As noted yesterday, the close of the World Series is also the open of the free agent season – which includes Xavier Nady, who filed for free agency late Monday night.
Cubs first baseman Xavier Nady was one of 142 players who became a free agent after the final out of the World Series Monday night. Due to recent changes in the players’ basic agreement, the exclusive negotiating period for free agents and their current clubs has been shortened to five days from 15. On the sixth day, free agent players are eligible to negotiate and sign with any team. Muskat Ramblings.
While the Cubs will continue to consider Nady as a possible back-up-plan stop-gap at first base, they will not be re-signing him during the 5-day negotiating window.
Nady, who turns 32 in two weeks, was disappointing with the Cubs this year. He managed to hit just .256 with a meager .660 OPS – not what anyone was looking for in a 4th outfielder, nor what anyone would be looking for in a future first baseman. Certainly the prolonged recovery from his second Tommy John surgery played a role, but the numbers were disturbing nevertheless. The odds are strong that he does not return to the Cubs.
It should be pointed out that third baseman Aramis Ramirez could be a free agent soon as well, but only if he declines to exercise his $14.6 million player option for 2011. At last check, Ramirez was not suffering from any kind of dementia, so you can expect him to pick up the option in the next couple days.