While a team like the Yankees will have a field day plowing through the talent next year, the small market teams are ready to take a hit. All of the talent coming off the books will require massive amounts of money, and let's face it, not all teams can afford it.Possible the biggest hit will come to the Rays. Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena will both be free agents next off season. Both players are set to make around $10 million in 2010. According to fangraphs.com, players of their value merit much bigger contracts than the ones the Rays have given them.
Fangraphs.com says that Pena deserves around $12 million and Crawford deserves around $25 million. Together that is $37 million, compared to the $20 million they are making combined for right now. Can the Rays afford an extra $17 million? I doubt it.
So that leads us to believe that come the trade deadline, we will hear at least one of those names in the air. Most likely it will be Crawford, who, at 29 years old, will be expected to cash in much bigger than Pena will.
The Yankees would probably be a front runner for Crawford should a trade rumor surface, considering they are looking for a left fielder. But who would they be willing to give up? After giving up Melky Cabrera and Austin Jackson, it is unlikely they will give up anymore young talent, especially if it is to a division rival team in the Rays. It is more likely that the Yankees would pass on a trade and wait until Crawford hits to market.
You can also count out the Cardinals to make a big splash next winter as well. With Pujols hitting the market and the expectations for a record breaking deal, the Cardinals will quickly grow thin of cash.
The Red Sox will also run thin quickly. They have David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre coming off the books. Although, combined, these two will not cost too much, they will certainly slow down any talks for a big time deal elsewhere.
Lastly, the Twins are also going to take a hit. Should Mauer decide to stay in Minnesota, the Twins are going to give him a near record deal. The Twins are exactly rolling in the cash as it is, so count them out for a big deal -- other than Mauer -- as well.
Not only will many teams not be able to search for talent next winter -- due to their in-club re-signings -- many teams will also realize they won't be able to afford their in-club talent, the Rays being the biggest example. Because of that, we can expect to see a lot of talent hit the trade market come mid-season. The teams we see in April will be a lot different than the teams we see in September.
jess.coleman@classactsports.com
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