MLB Free Agents Tracker: Top 25 free agent hitters for 2017-18
The MLB offseason is here! Follow the top hitters who are MLB Free Agents, including 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 who are 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 has shown interest or likely will have interest, a signing prediction from CTTP, and then a quick bit of info on each player.
Let’s start with the first batch of hitters:
25. Danny Valencia, 1B/3B/OF
Age on 2018 opening day: 33
2017 stats: .256/.314/.411, 500 PA, 15 HR, 2 SB, 40/122 BB/K
Career stats: .269/.317/.427, 195/598 BB/K over 2940 PA
Interested teams: Twins, Royals, Rays, Mariners, Rockies
CTTP prediction: Rays, 1 year, $6.5 million
Info: Valencia is the type of guy who is a perfect single-year platoon hitter. He’s incredibly strong against lefties, carrying a .313/.370/.493 career line against them, almost 200 points higher than his split against righties. He can handle third in a pinch, but he’s mostly a first base/corner outfield/DH type at this point, but there’s plenty of value in that. He made $5.5 million last year.
CTTP links:
24. Alex Avila, C
Age on 2018 opening day: 31
2017 stats: .264/.387/.447, 376 PA, 14 HR, 62/120 BB/K
Career stats: .243/.351/.401, 425/851 BB/K in 3,030 PA
Interested teams: Athletics, Diamondbacks, Tigers, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Athletics, 2 years, $10M
Info: Avila has always walked well, but he’s also struggled to make consistent contact over his year, and he’s now coming off his second-best offensive season. He could push hard for a starting gig with that performance, and he’s coming off a season where he made just $2.5 million. He could attract a lot of interest to be a high-paid backup if he’s willing to go that route, but this prediction is based on pursuing a starting role.
CTTP links:
23. Cameron Maybin, OF
Age on 2018 opening day: 30
2017 stats: .228/.318/.365, 450 PA, 10 HR, 33 SB, 51/94 BB/K
Career stats: .255/.321/.372, 290/737 BB/K over 3,464 PA
Interested teams: White Sox, Mets, Giants, Royals, Tigers
CTTP prediction: Royals, 2 years, $17.5 million
Info: Maybin has turned into a very reliable player under the radar. He’s able to handle center field, but plays up to an elite level in left. He has a dynamic combination of power and speed, and what has been impressive in the last three seasons is that Maybin has been able to keep bump up his walk rate the last three seasons to 11.3% last year, and at the same time, he’s not striking out at a mid-20% rate like he was early in his career. His contact rate is not great, but he’s really developed into a Mike Cameron with less defensive skill.
CTTP links:
22. Mark Reynolds, 1B
Age on 2018 opening day: 34
2017 stats: .267/.352/.487, 593 PA, 30 HR, 2 SB, 69/175 BB/K
Career stats: .237/.329/.455, 661/1,806 BB/K over 5,846 PA
Interested teams: Indians, Mariners, Rays, Red Sox, Royals, Twins, White Sox
CTTP prediction: Mariners, 2 years, $11.5 million
Info: Reynolds has been a high-strikeout, high-power guy since well before it was in vogue. When Ian Desmond went down for Colorado in 2017, Reynolds stepped in and hit 30 home runs on the season with his third-best OPS in his career. While not the youngest, Reynolds has been very consistent as a power hitter, even though he’s been used as a platoon or bench bat for much of his career. After earning just a couple million dollars the last few seasons, he’ll likely be easily swayed by someone offering a multi-year deal.
CTTP links:
21. Neil Walker, 2B
Age on 2018 opening day: 32
2017 stats: .265/.362/.439, 448 PA, 14 HR, 55/77 BB/K
Career stats: .272/.341/.437, 375/754 BB/K in 4,332 PA
Interested teams: Angels, Mets, Padres, Brewers
CTTP prediction: Brewers, 1 year, $9 million
Info: Walker continued what he has done for years in the major leagues – provide steady, albeit not spectacular defense, and offer an above-average bat, especially for a middle infielder. Walker made a very positive impression in Milwaukee, especially in the clubhouse, and he could be at a point where he’s used around the infield, providing a quality bat and a veteran presence in the clubhouse.
CTTP links:
Now, to the next group of 5, #16-20…
Next: #16-20