One day after the World Series ended, baseball's business season began Saturday as 59 players filed for free agency — headed by San Francisco's Barry Bonds, Oakland's Frank Thomas, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Nomar Garciaparra and including Toronto Blue Jays Ted Lilly, Frank Catalanotto and Justin Speier.
Oakland pitcher Barry Zito and Washington's Alfonso Soriano are two more big names available in this year's free-agent class. Approximately 200 players are eligible to file by the Nov. 11 deadline, and free agents can start talking money with all teams the following day.
Ted Lilly, a left-handed starter with the Toronto Blue Jays, was among 59 players who filed for free agency Saturday, the first day allowed by major league baseball.
(Gail Burton/Associated Press)
The Blue Jays have an interest in retaining Lilly, a left-handed starter who is expected to attract plenty of interest, Catalanotto, a strong-hitting left-fielder, and reliever Speier — but they are unlikely to be able to fit all three into their budget.
Under new rules this off-season, free agents do not face any deadlines to re-sign with their former teams. In the past, players had to re-sign by Dec. 7 (or Jan. 8 if offered salary arbitration) or could not return to their former teams until May 1. The deadlines were eliminated in baseball's new labour contract.
'Barry has nerves of steel'
Among pitchers, the Chicago Cubs' Kerry Wood and Houston's Andy Pettitte could attract some interest. The Astros' Roger Clemens also is eligible, but the 44-year-old hasn't indicated whether he wants to pitch in 2007 or whether he'd consider leaving his hometown team.
Outfielder Luis Gonzalez, not wanted back by Arizona after eight seasons with the Diamondbacks, plans to play next year.
Bonds completed a $90 million US, five-year contract with the Giants. He has 734 career homers, 21 shy of Hank Aaron's record, but it isn't clear whether the Giants want him back.
After missing most of 2005 because of a bad knee, Bonds batted .270 with 26 homers and 77 RBIs in 367 at-bats this year.
"A lot of players are somewhat nervous or apprehensive about becoming free agents because of all the uncertainty," Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, said Saturday.
"Barry has nerves of steel. That's also evident in the way he plays baseball."
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