Scoresheet Baseball’s 2010 player lists will be posted on January 20th. And with Matt Holliday and Jason Bay having signed deals it looks like at least all the big name players will be under contract in time for our list’s release. On a side note, I am glad to see that those two guys and their agents were listening when I said the deals they had on the table two weeks ago were the best they were going to get.

This season Scoresheet will be implementing a new rule. Instead of waiting for players to sign contracts before adding them to our player lists, this year come the first week of February we will be adding any remaining free agents to the 2010 AL or NL player list based on where they ended the 2009 season. For instance, if in early February Joel Pineiro is still unsigned then we will add him to our 2010 NL player list, since he ended the 2009 season with the Cardinals. This way players will not suddenly become eligible to be drafted as of the day they sign with a team. (Last year we added players as they signed, so late signees such as IRod were suddenly eligible to be drafted in the late rounds of ongoing drafts.)

As I write this I am struck with just how weak the group of remaining free agents really is. If Joel Pineiro is the best remaining pitcher I can think of then teams better look to trade to improve themselves. Given past history, maybe Giants GM Brian Sabean will trade Tim Lincecum for an aging Mike Lowell? Yes, I am a bitter Giants fan who still regrets the Orlando Cepeda for Ray Sadecki trade.

And how about trading Joe Nathan and a host of others to get one year of A.J. Pierzynski? Not to mention signing Barry Zito to (at the time) the richest contract for a pitcher ever. Oh well, is it too early to say ‘Wait till Next Year’ yet again?

Given the economy I think we may see a rather large number of young (meaning cheaper) players make big league rosters this year. If you are a fantasy owner who follows prospects then this could be a year you get rewarded.

Looking forward to spring training – now only 6 weeks away!