The MLB offseason is here! Follow the top MLB free agents, pitcher rumors and signings here!
This offseason, we at Call to the Pen will be giving you a one-stop place to track all the latest on the biggest names in MLB free agents. We will have a list of the top 25 hitters and top 25 pitchers. We will be keeping this up with any articles from CTTP with rumors on future destinations on these players. Each player will feature his age, 2017 stats, career stats, teams that either have shown interest or likely will have interest, a signing prediction from CTTP, and then a quick bit of info on each player.
25. Jason Vargas, LHSP
Age on 2018 opening day: 35
2017 stats: 32 GS, 179 2/3 IP, 18-11, 4.16 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 7.7% BB, 17.7% K
Career stats: 1,401 1/3 IP, 4.17 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 7% BB, 15.8% K
Interested teams: Padres, Marlins, Orioles, Royals, Twins
CTTP prediction: Orioles, 2 years, $16 million
Info: Vargas came back from throwing a combined 12 starts over 2015 and 2016 for Kansas City and returned to being a reliable back-end starter. He had a run early in the season that inflated his won-loss record, but in the end, his season-long numbers look about like what you’d expect him to produce for another year or two at least.
CTTP links:
24. Jeremy Hellickson, RHSP
Age on 2018 opening day: 30
2017 stats: 30 GS, 164 IP, 8-11, 5.43 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 6.8% BB, 13.8% K
Career stats: 1,139 IP, 4.12 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.2% BB, 17.4% K
Interested teams: Angels, Athletics, Mariners, Marlins, Padres, Phillies, Rangers
CTTP prediction: Mariners, 2 years, $21 million
Info: Hellickson has been a guy who has used 3 types as fastballs in order to generate weak contact, whether it was weak grounders or weak pop ups. In 2017, however, he shifted heavily away from his four-seam that has excellent movement up in the zone to using a sinker that was eaten up and spit out in the new wave of optimized swing planes. Going to a team that will re-emphasize his four-seamer would be best for the team and Hellickson.
CTTP links:
23. Andrew Cashner, RHSP
Age on 2018 opening day: 31
2017 stats: 28 GS, 166 2/3 IP, 11-11, 3.40 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 9.1% BB, 12.2% K
Career stats: 893 IP, 3.80 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 8.4% BB, 18.3% K
Interested teams: Mariners, Orioles, Rangers, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins
CTTP prediction: Tigers, 3 years, $34 million
Info: After struggling with injuries, Cashner was eased back to some degree by the Rangers. He still was able to make 28 starts and pitch 166 2/3 innings on the season, and his fastball was as effective as ever, whether it was his impressive four-seamer, his remade sinker, which was by far his most effective pitch on the season, or his array of off speed stuff with a cutter, curve, slider, and change. Cashner has always tantalized but could not stay healthy. After keeping that health on a one-year deal, he’s likely looking to cash in this offseason.
CTTP links:
22. Pat Neshek, RHRP
Age on 2018 opening day: 37
2017 stats: 71 G, 62 1/3 IP, 5-3, 1 save, 1.59 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 2.6% BB, 29.4% K
Career stats: 445 2/3 IP, 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 7.1% BB, 25.1% K
Interested teams: Braves, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Indians, Tigers, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Indians, 2 years, $10 million
Info: Neshek’s excellent sidearm delivery has been incredibly tough on same-side hitters over his career, but he’s been good against both sides. Though he’s not exactly a spring chicken, Neshek has at least a few good years left and would likely be charmed by multiple years.
CTTP links
21. Jake McGee, LHRP
Age on 2018 opening day: 31
2017 stats: 62 G, 57 1/3 IP, 0-2, 3 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7% BB, 25.3% K
Career stats: 362 2/3 IP, 3.15 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7.1% BB, 30.7% K
Interested teams: Angels, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Cardinals, Cubs, Rockies, Twins, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Dodgers, 2 years, $12.5 million
Info: McGee was dominant with the Rays before his trade to the Rockies. He did struggle some with the Rockies, but most of his issues were Coors-based. McGee primarily uses a mid-90s fastball that he gets excellent spin on, so moving from Coors should help him tremendously.
CTTP links
Now, to the next group of 5, #16-20…
Next: #16-20