While the 2011 free-agent frenzy has pretty much come and gone, there is always next year. Let’s take a sneak peek at what might be in store for the winter of 2012.
A solid crop of talent that will be on the open market, including Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins, Aramis Ramirez, Rickie Weeks, Carlos Beltran, Mark Buehrle, Jonathan Papelbon and maybe even Albert Pujols.
On top of those names are some players that have 2012 options on their contracts. Some people on this list are Nick Swisher, Brandon Phillips, Rafael Furcal, Chris Carpenter, Roy Oswalt, and Rafael Soriano.
I’ll try to predict which of these players’ options will or won’t be picked and see who might be interested in those who I believe may become available.
One player who could completely turn the 2012 free-agency period upside down and is CC Sabathia. He can opt out of the remaining four years and $92 million remaining on his contract with the Yankees.
Now THAT would make things real interesting.