In 2005, there were 10 players that got 9M CAP: three players got over 50M total contract. In 2006, there were six players that got 9M CAP: three players got over 50M total contract. In 2007, there were five players that got 9M CAP: only two players got over 50M total contract. In 2008, there were 14 players that got 9M CAP: seven players got over 50M total contract.
So far, in 2009, there has not been a single player get 9M CAP (counting only FrRFA). However, five players have received over 50M for their services. The bidding process threw out some crazy numbers already in this off-season. The only FrRFA to receive 50M+ was Miguel Cabrera at 64M, and he didn't get any actual bids.
But, if we look at how the bidding process went down, we have some pretty crazy stuff. How will it affect the Auction on Feb 28th? I know it took over a half billion TREAS dollars off the board, as well as 30+ players. Let's take a look at what happened ...
The biggest multi-year deal goes to Matt Garza. CDC bid 62M for two years of service. That's 31M per season. Tulo checks in next with a 60M bid for seven years from ELR. Greinke got 54M for four years from HSD and Wainer got 51M for three years from WHW.
Remember, all of this bidding was for the existing contracts, so players with really good contracts, like Garza, received some pretty heavy bidding. Some of other 10M men were ...
Teixera, 1/37, OTT
Saunders, 1/27, CDC
Glaus, 1/26, NLL
Delgado, 1/19, DEN
Jenks, 1/19, YDL/BWC
Capps, 1/18, YDL/BWC
W Rodriquez, 1/14, FFF
Del Young, 3/37, ILL
Baker, 3/33, FFF
Miles, 1/11, NLL
Phillips, 2/21, HSD
As you can see, that's quite a long list of 10M men. Since the CAP figures aren't anything like the actual bids, I think we will still see 2-5 players make 10M CAP in the auction.
Jose Reyes, SS, should have the highest TREAS spent at the Auction. Since CLE has matching rights, I can see this possibly dipping below 10M CAP. Something like a 8/80 isn't out of the question here.
Cliff Lee, SP, should have the highest CAP at the Auction. FFF has matching rights but I don't see him matching the 4/45 deal that Lee is likely to see.
Manny Ramirez, LF, is an interesting case. As of this writing, he is still unsigned in the MLB. I don't think it stays that way, but it will throw some uncertainty into bidding. I'm guessing a 2/26 type deal is in the mix. OTT matches that at 3/26.
Kerry Wood, RP, could see a contract like the one he received in MLB, 2/20. BBM matches that at 3/20 hopes Wood doesn't turn into BJ Ryan before the contract expires.
Ryan Dempster, SP, could be the next Brad Radke of the DBA getting a 5/50 deal for no apparent reason at all. He should have a great card this year, but I don't see him maintaining this level of dominance in the future. If he doesn't get 3/27, I'll be shocked.
Nate Mclouth, OF, should be the darling of the Auction. He's just entering the prime of his career, had a monster break-out season in MLB and signed a sweet RL deal to boot. 10M isn't out of the question here, especially with his 1 defense. I think he falls a bit shy, inking a 5/45 deal.
As always, there will surprises, like Brad Ausmus getting a 2/18 in 2006, or Benji Molina getting a 3/21 in 2005. Also, the aforementioned Brad Radke deal of 5/50 was a surprise. Scarcity does some crazy things!
