This week in Free agency

I'm hoping/expecting this to be a weekly post, looking at the week in hot stove activity. So for the week of 11/10-11/16 we have:
-Todd Jones re-signing with the Tigers
-Jorge Posada re-signing with the Yankees
-The Mets signing Yorvit Torrealba
-The Yankees re-signing A-Rod
-The Cubs trading Craig Monroe

Because of another freak injury to Joel Zumaya, the Tigers had their hand forced into resigning Todd Jones. The 1 year, $7 million deal wasnt terrible, and probably very reasonable by current standards. There was some thought that they should have just used Fernando Rodney instead of Jones, but that probably wouldnt have been a wise move. For one, you dont know how Rodney would have reacted to being the closer. For another, the bump up to the other relievers(like moving Zach Miner into a more key spot)would have weakened the pen considerably. In the end, it was the easiest move to make. One piece of advice for the Tigers: When Zumaya is not pitching, please place him in bubble wrap, for your benefit, and the benefit of my strat team.

I dont think there was any doubt that the Yankees would resign Posada. The question was what would it cost them. Posada has an amazing year, winning the Silver Slugger and being selected to his 5th All-Star team. Even more amazing considering that he turned 36 in August. The Yankees gave him 4 years, which means by the time he's done, he'll be a 40 year old catcher. Or more likely, a 40 year old DH/first baseman. The Yankees reluctance to extend him in spring training probably cost them money and years, and its the latter they will regret. You have to wonder how much more his body can take behind the plate, and it would be a shock to see him playing more first base in 2009. The one thing working in his favor is the fact that the Yankees held him back when he did reach the majors. He didnt catch more than 120 game at the big league level until he was 28. That could work in his, and consequently, the Yankees favor. Still, you see what Mike Piazza is like now, I wouldnt be surprised to see Posada as a shell of his former self in 2 seasons.

The Mets signing Yorvit Torrealba is a head scratcher. On the one hand, he gets lot of credit for his passion, his handling of the pitching staff, and being a good defensive catcher. On the other hand, his bat would make Charlie O'Brien blush. Paired with Ramon Castro, I think he'll be ok, but why give him so much money(just under 15 million) for 3 years? I woudlnt be surprised to see Castro wind up with the bulk of playing time when it becomes clear that Torrealba doesnt do much with the bat. If the Mets were so concerned with defense and handling a pitching staff, why not sign Jose Molina, who likely would have come cheaper and for less years. I fear that the Mets set the market now, and whereas someone like Michael Barrett would have gotten close to 5 million a year, he's going to be able to get more now.

The Twins acquiring Craig Monroe is the kind of move that you think, well Ok, but why? to. He'll be 31 on opening day, and is coming off a season in which he failed to slug .400. He doesnt have much plate discipline(career OBP of .303), his main attribute is that he has pop. Prior to 2007, he had averaged 22 homers a year for the previous 4 seasons. If he can get back to that level, the Twins have a cheap LF/DH option on their hands, but its not a move that really pushes them forward.

And finally, A-Rod. I wrote about him yesterday, so I'll keep it brief. It was a move that the Yankees really needed, no matter what anyone tells you. A lineup with a 3-4-5 of Abreu-Matsui-Posada is very different from a lineup with Abreu-A-Rod-Matsui. The bat of A-Rod makes the hitters around him better. From a financial standpoint, having a Yankee break the Home Run Record is a liscence to print money.

Monday is the Alex, excuse AL MVP award, so we'll cover that then. If you're keeping score at home, I got the AL and NL rookies of the year, NL Cy Young and AL manager of the year, and missed on the AL Cy Young and NL Manager of the year. Four out of Six, not too bad.