From big ticket to bargain basement

Take a look at this list. Big names, former All-Stars, sluggers who once commanded millions. Now they're members of the all-washed-up team. Free agents at the end of the season, they likely will spend the winter scrambling for jobs.

In many cases, their declines reflect age and injury. In others, they might be related to tougher steroids testing and the toll of performance-enhancing drugs. Whatever the reasons, fading stars are easily replaced by younger, cheaper players who offer comparable production.

General managers, proceed at your own risk.

Sammy Sosa

Age: 36.

Salary: $17.875 million.

Telling fact: Sosa's .376 slugging percentage is the eighth-lowest among American League players who qualify for the batting title.

Slowed by a staph infection in his left foot and an injured right big toe, Sosa looks finished. One executive predicts he'll get a deal similar to what the Cubs gave Jeromy Burnitz last winter--$4.5 million with a $7 million option.

Even that sounds high, but a low-revenue team might want the buzz that would come with signing Sosa, who is 12 homers shy of 600.

Mike Piazza

Age: 37.

Salary: $16.071 million.

Telling fact: Piazza's career-low .770 on-base/slugging percentage represents a fifth straight season of decline.

Sidelined since August 21 with a broken bone in his left hand, Piazza needs to leave the Mets for the American League, where he might prove a capable designated hitter. He could benefit from playing in a better hitters park than Shea Stadium. But would you bet more than $3 million on that?

Bernie Williams

Age: 38.

Salary: $12.357 million.

Telling fact: Entering the week, Williams had started 76 games in center field, a position he no longer plays effectively.

Williams' agent, Scott Boras, says Williams is not ready to retire, but several executives doubt he would play for another club--"I don't think he's going to end his career batting .250 with seven homers for Tampa Bay," one G.M. says. The Yankees will decline Williams' $15 million option and try to upgrade in center field. Johnny Damon is a potential free-agent target. Mike Cameron, Juan Pierre and Corey Patterson are trade possibilities.

Tim Salmon

Age: 37.

Salary: $10.15 million.

Telling fact: Salmon is likely to miss the entire season after undergoing surgeries on his left shoulder and left knee.

He has resumed taking batting practice, but he has played in just 60 games since the start of the 2004 season. The best solution would be an incentive-laden deal that would give him a chance to finish his career with the Angels, his only team.

Bret Boone

Age: 36.

Salary: $9 million.

Telling fact: Boone batted. 170 during his three-week stint with the Twins while trying to salvage his career.

He probably isn't ready to retire, and one executive predicts he'll "work his tail off" to get back in the game. His health is not an issue, but his declining skills make it difficult to imagine that a team would give him anything more than a minor league contract.

Bobby Higginson

Age: 35.

Salary: $8.85 million.

Telling fact: Higginson was 2-for-26 before undergoing right elbow surgery in May.

One G.M. says he had almost forgotten about Higginson, who bagged $35.6 million over four years with the Tigers. If he continues playing, it almost certainly will be after signing a minor league deal.

Nomar Garciaparra

Age: 32.

Salary: $8.25 million.

Telling fact: Entering the week, the most Garciaparra could play this season was 63 games.

The Cubs won't bring him back; instead, they'll go with Ronny Cedeno and Neifi Perez at short or sign Rafael Furcal as a free agent. Garciaparra has produced an impressive .934 OPS since returning from a torn groin muscle on August 5. The estimates for his 2006 salary range between $2 million and $8 million among three executives. "He's swinging the bat all right," one scout says. "He just can't move."

Frank Thomas

Age: 37.

Salary: $8 million.

Telling fact: Thomas played in only 34 games this season.

The White Sox hold a $10 million option on Thomas for 2006 but can buy him out for $3.5 million. One G.M. says that increases the team's motivation to sign him to a restructured deal. Thomas batted only .219 after returning from left ankle surgery but hit a staggering 12 home runs in 105 at-bats before a fractured left foot ended his season.

Richard Hidalgo

Age: 30.

Salary: $5 million.

Telling fact: Hidalgo has batted .221 even though he plays his home games at Ameriquest Field, one of the best hitters parks in baseball.

The Rangers thought they had landed one of the biggest bargains of the offseason when they signed Hidalgo to a one-year contract. Instead, Hidalgo contributed little and has been out since August 5 with a chip fracture in his left wrist.

Juan Gonzalez

Age: 35.

Salary: $600,000.

Telling fact: Gonzalez had only one at-bat this season because of a right hamstring injury.

Just think, he still would have two years left on his contract if he had accepted the Tigers' eight-year offer for a reported $148 million before the 2000 season.