Tadahito Iguchi officially hit the open market yesterday after being released by the Phillies. Of course, the Phillies more or less had their hands forced; under the terms of the contract Iguchi signed with the White Sox three years ago, the Phillies weren't allowed to offer Iguchi arbitration, which means that not only is Iguchi free and clear, but the team that signs him won't have to give Philadelphia any draft picks as compensation. From the Philadelphia Daily News:"[Iguchi] thinks he can get a job playing second every day somewhere. I think he and his agent are correct in that assumption," said Gillick, who added the Phillies asked him whether he would be willing to play third base.So who plays third for the Phillies next year? Probably some combination of Wes Helms, Greg Dobbs and Eric Bruntlett, considering Pat Gillick shot down any rumors of Philadelphia's interest in Mike Lowell.
As for Iguchi, he will be competing with a handful of prominent second basemen on the market -- Luis Castillo and Kaz Matsui, for instance, as well as Marcus Giles and Mark Loretta -- though he has to be considered one of the most desirable.
