MLB Free Agents Tracker: Top 25 Pitcher free agents for 2017-18
15. Mike Minor, LHRP
Age on 2018 opening day: 30
2017 stats: 65 G, 77 2/3 IP, 6-6, 6 SV, 2.55 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 7.2% BB, 28.7% K
Career stats: 730 1/3 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 6.9% BB, 21.5% K
Interested teams: Angels, Astros, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Rangers, Rockies, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Cubs, 3 years, $22 million (final deal: Rangers, 3 years, $26 million)
Info: Minor is becoming a hot commodity after a rebound season. Minor missed two full seasons after Tommy John and other injury complications, but the Royals took a chance on him, and he rewarded them with a dominant season out of the bullpen in 2017. He’s likely a reliever going forward, and he did show the chops to possibly close down the stretch for the Royals in 2017, so he could be considered in that role going forward.
CTTP links:
14. Seung-hwan Oh, RHRP
Age on 2018 opening day: 35
2017 stats: 62 G, 59 1/3 IP, 1-6, 20 SV, 4.10 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 5.7% BB, 20.5% K
Career stats: 139 IP, 2.85 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 5.7% BB, 27.2% K
Interested teams: Angels, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rangers, Tigers, Twins
CTTP prediction: Rangers, 2 years, $11 million
Info: Oh came over to the Cardinals from Korea, and BABIP really stung him in 2017 versus 2016, especially with left-handed hitters. Oh is not a guy who works with incredible velocity, averaging 92.9 MPH on his fastball, but his split finger is an elite weapon when it’s on, and it was not on for much of 2017, whether that’s scouting or BABIP or simple dumb luck, he’s not a guy to sink big money into, but at his age, you won’t have to, and the season he posted in 2016 still looms quite large.
CTTP links
13. Tony Watson, LHRP
Age on 2018 opening day: 32
2017 stats: 71 G, 66 2/3 IP, 7-4, 10 SV, 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 6.9% BB, 18.2% K
Career stats: 453 IP, 2.68 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 6.9% BB, 21.7% K
Interested teams: Angels, Blue Jays, Braves, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Indians, Rangers, Rockies, Twins, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Twins, 3 years, $28 million
Info: One of the most effective lefty relievers against hitters from both sides over the last half-decade, Watson was affected by rough BABIP and luck issues in Pittsburgh early in the year, lost his closer job, and ended up on the Dodgers in their bullpen for the playoffs. His numbers were back to what he’d always shown with the Dodgers, however, which should give any interested team good feeling that he could not just pitch well, but even close from the left side.
CTTP links:
12. Jaime Garcia, LHSP
Age on 2018 opening day: 31
2017 stats: 27 GS, 157 IP, 5-10, 4.41 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 9.5% BB, 19.2% K
Career stats: 1,053 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 7.3% BB, 19.2% K
Interested teams: Angels, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mariners, Marlins, Orioles, Phillies, Twins, Yankees
CTTP prediction: Angels, 2 years, $23 million
Info: Garcia is up on this list for two reasons, really. He’s still fairly young at 31, and he has the ability to throw the ball with his left hand, which distinguishes him from the starters going from this point forward. Garcia is not a guy who likely will pitch in either of the first two games of a playoff series, if the rotation is set up ideally, but he’s a steady pitcher who fits in the 3/4 spot in a rotation when he is healthy, and that’s a valuable piece. His previous health issues could hold him away from getting more than perhaps 2 years on his deal, but there should be a fair amount of interest.
CTTP links:
11. Brandon Kintzler, RHRP
Age on 2018 opening day: 33
2017 stats: 72 G, 71 1/3 IP, 4-3, 29 SV, 3.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 5.6% BB, 13.5% K
Career stats: 306 2/3 IP, 3.26 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 6% BB, 16.5% K
Interested teams: Angels, Braves, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Indians, Rangers, Rockies, White Sox, Twins
CTTP prediction: Indians, 3 years, $20 million
Info: Kintzler is a guy who toiled in the minors and then in the doldrums of the Milwaukee bullpen for multiple years before getting his break in Minnesota when he took over closing duties in 2016. Kintzler isn’t going to strike out a ton of guys, but his arm is lightly taxed for his age, and he has the ability to come into an inning and get a ground ball to get out of it, which not a lot of flame-throwers do. He could be elite in the middle innings or a solid second-tier closer option, which should set a good market for him.
CTTP links:
Next: #6-10