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January 11, 2009

Every Given Sunday

Not Actually Getting Ink Done.

by John Perrotto

Two months ago we looked at the top 25 players available on the free-agent market, and today, nine of those 25 are still looking for work. This year the market has developed much more slowly than usual, and 36 percent of the cream of that original crop (by 2008 WARP3 figures) remain unemployed.

Manny Ramirez was second on the original list and is still trying to find a team, as are two other members of the top 10, Orlando Cabrera (eighth), and Derek Lowe (10^th). Others from the top 25 who are still negotiating are Adam Dunn (11^th), Bobby Abreu (13^th), Ben Sheets (15^th), Orlando Hudson (17^th), Andy Pettitte (18^th), and Jason Varitek (24^th).

With the start of spring training just one month and three days away, let's take a look at the revised list of top 20 free agents. The rankings are based on their 2008 WARP3:

• Manny Ramirez (10.8): The left fielder's amazing two months with the Dodgers hasn't been enough to get him the five-year contract he was reportedly seeking in November. The Dodgers are the favorite to bring him back, simply because the Giants, the only other team that had maintained interest, are now hesitant to make a large bid. Unless agent Scott Boras can somehow get another team involved (perhaps the Mets?), Manny will keep on being Manny in Chavez Ravine.

• Orlando Cabrera (7.5): It's becoming apparent that one of the game's better shortstops is going to have to settle for a one-year deal at a bargain price; the Athletics now seem his most likely destination.

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