Putting Free Agents in Their Place

A look at this season’s free agents, categorized by position and value:

CATCHER

* Elite--None

* Good--Carlos Hernandez, Padres; Terry Steinbach, Twins; Bill Haselman, Rangers; Scott Servais, Cubs.

* Don’t give them $1 million--Mike Macfarlane, A’s; Joe Oliver, Mariners; Benito Santiago, Blue Jays; Tom Lampkin, Cardinals.

* Please retire--Chad Kreuter, Angels; Pat Borders, Indians; John Marzano, Mariners; Tom Prince, Dodgers; Kirt Manwaring, Rockies; Mark Parent, Phillies.

FIRST BASE

* Elite--Rafael Palmeiro, Orioles; Mo Vaughn, Red Sox.

* Good--Hal Morris, Royals; Paul Molitor, Twins; John Jaha, Brewers; Will Clark, Rangers.

* Don’t give them $1 million--Greg Colbrunn, Braves.

* Please retire--None.

SECOND BASE

* Elite--Roberto Alomar, Orioles

* Good--Randy Velarde, Angels; Joey Cora, Indians; Jose Offerman, Royals; Carlos Baerga, Mets; Delino DeShields, Cardinals.

* Don’t give them $1 million--None.

* Please retire--Mike Benjamin, Red Sox; Mark Lemke, Red Sox; Pat Kelly, Cardinals.

THIRD BASE

* Elite--Robin Ventura, White Sox; Scott Brosius, Yankees; Ken Caminiti, Padres.

* Good--Dean Palmer, Royals; Sean Berry, Astros.

* Don’t give them $1 million--Tim Naehring, Red Sox; Jeff Branson, Indians; Scott Leius, Royals; Dave Magadan, A’s; Mark Lewis, Phillies.

* Please retire--Terry Pendleton, Royals; Mike Blowers, A’s; Ed Sprague, A’s; Gary Gaetti, Cubs.

SHORTSTOP

* Elite--None.

* Good--Royce Clayton, Rangers.

* Don’t give them $1 million--Craig Shipley, Angels; Tim Bogar, Astros; Rey Sanchez, Giants.

* Please retire--Andy Stankiewicz, Diamondbacks; Rafael Belliard, Braves; Ozzie Guillen, Braves; Shawon Dunston, Giants.

OUTFIELD

* Elite--Albert Belle, White Sox; Bernie Williams, Yankees.

* Good--Gregg Jefferies, Angels; Eric Davis, Orioles; B.J. Surhoff, Orioles; Rickey Henderson, A’s; Jose Canseco, Blue Jays; Devon White, Diamondbacks; Brian Jordan, Cardinals; Steve Finley, Padres; Ellis Burks, Giants.

* Don’t give them $1 million--Mark Whiten, Indians; Geronimo Berroa, Tigers; Tim Raines, Yankees; Bip Roberts, A’s; Rich Amaral, Mariners; Glenallen Hill, Cubs; Henry Rodriguez, Cubs; Darryl Hamilton, Rockies; Darrin Jackson, Brewers; John Vander Wal, Padres; Darryl Strawberry, Yankees.

* Please retire--Wil Cordero, White Sox; Shane Mack, Royals; Otis Nixon, Twins; Jim Eisenreich, Dodgers; Orlando Merced, Cubs; Lenny Harris, Mets; Tony Phillips, Mets; Willie McGee, Cardinals; Juan Samuel, Blue Jays; Joe Carter, Giants.

STARTING PITCHERS

* Elite--Randy Johnson, Astros; Kevin Brown, Padres; David Cone, Yankees.

* Good--Jimmy Key, Orioles; Tim Belcher, Royals; Todd Stottlemyre, Rangers; Brian Bohanon, Dodgers; Mark Clark, Cubs; Mark Portugal, Phillies; Mark Gardner, Giants; Orel Hershiser, Giants.

* Don’t give them $1 million--Jack McDowell, Angels; Pete Smith, Orioles; Steve Avery, Red Sox; Pete Schourek, Red Sox; Frank Castillo, Tigers.

* Please retire--Doug Drabek, Orioles; Butch Henry, Red Sox; Ricky Bones, Royals; Bob Tewksbury, Twins; Bill Swift, Mariners; Roger Pavlik, Rangers; Dave Stieb, Blue Jays; Chris Haney, Cubs; Mike Morgan, Cubs; Armando Reynoso, Mets; Bobby Witt, Cardinals; Danny Darwin, Giants; Jim Abbott, White Sox.

RELIEF PITCHERS

* Elite--None.

* Good--Alan Mills, Orioles; Jeff Montgomery, Royals; Heathcliff Slocumb, Mariners; Mike Timlin, Mariners.

* Don’t give them $1 million--Mike Fetters, Angels; Doug Jones, Indians; Jim Poole, Indians; Greg Cadaret, Rangers; Xavier Hernandez, Rangers; Mark Guthrie, Dodgers; Scott Radinsky, Dodgers; Mike Magnante, Astros; Dennis Cook, Mets; Jose Mesa, Giants.

* Please retire--Trevor Wilson, Angels; Dennis Eckersley, Red Sox; Greg Swindell, Red Sox; Scott Bailes, Rangers; Norm Charlton, Braves; Dennis Martinez, Braves; Mike Munoz, Rockies; Mark Langston, Padres.