Is Magglio the last big time FA still unsigned?

[Bukoski77]

If there is a player still out there comparable to him in value please let me know.

Given his uncertain injury information, has his FA value decreased or increased being the last hitter still out there with top 10 overall hitter ability?

The Rangers are interested along with a few other high payroll teams. He has said he wont accept a 1 year deal or play DH. That sounds like a positive sign to me.

What are thoughts on him being the last high profile FA left?

[Hbj79]

A lot of people think that the problem is his health. He wants a lot of money and it appears that many teams don't trust his knee.

[Pogotheostrich]

I wouldn't compare them in value but a lot of teams looking at Mags are looking at Burnitz as a plan B.

[Cornbread Maxwell]

I wouldn't compare them in value but a lot of teams looking at Mags are looking at Burnitz as a plan B.

exactly. Burnitz has become plan B now that they see what Maggs is demanding.

I also want to mention that Maggs will sign a long term deal, but it will be heavily incentived based on performance and health, so whoever signs him more than likely will mitigate the risk within the contract. The media will report the final numbers, similar to the way they reported the Beltran and Beltre deals, but rest assured, those guys are getting guaranteed money while Maggs still has to earn it - if he's injured or doesnt produce he will be paid a fraction of the stickerprice.

Cubs just entered hunt for Maggs. Detroit was the only one willing to meet his demands and it looked like Maggs would be a Tiger, but over the weekend - after they delt Sosa - it appears that the Cubs are going to meet with Boras and Maggs this week.

[Lofunzo]

Cubs just entered hunt for Maggs. Detroit was the only one willing to meet his demands and it looked like Maggs would be a Tiger, but over the weekend - after they delt Sosa - it appears that the Cubs are going to meet with Boras and Maggs this week.

When this Sosa deal officially goes down, I would expect the Cubs to be moving quickly on Maggs. Why would the O's even want Sosa??

[jonnyblack]

No, barfly, there is no other free agent still left on the market with Magg's "on paper" potential.

The cubs ought to be rolling out the red carpet for boras and maggs. Burnitz is a decent, serviceable player, but his BA is horrible. Wrigley is a "hitters park" but it is nothing like Coors.

One of the main reason Sosa was run out of town was because his BA dipped to .253. What, you ask, is Burnitz's CAREER Batting average? .254. Last year, Sosa struck out 133 times. Burnitz 124. So the cubs dump sosa to get rd of his OTHER issues, but Burnitz is not an improvement. It is very risky, but the cubs now have no choice but to bet the farm on Maggs, IMO.

[Cornbread Maxwell]

Lots of conflicting reports out of CHI today and this past weekend. Some say they are going after Maggs full force - others claim they wont go anywhere near a 5 yr deal - 2 or 3 at the most. If thats the case then Cubs fans better get used to Burnitz because Maggs isnt going to take less to go to the Cubs - its 5 years or not interested.

Jason Stark over at ESPN had this to say:

Magglio Ordonez? Not happening. Or at least he isn't getting any five-year deals from this team.

[jonnyblack]

Dan Davis on ESPN Radio just reported 10:41 am est 1/31.05 that the Cubs are not invited to watch Maggs work out in California. They better get invited.

[AKhomebrewer]

One of the main reason Sosa was run out of town was because his BA dipped to .253.

Sosa's stats have actually been in a three-year free-fall. And he became a cancer in the clubhouse. Cubs' management has decided to line up behind Dusty instead. Plus, even though they're showering Baltimore with millions to take Sosa's contract on, the Cubs will save many millions more by jettisoning him now.

[Cornbread Maxwell]

Dan Davis on ESPN Radio just reported 10:41 am est 1/31.05 that the Cubs are not invited to watch Maggs work out in California. They better get invited.

yeah - that workout was a rumor that I believe started in the CHI media. There is no scheduled workout - no team has seen him workout, and chances are he gets a deal without ever privately working out for anyone. Not saying I agree with it, but thats what it looks like at this point.
There were also rumors that the Cubs were going to get a face to face with Boras and Maggs - much like the Tigers did last week - but thats rumor as well. There has been no meeting for the Cubs and there is no corroborated evidence that one is scheduled.

edit - It was Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune that wrote an incredibly bad piece on the Cubs and Maggs full of inuendo and guesses with 0 factual basis or sources to confirm the rumors he was starting. Im pretty sure thats where the added hype regarding Maggs is coming from. At this point no one in the Cubs organization has expressed a desire to the media to sign Maggs to a 5 yr deal, however this doesnt stop journalists from speculating and trying to hide their speculations as newsworthy.