Troy Glaus Rumors

Below is a list of third basemen who are eligible for free agency for the 2010 season, their age, current team, current contract and whether the player falls into a Type A or Type B free agent compensation status.

Free agent catchers
Free agent first basemen
Free agent second basemen
Free agent shortstops
Free agent left fielders
Free agent center fielders
Free agent right fielders
Free agent starting pitchers
Free agent middle relievers
Free agent closers

Adrian Beltre, 31, Mariners - 05:$10M, 06:$11.5M, 07:$11.5M, 08:$12M, 09:$12M (Type B)
Geoff Blum, 37, Astros - 08:$1.1M, 09:$1.1M club option ($0.1M buyout)
Aaron Boone, 37, Astros - 09:$750K
Joe Crede, 32, Twins - 09:$2.5M
Bobby Crosby, 30, Athletics - 05:$0.5M, 06:$0.75M, 07:$2.5M, 08:$3.5M, 09:$5.25M
Pedro Feliz, 35, Phillies - 08:$3M, 09:$5M, 10:$5M club option ($0.5M buyout)
Chone Figgins, 32, Angels - 09:$5.75M (Type B)
Troy Glaus, 33, Cardinals - 05:$8M, 06:$9M, 07:$10.5M, 08:$12.5M, 09$12.137M (Type B)
Mike Lamb, 34, Mets - 09:$400K
Melvin Mora, 38, Orioles - 07:$7,758,503, 08:$7,826,914, 09:$9M (Type B)
Robb Quinlan, 33, Angles - 09:$1.1M

Plenty of news, rumor and commentary links to pass along

• Troy Glaus could be a decent option for a team looking for a first base or DH.  He does not figure to have a spot on the Cardinals.
• The Phillies need pitching, but is much available?  Not really.
• Giants general manager Brian Sabean has a "narrow list" of players he's interested - primarily right handed bats - but concedes that he's unlikely to get anything done until closer to the deadline.
• Trading Juan Pierre for Jarrod Washburn would not work for the Mariners because of Pierre's contract.  The Dodgers could make it work however.
• Brewers general manager Doug Melvin does not want to continue to trade prospects for pitching.
• The Cubs have signed their first round pick, Brett Jackson.
• Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun suggests a few moves for the Orioles.
• The White Sox will not be sellers at the trade deadline according to general manager Kenny Williams.

Jason Churchill of espn.com compared the 1996 Draft against the 1997 Draft. Unlike last week when he compared the 1994 and 1995 drafts and determined 1995 to be better, Jason doesn't give us his opinion on these two drafts. That means it is up to us. Tell us what do you think.

1996 Draft

No 1 Pick: Kris Benson hasn't been what any team would want out of a #1 draft pick and certainly did not produce for the Pirates. In 2000, Benson had a 3.85 ERA with 184Ks in 217.1 IP but missed all of 2001 with Tommy John surgery.

Best Pick, 1st Round: Gil Meche, #22 Seattle Mariners

Value Pick, Any Round: Roy Oswalt, 23rd round, #684 overall, Houston Astros; Travis Hafner, 31st round, #923 overall, Texas Rangers; Orlando Hudson, 33rd round, #969 overall, Toronto Blue Jays.

Notable Pick: Jimmy Rollins, 2nd round, #46 overall, Philadelphia Phillies

Worst Pick, First Round: Chad Green, #8 Milwaukee Brewers - "In eight minor league seasons, Green hit .252/.310/.389 with 166 stolen bases."

1997 Draft

No 1 Pick: Matt Anderson reached 100 on the radar a number of times over seven major league seasons for the Tigers, but ultimately his production and career was cut short by injuries.

Best Pick, 1st Round: Lance Berkman, #16 Houston Astros

Value Pick, Any Round: Tim Hudson, 6th round, #185 overall, Oakland Athletics; JC Romero, 22nd round, #633 overall, Minnesota Twins; Scot Shields, 38th round, #1,137 overall, Anaheim Angels.

Notable Pick: Chase Utley, 2nd round, Los Angeles Dodgers. Utley went to college instead of signing with the Dodgers and was drafted by the Phillies in 2000 and teamed with Rollins to form the core of the Phillies 2008 championship run.

Worst Pick, First Round: Matt Anderson, #1 Detroit Tigers: When JD Drew, Troy Glaus and Vernon Wells are available, this is a bad pick.

Buster Olney of espn.com has a bunch of good trade fodder in his most recent post:

• The Red Sox have had about six different conversation regarding trading Brad Penny. However, most of these talks seem to include inquires into young pitchers like Manny Delcarmen, Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden whom the team is reluctant to trade. The Phillies are a possible destination for Penny.
• Cincinnati is in the market for outfielders.
• Jeff Francoeur and the rest of the Braves outfield has been terrible and they are expected to look for replacements soon.
• Jack Wilson has been in deadline trade rumors for the better part of the last three seasons, but there might finally be a logical fit this season with the Red Sox.
• The Giants need a bat, preferably a corner outfielder, but are not finding much on the market.
• Troy Glaus is looking less and less likely to return to the Cardinals this year which means they need to find a long term solution to replace him. Mark DeRosa of the Indians and Garret Atkins of the Rockies seem like logical candidates.