Offseason Contracts So Far In Review

Since my computer has been down all off-season I'm going to run through the 20 biggest deals with my comments on them.

Matt Holliday, 7 year @ $120 million with Cardinals
Great deal for Boras as it's 2 years and maybe 3 years longer as he turned 30 this week, if Cardinals can't keep Pujols because of this deal then the deal gets worse

John Lackey, 5 year @ $82.5 million with Red Sox
Insurance if Beckett bolts next year and helps Sox contend with CC-AJ-Vazquez to counter with Lester-Beckett-Lackey

Jason Bay, 4 year @ $66 million with Mets
Still trying to figure out who they outbid, good work Mr. Urbon, will regret this deal in years 3 and 4 with no DH to put him as his defense is already iffy

Aroldis Chapman, 5 year @ $30 million with Reds
Great deal for Reds, lot of risk for small market team, the way they deferred the funds for what most people would say is a top 10 left handed pitching prospect is fantastic based on what they are getting, my only wonder is why Sox and Yankees weren't bidding as $6 million is nothing to them

Chone Figgins, 4 year @ $36 million with Mariners
Speed, defense, and OBP from Chone plus he's a great clubhouse guy

Randy Wolf, 3 year @ $30 million with Brewers
Nice move from the guys a WMG getting this done early as the market past him and Lackey has dropped out for SP since he signed, have to wonder though if anybody bid close to this though

Rich Harden, 1 year @ $7.5 million with Rangers
Ballsy move by the Rangers to tie-up so much payroll (as a percent) in a risk-reward guy, really thought he fit best in large market NL teams

Andy Pettitte, 1 year @ $11.75 million with Yankees
Still doing it in his 40's, more rings and that money why not

Adrian Beltre 1 year @ $10 million with Red Sox
Sox are playing for defense because they can't outslug the Yankees, might be one of best defensive 3B of all-time

Rafael Soriano, 1 year @ $7.25 with Braves, traded to Rays
Horrible move by Braves signing Wagner instead of waiting for him, then being forced to move him, Rays great work

Mark DeRosa, 2 years @ $12 million with Giants
Mr. all over the diamond, his health will determine if this is a good deal as he's recovering from a wrist injury

Mike Cameron, 2 years @ $15.5 million with Red Sox
More defense in Boston as Jacoby moves to LF, might have best defensive OF next to Seattle now

Marlon Byrd, 3 years @ $15 million with Cubs
Another mind boggler from the Cubs, do they just add a year or two extra to every contract for fun, look he's good, but 3 years

Mike Gonzalez, 2 years @ $12 million with Orioles
One of the worse moves this year, lose a first round pick, $6 million for a closer on a bad team, and tie-up payroll that should be spent elsewhere

Coco Crisp, 1 years @ $5.25 million with A's
Another risky move for a smaller market team, but at least it's only 1 year

Nick Johnson, 1 year @ $5.5 million with Yankees
Highest OBP of any free agent, it's he healthy another win for Cashman

Adam LaRoche, 1 year @ $5.5 million with D'Backs
Signing went under the rader, but if it's the 2nd half Adam then the D'Backs might have some semblance of an offense this year

Jose Valverde, 2 years @ $14 million with Tigers
Let's see trade Granderson to dump salary and then spend money on a closer when you have a free on (Perry) and lose a first round pick, still can't explain this one

Billy Wagner, 1 years @ $7 million with Braves
Braves moved way too early on him, he looked great with Sox and it's 1 year but too much risk in that bullpen now with Takashi too

Marcus Scutaro, 2 years @ $12.5 million with Red Sox
No more Julio Lugo, solid short-term move for Sox, paid market value here

Placido Polanco, 3 years @ $18 million with Phillies
A headscratcher as Phillies locked up one the best defensive 2B to play 3B and gave him an extra year, the Phillies have a ton of money locked up and $140 million in payroll so they can't be having injuries now

Brad Penny, 1 year @ $7.5 million with Cardinals
Another win for the agent for locking up his guy early with a solid guarantee as comparable pitchers are unsigned below

My best moves so far are the Aroldis Chapman to Reds, Rafael Soriano to the Rays, and whoever sign Pineiro and Dye on the cheap.

Remaining Free Agents: Erik Bedard, Ben Sheets, Joel Pineiro, Jermaine Dye, Jarrod Washburn, Russell Branyan, Johnny Damon, Miguel Tejada, Felipe Lopez, Orlando Hudson, Pedro, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Vincent Padilla, Bengie Molina, Ryota Igarashi, Carlos Delgado, John Smoltz, Orlando Cabrera, Kiko Calero, Bradon Looper, Octavio Dotel, Gary Sheffield, Joe Crede, Rick Ankiel, and Jack Cassel

A look into 2011 free agents can be found here. Although the real prize is a man named Yu.