Shohei Ohtani will seize a lot of the free-agent headlines, and rightfully so.
He’s one of the best, most unusual free agent we’ve ever seen, and the place he chooses to play subsequent season (and possibly the remainder of his profession) is of world significance, in a method no different baseball free-agent ever has been. The surgical procedure on his arm dampened the build-up, however he’ll nonetheless land the biggest contract in baseball historical past. It’ll be enjoyable!
There are many different impact-type gamers obtainable this offseason, particularly beginning pitchers. We’ll observe up with a whole listing of free-agents nearer round World Sequence time, however for now, right here’s a listing of the ten finest gamers who will probably be obtainable when free company formally kicks off in early November.
MORE: Skilled mannequin initiatives winners for 2023 playoffs | Full bracket | Schedule
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP
Coming into Age 29 season
Why he’s right here: I imply, . Unicorn ballplayer, international icon, advertising and marketing golden goose.
Prime three touchdown locations: Dodgers, Mariners, Mets
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP
Coming into Age 25 season
Why he’s right here: Yeah, possibly this can be a little bit excessive. He does should make the transition from Japan to the majors.
However, holy wow, he’s been so superb in Japan that it feels inconceivable that the transition will probably be greater than something however a bit of hiccup. For a comparability, let’s take a look at Kodai Senga’s final three years in Japan in comparison with Yamamoto’s final three years in Japan. Senga’s a distinct pitcher, in fact, however the numbers will be helpful when contemplating the extent of competitors.
Senga (Age 27-29)
2020: 2.20 ERA, 10.9 Okay/9, 1.176 WHIP
2021: 2.67 ERA, 9.4 Okay/9, 1.051 WHIP
2022: 1.89 ERA, 9.7 Okay/9, 1.041 WHIP
Yamamoto (Age 22-24)
2021: 1.39 ERA, 9.6 Okay/9, 0.847 WHIP
2022: 1.68 ERA, 9.6 Okay/9, 0.927 WHIP
2023: 1.21 ERA, 9.1 Okay/9, 0.866 WHIP
Senga, in fact, was incredible for the Mets, one of many few shiny spots on this irritating season. In 28 begins, he had a 2.96 ERA, with 10.8 Okay/9 and 1.22 ERA.
Now you see why Yamamoto’s up right here at No. 2. And that’s earlier than even factoring in his age. At simply 25 years outdated, he’s obtained a number of years on a lot of the different free-agent pitchers.
Prime three touchdown locations: Mets, Yankees, Pink Sox
3. Aaron Nola, SP
Coming into Age 31 season
Why he’s right here: Most free-agent lists will doubtless have Nola a bit of decrease, largely as a result of his 2023 hasn’t been pretty much as good as his totally spectacular 2022 season. However Nola’s the identical age or youthful than a lot of the free-agent starters — he turns 31 subsequent June — and his sturdiness has been spectacular. He’s made extra begins than anybody for the reason that begin of the 2018 season, and he’s solely seven innings behind Gerrit Cole for the highest spot in that stretch. In an period when starter innings are at a premium, he stands above a number of the different SPs on the free-agent market. He was sensible in his first two playoff begins final 12 months (0 ER in 12 2/3 innings) and struggled in his final three (14 ER in 13 innings). An enormous exhibiting this October might assist mitigate issues over a so-so common season.
Prime three touchdown locations: Phillies, Cardinals, Pink Sox
4. Blake Snell, SP
Coming into Age 31 season
Why he’s right here: By the point free company formally opens, Snell simply is perhaps a two-time Cy Younger winner, and that’s a fairly large feather on a resume. After all, if he does win the 2023 NL Cy Younger — winners are introduced after the World Sequence — he’ll be part of the small membership of Cy winners to additionally lead their league in walks. Snell has greater than a dozen greater than his closest competitor. That feels regarding, however possibly it’s not within the second, contemplating how good he’s at limiting contact. When his uncooked stuff regresses down the highway, it’ll be extra of a difficulty, however for now? Let’s simply say coming off a Cy Younger season is an effective time to enter the free agent market.
Prime three touchdown locations: Cardinals, Pink Sox, Yankees
5. Josh Hader, RP
Coming into Age 30 season
Why he’s right here: Hader authored the most effective bounce-back tales of the 2023 season, regaining his standing as one of many sport’s elite closers. Hader had a 5.22 ERA for the Brewers and Padres final 12 months, however in 2023, he’s been distinctive, with a 1.19 ERA and 31 saves (in 36 probabilities). He’s not essentially Peak Hader once more, in that he’s not a multiple-inning man, and his strikeouts-per-nine are down only a tick. However his Okay/9 of 13.8 remains to be excellent, and his 2.39 FIP says that ERA isn’t an aberration.
Prime three touchdown locations: Phillies, Rangers, Padres
6. Cody Bellinger, OF
Coming into Age 28 season
Why he’s right here: Talking of bounce-back seasons, Bellinger’s contract with the Cubs has labored out properly for each side. Bellinger obtained his profession again on monitor with a brand new franchise — the Dodgers and their followers liked him, however he was in a rut there — and the Cubs obtained a giant bat of their lineup who helped push the franchise towards playoff competition. Technically, there’s a mutual possibility in his contract for 2024, however no likelihood Bellinger sticks to that. After a season that included 26 homers, 95 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, a 134 OPS+ and a 4.1 bWAR, there are many groups that may like to make provides. Bellinger might definitely keep in Chicago, however it’ll take much more than a one-year-with-an-option deal to make that occur.
Prime three touchdown locations: Cubs, Yankees, Rangers
7. Eduardo Rodriguez, SP
Coming into Age 31 season
Why he’s right here: The Tigers didn’t take the step ahead as a franchise this season, however that wasn’t Rodriguez’s fault. Within the second 12 months of the 5-year, $77-million deal he signed after the 2021 season, the lefty had a 3.40 ERA in 25 begins. He has an opt-out clause, and he’s certain to train it, even when he desires to stick with the Tigers on a brand new deal. And that’s not unimaginable; keep in mind, he vetoed a possible commerce to the Dodgers this summer time, saying he and his household had been snug in Detroit, with this franchise.
Prime three touchdown locations: Tigers, Pink Sox, Phillies
8. Matt Chapman, 3B
Coming into Age 31 season
Why he’s right here: Chapman’s nonetheless an elite defensive third baseman. On the plate, although, he’s not what he was once in his first few years with the A’s, when he completed top-7 within the AL MVP back-to-back years (2018-19). In these two seasons, along with his elite glove, Chapman had a .348 on-base share and 131 OPS+ whereas averaging 30 residence runs. In his previous three years (one with the A’s, two with the Jays), Chapman’s had a .323 on-base share and 108 OPS+; he hit 27 homers in 2021 and 2022, however he is simply over half that for Toronto this 12 months. And in the event you take out his sizzling begin to the season (.384 common, 1.152 OPS by way of the tip of April), his struggles on the plate grow to be extra pronounced. During the last 5 months of the season, Chapman hit simply .205 with a .300 on-base share and .653 OPS.
Prime three touchdown locations: Cubs, Yankees, Dodgers
9. Sonny Grey, SP
Coming into Age 34 season
Why he’s right here: Grey gained’t land the identical size of offers because the pitchers increased on the listing — heading into his Age 34 season, he’s older than just about everybody — however I wouldn’t be in any respect shocked to see him be each bit pretty much as good over the subsequent two seasons. Grey is coming off what simply is perhaps his finest season, with a superb 2.80 ERA/2.85 FIP effort, by which he allowed solely eight residence runs in 180 innings. And speak about consistency; Grey threw at the least six full innings 19 instances in his 31 begins, whereas permitting greater than three earned runs simply 3 times. If he offers within the playoffs, that would solely drive his price ticket up.
Prime three touchdown locations: Twins, Cardinals, Pink Sox
10. Jordan Montgomery, SP
Coming into Age 31 season
Why he’s right here: In seven of Montgomery’s 10 begins after he was traded to the Rangers, the lefty pitched at the least six innings, with two or fewer runs allowed. That included one begin with eight shutout innings and two extra with seven shutout innings. These two seven-inning outings? Towards groups instantly in competitors with the Rangers for an AL playoff spot, the Blue Jays and the Mariners. So that you’d perceive if the Rangers simply provide him a clean verify to stay round for the subsequent 5 seasons. However these kinds of outings are why different groups will wish to signal him, too.
Prime three touchdown locations: Rangers, Pink Sox, Cardinals