2009 MLB Free Agency: ‘Thin Market’ Open For Business

Per the league rules, players are allowed to begin filing for free agency the day after the World Series ends (Thursday). In 2008, 65 players took advantage of the 15-day filing period that begins after the Fall Classic (including Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez). But will 2009 bring the same kind of action?

The debate over that latter point is already underway.

Ned Colletti, the general manager of a Dodgers team which tops the field with 16 players eligible for free agency, said, "This class to me doesn't have that type of allure to it. It's a thin market in my mind."

Michael Weiner, the new incoming executive director of the players' union, countered by telling the Boston Globe, "This year's market could be where you don't have those values, but you have a lot of valuable players that an awful lot of teams considered bidding for. There are a lot of teams which could say, 'You know what? This player can help me.'"

So maybe this year doesn't have the same appeal as last season, but their are still at least some big names that will be on the market this winter (read: soon-to-be New York Yankees).

Ramirez remains in the mix -- if he doesn't exercise his 2010 option for $20 million with the Dodgers, or until he does so. Other offensive headliners on the bill include Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Miguel Tejada, Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre and Johnny Damon.

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Yet perhaps nothing captures the underwhelming feel of this market as well as does the situation among the usually most valued commodities -- pitching, on both the starting and closing end.

Angels right-hander John Lackey is considered the plum of the 48 starting pitchers eligible for free agency, a status supported by his age (31) and his resume (11-8 this season, 42-22 the last three seasons).