MLB Free Agents Tracker: Top 25 Pitcher free agents for 2017-18

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:

• Vargas on Orioles Radar

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:

• Cashner should enjoy better free agency
• Cashner on Orioles radar

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

20. Michael Pineda, RHSP

Age on 2018 opening day: 29
2017 stats: 17 GS, 96 1/3 IP, 8-4, 4.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 5.1% BB, 22.4% K
Career stats: 680 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5.6% BB, 24.4% K
Interested teams: Athletics, Cubs, Dodgers, Mariners, Padres, Pirates, Rangers, Twins, Yankees
CTTP prediction: Pirates, 3 years, $18 million
Info: Pineda is a guy ill-fitted for his current situation. With his power cutter and sinker, the short porch in left in Yankee Stadium has always seemed to be an issue with Pineda, giving up roughly twice as many home runs at home as on the road every year except 2017. Pineda will be sitting out nearly all of 2018 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, so any team investing in him is making a multi-year gamble that he’ll come back 100%.

CTTP links:

• Is Pineda worth keeping on the Yankees in 2018?

19. Brandon Morrow, RHRP

Age on 2018 opening day: 33
2017 stats: 45 G, 43 2/3 IP, 6-0, 2 SV, 2.06 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 4.4% BB, 29.4% K
Career stats: 828 1/3 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 10.2% BB, 29.4% K
Interested teams: Angels, Braves, Brewers, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Pirates, White Sox, Tigers
CTTP prediction: White Sox, 2 years, $13.5 million
Info: Morrow has always possessed a monster fastball, but he was jerked around quite a bit in his career between starting and relieving, and it took a toll on his arm health, causing him to miss much of the last four seasons, really. Morrow made waves in San Diego in a short stint in 2016, and the Dodgers capitalized on that in 2017. Now, Morrow should be the one looking to capitalize with a multi-year pay day.

CTTP links:

18. Bryan Shaw, RHRP

Age on 2018 opening day: 30
2017 stats: 79 G, 76 2/3 IP, 4-6, 3 SV, 3.52 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 7.1% BB, 23.4% K
Career stats: 446 1/3 IP, 3.13 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.1% BB, 21.5% K
Interested teams: Blue Jays, Brewers, Indians, Pirates, Rangers, Rockies, Tigers, Twins, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Blue Jays, 3 years, $17 million
Info: Shaw essentially had a 2017 like every year of his career. There are teams worried about Shaw’s usage – he’s appeared in at least 70 games every season since 2013 – but he’s been consistent throughout that time. He’s not a closer, but he’s arguably the most reliable and valuable setup man available on the market, and he could end up outpacing some of the “closer” candidate types.

CTTP links:

17. C.C. Sabathia, LHSP

Age on 2018 opening day: 37
2017 stats: 27 GS, 148 2/3 IP, 14-5, 3.69 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8% BB, 19.3% K
Career stats: 3317 IP, 3.70 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.3% BB, 20.5% K
Interested teams: Rangers, Red Sox, Twins, Yankees, Braves
CTTP prediction: Rangers, 2 years, $17 million
Info: When you have been around 17 years, you end up the active leader in many stats, as CC currently is in career innings pitched and strikeouts, but anyone watching the playoff saw how effective the re-made CC can be when fully healthy. He fought through injuries this year, but he’s changed up his pitching arsenal on the mound and seems poised to throw quite a few more years if his body can hold up. If nothing else, he’d be a steady source of innings in a rotation, mentoring young arms.

CTTP links:

• Sabathia lives up to huge expectations
• Where will Sabathia pitch in 2018?

16. Trevor Rosenthal, RHRP

Age on 2018 opening day: 27
2017 stats: 50 G, 47 2/3 IP, 3-4, 11 SV, 3.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 9.9% BB, 37.6% K
Career stats: 325 IP, 2.99 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 10.3% BB, 31.2% K
Interested teams: Angels, Blue Jays, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Pirates, Rockies, Tigers, Twins, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Diamondbacks, 3 years, $18 million
Info: Rosenthal’s release was odd, to say the least, as the Cardinals could have waited out Tommy John, but chose instead to let him go. He actually had a tremendously better season than his ERA suggests, and in line with his best seasons as a professional, but BABIP ran him out of the closer’s job in spite of one of his most dominant strikeout seasons before having surgery. Bidding could get heavy on Rosenthal, especially if teams like the Dodgers and Cubs go in hard, but he likely would prefer a closing job once he returns in 2019.

CTTP links:

• Are Cardinals done with Rosenthal?

Next: #11-15

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:

• Should Braves look at Minor?

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

• Oh would make interesting target for A’s

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

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:

• Cardinals interested in Holland

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:

• Cobb a fit for the Cubs
• Looking at the future of Cobb

Next: #1-5