Top 10 A.L. Free Agent Pitchers To Date: 2008
| Rank | Player | $ | FAAB Bid | FAAB Date | 2007 |
| 1 | Gavin Floyd | $25 | $1 | 4/7 | -$4 |
| 2 | Armando Galarraga | $23 | $15 | 4/28 | -$1 |
| 3 | Brandon Morrow | $23 | $4 | 4/21 | -$2 |
| 4 | Matt Thornton | $19 | $2 | 6/9 | $2 |
| 5 | Jim Johnson | $19 | $1 | 7/13 | -$2 |
| 6 | Masahide Kobayahsi | $18 | $3 | 4/14 | |
| 7 | Greg Smith | $18 | $1 | 4/14 | -$2 |
| 8 | Scott Downs | $16 | $1 | 4/14 | $11 |
| 9 | Jose Arredondo | $15 | $8 | 5/19 | |
| 10 | Grant Balfour | $14 | $1 | 6/2 | -$7 |
| Average | $19 | $4 | -$1 |
The earnings are based on the 2007 Alex Patton formulas (which means that they're wrong, but that's a discussion for masochists) and bumped up proportionately to assume a full season.
Seven of the top 10 pitchers on this list have been relievers, but two of the top three are starting pitchers. It would seem that Rodger is correct and picking up free agent relievers is the way to go.
However, the 2007 column certainly isn't a success-oriented sort. Downs and Thornton are the only pitchers on this list who earned positive money in 2007 (though I'm sure Kobayashi earned positive money in Japanese Rotisserie Leagues). Grant Balfour was putting up great minor league numbers this year, but I could see why you would have been reluctant to pick him up when the Rays called him up this year.
Another way of looking at this is to see whether or not the teams that have a lot of pitching points in my A.L.-only league have owned any of these pitchers. What free agent bids have the success stories made?
Second place team (45 pitching points): Octavio Dotel (earned $11), Matt Guerrier ($12), Jason Hammel ($1), Boone Logan ($8), Garret Olson (-$7), Jose Veras ($9).
First place (41): Downs, Sean Gallagher ($4), Darrell Rasner ($0), Ryan Rowland-Smith ($8), Thornton, Brad Ziegler ($14),
Fifth place (40): Boone Logan ($8), Justin Masterson ($10), Rafael Perez ($5), Ramon Ramirez ($7), Ryan Rowland-Smith ($8).
Third place (34.5): Kiko Calero ($1), Alan Embree ($0), Galarraga, Nate Robertson (-$6), Sidney Ponson ($3)
Downs has been a big help to the league leader, but he only picked up Thornton and Ziegler in recent weeks. Guerrier didn't last long on the second place team's roster. The fifth place squad has only seen significant impact from Masterson. The third place squad traded for G. Smith and Kobayashi, but I'm only counting players that these teams purchased.
Why are these players making such a tiny impact?
First place team's active pitchers: Scott Downs (acquired via FAAB), Sean Gallagher (FAAB), Zach Greinke (freeze) Roy Halladay (trade), Scott Kazmir (trade), Huston Street (trade), Thornton (FAAB), Jered Weaver (trade), Ziegler (FAAB).
Second place: Octavio Dotel (FAAB), Dana Eveland (auction), Bobby Jenks (trade), John Lackey (trade), Aaron Laffey (farm), Cliff Lee (auction), Joe Nathan (trade), Fernando Rodney (auction), Javier Vazquez (trade).
Third place: Josh Beckett (trade), A.J. Burnett (trade), Joba Chamberlain (frozen), Felix Hernandez (trade), Todd Jones (frozen), Kobayashi (trade), Francisco Rodrgiuez (trade), Kevin Slowey (auction), Justin Verlander (frozen).
Fifth place: Andrew Brown (waivers), Justin Duchscherer (auction), Jon Lester (freeze), Justin Masterson (FAAB), Rafael Perez (FAAB), B.J. Ryan (auction), Andy Sonnanstine (auction), Scott Shields (trade), Dan Wheeler (auction).
FAAB's a nice way to fill in the holes, but trades and savvy buys at the auction are what's going to win you your league.
Many of the Top 10 free agent earners are on losing teams. Arredondo, Balfour, and Johnson are on teams that have already raised the white flag. They might all be useful next year, but not at their $10 freeze price. And why trade for one of these guys if you're a contender when you can pluck your hand into the free agent pool and grab Brad Ziegler?
So the best free agent earners are typically relievers. But if you're hoping to save your season with them, it's usually too late.
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