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 Can an unsigned MLB player collect unemployment like the rest of us poor slobs?
It looks like MLB is doing its fair share to contribute to the nation's unemployment rate.
At this point, pickings certainly do look slim. By my count there are still 90 players available. If your team didn't yet get their guy, there are only a handful of names left that can realistically make an impact on your team. (My apologize if I missed a signing as this is somewhat of a moving target.)
I wonder how many teams are going to reach into their farm system to try to fill needs. My guess is that a number of these guys will be forced into retirement, forced to sign a minor league deal and hope that some gets hurt, file for unemployment, or go the Japan route if they really don't want to give up the dream.
As of this morning January 26, 2010, here's a list of the available free agents. Players are listed with the teams they finished 2009 with.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
ARIZONA (2) - lhp; Scott Schoeneweis, lhp; Chad Tracy, 1b.
ATLANTA (2) - Garret Anderson, of; Greg Norton, 1b.
CHICAGO (3) - Chad Fox, rhp; Kevin Gregg, rhp; Reed Johnson, of.
CINCINNATI (1) - Kip Wells, rhp.
COLORADO (7) - Joe Beimel, lhp; Jose Contreras, rhp; Alan Embree, lhp; Josh Fogg, rhp; Matt Herges, rhp; Juan Rincon, rhp; Yorvit Torrealba, c.
FLORIDA (1) - Kiko Calero, rhp.
HOUSTON (5) - Aaron Boone, 1b; Doug Brocail, rhp; Darin Erstad, of; Mike Hampton, lhp; Miguel Tejada, ss.
LOS ANGELES (11) - Brad Ausmus, c; Ronnie Belliard, 2b; Jon Garland, rhp; Orlando Hudson, 2b; Mark Loretta, 3b; Guillermo Mota, rhp; Eric Milton, lhp; Will Ohman, lhp; Jason Schmidt, rhp; Jim Thome, 1b; Jeff Weaver, rhp.
MILWAUKEE (5) - Frank Catalanotto, of; Braden Looper, rhp; Felipe Lopez, 2b; Corey Patterson, of; David Weathers, rhp.
NEW YORK (4) - Carlos Delgado, 1b; Ramon Martinez, ss; Gary Sheffield, of; Fernando Tatis, 1b.
PHILADELPHIA (6) - Paul Bako, c; Miguel Cairo, 2b; Scott Eyre, lhp; Pedro Martinez, rhp; Chan Ho Park, rhp; Matt Stairs, of.
ST. LOUIS (2) - John Smoltz, rhp; Todd Wellemeyer, rhp.
SAN DIEGO (1) - Brian Giles, of.
SAN FRANCISCO (2) - Rich Aurilia, 1b; Randy Winn, of.
WASHINGTON (4) - Josh Bard, c; Livan Hernandez, rhp; Ron Villone, lhp; Dmitri Young, 1b.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BALTIMORE (3) - Mark Hendrickson, lhp; Chad Moeller; c; Melvin Mora, 3b.
BOSTON (2) - Rocco Baldelli, of; Paul Byrd, rhp.
CHICAGO (1) - Jermaine Dye, of.
CLEVELAND (1) - Tomo Ohka, rhp.
DETROIT (1) - Jarrod Washburn, lhp.
KANSAS CITY (2) - Bruce Chen, lhp; Jamey Wright, rhp.
LOS ANGELES (1) - Robb Quinlan, of.
MINNESOTA (3) - Orlando Cabrera, ss; Joe Crede, 3b; Ron Mahay, lhp.
NEW YORK (3) - Johnny Damon, of; Jose Molina, c; Xavier Nady, of.
OAKLAND (3) - Nomar Garciaparra, dh; Adam Kennedy, 3b; Brett Tomko, rhp.
SEATTLE (5) - Miguel Batista, rhp; Erik Bedard, lhp; Russell Branyan, 1b; Endy Chavez, of; Mike Sweeney, dh.
TAMPA BAY (5) - Chad Bradford, rhp; Jason Isringhausen, rhp; Troy Percival, rhp; Brian Shouse, lhp; Russ Springer, rhp.
TEXAS (2) - Joaquin Benoit, rhp; Hank Blalock, 1b.
TORONTO (2) - Rod Barajas, c; Kevin Millar, 1b.
If anyone knows if an unsigned MLB player can file for unemployment, please let me know. I'm guessing he could, I don't see why not? - Jason Lockhart
Jason is an aspiring sports journalist currently enrolled at Stanford University.
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