Chicago Cubs

The following Cubs are eligible for free agency: Jason Bere, Joe Girardi, Jon Lieber, and Fred McGriff.

Lieber will sign an incentive-laden deal with the Cubs or another team as he recovers from arm surgery. Bere will likely receive around a million to fill out some club's rotation. Girardi's likely to re-sign as their back-up catcher since he wants to remain near his North Side home. McGriff should stir up some interest around the league, but with Hee Seop Choi ready for the majors, he won't be back with the Cubs.

Chicago is reportedly interested in bringing in a starting catcher and a third baseman this off-season, despite the fact that Mark Bellhorn deserves to start at third as Bobby Hill and Alex S. Gonzalez respectively occupy second and short. Theoretically, the Cubs also have a full compliment of catchers, but Todd Hundley will be dealt this off-season after failing to blossom back home in Chicago. As they're naturally shedding several million dollars in payroll without effort, the Cubs should be a lead player in the Ivan Rodriguez lottery if he leaves Texas.

Restocking the bullpen and adding a left-handed starter are the two other goals on the Cubs' list, and considering the dearth of decent left-handers in the system, expect them to look at several veteran lefties, including Mike Remlinger and former Cub Mark Guthrie.

Cincinnati Reds

The following Reds are eligible for free agency: Shawn Estes, Joey Hamilton, Jimmy Haynes, Brian Moehler, and Jose Rijo. Haynes and Moehler might be offered arbitration and could return to the Reds in 2003. Rijo should retire while the others scatter across the league.

Cincinnati will need to pick up a veteran innings-eater or two to accompany any young starters they attempt to work into their rotation. I don't expect them to spend much on the free agent market as they're farm system should provide for all of their needs over the next few years, and the club will need to save money to pay for multi-year contracts for their homegrown talent. Owner Carl Linder has given no indication he's willing to substantially increase the payroll even as the Reds depart Cinergy for The Great American Ballpark next spring.

Houston Astros

The following Astros are eligible for free agency: Pedro Borbon, Doug Brocail, Tom Gordon, Mark Loretta, Dave Mlicki, and Shane Reynolds.

Houston will offer Gordon arbitration and could re-sign him, however Gordon will explore his options to find a team that will let him close. Given their preference for veteran bench players, the Astros also might retain Loretta. Mlicki will depart as a free agent, but there's a slim possibility that Houston could attempt to work something out with Reynolds, who's spent his entire 11-year career with the team. Borbon and Brocail will seek employment elsewhere.

With a wealth of starting prospects on a pipeline through their development system and a strong major league staff, Houston shouldn't have to pursue pitchers from outside the organization for a few years. The overflow of rotation candidates can take jobs in the bullpen where they'll likely impressively dominate their competition. Over the next few seasons, Houston's quality pitching staff could lull people into forgetting what an excellent hitters' park the Astros call home in Minute Made Park.

The organization also possesses a number of offensive prospects that could begin slotting into starting roles in 2003. However Jimy Williams' preference for veterans appears to be blocking a good deal of that talent.

Milwaukee Brewers

The following Brewers are eligible for free agency: Jorge Fabregas, Lenny Harris, Jose Hernandez, and Matt Stairs. As we've previously commented, Milwaukee needs to re-sign Hernandez after failing to trade him in 2002. The other three will find reserve jobs somewhere in the majors, although Stairs remains quite capable of providing solid power from first base or left field. Milwaukee's supposedly entering a rebuilding phase, but they don't have sufficient talent at the major league level to trade for a big minor league haul, and their system doesn't currently possess enough talent to fuel a rebuilding process lasting less than several years. The Brewers will need several very strong drafts to give them any hope of rising out of their current sink hole and that means they still have a number of years of poor play in front of them.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The following Pirates are eligible for free agency: Mike Benjamin, Brian Boehringer, Keith Osik, and Ron Villone. Despite a promising young rotation, Pittsburgh has more holes than Swiss cheese. However, they haven't announced plans to pursue any particular free agents or to initiate any trades involving specific players.

At least they were finally able to sign their top draft pick Bryan Bullington, who they selected with the #1 overall pick in this year's draft. The right-handed Bullington, who was holding out in the hope of making the Pirates increase their offer, finally accepted the same offer that Pittsburgh placed on the table the week of the draft. He ultimately received a four million dollar signing bonus.

St. Louis Cardinals

The following Cardinals are eligible for free agency: Chuck Finley, Dave Veres, Rick White, Woody Williams, and Jamey Wright. I believe St. Louis has mutual options on both Andy Benes and Jeff Fassero. Benes' season likely discouraged him from retirement, but I don't know if he'll return to the Cardinals next season or head elsewhere. His demeanor during the postseason indicated he'll likely transition very easily from player to pitching coach when he does retire. The club might be interested in retaining Fassero, as they liked his work as a lefty reliever acquiring him from the Cubs.

St. Louis also holds an option on Mike DiFelice, which they could decide to exercise since Eli Marrero seems much happier and more productive when not behind the plate. They're worried about finding payroll room to sign Albert Pujols to a long-term deal and prefer Mike Matheny behind the plate for defensive reasons. Consequently, I don't think they'll pursue someone like IRod or Hundley. If they chose not to pick up DiFelice's option, the Cardinals will likely sign one of the many floating second-to-third string catchers available.