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Archives for March 2017

AL Central Notes: Carrasco, Perez, Anibal, Sano

By Steve Adams | March 14, 2017 at 10:43pm CDT

Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco underwent an MRI to check out some swelling in his right elbow, but the test revealed no structural damage, per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian (Twitter links). Nonetheless, manager Terry Francona informed reporters that Carrasco will have at least his next spring start pushed back. Pitching coach Mickey Callaway noted that Carrasco’s fastball was “really flat” in his most recent outing on Monday, Bastian adds, though it doesn’t seem as if there’s any major injury serving as a deterrent to the right-hander. Carrasco missed some time due to injuries last season, though nothing pertaining to his elbow. Rather, the 29-year-old was plagued by a broken hand and a strained hamstring. He hasn’t been on the DL due to an elbow injury since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011. Last year, Carrasco logged a 3.32 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 and a 48.5 percent ground-ball rate in 146 1/3 innings.

Elsewhere in the American League Central…

  • Salvador Perez underwent a second MRI to confirm that there’s no serious damage to his knee following a home-plate collision with Royals teammate Drew Butera in the World Baseball Classic, tweets MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan, though manager Ned Yost said he won’t have further updates until tomorrow morning. Flanagan notes that Yost didn’t seem especially concerned with his catcher’s health. Perez was diagnosed with inflammation following the initial MRI.
  • Searching for answers to his recent decline, Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez tried out some new mechanical tweaks in a bullpen session with manager Brad Ausmus (a former big league catcher), writes Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. Sanchez, Ausmus and pitching coach Rich Dubee were trying out a new arm slot in an effort to bolster the 33-year-old’s velocity after a dip in recent seasons. As Fenech notes, Sanchez’s spring has been nightmarish to date, and he’s done nothing to offer optimism of a turnaround following last year’s disastrous 5.87 ERA in 153 1/3 innings. Fenech writes that if Sanchez’s struggles are significant enough, the team could potentially opt to simply eat the remaining $21MM on his contract ($16MM 2017 salary plus a $5MM buyout on his 2018 option) and release him. Certainly, that’s not a desirable result, though the Tigers have numerous younger options in the rotation, as can be seen on their depth chart at Roster Resource.
  • Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron writes that Twins third baseman Miguel Sano is an interesting case study in the small samples of Statcast defensive data that are being made public this season. Though he’s quick to note that the sample he’s observing is beyond minuscule — three total plays in right field — Cameron writes that Sano made two of the three potential “five star” catches with which he was faced (those deemed by Statcast to have a catch probability under 25 percent based on hang time and distance traveled). In looking at the specific plays in question, Cameron notes that neither required an enormous amount of range, but each required an incredibly quick reaction time and excellent footwork — two traits that also are vital at third base. Statcast data is in its nascent stage, but Cameron wonders if that type of insight could be one of the advantages to Statcast data over other defensive metrics like Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating. While there’s no definitive way of knowing just how to interpret this data yet, Cameron’s examination is an interesting look at the potential new applications of Statcast data that will only become increasingly more popular in years to come.
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Cleveland Guardians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins Anibal Sanchez Carlos Carrasco Salvador Perez

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Rays Considering Derek Norris

By Steve Adams | March 14, 2017 at 8:26pm CDT

The Rays “continue to have conversations” about the possibility of adding catcher Derek Norris, whom the Nationals placed on waivers over the weekend, reports ESPN’s Buster Olney. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times first connected the two sides recently. Washington was known to be shopping Norris aggressively after signing Matt Wieters but, unable to find any takers for his $4.2MM salary, placed him on waivers. They’ll be on the hook for 30 days of his salary, or about $688K. (The remainder of his salary, as is the case with the majority of arbitration agreements, was not fully guaranteed.) Once he clears waivers, Norris would be a free agent that is free to sign anywhere for any amount.

However, the Rays are also wary of interrupting their camp and inserting a new catcher into the mix after all of the work that incumbent options like Luke Maile and Curt Casali have put in with the staff, per Olney. Tampa Bay also has veteran Wilson Ramos on the roster, though he’ll miss a significant portion of the season as he continues to rehab from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, which he suffered late last September.

Norris brings more offensive upside to the table than either Maile or Casali, though he’s coming off the worst season of his career. In 458 plate appearances with the Padres last season, Norris batted .186/.255/.328. Norris did tie his career best with 14 homers, but his strikeout rate continued to escalate, ballooning to a career-worst 30.3 percent. The 28-year-old did post strong framing numbers — a trait that the Rays value highly — and has a career 26 percent caught-stealing rate (though he checked in at a below-average 21 percent in that regard last year).

It’s not yet known where else Norris will draw interest if and when he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, though one speculative fit could be the Rockies, following today’s news that projected backup Tom Murphy suffered a fractured forearm.

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Tampa Bay Rays Derek Norris

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Latest On Jason Kipnis’ Injury

By Steve Adams | March 14, 2017 at 6:15pm CDT

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis has been shut down for at least two weeks due to a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder, as the team announced recently, and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that Kipnis is slated to receive a second opinion on his injury at the end of next week. As Hoynes noted in an earlier column, Kipnis isn’t likely to be ready for the season opener, which has the team mulling possible alternatives at second base.

Manager Terry Francona acknowledged that the team could move Jose Ramirez from third base to second base while Kipnis is absent, playing Giovanny Urshela in Ramirez’s place at the hot corner. Ramirez, currently tabbed as Cleveland’s everyday third baseman on the heels of a breakout 2016 campaign, indicated that he’d be perfectly comfortable playing second base. “I’ll play anywhere,” the switch-hitting 24-year-old tells Hoynes.

Alternatively, any of the three options that’re currently vying for the utility infield job in Cleveland could serve as a short-term bridge. That includes young Erik Gonzalez and non-roster invitees Michael Martinez and Ronny Rodriguez. The 25-year-old Gonzalez, already on the 40-man roster, posted a strong .296/.329/.450 batting line in Triple-A last season, making him a seemingly appealing candidate if the team’s need is only short-term in nature.

Adding a player from outside the organization, Francona notes, isn’t necessary if Kipnis isn’t going to be sidelined more than a week or so to open the season. Hoynes notes that for the time being, the team’s top priority is to determine exactly how long the injury will keep Kipnis sidelined. Kipnis and Francona indicated that if this were midseason, Kipnis could potentially play through the injury, though the concern stems from the fact that Kipnis began feeling some discomfort even in non-baseball activities.

Renowned surgeon Dr. Keith Meister will be in camp next Thursday or Friday, according to Hoynes, at which point he’ll examine both Kipnis and right-hander Cody Anderson, who has previously been diagnosed with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

If it’s deemed that the Indians do need to go outside the organization to add some infield depth, veteran Kelly Johnson remains unsigned this winter. Alternatively, Cleveland could look to any number of players that are out of minor league options and appear to be long shots to make their current organization’s roster at the end of Spring Training. Some of those players may become available on waivers later this month as well.

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Cleveland Guardians Cody Anderson Jason Kipnis

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MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Steve Adams | March 14, 2017 at 2:56pm CDT

Click here to read a transcript of today’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.

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MLBTR Chats

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Minor MLB Transactions: 3/14/17

By Jeff Todd | March 14, 2017 at 2:38pm CDT

We’ll track the day’s minor moves here:

  • Righty Andrew Bellatti has joined the Orioles on a minors deal, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. The 25-year-old had spent his entire career with the division-rival Rays organization, but lost his 40-man spot last summer. Bellatti worked to a 2.31 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 23 1/3 MLB innings in 2015, his first and only big league stint. But he struggled last year in the minors, allowing 11 earned runs in 14 1/3 frames on the year while working through shoulder troubles.
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Baltimore Orioles Transactions

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Out Of Options 2017

By Tim Dierkes | March 14, 2017 at 1:31pm CDT

The following 40-man roster players have less than five years service time and are out of minor league options.  That means they must clear waivers before being sent to the minors.  I’ve included players on multiyear deals.  This list was compiled through MLBTR’s sources when possible, but may be incomplete for a handful of teams.  I’ll update the post as confirmed information comes in.

Angels

Austin Adams, Kirby Yates, Cam Bedrosian, JC Ramirez

Astros

Mike Fiers, Brad Peacock, Max Stassi

Athletics

Stephen Vogt, Liam Hendriks, Raul Alcantara

Blue Jays

Mike Bolsinger, Ezequiel Carrera, Ryan Goins, Bo Schultz

Braves

Kevin Chapman, Chase d’Arnaud, Ian Krol, Jose Ramirez, Chaz Roe

Brewers

Tommy Milone, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Jonathan Villar, Jesus Aguilar, Jhan Marinez, Wily Peralta, Hernan Perez, Manny Pina, Carlos Torres

Cardinals

Greg Garcia, Tyler Lyons, Miguel Socolovich

Cubs

Matt Szczur, Mike Montgomery, Hector Rondon

Diamondbacks

Randall Delgado, Chris Herrmann

Dodgers

Chris Hatcher, Luis Avilan

Giants

Hunter Strickland, George Kontos, Jarrett Parker, Gorkys Hernandez, Cory Gearrin, Conor Gillaspie

Indians

Trevor Bauer, Lonnie Chisenhall, Brandon Guyer, Zach McAllister, Dan Otero, Danny Salazar

Mariners

Leonys Martin, Evan Scribner, Nick Vincent

Marlins

Derek Dietrich, Adeiny Hechavarria, Dan Straily, Jose Urena, Jeff Locke

Mets

Josh Edgin, Wilmer Flores

Nationals

Clint Robinson, Enny Romero

Orioles

Brad Brach, Zach Britton, Dylan Bundy, Oliver Drake

Padres

Christian Bethancourt, Paul Clemens, Jarred Cosart, Christian Friedrich, Brad Hand, Luis Sardinas

Phillies

Freddy Galvis, Cesar Hernandez

Pirates

Alen Hanson, Wade LeBlanc, Felipe Rivero

Rangers

Sam Dyson, Jeremy Jeffress

Rays

Chris Archer, Brad Boxberger, Xavier Cedeno, Alex Colome, Danny Farquhar, Nick Franklin, Erasmo Ramirez, Jumbo Diaz

Red Sox

Josh Rutledge, Tyler Thornburg, Sandy Leon, Steven Wright, Drew Pomeranz, Christian Vazquez, Heath Hembree, Bryce Brentz

Reds

Arismendy Alcantara, Tony Cingrani, Blake Wood

Rockies

Cristhian Adames, DJ LeMahieu, Jordan Lyles, Chris Rusin

Royals

Christian Colon, Cheslor Cuthbert

Tigers

Andrew Romine, Tyler Collins, Jose Iglesias, Dixon Machado, Steven Moya

Twins

Ehire Adrianza, Eduardo Escobar, Robbie Grossman, Jorge Polanco, Danny Santana, Michael Tonkin

White Sox

Matt Davidson, Leury Garcia, Dan Jennings, Rymer Liriano, Yolmer Sanchez, Michael Ynoa

Yankees

Dellin Betances, Tommy Layne, Aaron Hicks, Austin Romine, Gary Sanchez, Chris Carter

Special thanks to J.P. Hoornstra and Adam McCalvy for their assistance.

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MLBTR Originals Newsstand Out Of Options 2017

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Ian Desmond Expected To Miss About 6 Weeks

By Jeff Todd | March 14, 2017 at 1:17pm CDT

Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond is expected to miss around six weeks with his fractured finger, GM Jeff Bridich tells ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden. Desmond requires surgery on the second metacarpal in his left hand after being hit by a pitch.

It is not immediately clear whether the six-week timeline is in reference to a return to baseball activities or making it back for full MLB action. Regardless, there’s a mix of good and bad news.

On the one hand, Desmond won’t be available for Opening Day. That hurts all the more given the five-year, $70MM commitment the team made to sign him over the winter and the fact that several other players are also set to miss time.

On the other, it seems as if the veteran utilityman will likely not require an overly lengthy absence. Weathering a month or so without Desmond isn’t ideal, but perhaps it won’t be back-breaking for the contention-hopeful Rox, who’ll likely lean on veteran Mark Reynolds in Desmond’s stead.

The bigger concern for Colorado, perhaps, is the aggregate of injury problems that have already arisen. There’s real talent on hand, but the club doesn’t seem to be overflowing with depth. Already, the reserves will need to be deployed to account for anticipated absences at first (Desmond), the rotation (Chad Bettis), the outfield (David Dahl), and catcher (Tom Murphy) at the start of the year.

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Colorado Rockies Ian Desmond

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Tom Murphy Diagnosed With Fractured Forearm

By Jeff Todd | March 14, 2017 at 11:48am CDT

Rockies catcher Tom Murphy has become the latest player to suffer a fairly significant spring injury for Colorado, as Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports on Twitter. Murphy has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right forearm that will sideline him for the next four to six weeks — though it’s not entirely clear whether that’s when he can be expected back in game action.

Murphy, who’ll soon turn 26, is slated to play a major role at the MLB level for the coming season. He has appeared in just 32 games in the majors entering the year, but has impressed (.266/.341/.608) at the plate in that brief span and laid waste to Triple-A pitching last year (.327/.361/.647).

The Rox will presumably lean on Tony Wolters in the meantime, increasing the pressure on the light-hitting 24-year-old. It seems likely that Dustin Garneau will crack the roster as well, as Jason Martinez of MLBTR and Roster Resource projects in an updated Rockies depth chart.

It’s also possible that Colorado will look into outside options, if for no other reason than to bolster the depth. A.J. Pierzynski and Dioner Navarro are among the available veterans, with Steve Clevenger also still unsigned after his controversial statements last year. It’s also plausible to imagine the Rockies keeping an eye on the waiver wire and looking at veterans who can opt out of their contracts in a few weeks’ time. The Nationals, for instance, have placed Derek Norris on waivers, and he could represent an appealing option.

The Rockies have been hit hard by the injury bug this spring. David Dahl, Ian Desmond, and now Murphy all seem likely to open the year on the DL. In those cases, at least, some of the absence will occur during camp time, and the players are expected to make their way back in relatively short order. The outlook is much less certain, and the situation significantly more worrisome, for workhorse righty Chad Bettis, who is undergoing chemotherapy.

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Colorado Rockies Tom Murphy

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MLBTR Poll: Top 2017-18 Free-Agent Starter?

By Jeff Todd | March 14, 2017 at 11:24am CDT

MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes just released the first run of his 2017-18 free-agent power rankings. While the list will obviously change quite a bit over the course of the season to come, it’s interesting to note that four outstanding pitchers open up at the front.

Really, every member of this impressive group of veteran starters could realistically end up on top of the list by season’s end (as could a few other players). Tim has already stated his views on the preliminary ordering; now it’s time for MLBTR’s readership to weigh in.

Here are the four hurlers, in Tim’s order, with a brief affirmative case for why each ought to be considered the frontrunner to become the best free-agent starter:

Jake Arrieta, Cubs: None of the other pitchers has done what Arrieta did in 2015, when he posted a 1.77 ERA over 229 innings and took the Cy Young over two outstanding competitors. While he showed some worrying signs over the second half last year, he’s still throwing premium stuff and has been a workhorse of late.

Yu Darvish, Rangers: If one of these hurlers can be said to have the most upside, perhaps it’s Darvish. He paces this group in generating swings and misses and converting those into strikeouts. If he can return to his early-career 200+ inning pace, all bets are off on his earnings.

Johnny Cueto, Giants (can opt out of current contract): Though his long MLB tenure makes it seem as if Cueto is older than the others on this list, that’s not really the case; he’s only 19 days senior to Arrieta. And he’s certainly the most accomplished of the group overall, having turned in three seasons of 200+-inning, sub-3.00 ERA ball over the past five years.

Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees: The arm health remains a long-term question, but at what point might Tanaka’s age and consistency push past that consideration? He did manage to turn in 199 2/3 frames last year, after all, and will pitch the entire 2017 season at 28 years of age. Over his 490 total MLB frames, Tanaka owns a strong 3.12 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and just 1.5 BB/9.

So, which of these hurlers do you see ending the year with the best free-agent case? (Link for app users.)

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MLBTR Polls

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2017-18 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings

By Tim Dierkes | March 14, 2017 at 9:42am CDT

2017_18FreeAgent_1080

All of the top free agents from last winter have found homes, and Opening Day 2017 is less than three weeks away.  Here at MLBTR we like to keep an early eye on the next free agent class.  The players referenced in this post are scheduled to become free agents after the 2017 season.  These rankings are subject to change each month, as players drop off due to extensions, injuries, or poor performance, while others see their stock rise.  A year ago, our rankings were led by Stephen Strasburg, who signed an extension in May, and Carlos Gomez, who wound up released in August and ultimately signed the 36th-largest contract of the 2016-17 offseason.  Dexter Fowler, who ended up with the third-largest free agent contract, didn’t crack our top ten until May.

The goal here is to rank earning power.  These rankings represent expected contract size, assuming each player reaches the open market and goes to the highest bidder.  For the full list of 2017-18 MLB free agents, click here.

1.  Jake Arrieta.  You could reasonably put the first three pitchers on this list in any order.  All three were born within a six-month span in 1986.  Currently, Arrieta stands as our “top gun.”  Since joining the Cubs in a legendary 2013 trade, the righty boasts a 2.52 ERA and 8.9 K/9 in 634 2/3 regular season innings.  He peaked with the NL Cy Young Award in 2015, and also finished ninth in 2014 and ’16.  Arrieta will pitch the 2018 season at age 32, which makes a six-year deal a long shot.  Zack Greinke is an exception, though his contract is probably one most front offices do not want to emulate.  As a player known to be in top physical condition, Arrieta at least has a case for six years (but almost certainly not seven).  He’s been DL-free since a stint in early 2014 and has a relatively low pitching odometer, as agent Scott Boras likes to say.  Before Arrieta can make the six-year argument, however, he must shake off a decidedly mediocre finish to his 2016 season, as he posted a 4.05 ERA and 3.75 BB/9 over his final 20 regular season starts.  Aside from the term, there’s also the question of average annual value.  That could push into the low-$30MM range, as achieved by David Price, Max Scherzer, and Greinke.

2.  Yu Darvish.  Darvish, the strikeout king of this free agent class, could ease concerns with a healthy 2017.  The big blemish on Darvish’s record is his Tommy John surgery in March 2015.  As a result of the surgery, Darvish went about 22 months between Major League starts.  He made his 2016 debut in late May, and after three starts he missed another 37 days with shoulder discomfort.  That injury was seemingly connected to his long recovery from Tommy John.  Like Arrieta, Darvish may have difficulty finding teams willing to guarantee a six-year contract.  Darvish should still be able to surpass the current free agent record contract for a Tommy John survivor, the five-year, $110MM deal Jordan Zimmermann received from the Tigers in November 2015.  One point in Zimmermann’s favor: his surgery was further in the rearview mirror, as he had posted five full healthy seasons after the procedure.  Darvish, of course, is a different kind of pitcher, one of the most dominant in the game.  Another season like 2013, when he finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting, could send free agent bidding through the roof.

3.  Johnny Cueto.  Cueto’s case is just about as strong as that of Arrieta or Darvish.  Cueto has pitched at least 212 regular season innings in each of the last three seasons, quieting mild concerns about his health.  He was part of the fabled free agent pitching class of 2015-16, one of seven starting pitchers to receive at least $80MM that winter.  Heading into his age-30 season, Cueto landed a six-year, $130MM deal with the Giants.  He could have done even better, but instead wisely secured an opt-out clause after the second year of the contract.  After the 2017 season, Cueto must decide whether he should opt out and try to top the four years and $84MM remaining on the contract.  With another vintage Cueto season, a five-year contract at a high-$20MM range AAV would be expected.  More than $50MM could hang in the balance.  Alternately, the Giants could just extend Cueto’s contract an additional year at a strong salary, as the Yankees did under the threat of C.C. Sabathia opting out after the 2011 season.

4.  Masahiro Tanaka.  Though he’s every bit as talented as the pitchers listed above, and a couple years younger, I’ve got Tanaka in a slightly lower tier.  Tanaka joined the Yankees from Japan for the 2014 season, but made only 44 regular season starts over his first two campaigns.  You may recall that in July of 2014, Tanaka was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.  Tanaka chose a platelet-rich plasma injection and the rehab route.  Two and a half months later, he was pain-free and back on a big league mound.  The following season, a forearm strain knocked him out for over a month.  Tanaka surprised many by making 31 starts in 2016, though his season ended early with a seemingly minor flexor mass strain.  Like Darvish, Tanaka faces a crucial 2017 season in proving his health.  If Tanaka does finish the season healthy, he could do much better than the three years and $67MM remaining on his contract, which could prompt him to opt out.  Or, the Yankees could add a year or two to the deal.  On a brand new contract, Tanaka could get a five-year deal despite his early MLB health history.  It all depends on how his right elbow holds up this year.

5.  Jonathan Lucroy.  Lucroy currently profiles as the best position player on the 2017-18 free agent market.  The Rangers’ catcher, 31 in June, signed an early-career extension in 2012 as a member of the Brewers.  Including an exercised club option, Lucroy ended up getting $17MM for what would have been four arbitration years and his first free agent year.  He’s now approaching his best chance to cash in.  Lucroy was arguably the best catcher in baseball last year, and in 2014 as well.  With another strong year, he should be able to push the limits of what a free agent catcher can get, possibly surpassing the five-year, $82-85MM deals given to Russell Martin and Brian McCann.

6.  J.D. Martinez.  The bottom half of this list inspired the most debate among MLBTR writers.  Martinez, 30 in August, has proven himself as a 30 home run bat since his career renaissance with the Tigers.  After hitting 38 home runs in 2015, Martinez lost a month and a half last year with a non-displaced fracture of the radial neck at the right elbow last year.  He crushed the ball in 55 games after his return.  The concern with Martinez is his right field defense, which UZR suggested was above average in 2015 and well below-average in 2016.  Kyle Yost and Brandon Day of Bless You Boys recently took an in-depth look at Martinez’s glovework, which the player acknowledges is an area of focus for him this year.  With a reasonable rebound of his defensive metrics, Martinez is a candidate for a five-year deal worth $100MM or more.  Since 2014, he’s been one of the dozen best hitters in baseball, on par with Edwin Encarnacion and Freddie Freeman.

7.  Eric Hosmer.  Hosmer may be the most polarizing 2017-18 free agent.  The Royals’ first baseman, who turns 28 in October, has long been considered a candidate for a megadeal in free agency.  Recently, many have been questioning that possibility.  The Wins Above Replacement metric doesn’t do Hosmer any favors, as his career total of 5.9 was exceeded by 15 different players in 2016 alone.  Traditionally a low-power first baseman, Hosmer just didn’t hit much in 2012, ’14, or ’16.  In an attempt to rationalize Hosmer’s apparent earning power, Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs noted that he’s been a much better hitter in high leverage situations, and that advanced metrics may underrate his defense.  The question is whether MLB’s increasingly analytical front offices will be swayed by those points and whatever else makes it into Scott Boras’ binder for Hosmer.  At this point, Hosmer is propped up by excellent marketing.  For any of the knocks on him, there is a rebuttal.  The Royals love Hosmer, and if a few more teams also buy in, he should be able to land five or more years.

8.  Justin Upton.  In my discussions with the MLBTR team, several of our writers recommended Upton be omitted.  To even reach free agency, he’d have to opt out of the remaining four years and $88MM on his contract with the Tigers.  I think that’s enough of a possibility to include him here, even after a disappointing first year with Detroit.  Though Upton has never hit more than 31 home runs, the 29-year-old remains capable of bigger things.  After a couple brutal months to start his 2016 season, Upton hit 28 bombs over his final 429 plate appearances.  While 40 home runs doesn’t always lead to free agent riches (see Chris Carter and Mark Trumbo), Upton might be able to land a new five-year deal in excess of $100MM with a big season.  The safe move is to stick with his Tigers contract, though.

9.  Carlos Gonzalez.  In CarGo, we have another player to whom WAR is not kind.  Gonzalez, 31, has become a one-dimensional player, with power as his calling card.  He’s not one to draw a walk, and he’s not known for his defense.  That was a problem for Trumbo in free agency, but Gonzalez strikes out less often and doesn’t carry a reputation as a terrible defender.  Gonzalez does bear a different burden, with extreme home/away splits.  Taken out of Coors Field, Gonzalez may be of limited appeal to MLB teams.  He may need another 40 home run season to keep his spot on this list.

10.  Mike Moustakas.  Moustakas, 28, had a breakout 2015 season for the Royals but missed most of last season with an ACL tear.  Given positive contributions with both offense and third base defense, as well as his relative youth, Moose could push for a four or five-year contract with a full return to form.

A half-dozen players just missed making the list: Chris Tillman, Todd Frazier, Michael Pineda, Carlos Santana, Lorenzo Cain, and Wade Davis.  We’ll be updating these rankings every month during the season.

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2017-18 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings MLBTR Originals Newsstand

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Red Sox Promote Marcelo Mayer; Alex Bregman To IL With “Significant” Quad Strain

Royals Designate Hunter Renfroe For Assignment

Braves Expected To Activate Ronald Acuna On Friday

Mariners Activate George Kirby For Season Debut

Jean Segura Retires

MLB Mailbag: Duran, Bregman, Mariners, Yoshida, Donovan, Giants, Angels

MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

MLBTR Podcast: Jarren Duran Rumors, Caglianone And Young Promoted, And Pitching Injuries

Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

Yasmani Grandal Steps Away From Red Sox

Mariners, Daniel Bard Agree To Minor League Contract

MLBPA, Tony Clark Hire Counsel Amid Federal Investigation

Rangers Re-Sign Tucker Barnhart To Minor League Deal

Tigers Activate Sawyer Gipson-Long

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