Any baseball scholars out there?

[baby_bear]

I'm having trouble understanding the concept of free agency at this point in time. The Seattle P-I this morning has a list of the 119 remaining free agents, and notes that they may negotiate with former teams through Jan. 8. The list has some pretty impressive folks on it, some whom I am surprised have not been snapped up yet, for example:
Tony Batista, Albert Belle, Roberto Alomar, Jose Lima, Jeff Nelson, John Mabry, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro, Raul Mondesi, Darren Bragg, Kenny Lofton, Ivan Rodriguez, Rich Aurilia, Vladimir Guerrero, Doug Glanville...and of course my sentimental favorite, Rickey Henderson. The list goes on.

So, what gives? Is this a big poker game? Or are these guys all washed up and I just don't realize it?

s_m

[Blue_Tires]

1. those are second and third-tier guys

who find a team after the team has gotten their big moves out of the way

[JohnKleeb]

2. Vlad and I-Rod are coming to Baltimore

You heard it here first. Lofton I hear may be off to NY Yankees. Palmeiro may be back in Baltimore. On Belle, hes finished, what a bust he was for us, I pray to god that Miguel Tejada is not like that. Also, O's rock :D.

[baby_bear]

3. I agree about the O's

I think they will come back to life in 2004.

s_m