ESPN.com - Page2 - Who wants to spend<br>$21 million?

Who wants to spend
$21 million?
Page 2 staff

As baseball's big-name free agents continue to find new homes, it's time to play Page 2's version of Virtual GM.

Here's the drill: You've got $21 million to spend for the 2001 season, and we've put together five attractive packages for you to choose from.

Vote in the poll at left to make your selection.


	Rodriguez hit .316 with 41 homers in 2000.

Package 1
You get: SS Alex Rodriguez ($21 million).

Package price: $21 million

Money left over: None.

Package benefits: Just check out that Scott Boras book for the complete rundown. The argument goes that A-Rod's 2000 season was the best in baseball history for a 24-year-old player. He led the Mariners to the playoffs and the sixth game of the ALCS. He hit .316 with 41 home runs and 132 RBIs while playing in a mere 148 games. He's just entering his prime and already has a 40-40 season under his belt. Plus, he's a true five-tool player.


	McGwire has 554 career HRs.

Package 2
You get: 1B Mark McGwire ($9,333,333) and OF Barry Bonds ($10,658,826).

Package price: $19,992,159.

Money left over: $1,007,841.

Package benefits: Well, you get the most feared power hitter in the game and a three-time MVP. McGwire, who has hit 554 career homers, is sure to put fans in the seats as he chases Hank Aaron's career home-run record. Bonds hit .306 last season with 49 homers and 106 RBIs. For his career, Bonds has hit 494 homers and stolen 471 bases.


	Giambi won the 2000 AL MVP award.

Package 3
You get: 1B Jim Thome ($8,175,000), OF David Justice ($7,000,000), 1B Jason Giambi ($3,103,333) and OF Brian Giles ($1,816,667).

Package price: $20,095,000.

Money left over: $905,000.

Package benefits: Giambi won the AL MVP award as his monster September carried Oakland to the postseason. Justice came up huge in the postseason for the Yankees and has more playoff experience than anyone out there. Giles is an underrated powder keg in the middle of the Pirates' lineup. And Thome has driven in 100 RBIs in four of the last five seasons.


	Garciaparra led the AL with a .372 average.

Package 4
You get: DH Edgar Martinez ($5,400,000), SS Nomar Garciaparra ($3,700,000), LHP David Wells ($5,500,000), SS Rafael Furcal ($200,000), RHP Orlando Hernandez ($1,950,000), RHP Tim Hudson ($250,000), SS Omar Vizquel ($3,000,000), 2B Jose Vidro ($340,000).

Package price: $20,340,000.

Money left over: $660,000.

Package benefits: Garciaparra is a shortstop who's arguably as good as Rodriguez. Martinez is simply one of the game's best clutch hitters. Wells and Hudson might be the two best pitchers in the AL not named Pedro Martinez. "El Duque" is nearly unbeatable in the postseason. Vizquel might be the best fielder in the game. Meanwhile, Furcal and Vidro would provide incredible depth for your middle infield.


	Want a young shortstop? How 'bout Tejada?

Package 5
You get: RHP Keith Foulke ($375,000), OF Magglio Ordonez ($425,000), OF Darin Erstad ($2,500,000), LHP Rick Ankiel ($202,500), SS Miguel Tejada ($290,000), OF Mark Quinn ($205,000), OF Ben Grieve ($750,000), RHP Kevin Millwood ($420,000), RHP Freddy Garcia ($325,000), 3B Fernando Tatis ($750,000), 3B Troy Glaus ($375,000), LHP Barry Zito ($200,000), OF Andruw Jones ($3,700,000), 1B Jeff Bagwell ($6,500,000), OF Jermaine Dye ($2,300,000), RHP Antonio Alfonseca ($380,000).

Package price: $19,697,500.

Money left over: $1,302,500.

Package benefits: Some of the game's best young talent is available in this package. Plus, there's Bagwell, who owns one of baseball's most productive bats. Foulke, Zito, Garcia and Ankiel would form the core of a terrific young pitching staff.

Package 6
You get: The Minnesota Twins roster.

Package price: $15,822,000.

Money left over: $5,178,000.

Package benefits: Well, the Twins were pretty bad in 2000, winning just 69 games and finishing 26 games back of the White Sox in the AL Central. But you do get every player on an entire major-league roster. Plus, you have more than $5 million left over to spend on whatever you'd like.

Editor's Note: All salary figures based on 2000 earnings, except for Alex Rodriguez's $21 million, which is the salary of the first year of the 10-year, $252 million contract he agreed to Monday.



	ALSO SEE: Caple: 2001: An A-Rod Odyssey Paging Dr. Crane ... Thiel: Griefless in Seattle Rangers go for broke: A-Rod deal worth $252M Tale of the Tape: A-Rod vs. Tom Hicks Chart: Baseball's salary explosion Where are the Great 8 free agents headed? AthletesDirect: Alex Rodriguez answers fans' questions AthletesDirect: Nomar Garciaparra's official Web site