We continue our contract crowdsourcing today with third basemen. Wendy Thurm provided a summary this afternoon of the totally blerg’d third-base free-agent class.

Like last time, I’ve added some alternate questions for a few of the players below — inviting speculation, for example, on who might replace Aramis Ramirez at third base for the Cub and soliciting the reader’s feelings when he hears the words “Nick Punto.”

While we’ll reserve all contract information until the end of the present series (to avoid bias), data from yesterday’s polling suggests that roughly 58.4% of repsondents believe that the Alex Anthopoulos Effect™ might affect their perception of Kelly Johnson’s value.

The reader will note, finally, that the author has neglected to include Greg Dobbs‘ (and Edwin Encarnacion’s, for that matter) name among the following, as it hurt his (i.e. the author’s) soul to do so.

Forms after the jump.

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Everyone’s very excited about the release of ZiPS Minor League Translations.

Today’s edition of Offseason Notes contains the following:

1. An Announcement re: ZiPS Minor League Translations
2. A Hastily Made zMLE Batting Leaderboard
3. SCOUT Batting Leaderboard: Arizona Fall League
4. SCOUT Pitching Leaderboard: Arizona Fall League

An Announcement re: ZiPS Minor League Translations
What the Announcement Is, Specifically
The announcement regarding ZiPS Minor League Translations (zMLEs), specifically, is that they (i.e. zMLEs) are now available at Baseball Think Factory.

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We continue our contract crowdsourcing today with second basemen. Matt Klaassen provided a summary this afternoon of the “top-end” second-base free agents available this offseason.

Like last time, I’ve added some alternate questions for a few of the players below — inviting speculation, for example, on Jamey Carroll‘s WAR in 2012, or the degree to which the Alex Anthopoulos Effect™ might affect one’s perception of Kelly Johnson’s value.

While we’ll reserve all contract information until the end of the present series (to avoid bias), I can confirm that 95.7% of all respondents believe that Derrek Lee will be described as a “veteran presence,” like, a hundred times this offseason.

Forms after the jump.

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Some things are only made clear via arrows and sine curves.

Today’s edition of Offseason Notes contains this vital information:

1. Re-Introducing SCOUT Leaderboards
2. SCOUT Batting Leaderboard for the Arizona Fall League
3. SCOUT Pitching Leaderboard for the Arizona Fall League

Re-Introducing SCOUT Leaderboards
Regarding What Is SCOUT
SCOUT is an attempt to derive some sort of meaning from the rather small samples (of plate appearances) that occur in the various fall and winter leagues.

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We continue our contract crowdsourcing today with a pretty excellent first-base class. Matt Klaassen provided a summary this afternoon of the top-end first-base free agents available this offseason.

In response to some helpful comments, I’ve split the list of free agents up, so that it’s not necessary to vote for every one of them before submitting your form (although more responses will always be better).

Furthermore, I’ve added some alternate questions for a few of the players below — inviting speculation as to whether, for example, Albert Pujols will be a Cardinal in 2012 (and after), or whether Derrek Lee will be referred to over and again as a “veteran presence.”

Forms after the jump.

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One of baseball’s best shortstops is playing High-A ball.

1. Assorted Headlines
2. Arizona Fall League Action
3. Prospecting: John Sickels on Atlanta

Assorted Headlines
“Theo Epstein” and Compensation
I’ve placed quotation marks around Epstein’s name not because I suspect the former Boston GM of using a pseudonym, but rather because it’s part of a Google search to which I’ve linked because there are — as you will see — many internet thoughts on Theo Epstein and the compensation the Red Sox are seeking for his departure. If, as some have mentioned, Cub outfield prospect Brett Jackson is a possibility, that’s unfortunate for the Chicagos. Even if we assume that Jackson is only a top 76-100 hitting prospect, he’s likely worth almost as much in surplus value to the Cubs as the Cubs have agreed to pay Epstein over the next five years… Does that make sense? Wait a sec, I’ll read it over again… Okay, it mostly makes sense.

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Today marks the beginning of our look at this offseason’s free-agent market. As noted previously, each day (more or less) we’ll have at least two posts dedicated to examining the free-agent market. The first post will serve as both a summary of the free agents at a particular position and each of those free agents’ likely future value. The second post will ask readers to vote on what they feel is the most likely arrangement of years and dollars for each free agent to receive.

Late this morning, Eno Sarris looked at the (pretty dim) free-agent class for catchers. Below are the three most valuable players, per Sarris’s estimation. For each player, we ask that your provide both the years he’ll most likely* receive and average annual salary.

*Note that this is different that what he OUGHT to receive.

Furthermore, the results are in from our experimental first poll, and the readership has spoken: Charlie Blackmon will likely finish with approximately a 45 WAR. Moreoever, readers felt that the author had consumed approximately five drinks. Wisdom of the Crowds, indeed.

Forms for submitting free-agent contract info after the jump.

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Aaron Laffey, pictured here beside a floating baseball.

This edition of Offseason Notes contains the following important information:

1. Recent and Minor Transactions
2. Transaction Glossary: Outrighted
3. Arizona Fall League Action

Recent and Minor Transactions
Below are some recent minor transactions with vibrant notes on same.

Colorado Rockies claim Andrew Brown off waivers from St. Louis Cardinals
The Colorado Rockies are in search of someone to platoon with Seth Smith in left field and Ian Stewart at third base, and will very likely give the newly acquired — and right-hand batting — Brown an opportunity to try doing at least one of those things. Brown, who just turned 27, played all four corner spots at Triple-A Memphis (although his single appearance at third suggests he’s not a natural at the position), batting .284/.382/.501 (.340 BABIP) in 428 plate appearances. Notably, 2011 was only Brown’s first season at the level.

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As was the case last year, free agency begins this season a mere five days after the end of the World Series. Accordingly — and even though it might seem premature at the moment — it’s necessary that we begin our coverage of the Hot Stove League without hesitation.

Over the course of the next week-plus, we’ll be looking at this year’s free-agent market — both the available players and the teams most likely to sign them. In addition to that, we’ll continue a practice started by Dave Cameron last year (an example of which you can see here) — namely, of utilizing the Wisdom of the Crowds to get the best sense possible of what sort of contracts (in terms of years and overall cash money) the members of this season’s free-agent class are likely to receive.

Each day (more or less) we’ll have at least two posts dedicated to examining the free-agent market. The first post will serve as both a summary of the free agents at a particular position and each of those free agents’ likely future value. The second post will ask readers to vote on what they feel is the most likely arrangement of years and dollars for each free agent to receive.

We’ll start in earnest on Thursday, looking at catchers, but to make sure our polling utility is functional, I’ve included the following poll. Please take it very, very, very, very, very seriously.

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It’s the Mexican Pacific League… en su cara.

1. Arizona Fall League Action
2. Mexican Pacific League Action
3. Some Brief Notes on Baseball America’s PCL Top 20

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