Where Will the Free Agents Land: Wedman Style

Do you want to know where all of the major free agents are headed? Just listen to us. As one of our columnist stated, "My predictions (or knowledge since I went into the future to verify all of these) are as follows." Lets get one thing straight, while we are serious probably 47% of the time, we are wrong 0% of the time. Not to mention, with five of us predicting their destinations, one of us should get it right.


1. Cliff Lee - We were split between the Yankees (3) and the Rangers (2). However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Cliff give Start Wedman a big ole FU and sign elsewhere.

2. Carl Crawford - Majority decision here brings Carl to the Angels (4). Yankees don't need him and no one else has the payroll to sign him. The Cubs (1) came in second with one vote ("hopeless optimism").

3. Jayson Werth - Once again, the majority of the Start Wedman staff believes that Werth will land with the Boston Red Sox (4). One writer, who shall remain nameless, thinks that the Athletics will be the dark horse this free agency. That writer is also the same one from the Carl Crawford debacle above.

4. Derek Jeter - Yankees. I can't write anymore because of how sick he makes me.

5. Adrian Beltre - According to us, Beltre will be with the Red Sox (4) on opening day. Tigers (1) could be a surprise option. . .

6. Bruce Chen - Hanshin Tigers, Brewers, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, starring role in Major League IV, and Dodgers all came up. Bruce Chen has a wide array of opportunities in front of him.

7. Victor Martinez - Seems to fit well with the Detroit Tigers (4). Either that, or we all watch and read the same media options. The Rays (1) do have a need at catcher/1B but I'm not sure their payroll can take that big of a hit.

8. Paul Konerko - The White Sox (2) seem to be the most logical destination. He also has a close relationship to KW that could keep him in town. Diamondbacks (1), Angels (1) , and Royals (1 - "where players go to die") could step in and steal the first baseman.

9. Adam Dunn - Could be the most interesting free agent on the market. Power hitting lefty who can play a variety of positions (LF, RF, 1B, and DH) but no one knows where he will land. Wedman writers think he fits with the Tigers (2), Cubs (1), White Sox (1), or Rangers (1).

10. Rafael Soriano - Does anyone else think he will get extremely over paid a la K-Rod a few years ago? While I haven't heard any rumors yet, we seem to think he will end up with the Yankees (3) as a Mariano Rivera's successor. Also, with only F-Rod left in their bullpen, the Angels (2) might scrape together the cash to bring him on board.

11. Lance Berkman - Our five writers listed five different teams that could go after the Big Puma this off-season. White Sox (1 - guess who. . .), Blue Jays (1), Astros (1), Royals (1), and Diamondbacks (1) may call on the old, declining, veteran switch hitter.

12. Carl Pavano - The Twins (2) and Royals (2) tie for most interest in the reformed righty's services. Throw in the Brewers (1) and you have an interesting overpaying threesome. How the Twins or Royals could manage to pay Pavano as much as he wants is beyond me, but I do know that we are never wrong.

13. Carlos Pena - Speaking of declining first basemen, we have our second unanimous pick. All five of us see the Nationals (5) signing Pena to a large deal this off-season.

14. Aubrey Huff - Even though the Giants (3) have the upper hand in negotiations this winter, there have been other teams contacting Huff's agent for his services. Could the Rays (1) or Cubs (1) be a few of those teams?

15. Manny - Two of us think that he will land with the Athletics (2). One of us thinks he will continue to decline with the Diamondbacks (1). One chose retirement (1). Finally, Manny will join AI in Turkey (1) and dominate baseball overseas.

We also think that the Cesar Salad will end up with the Cardinals. Nick Punto will go anywhere expect the White Sox. Juan Uribe will start the season with the Giants or with Bubba in jail. Kotsay and Jones will be back in the Windy City while Jermaine Dye signs a one year deal with the Gary Railcats.

So there you have it. While it isn't a complete list of the 2010-2011 free agents, this is the only list that matter. If you don't like it, you can get out.