Third base options

Now that Bill Mueller has thankfully decided to avoid Pittsburgh for the next three years, that only leaves us with a few likely options at third base next year. As I see it we can either
  1. Get into a bidding war with the Yankees and Indians and sign Nomar for a $12-14 million incentive laden contract over the next two years, then pray that he stays healthy and use Freddy as a utility guy.
  2. Sign the Joker for around $1-2 million for next year, let Freddy start at third and see how things go. Freddy can shift around the infield accordingly if someone gets hurt and Randa can play third
  3. Let Freddy start at third and have someone from within the organization like Bautista back him up.
  4. Trade someone for David Bell, Freddy is the utility guy.
Option #1 doesn't seem to likely, only because I'd have thought they would've shown interest in Nomar before now if they really wanted him. It's entirely possible he wants to play either in the AL or for a contender. We don't fit either of these possibilities and if Mueller is any indication, even overpaying for him wouldn't get him here. The second option would seem to be a good one. Randa is a pretty popular guy in Pittsburgh from his last short stay and would be a pretty decent back-up at third. If not, I'm not sure anyone from the minors is ready to step up to the big leagues yet, but I guess Bautista might be. Option #4 is akin to dental surgery without novacaine.

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