The Sommer Frieze

Edited from MLBTR:

The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

The Braves are pulling back for the moment in their search for an outfield bat. They’ll hope for a free agent bargain or the right trade. Rosenthal says they’re torn about Andruw Jones. The Braves seek a right-handed hitter but aren’t dead set on it. They were unwilling to meet the Yankees’ demands for Xavier Nady.

The Yankees have little interest in Ben Sheets and Freddy Garcia. The Rangers, Mets, and White Sox remain in the mix for Garcia.

What I do wonder is what kinds of “bargains” Cashman may be looking at. Reclamation or rehab projects that could fill needs and who come cheaply—low base, with incentives. Garcia could have been one, maybe Andruw Jones. Boston has done a lot of that recently with Penny, Smoltz, Colon and Baldelli.

Doug Miller of MLB.com has this:

On this day in 2007, only 66 of 210 (31.4 percent) total free agents remained unsigned, and the cream of that crop included J.D. Drew, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, David Wells, Darin Erstad, Jeff Weaver, Cliff Floyd and Scott Schoeneweis.

A year ago, the economic climate began to show even more, with 81 of 190 total free agents (42.6 percent) still unsigned on this day, including Jeremy Affeldt, Kyle Lohse, Octavio Dotel, Rod Barajas, Pedro Feliz, Johhny Estrada, Brian Moehler and Brad Wilkerson.

But this year, the number is at 110 of 214, a surprising 51.4 percent, and the available level of talent has soared to never-before-seen levels, meaning that legitimate Major League starters could conceivably end up opting for Minor League deals by the time teams leave for the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.

The Yanks could still use starter insurance, esp. if Andy doesn’t return (and with every passing day…). They could still use a utility infielder to compete with Ransom (no, I’m not sold on Angel Berroa). There may be a bargain out there. It’s up to Cashman to find the needle in the haystack.

Jim Schwartz is new head coach of the Lions. Put it this way, after 0-16, the Lions have nowhere to go but up.