Free Agent Spending Spree

Baseball Owners Open Their Wallets for Free Agents

Over the last few weeks, Major League Baseball teams have been opening up their pocketbooks at an extraordinary rate to perspective free agents. Two players, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee, have agreed to contracts worth $100 million dollars while a journeyman such as Gary Matthews Jr. have inked a deal for $50 million. The dark economic days of years past must have subsided for owners to be dealing out the cash so freely. This doesn't include the $51.1 million the Boston Red Sox paid out talk to Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Alfonso Soriano was widely considered to be the best free agent player available. He'll turn 31 in January, but has managed to increase his statistics across the board the last three seasons. His home runs have increased from 28 in 2004 to 46 in 2006 and his stolen bases jumped from 18 in 2004 to 41 in 2006. The 46 home runs and 41 stolen bases in one season make Soriano one of three players to reach the 40-40 criteria. The others are Jose Canseco (the first one to do it) and Barry Bonds. Impressed by Soriano's improving statistics and defensive versatility, he can play second base or left field, the Chicago Cubs signed Soriano to an 8 year $136 million contract on November 19. The Cubs also retained third baseman Aramis Ramirez for $75 million over 5 years. Soriano will team with Ramirez and 2005 National League MVP Derrick Lee to give the Cubs a formidable lineup. The Cubs weren't done spending on free agents as they also signed Mark DeRosa, formerly of the Texas Rangers, to a 3 year contract worth $12 million. DeRosa will primarily play second base, but he also has experience at shortstop and third base as well as the outfield. The signings of Soriano, Ramirez, and DeRosa give the Cubs one of the better lineups in the National League Central Division if not the entire National League.