MLB's Top 50 Free Agents

MLB Trade Rumors has posted their Top 50 Free Agents list. They list the player and what team they expect that player to sign with... here are a few names that relate to the Red Sox:

1. C.C. Sabathia - Yankees. The guess here is that the Yankees will make C.C. an offer he can't refuse, and he'll sign a seven-year deal. Sabathia is the key to the Yankees' offseason.

2. Mark Teixeira - Angels. The Angels can probably afford one of Sabathia, Teixeira, and K-Rod. They need Tex the most.

3. Manny Ramirez - Dodgers. I think Manny will ultimately sign a deal in the four-year, $100MM range.

6. Derek Lowe - Yankees. This would set up a rotation of Sabathia/Wang/Lowe/Pettitte/Chamberlain. Very solid on paper.

(If this is the plan, I'm not scared... are you?)

15. Brian Fuentes - Brewers. If C.C. signs elsewhere, the Brewers will be able to spread their cash to fill various needs.

24. Kenshin Kawakami - Red Sox. Signing Kawakami for the rotation would allow the Sox to keep Masterson in the pen and let Bowden and Buchholz come along at their own pace.

37. Paul Byrd - Pirates. The Pirates are said to want to add a veteran starter to the rotation. Neal Huntington knows Byrd from his Cleveland days.

43. Damaso Marte - Cardinals. I thought the Yanks would exercise his $6MM option, but a recent report indicated otherwise. The Cardinals appear willing to spend some coin on a lefty reliever.

46. Jason Varitek - Red Sox. Tek may find that no team is willing to give him an acceptable multiyear deal.

Bottom Line: Tim's right, the Yankees need pitching, so they'll focus on Sabathia... but I think C.C. might enjoy pitching in the NL. I guess this will come down to what is more important to him, cash or success, cause he'll have a much more pressure if he comes to the AL East ... I hope the Sox can sign Tex, but the early reports are that he would love to stay in LA - and the Angels really need him to if they want to win another WS ... D-Lowe in NYC ?? I'm not sure about this one ... I think Tim nailed it with his comment on Kawakami - and the Sox are definitely Japan's favorite team right now ... Since Fuentes wants to remain a closer, Marte (who the Sox missed out on in July) could be a nice pick up for the bullpen - but he really struggled as a Yankee: 5.75 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, .211 BAA, after 2 1/2 decent years in the NL.

Get the full FA list here and stay tuned as the GM Winter Meetings continmue this week and the Hot Stove heats up!