Arizona Diamondbacks

The following Diamondbacks are eligible for free agency: Brian Anderson, Jay Bell, Greg Colbrunn, Chris Donnels, Steve Finley, Mark Grace, Rick Helling, Mike Morgan, Armando Reynoso, and Todd Stottlemyre. Arizona also possesses team options on Mike Fetters and Mike Myers, both of which I expect them to exercise. Fetters pitched effectively for the Diamondbacks, becoming an instant fan favorite after Arizona acquired him from Pittsburgh, and they were very pleased with Myers' work after grabbing him from Colorado last off-season.

Todd Stottlemyre plans to retire. Arizona will offer Greg Colbrunn and Steve Finley arbitration; the team is very determined to bring Finley back next season, but he'll be very much in demand, so it could be difficult. Colbrunn could just as easily return or find a position with a new team. Mark Grace reportedly reached a handshake deal with the Diamondbacks prior to the World Series, so he should return in a back-up roll. The rest of the players on the above list will constitute a large portion of the reserves and low-grade pitchers on the market.

Erubiel Durazo's behavior in the playoffs has put him on the trade market, and I don't expect him to be with the Diamondbacks when they break camp. Despite rumors of Greg Maddux signing with Arizona, I think they have sufficient pitching talent in the pipeline and enough salary concerns to dissuade that pick-up.

Colorado Rockies

The following Rockies are eligible for free agency: Sandy Alomar, Pete Harnisch, Kent Mercker, Terry Shumpert, and Todd Zeile. I think Colorado may just re-sign Alomar, since they're always looking for catchers and plan to add his father to their coaching staff. If they offer Zeile arbitration he'll likely accept, so the club will want to thoroughly explore their trade opportunities before heading in that direction. I know they really liked Zeile this season, but I don't think he fits into the organizational plans next year. Harnisch, Mercker, and Shumpert will look for positions elsewhere.

Colorado should once again have a busy off-season as they try to re-order their roster, trading from their areas of excess to fill some of their holes. If they can dump either of their ill-advised long-term deals with Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle, then the Rockies will likely become significant players in the free agent market. Colorado will likely look into Jeff Kent, Ray Durham, and possibly Edgardo Alfonzo.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The following Dodgers are eligible for free agency: Omar Daal, Dave Hansen, Tyler Houston, Jesse Orosco, and Jeff Reboulet. LA probably won't risk offering Daal arbitration even though he's likely to inspire some interest on the open market. The club probably has interest in bringing back Hansen and/or Orosco, but either could be easily replaced. Houston and Reboulet will join the other players looking for reserve jobs, although Houston might be able to secure a starting job with some team.

Los Angeles holds club options on both Marquis Grissom and Chad Kreuter. Brian Jordan has already demanded a trade for family reasons, and he's also indicated that he definitely wants Grissom back if he stays, but the Dodgers wouldn't necessarily mind having Grissom off the roster anyway, so I don't expect them to even offer him arbitration. On the other hand, they may offer Kreuter arbitration and could easily bring him back for another year, although AAA starter David Ross is ready for a major league backup job.

San Diego Padres

The following Padres are eligible for free agency: Deivi Cruz, Ron Gant, Tom Lampkin, and Ray Lankford. San Diego won't offer arbitration to Lankford for fear he'll accept. However, the Padres really want Ron Gant back for his veteran influence. Lampkin could return depending on what they think of the alternatives available on the free agent market, but I don't expect Deivi Cruz to re-sign or be offered arbitration.

Hopefully the Padres will have learned from their 2002 mistakes and will roster a couple AAAA swingmen to protect against rushing prospects to cover injuries. Many of the pitchers who appeared with the team in 2002 will likely return at some point in 2003, although quite a few have had their development disrupted and will likely need additional minor league time because of that interruption.

Sean Burroughs lost his shot at Rookie of the Year, but he should rejoin the Padres in 2003 fully prepared to start, though who knows at what position since Phil Nevin has apparently moved back to third. The organization was experimenting with using Burroughs at second but then claimed that they still view him as a third baseman.

San Francisco Giants

The following Giants are eligible for free agency: Shawon Dunston, Tom Goodwin, Jeff Kent, Kenny Lofton, and Bill Mueller. San Francisco will make a play at Kent, but he's not overly sentimental about the Giants and should jump at the highest bidder. Consequently, I think he'll probably relocate. The team will want to keep one of the centerfielders, so either Goodwin or Lofton could return in 2003, but I don't see any circumstance under which they would keep both. Dunston will likely follow Dusty Baker north. The course they take with Mueller will be contingent upon what happens with Kent and David Bell.

San Francisco holds a mutual option on Bell, which if they don't pick up, I expect Bell to exercise. The Giants also hold a mutual option with Reggie Sanders, and although I think that it is far less likely he will return to the team in 2003, there is a slight possibility that one of the two parties will pick up the option. I don't expect San Francisco to exercise their option on Tim Worrell.