MLB Free Agents Tracker: Top 25 Pitcher free agents for 2017-18
10. Jhoulys Chacin, RHSP
Age on 2018 opening day: 30
2017 stats: 32 GS, 180 1/3 IP, 13-10, 3.89 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 9.4% BB, 20% K
Career stats: 1,023 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 9.5% BB, 18.5% K
Interested teams: Angels, Athletics, Blue Jays, Mariners, Marlins, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Twins
CTTP prediction: Blue Jays, 2 years, $15 million
Info: The second of two mis-cast Colorado pitchers on this list, Chacin was a Rockie for most of his career and struggled there, but his best pitch is a high-spin sinker that struggled in the thin air, and in San Diego in 2017, he cut that loose and really attacked with the pitch (led the league with 14 HBP). Chacin likely won’t draw a huge contract with just the one year of “recovered” performance, but he could end up being one of the strongest signings of the offseason.
CTTP links:
9. Tyler Chatwood, RHSP
Age on 2018 opening day: 28
2017 stats: 33 G, 25 GS, 147 2/3 IP, 8-15, 1 SV, 4.69 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 12.2% BB, 19% K
Career stats: 647 2/3 IP, 4.31 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 10.7% BB, 15.6% K
Interested teams: Angels, Athletics, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mariners, Marlins, Padres, Twins
CTTP prediction: Dodgers, 3 years, $25 million
Info: After the success of Charlie Morton, a guy like Chatwood is likely not going to go as under the radar, especially after being spotlighted by Statcast. He was in the wrong spot in Colorado, where his high-spin curve and sinker simply struggled to stay in the zone. Looking at his career home/away stats indicates how great he’ll be outside of Colorado as a mid-rotation guy, especially now that he’s healthy after 2015 Tommy John surgery. He could find himself in a bidding war with some of the more sabermetrically-inclined teams.
CTTP links:
8. Greg Holland, RHRP
Age on 2018 opening day: 32
2017 stats: 61 G, 57 1/3 IP, 3-6, 41 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 11.1% BB, 29.8% K
Career stats: 377 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.9% BB, 32.6%
Interested teams: Angels, Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rockies, Twins, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Rockies, 2 years, $34 million
Info: Holland returned well in 2017 with Colorado, and he showed the ability to handle the back end of the bullpen again, but he struggled some with allowing free passes more than he had previously. He’d ideally like to return to Colorado if the money was right, but Holland seems to desire the long-term security, so a team willing to go 3-4 years may be able to snag Holland for less average annual salary by giving the extra years.
CTTP links:
7. Juan Nicasio, RHRP
Age on 2018 opening day: 31
2017 stats: 76 G, 71 1/3 IP, 5-5, 6 SV, 2.61 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 6.9% BB, 24.7% K
Career stats: 629 2/3 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 8.5% BB, 20.8% K
Interested teams: Angels, Blue Jays, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rockies, Twins
CTTP prediction: Cubs, 3 years, $39 million
Info: After a number of years working as a starter, even with the Pirates in 2016, Nicasio finally found his ideal role in the bullpen in the second half of 2016 and had an elite 2017 in that role. He’s seen the movement on his fastball tick up as well as his velocity in the bullpen, looking every bit a dominant reliever, hitting the market at the perfect time after such a big year, likely going to cash in well and possibly into a closer role.
CTTP links:
6. Alex Cobb, RHSP
Age on 2018 opening day: 30
2017 stats: 29 GS, 179 1/3 IP, 12-10, 3.66 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 5.9% BB, 17.3% K
Career stats: 700 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 7% BB, 19.7% K
Interested teams: Angels, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mariners, Orioles, Phillies, Rangers, Red Sox, Twins, Yankees
CTTP prediction: Yankees, 3 years, $68 million
Info: Cobb has seemingly had a rocky road in the major leagues. He has survived a batted ball hitting him in a brutal way, just after he had earned his way to the major leagues in 2012. Cobb then faced Tommy John surgery in 2015 just as he got established as a starter. He had his first full season in 2017 since surgery, and he had a similar performance to previous performances. Cobb’s health will likely keep his contract shorter than a guy his age likely would get, but he should end up with a good contract.
CTTP links:
Next: #1-5