Remaining MLB Free Agents

Baseball Players With Expiring Contracts After 2008 Season

Jan 2, 2009 David Hein

Hundreds of baseball players have their contracts expire at the end of each baseball season. 2008 was no different - here a list of those still available.

The biggest names on the free agent market for the 2008-2009 off-season are already signed to new teams - players like CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira and Francisco Rodriguez. Below is a list of free agents - broken down by position - still available (as of January 2) with contracts expiring following the 2008 season.

Catchers

The biggest name here is Jason Varitek, though he appears destined to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox. There are a lot of veteran backups on this list.

Brad Ausmus

Paul Bako

Rod Barajas

Henry Blanco

Johnny Estrada

Sal Fasano

Robert Fick

Toby Hall

Robby Hammock

Paul Lo Duca

Javy Lopez

Adam Melhuse

Doug Mirabelli

Chad Moeller

Mike Redmond

Ivan Rodriguez

Javier Valentin

Jason Varitek

Vance Wilson

Gregg Zaun

First basemen

Here the biggest name is Jason Giambi, who was outstanding for a stretch during the 2008 season, proving he can still hit. Frank Thomas is an interesting name - though he would play designated hitter - while Daryle Ward deserves a chance.

Rich Aurilia

Ben Broussard

Miguel Cairo

Sean Casey

Tony Clark

Nomar Garciaparra

Jason Giambi

Scott Hatteberg

Eric Hinske

Doug Mientkiewicz

Kevin Millar

Richie Sexson

Mark Sweeney

Frank Thomas

Daryle Ward

Second basemen

There are a couple of solid options in this group - led by superb fielding Orlando Hudson. Jeff Kent is aging but can still get the job done offensively.

Willie Bloomquist

Jamey Carroll

Ray Durham

Damion Easley

Mark Grudzielanek

Orlando Hudson

Tadahito Iguchi

Jeff Kent

Ramon Martinez

Pablo Ozuna

Luis Rivas

Jose Valentin

Shortstops

The top name in this bunch is Orlando Cabrera, who will undoubtedly find a home with his excellent glove and solid bat.

Angel Berroa

Orlando Cabrera

Alex Cintron

Alex Cora

Craig Counsell

Chris Gomez

Tomohiro Nioka

Luis Rivas

Juan Uribe

Third basemen

This is a position with a couple aging free agents out to prove they are worth a pickup. Joe Crede, Morgan Ensberg and Troy Glaus are all big names from the past who have fallen on lesser times recently.

Edgardo Alfonzo

Joe Crede

Morgan Ensberg

Pedro Feliz

Troy Glaus

Dallas McPherson

Scott Spiezio

Outfielders

This position still includes some premiere level hitters with the likes of Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, Milton Bradley, Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell and Ken Griffey Jr.

Reggie Abercrombie

Bobby Abreu

Moises Alou

Garret Anderson

Rocco Baldelli

Larry Bigbie

Milton Bradley

Emil Brown

Pat Burrell

Adam Dunn

Jacob Cruz

Jose Cruz Jr.

Jim Edmonds

Juan Encarnacion

Cliff Floyd

Luis Gonzalez

Ken Griffey Jr.

Aaron Guiel

Jerry Hairston Jr.

Jacque Jones

Gabe Kapler

Mark Kotsay

Rob Mackowiak

Craig Monroe

Jay Payton

Scott Podsednik

Manny Ramirez

Shannon Stewart

So Taguchi

Brad Wilkerson

Starting pitchers

With the big names gone, teams still have a couple of decent options left. Guys like Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf and Pedro Martinez remain available - as do Josh Fogg, Freddie Garcia, Jon Garland, Chuck James, Jason Jennings, Carl Pavano and Andy Pettitte.

Tony Armas Jr.

Matt Belisle

Kris Benson

Adam Bernero

Paul Byrd

Roger Clemens

Matt Clement

Bartolo Colon

Jairo Cuevas

Elmer Dessens

Scott Elarton

Shawn Estes

Josh Fogg

Freddie Garcia

Jon Garland

Tom Glavine

Charlie Haeger

Livan Hernandez

Orlando Hernandez

Runelvys Hernandez

Chuck James

Jason Jennings

Ken Kadokura

Kenshin Kawakami

Brian Lawrence

Jon Lieber

Jose Lima

Braden Looper

Rodrigo Lopez

Derek Lowe

Pedro Martinez

Mike Maroth

Mark Mulder

Tomo Ohka

John Parrish

Carl Pavano

Odalis Perez

Oliver Perez

Andy Pettitte

Sidney Ponson

Mark Prior

Tim Redding

Kenny Rogers

Glendon Rusch

Curt Schilling

Ben Sheets

John Smoltz

Jorge Sosa

Brett Tomko

Steve Trachsel

Koji Uehara

John Wasdin

Kip Wells

Dave Williams

Woody Williams

Randy Wolf

Jamey Wright

Jaret Wright

Victor Zambrano

Relievers

The biggest name is off the board in Francisco Rodriguez. But teams still have options to strengthen their bullpen. Among the former closers still available: Joe Borowski, Chad Cordero, Eric Gagne, Tom Gordon, Trevor Hoffman, Todd Jones, Byung-Hyun Kim, Brandon Lyon, Al Reyes, Takashi Saito, Derrick Turnbow and Dan Wheeler

Luis Ayala

Denny Bautista

Joe Beimel

Joe Borowski

Yhency Brazoban

Chris Britton

Jim Brower

Shawn Chacon

Chad Cordero

Lance Cormier

Juan Cruz

Vic Darensbourg

Brendan Donnelly

Chad Durbin

Randy Flores

Casey Fossum

Keith Foulke

Kazuya Fukuura

Aaron Fultz

Eric Gagne

Tom Gordon

Eddie Guardado

Matt Herges

Trevor Hoffman

Hirotoshi Ishii

Jason Isringhausen

Hitoki Iwase

Tyler Johnson

Todd Jones

Byung-Hyun Kim

Ray King

Steve Kline

Dan Kolb

Wil Ledezma

Jon Lieber

Aquilino Lopez

Brandon Lyon

Jason Johnson

Matt Mantei

Tom Martin

Julio Mateo

Kent Mercker

Dan Miceli

Guillermo Mota

Will Ohman

Hideki Okajima

John Parrish

Cliff Politte

Scott Proctor

Al Reyes

Dennys Reyes

Juan Rincon

Ricardo Rincon

Takashi Saito

Scott Sauerbeck

Rudy Seanez

Brian Shouse

Rafael Soriano

Russ Springer

Mike Stanton

Tanyon Sturtze

Ken Takahashi

Julian Tavarez

Derrick Turnbow

Mike Timlin

Mike Venafro

Ron Villone

Dan Wheeler

Todd Williams

Scott Williamson

Matt Wise

Jay Witasick

The copyright of the article Remaining MLB Free Agents in Baseball is owned by David Hein. Permission to republish Remaining MLB Free Agents in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.