We already kicked off this year’s position-by-position breakdown of the upcoming free agent class with a look at the market’s catchers. Next up is a crop of first baseman that doesn’t feature many surefire answers for clubs hoping to bolster their production at the position.
Recent Regulars
As a qualifier, there’s no clear, healthy, starting-caliber first baseman coming off a strong season in this year’s class. Due to the lack of a defined “top of the market” option, the top tier on this breakdown will simply be the few guys who have received regular reps in recent years — even if they’re all rebound candidates for one reason or another at this point.
- C.J. Cron (31): Cron mashed four quick taters to open the season before a knee injury required surgery and ended his campaign after just 13 games. From 2018-19 between the Rays and Twins, Cron batted .253/.317/.482 with 55 round-trippers in 1059 plate appearances. There’s obvious power here, and at his best, the right-handed-hitting Cron can flat-out decimate lefties while holding his own against righties. Knee surgery was a bad break, but he’s relatively young and could still be a starting first baseman if his recovery goes well.
- Yuli Gurriel (37): Gurriel hit .298/.343/.541 through 612 plate appearances in 2019 and then faceplanted with a .232/.274/.384 slash through 230 trips to the plate in 2020. He’ll face questions about his poor 2020 season, his age and his ties to the Astros’ 2017 scandal in free agency this winter as he searches for a new club. Gurriel was a superstar in Cuba and quite productive in MLB up until the current campaign. He can also play some third base and second base, though he was exclusively a first baseman/designated hitter in 2020.
- Jake Lamb (30): Shoulder injuries destroyed the end of Lamb’s career in Arizona, but he’s looked good since being released and latching on with the A’s. Lamb hit .267/.327/.556 with four homers in 49 Oakland plate appearances, although that showing still only boosted his overall 2020 line to .196/.283/.352. Lamb swatted 59 homers as the D-backs’ everyday third baseman in 2016-17 before his shoulder troubles set in. If he’s healthy, he’s young enough to reestablish himself as an everyday option at either corner infield spot. He’ll hope for a deep postseason run to continue his turnaround at the dish.
- Justin Smoak (34): The switch-hitting Smoak was better than his low batting average made it seem at first glance in 2019, but his strikeout rate rose by 10 percent in a disastrous Brewers showing in 2020. Smoak went hitless in a brief three-game look with the Giants after being released. From 2017-19, the big slugger hit .243/.350/.470 for Toronto, but this year’s woeful .176/.250/.361 batting line won’t do him many favors in free agency.
- Ryan Zimmerman (36): Zimmerman opted out of the 2020 season but made clear that he intends to play again in 2021. A persistent case of plantar fasciitis torpedoed his 2019 season and limited him to just 52 games, but Zimmerman mashed at a .289/.350/.542 clip in 899 plate appearances from 2017-18. It’s hard to envision “Mr. National” playing anywhere other than D.C. A low-cost Nationals reunion certainly makes sense.
Utility Players and Platoon Bats
- Matt Adams (32): Adams has never been able to hit lefties well, but his output against righties cratered in this year’s small sample as well (.152/.188/.261 in 48 plate appearances). He could land another minor league deal as a bench bat.
- Asdrubal Cabrera (35): Cabrera played a career-high 198 2/3 innings at first base this year, hitting .242/.305/.447 with eight dingers. He’s not a shortstop anymore, but the switch-hitter can still handle first, second and third base while providing average or better offense.
- Derek Dietrich (31): Dietrich’s transformation into a three-true-outcomes slugger continued in 2020. He hit .197/.347/.459 and saw just over half of his 75 plate appearances end with a home run (eight), walk (nine) or strikeout (21). He can also play second base, third base and the outfield corners.
- Brad Miller (31): Miller has experience at all four infield spots and in the outfield corners. He’s struggled with consistency, but he hit well in 2020 and owns a combined .247/.329/.468 line in 595 plate appearances dating back to 2018. He’s slugged 27 homers and doubles apiece in that time, tacking on four triples.
- Logan Morrison (33): LoMo rode big Spring Training and Summer Camp performances to a spot on the Brewers’ roster, but he struggled immensely through nine games in the Majors. Morrison bashed 38 home runs with the 2017 Rays, but a torn labrum in his hip wrecked his 2018 season with the Twins. He has yet to bounce back.
- Pablo Sandoval (34): The Panda revived his career with a quality 2018-19 showing in his return to the Giants, but the 2020 season was a disaster. The Braves rather stunningly added him to the roster in advance of the postseason, so perhaps he’ll get a late chance at showing some life. A minor league deal still seems likeliest.
- Neil Walker (35): Walker beat out several other veterans to win a bench spot in Philadelphia, but he hit .231/.244/.308 before he was cut loose earlier this month. The switch-hitter can handle all four corner spots and second base but is sure to be viewed as a bench piece if he keeps playing.
Players with 2021 Options
- Edwin Encarnacion, $12MM club option: Encarnacion was a lock for 30-plus homers from 2012-19 and belted 10 dingers in 2020 — maintaining a 30-homer pace. Unfortunately, he did so while batting just .157/.250/.377 on the whole. This year’s 29.8 percent strikeout rate was the worst of his career by a whopping seven percent. He’ll turn 38 in January.
- Todd Frazier, $5.75MM club option with $1.5MM buyout: The 2020 season was the worst of Frazier’s career at the plate, as he followed up a solid 2019 output with a lowly .236/.302/.382 slash. Frazier can play either corner infield spot and will turn 35 in February.
- Jedd Gyorko, $4.5MM club option with $1MM buyout: Gyorko, who turned 32 earlier this month, hit .248/.333/.504 with nine homers while logging more than 200 innings at first base. He can play all over the infield. His option would seem likely to be picked up in a normal winter, but the Brewers made some surprising option decisions a year ago, and with revenue losses throughout the league, perhaps they’ll feel that a similar skill set will be available more affordably elsewhere on the market. Many utility bats will be non-tendered or cut loose in the coming months.
- Howie Kendrick, $6.5MM mutual option with $2.25MM buyout: The 37-year-old Kendrick hit just .275/.320/.385 in 100 plate appearances with the Nats this year and voiced uncertainty about his future this weekend. It’s hard to see the Nats paying that price with Zimmerman also eyeing a comeback.
- Mitch Moreland, $3MM club option with $500K buyout: The 35-year-old raked with the Red Sox but saw his bat collapse upon a trade to the Padres, for whom he’s posted a dismal .203/.247/.362 slash in 73 plate appearances. It’s still a cheap price, and the Padres gave up some minor league talent to get Moreland, so perhaps he’s still in the 2021 plans.
- Daniel Murphy, $12MM mutual option with $6MM buyout: Huge buyout notwithstanding, the Rox probably won’t have much to think about here. The 35-year-old Murphy hit .236/.275/.333 in 132 trips to the plate in 2020, bringing his Rockies total to .269/.316/.426. That’s 23 percent worse than league average after weighting for his home park, per wRC+ (77).
- Anthony Rizzo, $14.5MM club option with $2MM buyout: It wasn’t a great season for Rizzo, whose .222 average was a career-low, but he kept getting on base and hitting for power. Rizzo popped up at a career-high rate and saw his exit velocity dip, but a correction on this year’s .218 BABIP still seems likely. It’d be a shock to see his option bought out, even coming off a down year at the plate.
- Carlos Santana, $17.5MM club option with $500K buyout: Santana has never walked at a clip better than this year’s 18.4 percent in a full season, but his power dropped to a career-low as well (.150 ISO). The $17MM net value would be steep for the Indians even if Santana had posted a terrific year, but this year’s .199/.349/.350 slash simplifies the decision.
- Eric Thames, $4MM mutual option with $1MM buyout: Thames mashed his way through a three-year stint with the Brewers in his return from a star turn in the KBO, but he hit just .203/.300/.317 in 140 plate appearances with the Nats this year. He’s likely to return to the market. His ability to play the outfield could help him a bit.
If the universal DH goes away, someone should be calling the Mets about one of Alonso, Smith, and Davis before settling for one of these guys. Even if the NL DH is here to stay, none of those guys should really be playing long-term anywhere but first base.
I’m sure they’d give you JD Davis for any remotely decent prospect. He’s just not very good and will be 28 next year.
Alonso and Smith are going to have to fight each other for playing time with no DH, though. They’re both 25 and have, I think, 4 more years of time control remaining, so it does make some sense to trade one to a team with a surplus of pitching.
They would not part with JD Davis so easily. He and Alonso are the only solid right-handed bats they have.
Universal DH is not going anywhere
I’ve said it many times. The DH in the NL could be used as leverage during the upcoming CBA negotiations and if normalcy returns for 2021, it may not be used in 2021 without the sides making progress which is unlikely.
It’s be nice to see Lomo land a deal with the Royals. Would love to see him back in his hometown.
At this point, he’s a 33-year old DH who’s only had one good year in the majors, which was 3 years ago. For a team that should be trying to find/evaluate players who could be on its next good squad, I’m not sure it’s productive to bother.
The Royals have had multiple opportunities to sign Morrison. I believe Morrison even campaigned for a contract a few years ago. The royals already have a younger version of Morrison in Ryan O’Hearn. I don’t think it’s in the cards
Signing him to a minor league contract wouldn’t hurt. Royals don’t have a lot of depth at 1B.
He refused a minor league deal with the Brewers last spring, claiming if he’s healthy, he’s an All-Star.
So basically nothing worthwhile if you’re looking for a starter unless and until one of the opt out guys opts out.
Cron is worth while albeit average. Outside of him, yes.
Yea he’d be the one who is at least passable
Cron to Milwaukee would form a cheap platoon with Vogelbach. Nothing to write home about, of course, but perhaps a cost-efficient upgrade at a position of need.
Brewers could also pick-up Gyorko option to play 3B, move the defensively challenged Hiura to 1B, and play Urias at 2B.
I have enjoyed all of Dietrich’s time as a Ranger, and in fact he had/has a streak going of homering the past two or three times he’s started. He’s exactly what’s advertised… extra. But despite being extra, he’s not toxic to our team, and in fact he’s helped us more than he’s hurt us, so I’ll take that as a win. He’ll definatley get an opportunity elsewhere.
Kiké Hernandez, isn’t he a free agent next year, and a utility player of the super variety? And also years younger than anyone else in that list?
He is, but he’s played all of 89 career innings at 1B and will be pursued more as a 2B/SS/3B/OF than a 1B. He’ll factor into all of those other lists, but the “utility” guys on this installment are players who have spent a lot more time at first recently and would be considered with that as one of their primary positions. It’s not a list of every utility player on the market or anything.
Have you considered doing a list focusing strictly on utility guys?
Hernandez is difficult to classify as anything but a super utility player since he plays every position but pitcher and catcher and does it well, and that’s his calling card. I agree with the other comment, I’d like to see an article on super utility players. They are a special class of player and I believe they are increasingly valued for that skill.
Not trying to be a jerk, but he played 1B yesterday. He’s played almost every position and for most of the year he was one of the best defenders on DRS in the game
He kinda should be mentioned… especially when this list is trash heal guys almost entirely. Even if you just repost the same write up on Kike..
I may be the only cards fan that would like Brad Miller to return. I give a slight possibility I’m not.
You might be, Mr. McMahon.
He’d be fine utility guy but if he’s batting clean-up in 2021 I’m going to be very upset.
Even if the DH wasn’t around The Mets Aren’t parting with Either Alonzo or Smith
Smith can play LF.
He can’t play it very well, but I’m with you. It’s more about having all three. I like Davis’ bat, but he’s a liability at third or in left. And while I think Smith is worthwhile even in left, I’d rather be able to leave the outfield corners to Conforto and Nimmo, and find someone who can actually play center and also hit (I know the Mets can only seem to do one or the other). In a perfect world, they can mostly DH Alonso and let Smith have first.
You really should have more of an eye on fielding then you do. The Mets had the 6th worst defensive run totals.
http://fieldingbible.com/TeamDefensiveRunsSaved
Can play left? Sure. So can I. Should play left? No.
Where’s the love for Darin Ruf? I think I’d take him over anyone on this list (sans rizzo of course). I suppose that speaks more to the poorness of this list than it does the quality of Ruf, though.
he’s arb eligible
Hm spotrac says otherwise, but they’re often wrong. I couldn’t find anything in my search. Wondering if you have a link?
players coming back from the NPB or KBO are still arb eligible unless they add a contract stipulation saying they arent. (see Chris Martin) I dont think this is usually the case though, and that Ruf signed a minors contract suggests he wouldnt have been able to obtain such a clause.
I don’t know about his contract details but he spent almost all of his playing time in the outfield so he will probably be their. Doesn’t make since to have him listed at 1B.
Any team looking for a starting 1B this year will probably need to acquire him via trade. I don’t see Rizzo being bought out and besides him, no one on this list stands out as someone you can depend on to anchor your team at 1B and more importantly, in the lineup.
I wonder if Texas could get Dom Smith for Lynn and Guzman + or if that ship has sailed for the Mets.
Rangers29, seems to me you’re either overvaluing Smith or undervaluing Lynn if you’re suggesting that only “+” in tour proposal would go from TEX to the Mets.
Well I’m saying that’s the base. The Mets need pitching, and Lynn provides a cheap one year deal for next season, and they could then put Guzman at first with his excellent defense, and DH Alonso. We get Smith as a good bat to go along with Gallo, Calhoun, and Solak. This deal + some more prospects from either side might be able to make this deal work.
I love Lynn, but that is only for one season, Smith is for multiple years.
Makes sense. I’d initially assumed only Smith would be coming back to TEX in your scenario.
Yeah, it’s hard to think of Lynn trade scenarios, but this one seems right. It’s even harder to think of ones for Odor though.
where is Roberto Ramos?
South Korea, I think.
yeah but he signed a 1 year deal and had a huge year. should make this list.
Pretty sure they’re only listing players in the majors.
but with his numbers and the lack of good 1B free agents he should be a candidate to get a MLB deal.
Does Ryan Braun belong on this list, or do his lack of 1B experience, his glove work, and/or his seeming reticence to playing there disqualify him?
He can play 1B and should be listed. However you’re not getting more than 120 -130 games out of him, and that’s if he’s healthy.
On the bright side, thanks to the Covid virus, which is not going away, 120-130 games is over 2 full seasons.
I don’t think White Sox will pick up option on Encarnacion but hope they can sign him for one more season. I think he can still contribute, but may no longer be a 30-40 home run hitter. Vaughn’s development is the key to this decision. If he’s ready to play everyday, White Sox would be wise to invest in another starting pitcher.
Colome is also a free agent. Bummer and Crochet may or may not be the answer. In any case, the future looks bright on the South side of Chicago!
Encarnacion has been really bad this year, I assume the Sox will not resign him. I understand why they signed him and I suppose it was the right move, but I would have loved to have seen those ABs go to Zack Collins… Again – they wanted the veteran who they thought was a sure thing, but Collins finished strong last year and was great in spring/summer camp. Anyway – maybe Edwin has a big post-season and makes it all worth it. 🙂
Let’s hope so!! Agree with you on Collins. I’m hoping they will be able to keep McCann. He has been so valuable, especially with Giolito. He will be offered bigger money and more playing time elsewhere very likely. Collins should get his ab’s as backup catcher/1b next season.
If he rakes in the playoffs i’ll forgive his bad year
The word class seems a little exaggerated describing this lot….bottom of the bucket list may be more fitting.
Rob Refsnyder is 1B qualified….wonder where he ranks…..
Right on line with marv throneberry
Swihart has played 1B before, too. So has Profar! These HOF players should be discussed whether FA or not!
I think the NL wants the DH but it’s not slated for ’21 and I am not sure there will be an agreement to do so unless players and owners make a deal this off-season. And I am not sure there is a deal this offseason if the virus isn’t resolved – and it won’t be without a vaccine widely available.
That said, I am not sure the Padres would keep Mitchy-2-bags either way. They can do better but we will see in the off-season if he can dig deep for his important ABs.
Moreland is on a $3M option with a $500K buyout, so it’s basically just $2.5M more to keep him rather than let him walk. That seems pretty reasonable for a good pinch hitter/possible DH/depth piece. I also think he would get more than that on the open market so I’d assume they’ll exercise the option regardless of whether the league has the DH.
His Sox numbers were amazing this year and Padres numbers were awful. I think the true player is in the middle of those 2 outcomes and it makes sense for SD to keep depth at that price even if he’s not as good as he looked the first half of this year.
Moreland has been a clutch hitter who plays solid to great defense. He’ll find a major league offer if on the market. Most others will likely get just a minor league offer with a camp invite.
Truly hoping the Tigers re-sign CJ Cron. Guy was a great clubhouse presence and even though he doesn’t hit for average, he puts ball’s in the seats and this team lacks both leadership and RH power. Also wouldn’t mind a new GM but that’s a story for another day! Lol – Avila leading the hiring search for our new skipper scares the hell outta me!
He did just fine with Gardy! No worries. (Unless it’s McClendon, then worry.)
What Yuli Gurriel lacks in offensive production, he’ll make up for in the clubhouse with his racist Asian face. I hear that can really galvanize a club.
(That A**hole.)
Slim pickens at first base. Time to give some young guys a shot.
Give the Red Sox a call they’re giving all their second and third baseman training at first base. Bobby dalbec Michael Chavis and I think they have Rafael Devers scheduled to go over there in the next year or two. Plenty of young guys to trade away who can play first.
He was really great in Dr. Strangelove.
And no Greg Bird
I don’t see any of the 1B listed in the article as game changers, save for Rizzo, and he ain’t going nowhere but Wrigley Field.
Also believe the NL will finally enter the 21st century and adopt the DH full time. If that’s the case, several listed above could be attractive for that spot.
The best pure hitter of the lot is Howie Kendrick. No longer an asset at 2B, a team could do a lot worse giving 450-500 ABs to Howie as a DH and part time corner guy.
If the Nats don’t bring him back, I’d love to see a reunion with him and my Phillies.
Dodgers have three maybe four players on their current roster that are better than any of these players.
it’s 1b only
gurriel extended