Around the Majors: Free agents start filing

1) The first free agents started to file.

I’ll have the whole list once the filing period ends and they hit the open market. In case you can’t wait, here’s a list of potential free agents, which includes those who have options that still need to be exercised or declined– http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1911763

2) The Astros exercised the 2005 option on LF Craig Biggio and declined their option on 2B Jeff Kent.

After -11 RCAA/.734 OPS and 1 RCAA/.763 OPS seasons, Biggio hit .469 SLG, .337 OBA, .806 OPS, 8 RCAA in 156 games. He has a .807 career OPS, compared to his league average of .756, and 346 RCAA in 2409 games.

After 46 RCAA/.933 OPS and 13 RCAA/.860 OPS seasons, Kent hit .531 SLG, .348 OBA, .880 OPS, 12 RCAA in 145 games. He has a .858 career OPS, compared to his league average of .769, and 237 RCAA in 17777 games.

3) According to the Chicago Tribune, the Mets are interested in Sammy Sosa and Manny Ramirez.

4) The Mariners named Ron Hassey as bench coach.

5) Whitesox DH Frank Thomas and OF Carl Everett exercised their player options to stay with the team. The team exercised P Shingo Takatsu’s option and declined C Sandy Alomar Jr.’s.

After 17 RCAA/.834 OPS and 48 RCAA/.952 OPS seasons, Thomas hit .563 SLG, .434 OBA, .997 OPS, 26 RCAA in 74 games. He has a .996 career OPS, compared to his league average of .763, and 796 RCAA in 1925 games.

After -5 RCAA/.900 OPS and 24 RCAA/.876 OPS seasons, Everett hit .402 SLG, .319 OBA, .721 OPS, -9 RCAA in 82 games (first 39 with the Expos). He has a .820 career OPS, compared to his league average of .771, and 82 RCAA in 1178 games.

Takatsu had a 2.31 ERA/18 RSAA in his first 59 games in the US.

After -13 RCAA/.712 OPS and -7 RCAA/.689 OPS seasons, Alomar had a .308 SLG, .298 OBA, .606 OPS, -12 RCAA in 50 games. He has a .721 career OPS, compared to his league average of .762, and -110 RCAA in 1277 games.

6) The Indians re-signed P Scott Elarton to 1 year, $850,000 contract. He would have been a free agent.

After missing 2002 and having a 6.27 ERA/-8 RSAA in just 10 starts in 2003, Elarton had a 5.90 ERA/-21 RSAA in 29 starts (first 8 with the Rockies). He has a 5.22 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.50, and -40 RSAA in 164 games.

7) The Cubs declined their options on 2B Mark Grudzielanek and LF Moises Alou.

After -16 RCAA/.665 OPS and 6 RCAA/.782 OPS seasons, Grudzielanek hit .432 SLG, .347 OBA, .779 OPS, -2 RCAA in 81 games. He has a .719 career OPS, compared to his league average of .774, and -77 RCAA in 1299 games.

8) The Rockies and LF Jeromy Burnitz declined their mutual option and the Rockies declined their option on SS Royce Clayton.

After -16 RCAA/.677 OPS and 0 RCAA/.786 OPS seasons, Burnitz hit .559 SLG, .356 OBA, .916 OPS, 12 RCAA in 150 games. He has a .842 career OPS, compared to his league average of .776, and 98 RCAA in 1423 games.

After -14 RCAA/.661 OPS and -36 RCAA/.634 OPS seasons, Clayton had a .397 SLG, .338 OBA, .735 OPS, -31 RCAA in 146 games. He has a .684 career OPS, compared to his league average of .766, and -263 RCAA in 1751 games.

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