One day after winning an unprecented fourth National League Most Valuable Player Award, outfielder Barry Bonds was ready for suitors.
Baseball's free-agent signing period officially started Tuesday when the clock struck midnight. With the feasibility of contraction for next season uncertain and no progress toward a new labor deal, most teams may proceed at a cautious spending pace.
However, with the likes of Bonds, Jason Giambi, Juan Gonzalez, Bret Boone, Tino Martinez and Moises Alou on the market, the big-market teams may again take advantage of their financial muscle.
The top pitchers available are Chan Ho Park, John Smoltz and Jason Isringhausen.
The American League champion New York Yankees are reportedly prepared to give Giambi a multi-year contract worth more than $100 million.
Giambi finished second in AL Most Valuable Player balloting on Tuesday after another dominant season for the Oakland Athletics, batting .342 with 39 homers and 120 RBI.
Bonds capped one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history and received the National League Most Valuable Player Award on Monday, but at the age of 37 will probably not get a $100 million deal.
The San Francisco Giants left fielder broke Mark McGwire's single-season home run record with 73 while besting Babe Ruth en route to setting new single-season standards for walks (177) and slugging percentage (.863). Bonds also led the league in on-base percentage (.515) and extra-base hits (107).
