With the calendar turning to 2017, the MLB offseason will be over before we know it. Playoff football will divert everyone’s attention for another month until all of a sudden it’s Spring Training again. Baseball is likely the last thing on people’s minds in January, but not for a true follower of the sport. The biggest free agents have already signed, but there is certainly more to come.
It’s been a strange offseason for MLB free agents. The largest signing of the year will undoubtedly be Yoenis Cespedes returning to the Mets for 4-years and $110M. In fact Aroldis Chapman, Dexter Fowler, and Kenley Jansen are the only other free agents to sign for $80M or more. Compare that to last year’s offseason, which featured seven free agent signings of $100M or more, including two in excess of $200M. With none of the top free agents remaining, it’s clear that no one will reach that threshold this offseason.
Luckily, several teams are still looking to make additions, and there remains a handful of solid options to choose from. We know the Rangers and Astros are looking to add a starting pitcher, while the A’s want some right-handed power. The Braves seem eager to make more additions, and of course, everybody wants to add to their bullpen.
So, let’s talk about the list a bit before we get into it. It’s already been pointed out that the top free agents are off the board, which means most of these players are hoping to rebound in 2017. The majority of them are defensively challenged, and none of them registered an fWAR of 2.0 last season. Injuries are a risk too, as every player on this list is above the age of 30. That being said, there are some very high-reward players left on the free agent market.