Sporting News: Top 50 Free Agents

At the Sporting News they give their predictions on where they think the top 50 free agents will land in the Off Season:

4. Jorge Posada- Mets. This is a bit of a limb, but I think he leaves and eventually moves to 1st base. Somewhere around 4 years 70 million from the Mets.

11. Carlos Silva- Mets. They are going to spend the money, and Silva is the best young pitcher on the market. he wont be tied down for more than 4, so 4 years 65 mil. gets it done.

15. Tadahito Ighuci- Mets. They need a replacement for Castillo who is a FA and Iguchi fits in nicely with the speed at the top of the Mets line-up.

Where Castillo will land:

29. Luis Castillo- Cardinals. He provides some insurance to the middle of the IF with the loss of Eckstein. Is still a nice option on the bases. 2 years 8 million

Iguchi Won't Resign With Phillies

From Ed Ryan at Mets Fever (network member):

The free agent market for second baseman is very thin. Easley and Valentin, if healthy are more role players at best and can't be considered everyday players. Kaz isn't returning and Giles, if the Pads don't pickup his option can't hit(.229) anymore. Loretta would be interesting due to his bat (.287) and his versatility, played all four infield positions this year, but his age might be a deterrent.

I still think Luis Castillo is the best option, but I can understand his balky knees being a consideration. David Eckstein is also being considered, since it doesn't appear negotiations are going well with St Louis and he has said he would move back to second.

The person I've heard the least about maybe one of the best candidates for the position. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, 33 y/o second baseman Tadahito Iguchi has told the Phils that he will not be returning, so that he can pursue a full time second baseman's job with another team. In three full seasons he has played in at least 135 gms, with a BA of .276, OBP .347 and a FA .985. Another thing to take into consideration is if the team does acquire player/s from Japan, Iguchi could help them with the transition.

Sources say the Phillies reached out to Tadahito Iguchi about re-signing toplay third base. Iguchi told the team he preferred to sign elsewhere as a secondbaseman