter will be getting. Jones is a perennial all-star struggling in his walk year. That is all there is to it. But baseball is a business and it is too bad for Jones' sake that this year will be the one that is heavily looked at, and not his productive seasons before.
It will be quite an intense bidding war over Hunter since many teams are looking for that impact bat, with defense usually coming in second. With Hunter you get both, and that is why I am led to believe that his asking price may be outrageous. I don't want to say Soriano money just for the sake of jaws dropping like they did when that deal hit the news, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets close to that.
The other huge name could also be off the market due to a contract extension, and that is Alex Rodriguez. Reports say that the Yankees are willing to work out an extension to his original 10-year deal, given that Rodriguez does not exercise his opt-out clause after the season. Unless Rodriguez has been continually lying, you have to believe that he really wants to stay in New York and bring a championship back to the Bronx.
The Yankees udoubtedly have the money to get any deal done that they want since they use the New York market to their advantage year after year. Alex Rodriguez will demand at least the $25 million a year he got in his contract with Texas, but that figure will probably be raised to around $30 million a year, especailly after the season he is having right now. But in the end, I believe that he will work out a deal with New York because I feel like he for once fits in there and that he truly wants to win in pinstripes. Of course, 30 homeruns and 86 rbi's at the all-star break will help any player fit in to any city.
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