Posted: Tuesday December 04, 2001 9:48 PM Updated: Saturday December 22, 2001 8:49 PM
CNNSI.com's John Donovan examines 10 players sure to attract plenty of suitors in the offseason. Click here for a look at the top free agent pitchers.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
1,181 1,297 696 202 834 578 446 .306
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
136 170 79 27 108 57 57 .331
Selling points: Power,
average, doesn't strike out -- a solid all-around slugger who hits lefties and righties.
Caveat Emptor: Late-season slump last year (.226 Sept.), not great afield, but offense makes up for it.
The Latest: Chicago is his kind of town ... at three years, $27 million to play alongside good buddy Sammy Sosa .
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
2,296 2,313 1,713 567 1,542 1,282 1,724 .292
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
153 156 129 73 137 93 177 .328
Selling points: Coming off the best offensive season in history ... and plays great defense as well.
Caveat Emptor: The famous attitude, the price tag (may want $20 million-plus) and he'll be 38 in July.
The Latest: Unable to reach agreement on a long-term contract with any team, Bonds has opted to put his faith in the arbitration process. He could wind up with a one-year contract worth at least $20 million.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
1,230 1,202 621 162 677 868 347 .265
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
158 206 118 37 141 110 40 .331
Selling points: An MVP-type year in '01, with league-best in RBIs, he's also very good in the field.
Caveat Emptor: Career highs in hits, avg., HRs, RBIs, OBP and SLG. Where'd that come from? A fluke?
The Latest: Boone will spend at least one more year with the M's after accepting an arbitration offer.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
671 541 317 23 165 388 218 .281
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
131 153 79 6 48 83 36 .293
Selling points: His speed (55 SB) is a weapon at the top of a lineup. A little more pop than you'd think, too.
Caveat Emptor: Bad defensively, not good against lefties (.255 career) and argued with his manager in '01.
The Latest: Returns to Mets after signing four-year, $18 million deal.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
958 165 108 74 401 420 336 .286
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
155 165 108 9 49 70 61 .256
Selling points: Speed, compact stroke, he can spark a team on defense, too. Led majors in SB and runs in '00.
Caveat Emptor: Notoriously slow starter (.211 on June 19) almost sunk A's out of the gate in '01.
The Latest: Damon agreed to a four-year, $31 million contract with Boston. He gives the traditionally lead-footed Red Sox a speedy leadoff hitter who has scored more than 100 runs each of the last four seasons.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
953 1,048 601 187 675 602 586 .308
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
154 178 109 38 120 83 129 .342
Selling points: Hits for power, hits for average, drives in runs, he's clutch and shows great leadership.
Caveat Emptor: Not the best around first, but with the numbers the '00 MVP puts up, who cares?
The Latest: After some delay, the Yankees signed him to a seven-year, $120 million contract.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
1,503 1,727 957 397 1,282 1,125 417 .297
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
140 173 97 35 140 94 41 .325
Selling points: A veritable RBI machine, the two-time MVP has averaged 140 RBIs in last five seasons ...
Caveat Emptor: If you throw out that forgettable '00 season in Detroit (.289, 22 HRs, 67 RBIs). Back problems?
The Latest: The New Yorks, the O's ... but not the Tribe, it seems.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
918 917 388 160 533 575 212 .287
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
128 117 45 17 66 82 28 .267
Selling points: Strong, can drive in 80-plus runs when healthy and knows how to call a game.
Caveat Emptor: Throwing arm not what it used to be and, at 31, he's slow around the bases.
The Latest: Signed 1-year, $6 million deal with Braves.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
1,466 1,468 773 263 1,002 801 565 .274
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
154 165 89 34 113 89 42 .280
Selling points: Adept around first, good pop in his bat, knows how to win, a New York favorite.
Caveat Emptor: Hits into a lot of DPs (12 in '01), bad '00 (.258, 16 HRs) cause for some concern.
The Latest: Figuring he filled Don Mattingly's shoes pretty well in New York, Martinez takes on a new challenge when he'll try to fill Mark McGwire 's vacant first base in St. Louis.
Career
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
1,167 1,112 718 195 630 1,089 489 .268
2001
G H R HR RBI K BB Avg.
126 116 84 33 90 126 46 .263
Selling points: Coming off solid bounce-back year, Sanders showed power and poise in '01.
Caveat Emptor: But in '00, he was a flop in Atlanta (.232, 11 HRs, 27 RBIs). Will real Reggie please rise?
The Latest: With his modest stats and price tag, he'll have suitors.
Photos: Alou (Stephen Dunn/Allsport), Bonds (AP), Boone (Tom Hauck/Allsport), Cedeno (Harry How/Allsport), Damon (Tom Hauck/Allsport), Giambi (Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport), Gonzalez (Tom Pidgeon), Javy Lopez (Ezra Shaw/Allsport), Tino Martinez (Jamie Squire), Reggie Sanders (Jeff Gross/Allsport).
