MLB Free Agents: Top 5 hitters set to test the market in 2021, ranked
By Manny Gómez
Today, let’s take a look at 5 hitters that have the potential to sign huge deals as MLB free agents following the 2020 season.
A few days ago, we looked at five starting pitchers that could sign big deals as MLB free agents during the 2021 offseason. Today, let’s take a deep dive at the crop of hitters that could also test free agency following the 2020 season.
The interesting thing about the upcoming offseason is that many of the elite hitters that could become available have either a player or a club option attached to their deals. In fact, of the five players listed, only two don’t have an option attached to their contracts.
The reason for this is because both of these players will be testing free agency for the first time in their respective careers. The first of these players just so happens to be the fifth-ranked player on this list…
George Springer – Houston Astros
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George Springer emerged as a member o the Houston Astros in 2014. That season, in just 78 games, Springer hit 20 HR while slashing a respectable .231 / .336 / .468.
Since then, Springer has turned into a regular All-Star and MVP candidate. In his best season, 2019, Springer hit a career-high 39 home runs, 96 RBI, while also posting a career-best slash line of .292 / .383 / .591 in just 122 games.
As a result, the Astros rewarded Springer with generous 1-year, $21M deal in order to avoid arbitration.
Unfortunately, Springer is embroiled in the never-ending sign-stealing scandal which has taken the world of baseball by storm. With a recent study showing that Springer heard the second-most trash can bangs of any player on that 2017 Astros team, he’ll have plenty to prove this coming season.
If he can sustain the level of play he produced last season, there’s no question that he will be a legitimate candidate for a monster contract. He’ll have to prove that he can do it fairly though.