MLB free agency: 2019/2020 FAs that should be moved
By Bill Felber
The 2019-2020 class in MLB free agency could be as impressive as this year’s class. Let’s look at some suggestions for which teams should reduce their potential 2019-20 free agent liability
With the approach of the winter meetings, attention is quite logically focused on developments in the MLB free agency market. Stars of the caliber of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are available to the highest bidder.
While those negotiations are going on, though, several teams would do well to be looking ahead. Next winter’s free agent class is packed with productive players, and while none carry the reputations of this winter’s headliners, several are very much worth having.
Many also play on teams that may, for one reason or another, be better off trading them now than hoping to find a market at next summer’s trade deadline or losing the player to free agency. Some of those teams are unlikely to contend in 2019, and a few others are deep enough at a position to trade from strength.
This is the common thread: The future free agents’ teams would be likely to net more value from moving the player now than holding on to him.
Teams do need to proceed with caution; not every potential 2019 free agent is or ought to be a plausible trade candidate. Since he hits in the middle of the order and plays third base, Washington’s Anthony Rendon would have a high trade value right now. But even if they lose current free agent Bryce Harper, the Nats still have a strong nucleus including Juan Soto and Max Scherzer. They’re not in a position to chuck it yet.
The Miami Marlins are in the same situation with their third baseman, Martin Prado. He, too, will be a free agent. But with their young roster, the Marlins need some mature leadership, and Prado fits the bill.
Those, however, are the exceptions. Below are some suggestions of teams that may want to look at getting out front of their 2019-20 free agent losses by taking pre-emptive action now, before the potential trade values have begun to diminish.