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3 potential bargains in MLB free agency

By David Hill |
Oct 1, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, US; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (43) in the dugout during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, US; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (43) in the dugout during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
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MLB free agency is a fun time for baseball fans.

For the most part, it is a time of hope. It is a time to imagine that those signings could make a difference, maybe bringing a team to the playoffs or that those players are the missing pieces for a championship. It is a chance, even if just for a minute, to dream.

Three potential bargains in 2022-23 MLB free agency class

It is also a time when there will be plenty of speculation. Players such as Jacob deGrom and Aaron Judge are going to get plenty of attention with good reason. But there are also those bargains in free agency that can make a tremendous difference as well. Sometimes, the difference between a playoff spot and sitting home in October can be signing that right bargain free agent.

Which players in MLB free agency will be bargains during the offseason? Let’s look at three possible candidates that can make a difference at a lower cost.

Noah Syndergaard

The Angels had hoped that Noah Syndergaard would be a bargain in MLB free agency last season, although he commanded a one year deal worth $21 million.

It was a contract that was fraught with risk. Syndergaard had pitched just two innings in the previous two seasons as he missed time due to the pandemic and Tommy John surgery. The hope was that he would be ready to perform at his accustomed level.

This may be the right year to take a gamble on Syndergaard. He will be far enough away from TJS where he can be back to his previously dominant self. Syndergaard is also likely to be relatively cheap after he posted a 3.94 ERA and a 1.255 WHiP in his 134.2 innings between the Angels and Phillies, striking out 95 batters with 31 walks. He eventually lost his spot in the Phillies’ rotation down the stretch and into the playoffs.

His struggles down the stretch could work out perfectly for interested teams. A team on the cusp of contention looking for a possible top of the rotation arm on a bargain contract could be interested. Likewise, a rebuilding team hoping that Syndergaard can return to form and bring back a significant prospect haul could be a landing spot. He will attract interest but will not get anything close to that $21 million salary.

Teams are always looking for bargain arms in MLB free agency. Noah Syndergaard could be that piece during the 2023 campaign.

Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Michael Conforto

Remember when Michael Conforto was just about to sign during the offseason? Or how he was going to sign during the season? Or that he would sign in September and make an impact on a playoff roster?

Yeah…about that. Despite Scott Boras’ claims otherwise, interest in Conforto never actually materialized. Between a down season in 2021, a shoulder injury that Boras initially claimed was “minor” but needed surgery, and the Qualifying Offer being attached until the MLB Draft, teams were not going to spend the type of money that Boras felt Conforto deserved.

In theory, Conforto should be healthy and ready to go for the 2023 campaign. However, at this point, with Conforto having missed a full season and questions about exactly how forthcoming Boras is going to be about any health concerns, even that has to be considered a question.

When he is right, Conforto is a solid piece in the lineup. He has hit over 25 homers three times in his career and has a lifetime 124 OPS+. But teams are not going to be lined up to give him a multi-year deal at this point in time. A bridge contract to free agency in 2023-24 could be the ideal situation, making Conforto a bargain.

Michael Conforto languished in MLB free agency last year. This time, he could be a bargain and scooped up relatively quickly.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Zack Britton

The past two years have not been kind to Zack Britton.

Once one of the more dominant lefty relievers in the game, Britton has spent far more time on the Injured List than on the mound over the past two seasons. He has had a pair of procedures on his elbow, a strained hamstring, and shoulder fatigue, limiting him to just 25 appearances in that time.

Britton has not exactly been effective when he has been on the mound either. He has posted a 6.16 ERA and a 2.000 WHiP in his 19 innings, striking out 17 batters with 20 walks. At 35 years old heading into the 2023 campaign, he is hardly the type of player that teams are going to be handing a large contract to.

But Britton is a left handed reliever who had found success as recently as the 2020 campaign. If he is healthy to start next season, he could be a tremendous asset in any bullpen. He likely will not cost much and could even be had on a minor league deal, possessing the potential to perform far beyond his contract.

Left handed relievers are always a valuable option in MLB free agency. Zack Britton has a track record and, despite his injuries, should generate plenty of interest this offseason.

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