Considering the circumstances, we figure to be in for an unusual free agency period in Major League Baseball next offseason. We’ve already run down the most notable catchers, shortstops, and first basemen who are slated to reach the open market once the winter rolls around in several months. We’ll do the same here with second basemen (players’ listed ages are for the 2021 campaign) …
Top Of The Class
- DJ LeMahieu (32): Some felt the Yankees made a really nice value move when they inked DJLM, but nobody predicted a fourth-place finish in the AL MVP voting. It remains to be seen whether LeMahieu can repeat anything like his whopping 2019 output at the plate, but he has long been a high-end defender.
- Jonathan Villar (30): Another player with a bit of a rollercoaster trajectory, Villar has actually matched LeMahieu in career batting output (97 wRC+). And Villar was quite good in 2019, racking up 4 fWAR despite below-average defensive grades by turning in 162 games of quality hitting and league-leading legwork on the bases.
- Kolten Wong (30): It all came together in 2019 for the longtime Cardinals second bagger, who contributed solid work across the board. With a repeat showing, the club is likely to exercise its $12.5MM club option ($1MM buyout).
Other Regulars (based upon 2019 playing time)
- Cesar Hernandez (31): Even at his best, Hernandez has never been anything close to an overwhelming offensive performer. But he does have a ~3 WAR established ceiling and has received fairly regular playing time over the past five seasons.
- Jurickson Profar (28): The once- super-elite prospect has made it through major injury issues but has never fully come around at the MLB level. 2020 could be something of a make-or-break season.
- Jonathan Schoop (29): Though he rebounded from a down 2018, Schoop wasn’t the 30+ homer slugger of yore. Defensive metrics are split on his fielding ability.
Top Timeshare Candidates
- Asdrubal Cabrera (35): After a rough start to the 2019 season, Cabrera caught fire down the stretch with the Nats. He’s unlikely to be an everyday guy come 2021, but is a trusted veteran who could still be seen as an important contributor.
- Daniel Descalso (34): He’s all but certain to be paid a $1MM buyout rather than playing on a $3.5MM club option, barring a huge bounce back after a terrible first season with the Cubs.
- Brian Dozier (34): It would be a surprise if Dozier returns to his levels of quiet stardom after two-straight down years. But he could have a chance to shine in San Diego if Profar falters.
- Dee Gordon (33): It just hasn’t worked out for Gordon in Seattle. The M’s are sure to pay him a $1MM buyout instead of exercising a $14MM club option. But the speedy veteran could still have another act left.
- Howie Kendrick (37): The bat is still legit, though it’s fair to wonder whether the glove still plays at second base. Odds are he’ll be seen mostly at an option in the corners going forward.
- Jed Lowrie (37): It’s anyone’s guess how Lowrie will look when he finally gets back on the field.
- Brad Miller (31): He surged back to life in a short 2019 run with the Phillies … but consistency has proven elusive over the years.
- Eric Sogard (35): His power outburst with the Blue Jays faded after a mid-season trade to the Rays, but Sogard is still being paid to function as a significant contributor in his latest stint with the Brewers.
Others
Adeiny Hechavarria and Freddy Galvis can be considered candidates at second base, though their real value lies in their ability to handle shortstop. Bounceback candidates include Eduardo Nunez and Chris Owings.
Remember when Albert Belle steamrolled Fernando Vina
Albert Belle was a word I probably can’t say on this forum.
Dangerous.
That wasn’t so hard.
A surly jackass?
I remember a player named Joey Belle….
Tommy La Stella?
Funny how he made the 3B list today as a “Second Basemen with Experience at Third Base” but not on the 2B list
I hope Odor can bounce back for the Rangers this season, because in spring training he stopped his crazy leg kick to get a more controlled swing… and he hit about .355 with a 1.000 ops and 2 homers. I know it’s just spring training, but his swing was refined, and his stats showed it (plus he’s still only 26). But if he does fall off drastically I think JD will finally trade him this winter, he’s on such a short leash. So in turn, I think that the best bang for your buck on this list is probably Kolten Wong. Wong is a terrific defender (which we need), and if he can have an average bat (like he did last season), he’s a 5 war player! He’s a great get in free agency, but I am not too sure what he would sign for. Maybe 3 years 35 million?
Villar over or under 2/18 million as a free agent this summer?
I’m taking the under!
More like 4yr $35-$40 Million
He’d need a big year to go from unclaimed at 10M for 1 year to a 4/40 deal. I think with some success in the OF and a 105 OPS+ season, he’d be looking at around 3/27 or 2/18.
lol, no.
If he can play CF defensively and brings the same offensive output, he gets the over.
He hit 16 of his 24 homeruns at OPACY last year. He’s going to regress offensively. The question for me is how much. He doesn’t play any defensive position very well either. I’d bet he doesn’t in CF as well. I may be wrong here but I think he hits slightly below league average and is a 2 win player. (Adjust those 2 WAR to whatever % of a season of they end up playing.)
As I said, if he can play CF defensively and brings the same offensive output he will receive more than what you posted. If he regresses in either area, he won’t. I do not know what you are trying to argue except to suggest Villar will regress offensively. You know what? He might regress. He could also have a career year with less bombs. The key is CF. That position is thin. We also do know how many teams will bid for his services. That will affect the price.
I posed the question for debate. I respect your POV. I don’t believe that will be the case though.
Outs above average had him as one of the worst defenders in all of baseball in the MIF last year. I am also an Orioles fan—I don’t disagree w/ the defensive numbers. He’s not good anywhere in the infield with the glove. Maybe it changes in the OF.
His batted ball profile from last year tells you he’s going to regress playing in a more pitcher friendly stadium. I can’t predict the future but I can make an inference from the recent past.
So, unless that changes, I’m taking the under.
Teams don’t typically toss out long terms deals to guys who rely on speed into their mid 30’s. We’ll see how it goes on the field. (Hopefully)
I respect that. Villar is 30. A 3-year deal tops would be appropriate if he has a great season. I watched enough of Villar at shortstop to know he needed a position change.
The one area that helps Villar with Miami’s ballpark is it’s bigger. Meaning, if he looks to go gap-to-gap and uses the space and his legs it would pay dividends. Villar is way too inconsistent with the bat, I will give you that.
Here is the CF competition:
Jackie Bradley Jr. (31)
Jarrod Dyson (36)
Brett Gardner (37) — $10MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Enrique Hernandez (29)
Jake Marisnick (30)
Starling Marte (32) — $12.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Cameron Maybin (34)
Kevin Pillar (32)
George Springer (31)
Michael A. Taylor (30)
Springer is the best of the bunch. After that….
Good points.I will say though if the large park helps him offensively with gap hits—it’s going to hurt him defensively. Covering a huge park in your first go around in CF doesn’t sound like a great plan. If I were to place a bet, I’d wager it goes more like trader Jerry’s failed attempt with Dee Gordon.
It wouldn’t shock me if none of those guys, besides Springer, cleared 18 million in guarantees. (Assuming Marte isn’t going to be FA.) Though, Villar could if it works. A guy like Akiyama got 3/21 from the Reds this year at the same age.
Good points. Dee Gordon is a good comparison. If Akiyama were to crash and burn there will be apprehension on Villar. I wonder if Villar thought about dropping some weight in the off-season to cover all that ground in Miami.
Not to mention his baserunning is abysmal.
The Yankees stole LeMahieu and Tauchman from the Rockies. Imagine if they had kept both, and didn’t make hi iq pick ups like Daniel Murphy., Wade Davis, Bryan Shaw, Ian Desmond. That is why Arenado is pissed.
What about the guy they got from the Rays? Can’t think of his name off the top of my head rn!
I’m talking about the guy the fox got from the Rays a few years ago!
Márquez totally makes up for wasting hundreds of millions and trading away other great talent for nothing while replacing great talent for around the same price and getting worse than league average compared to top 5 MVP voting.
Yeah no doubt. Also I think you could have added Jake McGee to your list of hi iq Rockie pickups.
You left out Gerardo Parra. Pre-baby shark days! I can’t believe he got a 27 million dollar contract.
Basically if Jeff Bridich signed the check it turned out really bad.
How did they steal LeMahieu? He was a FA.
The Rox didn’t make an offer to LeMahieu. Instead they chose Daniel Murphy! Like the idiots that run that organization always do!
tetsuto yamada is a name to keep an eye on. He may get posted this offseason.
So, which team do we predict Lowrie won’t play for next week?
Kipnis?
Poor Scooter…
I’d like to see Theo correct the terrible move he made, when he traded DJL in the first place – and bring DJL back to the Cubs. That move was disastrous, but it did allow them to make higher draft picks.
Kiki Hernandez? Isn’t a regular with the Dodgers but could be an interesting everyday player with a team with more opportunities. I have to think he’s a better player than many on this list.
At the very least, Dozier is still a solid platoon infielder. Probably could make the transition into more of a conrer infielder like Neil Walker did. Any team will take a 2B/1B/3B who can still hit lefties fairly well and be a good clutch bench bat.
No one gave DJ any love when he became a FA last. He’s done nothing but rake his entire career. Any team would be lucky to have him
Because remember, he only had good numbers because of playing at Coors field. I laugh at that, more players leave Boston or Cincinnati and have their numbers drop more drastically than players from the Rockies. Yet no one talks about the road numbers, unless they play for the Rockies.