We're always looking ahead here at MLBTR, hence our recent publication of the 2013-14 free agent class. These players project for free agency after the 2013 season, two seasons from now. We know plenty of them will sign extensions between now and then, but it's still fun to discuss.
The Under-30 Group
Adam Jones, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jesus Flores, Alexi Casilla, Carlos Gomez, Ryan Sweeney, Phil Hughes, Jair Jurrjens, and John Lannan will be under 30 for the 2014 season. Jones and Cabrera play premium positions and are in line for huge contracts if they maintain their upward trajectory over the next two years.
Position Players
The best position players on the 2014 list itself include Joey Votto, Mike Morse, Paul Konerko, Chase Utley, Cabrera, Martin Prado, Alex Gordon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jones, Carlos Beltran, Shin-Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz, and Corey Hart. But once you consider players with club options likely to be exercised for 2013, you might consider adding Brian McCann, Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler, David Wright, Kevin Youkilis, and Curtis Granderson. Votto looks like the best all-around hitter in the group. Center field could be deep, with Ellsbury, Jones, and Granderson.
Starting Pitchers
Top starters rarely hit the free agent market. Tim Lincecum, Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Johnson, and Chris Carpenter head up the list, which could also include Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, and others if options are exercised. There are several potential number one starters in that mix, but two seasons have a way of changing things.
No Ellsbury?
He’s there…
Won’t Garza also be under 30? He’s currently 27.
28. His birthday is listed as Nov 26, 1983.
My mistake!
Garza is 29 now and after the ’13 season he will be 30.
Should be quite the class
but in reality, by the time the season is over several of them will be locked into contracts.
You could make a pretty good team just with those players. I would love for that to actually happen!!
I guess this is fun to do, but free agent classes two years out always look pretty spectacular. Then most of these guys get extended and suddenly teams are overpaying for the likese of Martin Prado.
No Hunter Pence?
if granderson and ellsbury hit FA I could see the media having a field day with that. Who will get more, who deserves more, and Boras will loving using granderson has comparable and how much better he believes ells to be.
That list looks like a 22oz porterhouse but once a good deal of those players are extended it’ll look like a burnt steak-ummmmm.
Wouldn’t Wainwright be on this list as well? Then option the Cards picked up was 21mil for 2yr.
Rangers will take Josh Johnson or Matt Garza to go with Darvis,Harrison and Hopefully Greinke
Darvish*
What is that guy talking about?, there isnt a single #1 Starting pitcher in that list. Lincecum used to be but his velocity has dropped significantly and his ERA has shot up. The other guys are perrenial DL candidates which hurts their value.
I hope the Reds resign Joey Votto to that 200 million dollar contract