MLB: The top 25 free agents this offseason
The 25th – 21st ranked 2020-21 MLB free agents.
#25: Kevin Gausman, RHP, 1.11 WHIP (2020)
After struggling on the mound in 2019, Kevin Gausman signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants last season. This was an important stop for his career. Gausman reinvented himself as a starting pitcher last season, especially re-adding the slider to his arsenal. The results were terrific. Gausman went 3-3 in 10 starts, pitching to a 3.62 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Throughout his career, Gausman owns a 1.33 WHIP.
#24: James McCann, C, 1.2 WAR (2020)
For James McCann, the catching troop for the Chicago White Sox is just too competitive. Currently, the job belongs to Yasmani Grandal. Zack Collins, a prolific power-hitting prospect, is the future. Still, in joint playing time and just 97 at-bats, McCann hit .289 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs. McCann offers a solid defensive catcher and a reliable right-handed bat.
#23: Jackie Bradley Jr., CF, 1.8 WAR (2020)
Jackie Bradley Jr. is one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. Point blank. On the other hand, his bat is at times a question mark. Last year was a bright spot for Bradley Jr. at the plate. During his last season with the Boston Red Sox, Bradley Jr. hit .283 and seven home runs. His WAR is boosted by an elite glove in center field.
#22: Trevor Rosenthal, RHP, 0.85 WHIP (2020)
Despite inconsistency over the last two years, it’s always a good free agent market for pitchers. Trevor Rosenthal fits this bill. Rosenthal suffered a disastrous 2019 in which he pitched to a 2.41 WHIP. But, last year in split time with the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres, Rosenthal bounced back in a big way. He pitched to an incredible 0.85 WHIP and 1.90 ERA. Call his struggles in 2019 an aberration. Rosenthal is still a career 1.32 WHIP pitcher and a valuable option for teams in need of relief pitching.
#21: Trevor May, RHP, 1.16 WHIP (2020)
Trevor May offers another relief pitching option for teams willing to take a gamble. Simply put, May strikes batters out. Over the last three seasons, May averaged 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings out of the pen. In 24 games with the Minnesota Twins last year, May pitched to a 1.16 WHIP. He’ll need to continue to work on his command, but is another valuable right-handed bullpen arm.
The 20th – 16th ranked 2020-21 MLB free agents.
#20: Mike Minor, LHP, 1.24 WHIP (2020)
If you haven’t picked up on the theme of this list yet, I’ll tell you now. It’s chock full of pitching arms. Every team is in constant search of improving its pitching staff. This year is no different. Mike Minor is still a decent left-handed starting pitcher. His 5.56 ERA and 1.24 WHIP don’t exactly match up, as Minor continues to struggle with the long balls. Nonetheless, a lefty starting pitcher is one of the most sought after pieces for any MLB club.
#19: Jake Odorizzi, RHP, 1.24 WHIP (Career)
Jake Odorizzi struggled with injuries last season. These injuries included an intercoastal strain, a chest contusion, and a blister. Notably, none of these were arm-related. Odorizzi only saw four games of action with the Minnesota Twins because of these injuries. He’s a career 3.92 ERA and 1.24 WHIP starting pitcher and a definite middle-of-the-rotation option.
#18: Chris Archer, RHP, 1.25 WHIP (Career)
Chris Archer is an interesting option for teams seeking starting pitchers. After 6.5 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Archer was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Archer’s time in Pittsburgh has been plagued by injuries. The righty struggled in 2019, and missed all of 2020 due to injury, but still owns career marks of a 3.86 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.
#17: Michael Brantley, LF, 1.5 WAR (2020)
Simply put, Michael Brantley has gotten better with age. In terms of baseball statistics, that is. At 33, Brantley is valued as a very reliable outfield bat. Over the last four years, Brantley has never hit lower than .299 and his OPS has never dipped below .800. During that span, Brantley has also never struck out more than 66 times. With the ability to put the bat on the ball, and get on base, Brantley is a valuable addition to any lineup.
#16: Nelson Cruz, DH, 1.6 WAR (2020)
At 40-years-old, Nelson Cruz is still one of the most prolific power hitters in the game. His .876 career OPS ranks 15th among active players. Last season, he clobbered 16 home runs, 33 RBIs, while hitting above .300. This right-handed DH can smash baseballs in any park.
The 15th – 11th ranked 2020-21 MLB free agents.
#15: James Paxton, LHP, 1.21 WHIP (Career)
James Paxton, or “The Big Maple,” is a big-armed left-handed starter with ace stuff. Yet, his career numbers don’t always add up to ace. Paxton struggled with injuries last year, however, enjoyed 15 wins in 2019 with the New York Yankees. He only started five games last year but owns a 1.21 career WHIP.
#14: Charlie Morton, RHP, 1.39 WHIP (2020)
Charlie Morton is another player that seems to get better with age. The 36-year-old put together a Cy Young caliber season in 2019. His 2020 regular season was not as dominant, but he ramped up in the playoffs, going 3-0 against the Houston Astros and Yankees. By the time we got to the World Series, Morton was the Tampa Bay Rays’ best starting pitcher.
#13: Justin Turner, 3B, 1.3 WAR (2020)
Justin Turner is a great option for teams in need of hitting and defensive depth. The third baseman has the ability to play any spot in the infield and enjoyed monster seasons at the plate for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Turner put together seven seasons of .300 hitting, adding 116 home runs and 400+ RBIs during his tenure in Los Angeles. He recorded a 1.3 WAR last year.
#12: Didi Gregorius, SS, 0.9 WAR (2020)
After moving on from the Yankees, Didi Gregorius was offered a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Last year was a major bounce back for the 30-year-old shortstop. Gregorius played in 60 games while posting a career-high .339 OPB. He also added 10 home runs. Gregorious is a skilled defender coming off a great season at the plate.
#11: Taijuan Walker, RHP, 1.16 WHIP (2020)
Taijuan Walker was stellar after arriving to the Toronto Blue Jays halfway through the 2020 campaign. The right-handed starter recorded a 1.16 WHIP in total but pitched to a stifling 1.37 ERA in six starts with the Blue Jays. Walker offers a huge upside for teams in need of starting pitching options.
The 10th – 6th ranked 2020-21 MLB free agents.
#10: Masahiro Tanaka, RHP, 1.17 WHIP (2020)
As we round into the top 10 of this list, we start off with Masahiro Tanaka. Tanaka has been a staple in the front of the New York Yankees starting rotation for seven years. As Gabe Lacques of USA Today illustrated, Tanaka is not usually spectacular but one of the most reliable starters in the league. The righty posted a 1.17 WHIP this season and owns a career 3.74 ERA. He’s better in October, pitching to a 3.33 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 10 starts.
#9: Brad Hand, LHP, 0.77 WHIP (2020)
Brad Hand enjoyed a career year in 2020. The lefty reliever posted career-best marks in ERA and WHIP and led the AL with 16 saves. In 23 games with the Cleveland Indians, Hand posted a sub-3.00 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.
#8: Liam Hendriks, RHP, 0.67 WHIP (2020)
Liam Hendriks was virtually unhittable this year. In his 2020 campaign with the Oakland Athletics, Hendriks pitched to a 1.78 ERA and incredible 0.67 WHIP. Over the last two seasons, Hendriks has successfully converted 39 of 46 save opportunities. He also struck out 13.1 batters per nine innings and is the top relief pitcher on the market.
#7: Ha-seong Kim, SS, Kiwoom Heroes (KBO)
Ha-seong Kim is a shortstop that plays for the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). Kim is a sure-handed and strong-armed infielder with the ability to put up plus numbers at the plate. The right-hander has hit better than .300 in half of his six full seasons playing KBO baseball. Last season, in 138 games, Kim clobbered 30 home runs and 109 RBIs. Expect a long list of suitors for this international talent, as he could be considered a top 100 MLB prospect immediately upon signing.
#6: Marcus Stroman, RHP, 1.29 WHIP (Career)
Marcus Stroman opted out of his 2020 campaign with the New York Mets after suffering a calf injury. Still, he is lauded as one of the two best starting pitchers on the market. Stroman threw to a 3.77 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 2019 and owns a 3.76 career ERA and 1.29 career WHIP.
The 5th – 1st ranked 2020-21 MLB free agents.
#5: George Springer, RF, 1.9 WAR (2020)
George Springer kicks off our top-five. Springer bounced back from a slow start with the Houston Astros to put up close to normal numbers. In 51 games and 189 at-bats, Springer hit .265, knocking 14 home runs and 32 RBIs. The 31-year-old also posted an OBP of .359 and a slugging percentage of .540. Springer is a talented and clutch hitter who is more than capable in any spot in the outfield.
#4: J.T. Realmuto, C, 1.2 WAR (2020)
Not only is J.T. Realmuto the top catcher in the 2021 free agency class, but he’s also one of the best catchers in baseball. Realmuto posted a 1.2 WAR last year, hitting .266 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs. Realmuto is a great option defensively and possesses the qualities to manage any staff in baseball. It’s projected he may become the richest free agent catcher in MLB history.
#3: Marcell Ozuna, OF, 2.3 WAR (2020)
Marcell Ozuna was a monster at the plate in 2020. The athletic outfielder led the NL in homers (18), RBIs (56), and total bases (145). He also hit .338 and posted an incredible 2.3 WAR. Count on a big contract for this prolific power hitter.
#2: DJ LeMahieu, 2B, 2.8 WAR (2020)
Out of every position player free agent in the 2021 class, DJ LeMahieu posted the best WAR, by half a point. LeMahieu was announced as an AL MVP finalist after posting a .364 batting average and 1.011 OPS. LeMahieu led all baseball in batting average for the New York Yankees, earning him a place in the history books. The quick-handed second baseman is the only position player to lead the MLB in hitting for both an AL and NL team. LeMahieu previously accomplished this feat for the Colorado Rockies. The Yankees are keen to keep LeMahieu in pinstripes, but this will require a lofty player-friendly contract.
Next. Three landing spots for Kolten Wong. dark
#1: Trevor Bauer, RHP, 0.79 WHIP (2020)
This spot is saved for the current best pitcher in baseball. Despite his unique personality, Trevor Bauer is a premier top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. Bauer led the entire league with 5.05 hits per nine innings, and the NL with a 1.73 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. His 2020 numbers were absurd, and fans can expect more of the same from this ace in the coming years.