The Major League Baseball offseason opened over two months ago, though free agency has moved at a snail’s pace to this point. MLBTR ranked the top 50 free agents in the game heading into the winter, and at least some of those names have come off the board. Based on our contract predictions, here’s a look at the top 10 players still sitting on the open market…
1.) Trevor Bauer, RHP (original prediction: four years, $128MM)
- As was the case when the offseason opened, it’s unclear what kind of deal Bauer is seeking. Yes, he’d probably love to break Gerrit Cole’s annual average value of $36MM, but will it be for one year or over the long haul? Bauer, the reigning National League Cy Young winner, has continued to leave all options on the table. While Bauer recently met with the Blue Jays, there haven’t been many strong rumors connecting him to specific teams. Regardless, it seems likely Bauer will price himself out of Cincinnati, where he thrived in 2020.
2.) J.T. Realmuto, C (original prediction: five years, $125MM)
- Again, there doesn’t seem to be much happening with Realmuto. The Phillies, with whom he spent the previous two years and served as the game’s best catcher, certainly want him back. But are they willing to meet Realmuto’s demands? No dice so far. Otherwise, as MLBTR’s Anthony Franco wrote a couple weeks back, the Jays, Angels and Astros are just a few teams that could conceivably sign Realmuto.
3.) George Springer, OF (original prediction: five years, $125MM)
- Springer was among the sport’s best outfielders in Houston from 2014-19, but it doesn’t seem as if he’ll remain with the club. Springer reportedly has multiple offers worth upward of $100MM, though the Astros haven’t really been connected to him in the rumor mill this winter. The Jays and Mets have come off as Springer’s most ardent suitors to this point, though New York’s interest may have cooled off after it acquired shortstop Francisco Lindor and right-hander Carlos Carrasco from Cleveland last week. The Mets might rather duck the $210MM luxury tax in 2020, and adding Springer would make that a difficult goal to achieve.
4.) Marcell Ozuna, OF/DH (original prediction: four years, $72MM)
- Wouldn’t it be nice if MLB announced whether there will be a universal DH in 2021? The decision will be quite meaningful to someone like Ozuna, who was a DH more than an outfielder with Atlanta last season. Thanks in part to the lack of clarity on the DH position, Ozuna’s market has been quiet so far. However, anyone acquiring him will land a player who was an all-world hitter in 2020. The 30-year-old dominated in both bottom-line statistics and Statcast figures.
5.) DJ LeMahieu, INF (original prediction: four years, $68MM)
- Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Toronto looks like a realistic possibility for another top free agent in LeMahieu. That said, the Yankees – with whom the second baseman was outstanding from 2019-20 – as well as the Dodgers, Red Sox, Braves, Cardinals and Mets may be in the mix. It’s a bit befuddling that the Yankees haven’t yet used their financial might to bring back LeMahieu, who apparently wants to re-sign after a batting title-winning, near-AL MVP season, but the two sides have been unable to close the gap in negotiations. In an ideal world for LeMahieu, he could collect around $100MM on his next deal. That’s a far cry from the two-year, $24MM contract he previously signed with the Yankees.
8.) Didi Gregorius, SS (original prediction: three years, $39MM)
- The Gregorius rumor mill has been surprisingly quiet to this point. Aside from 2019, when Sir Didi was coming back from Tommy John surgery, he has been consistently productive over the past few years. He rebounded last season in Philadelphia, perhaps his lone season with the team, though it may not be willing to re-sign him if it isn’t going to spend a large amount. Barring a re-signing in Philly, two of Gregorius’ other ex-teams – the Reds and Yankees – might be among those to make pushes for him.
10.) Masahiro Tanaka, RHP (original prediction: three years, $39MM)
- Beyond Bauer, the starting pitching market has dwindled rapidly in terms of both free agency and trades. A few examples: Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman, whom MLBTR initially ranked as top 10 free agents, accepted qualifying offers. Meanwhile, Yu Darvish and Blake Snell joined new teams in blockbuster deals, and Nippon Professional Baseball’s Tomoyuki Sugano decided to stay in Japan. Tanaka – who, like Darvish and Sugano, hails from Japan – is still available, and he might be the second-best starter left in free agency. Even though the 32-year-old generally got the job done as a Yankee from 2014-20, the team hasn’t made a big effort to sign him to this point. Neither has anyone else, it seems, and Tanaka hasn’t closed the door on a return to Japan.
11.) Jake Odorizzi, RHP (original prediction: three years, $39MM)
- Odorizzi went through an injury-limited 2020 in Minnesota, recording a mere 13 2/3 innings, but teams know what he’s capable of doing. As recently as 2019, Odorizzi was an All-Star with a 3.51 ERA in 159 frames. The Twins then gave Odorizzi a qualifying offer, which he accepted, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see him reel in a multiyear deal before next season. At least a few teams have shown interest in the soon-to-be 31-year-old this winter.
12.) Liam Hendriks, RHP (original prediction: three years, $30MM)
- Hendriks may have been the top reliever in baseball in the previous two years in Oakland, but he doesn’t seem to be in free agency at the preferred time. Also soon to turn 32, the Blue Jays (if you can believe it), Dodgers, Astros and White Sox have been connected to Hendriks over the past couple of months.
13.) Michael Brantley, OF/DH (original prediction: two years, $28MM)
- Considering the defensive questions surrounding him, Brantley is in a similar position to Ozuna at the moment. It would be beneficial to Brantley if MLB kept the universal DH around next season, as he’s a 33-year-old (34 in May) with an injury history who didn’t see much time in the field as an Astro in 2020. A few teams have shown interest in Brantley since then, though it doesn’t appear he’s all that close to signing anywhere.
Slow market.
That broadcasting school is really paying off.
“Dynamite drop-in Monty!”
“He’s not the best color guy for nothing!”
Yes?
This really goes to show just how the slow the off-season is moving. Even guys down the line in the 20s and 30s aren’t signing.
LeMahieu is better than Springer and Realmuto.
1. Bauer
2. LeMahieu
3. Springer
4. Realmuto
5. Ozuna
Whatever you say, slim.
NBE:
You seem to be ignoring positional value. A good hitting catcher, that cannot be diminished as “bat first”, is much harder to find, and more valuable, than a good hitting 2B.
Not to mention that, even with his outlier 2020 season with the 177 OPS+, it’s still only a 102 OPS+ for LeMahieu for his career. Realmuto has a 111 OPS+ for his career at a more important position.
Realmuto is “better” because of elite production at the C position. Springer I definitely agree as he would be a CF for a year or two and then would go to a corner OF position. So, he’s not a real CF that you can plug in there the whole deal.
DJL is 1B/2B/3B and is valuable at all 3 places…
Agreed. DJ’s value should increase more than what stupid metrics don’t include. When injuries or slumps happen, can Realmuto or Springer be substituted in at third one day, to first after a double-switch and to second for defense to close out the game? Players’ contracts are also influenced (as everyone knows) by supply/demand and today the impact of the virus. What hurts DJLM though is his age but it shouldn’t. As others said, Springer will likely be me moved to the corner and will Realmuto be as valuable in four years? How will he age behind the plate? A lot of questions but to me even though he’s not a conventional power hitting, barring injuries, DJLM will still be a productive DH at the end of his deal if he can’t play in the field every day.
looiebelongsinthehall:
Are you saying the value of utility, is more than what a catcher does? Catchers run the game. They handle the pitching staff, They have to know how each pitcher wants to pitch to every hitter. He needs to be a good receiver and framer, be able to block balls in the dirt, and control the other team’s running game, All of that carries way more value than being able to be substituted in at 3B. If it’s necessary for someone to sub in at 3B that’s what utility players are for.
looiebelongsinthehall
also did you not see Russell Martin. He was a catcher and substituted pretty much everywhere in the infield at different points and i think Realmuto is more athletic than martin. So you COULD substitute him in the field if you want but why would you. Especially when he is probably the PREMIER catcher. Its like saying Mike Trout is less valuable and a team would frown on him for not being able to play 2B if asked.
In your argument we should be benching Pete Alonso or Michael Conforto for Luis Guillorme because he can play pretty much every position but catcher and pitcher. .
Thing is DJ is one of several second baseman while JTR and Bauer are pretty much it for their positions.
DJ is the best hitter overall, but is he alone really better than signing say Cesar Hernandez and Liam Hendricks?
Halos, why can’t Hendricks also be signed if he’s needed? The Sox can sign both if they wanted to. Same for the Dodgers. The Yankees want to stay under the threshold but with a new MLBPA next year and COVID then hopefully behind us, they could certainly sign both. The question is do they want to set the market or wait for the market to set itself? Most clubs are waiting for the players to blink. Morton was the exception because true or not, his almost retiring last year got the attention of the Braves to move early and good for him. He also accepted a one year deal that many would say was undervalued.
Clubs generally operate within a budget. Especially clubs coming off losses with no assurances of fans returning.
I’m just saying a 30 year old Hernandez isn’t as big of a drop vs. DJ as the second best catcher is vs. JTR. And scarcity generally drives value.
HalosHeavenJJ:
“DJ is the best hitter overall….”. Based on what? the 2020 season? Career stats say otherwise. Realmuto has, according to Fangraphs, a career 109 wRC+. They have LeMahieu at 100 wRC+, which is equivalent to a league average hitter.
Springer is a much better hitter than either one. He has a career wRC+ of 134. Ozuna, 117 wRC+, is also a better hitter than LeMahieu. The only thing that makes LeMahieu more valuable is his position, although I might prefer Springer, even though his days in CF may be limited.
But as far as judging them on hitting alone, LeMahieu comes in 4th.
Poor phrasing on my part. DJ is the best hitter on the second base market, not this list.
Why would you look at career stats? I don’t think any teams really care what these players did 5+ years ago.
HalosHeaven.
Opps, sorry I misunderstood. I agree then, no one else is close.
It was a horrible job on my part.
1984wasntamanual:
Seriously? Baseball analytics departments are looking at data, and the largest sample is always more informative. Why would a team care about 5 year old numbers? It depends on a lot of things. How old was the guy 5 years ago, and were his numbers trending up or down. How steep is the trend. How healthy has the guy been?
For example, 6 years ago Realmuto was 24 and had an OPS+ of 92, The next season it was 111. Since then it’s been 112, 126, 109, and 123. That’s very consistently above average.
Over the last 6 seasons LeMahieu, two years older, has had OPS+ numbers of 92, 128, 93, 88, 135, 177. That’s a roller-coaster. I would not trust the recent 2 season trend for LeMahieu. Two things I see. He apparently likes hitting at Yankee stadium, but that 177 is an anomaly created by the small sample of the short season.
If you ignore the career stats, and look at the last two seasons only, you would have to come to the conclusion that LeMahieu, with that 145 OPS+ for the last two seasons, is the best FA available. He isn’t.
Maybe if you’re a simple minded lightweight baseball fan and dont realize position plays a part in value. Considering catcher is by far the hardest position to fill in the game, Realmuto is much better
DJL better than Springer and Realmuto….that’s funny.
“LeMahieu is better than Springer and Realmuto.”
That’s cute
Well based on the wQxRZ+ stat, Realmuto has a career .302 ZtRhAm+-^ against righties and a 1.490 OPS against left handed pitchers who have 3 vowels in their name that wear high socks, so technically… Realmuto is better.
Let’s not forget Springers HOF worthy .925 KwaSQ€£%#^+%Wr stat against relief pitchers who throw from the rubber
ZtRhAm+-^ is actually best used to evaluate bullpen catchers and mascots.
Where does Nelson cruz fall? Shocked he didn’t make the list. Brutal offseason at least there have been some big trades.
Well it’s just a top 10, he just missed out. He would be a twin if he just got off that 2 year idea. I would give him a 2 year or even a 3 year. But that av isn’t going to be close to what a 1 year would be.
The trades resulted from free agents dreaming of money that isn’t coming to them. Yeah 40 million trevor, I think I will just trade for Snell darvish carasco. 25 30 million for a 30 something hitter wanting at least 5 years. That’s going to be a hard pass. I guess we will just have to “settle” for lindor.
Great point. Limited value due to DH?
Ozuna is very good, but does not have the history of Cruz–they guy has raked for a long time. Age is an issue, but I think he is more valuable.
MLBTR: “Here’s the top 10 remaining free agents.”
Also MLBTR: “Number 13, Michael Brantley.”
lol
Brantley was number 13 on the original list. He’s number 10 out of the people left now.
…….he was 13 originally
Because that’s where he was ranked at the beginning of the offseason. Some of the top 10 have signed, and Sugano has returned to Japan. I mean it does state top 10 “remaining” free agents right in the title.
Only McCann signed. The other 2 took their QOs, which is essentially a FA signing…
Kim was in the top 10, not McCann, although McCann did get the better deal.
Well, he is a Rangers’ fan.
Oh boy.
Jesus Christ, it was a joke lmao. Y’all don’t think that when I see 1,2,3,4,5,8 that I’m just like: ThAtS FInE lol. Hence me saying “lol”. A joke.
This is a super serious baseball blog though, @Rangers29.
We don’t joke around.
We try to stick with angry, hostile, & outraged takes. We’re gunna need ya to tighten up.
🙂
Kidding aside. 2yr, $28 million seems a little steep for Brantley.
Isn’t that less than the contract he got last time? His production hasn’t really tailed off at all, and he’s stayed pretty healthy. I don’t think 2 years at $28 million is that outrageous for him.
But he signed that contract when he was 31. Now he’s 33. And as to him staying healthy, is that health really dependable, or were the Astros just lucky?
To be fair, a lot of folks who post here regularly aren’t exactly mensa material, so I could see why some folks may have thought this post was serious.
Everybody out of the Chunnel !!!
That’s SOOOOOOO funny! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Now everyone else respond, he desperately needs attention for his super funny post!
You’re like a gnat, but less interesting. Get off my jock, you gormless, mouth breathing clodhopper.
I actually don’t think “he’s”(?) even a baseball fan. I’ve never seen an actual baseball take from “him”(?).
The worst part is “he”(?) may actually be a Yankee fan. Which is quite the embarrassment, serious.
A gormless, mouth breathing clodhopper! ROFL! I’m going to have to google gormless though. Still sounds funny as hell.
Forgive some of our more embarrassing parts, tom. We have some commenters who’s purpose in life is for the rest of us to ignore them. =D
Great word.
Like “scofflaw” & “blackguard”, “gormless” doesn’t get enough play. Nice of Bruno to let it of the dictionary for a brief stroll around the internet.
& this article is exactly why my fellow Yankee fans need to take a deeeeeeep breath & step away from the ledge.
The vast majority of the top 50 free agents remain unsigned. There is so much talent left that virtually any team (with a rather heavy financial investment) can make themselves into something of a contender.
Lotta time left.
Lotta players left.
It’s going to be ok. I promise.
Bold prediction. I predict the players will simply lower their high demands and take less money and sign.
Good workfor the guys and whoever the agents are for taking the qualifying offer.
Ducky.. No doubt. I’d love to play poker with some of these fans. I could quit my day job.
@Joe –
I’ve signed a lot of contracts in my life. (Goes with being a contractor, uh.)
I’ve sales guys now who do most of that? But, I tell ya…the “let’s just get a deal done” people were my favorites to close, man. Go through some stuff rapidly, other stuff glacially slow. Perfect. I pretty much always got my best deals from those folks.
“I don’t care how much it costs! Just sign DJ now!”. Folks like that are either too wealthy to care (rare) or just simply suck at business type stuff.
Thankfully, Cashman is not being driven by the angst filled posts of a portion of Yankee fandumb.
Agree with those takes Ducky but it is Jan 11th already and the hunters aren’t back yet from the winter hunt to feed the village.
Understandable tensions are raised in the village right now –
Should lead to some amazing couple weeks in here once the dominoes fall
I will upvote any & all hunting takes.
Over a month til pitchers & catchers report. Now that we know the plan for the upcoming season, I think the owners will be give their GM’s the budgets for this year.
We shall feast soon.
I agree with the slow play tho, there is some no holds bar sh@t going on behind the scenes right now-
God forbid you take a couple mis-steps these days and become the Cincy of next year with the ledger slashing
Im behind the scenes kinda rooting for a Kimbrel/Kuechel type situation with one of these top 5 fa this year
I do too.
Like a lot of businesses, baseball is trying to figure out the lay of the land for ’21.
I completely understand.
Perfect example.
Cincy was obviously severely effected financially. They’re certainly not behaving like a team that lost “profits”. They are acting like a team that lost actual money. After last off-season capping their rebuild this has really taxed their fan bases’ support.
Pretty serious object lesson.
That would be interesting to see how it would play out. With the troubles with the union, however, I think that would have some pretty serious implications on the upcoming CBA negotiations.
Spot on correct. I don’t have much use for Cashman, but he is 100% correct in this case. I’m not sure he really wants to sign DJLM, but there is no reason to increase his offer. Just like with the LAD, just tell his agent to come back to him with his largest legitimate offer.
I’ve just recently started to question how good of a job Cashman has actually done for the Yanks.
This has nothing to do with the DJL situation, either. Rather, I’m beginning to wonder if he’s really cut out to lead the Yankees transition to “Dodgers East” if you will.
I think the very least we can count on from him is to actually not do something egregiously stupid.
Cincy was obviously severely effected financially. They’re certainly not behaving like a team that lost “profits”. They are acting like a team that lost actual money.
That was a good quote; More people should feel for Cincy right now rather than pelt them with tomatoes as easy targets
The positive PR of a fa signing last for 2 news weeks, the nightmare they can bring last upwards of a decade sometimes. I actually think the best idea is just to buy at the break this year after teams get their first qrtrly reports in even if you feel you might be a little lite heading in
Phillies should be on the Odorizzi train. Nola, Wheeler, Elfin and Odorizzi
Phillies should be in on a lot of people, but sadly, it’s an Anibal Sanchez kind of year.
Woo sounds like maybe 4th place
Yeah I think they can get 4th, but even that won’t be easy. Marlins and Nats are no pushovers. I think the Phillies run from 2007-2011 makes people forget how terrible the Phillies were in the 90s and early 2000s. We’re back to those days it seems. I think they’ll spend again in 2022.
I like a lot of the cheaper pitching options. I figure if you signed 2 or 3 guys that one would pitch to a under 4 era. I can see Archer bouncing back. Felix looked good last spring. Hamels still around? Lester Arieta I don’t feel too good about them.
I get there’s not a ton available this offseason on the pitching market so the lack of arms will drive up his price but it’s sad when the top pitcher is projected to get over 30 million when he has a higher career ERA than Tanner Roark.
So unless you are from Japan or took the sure the money of the qualifying offer nothing has changed since November.
Jays got Robbie Ray, the #1 FA in our hearts.
Bauer is overrated. I hope he can continue what he did in 2020, but he will probably regress. Not worth 20 to 35 million a year.
Love how the word “overrated” has lost all meaning nowadays.
There’s a legitimate argument Bauer has not proven himself to be an ace type pitcher who gets paid like an ace.
And there is a legitimate argument there is.
From the MLB site.
Strasburg: 3.40 ERA, 547 1/3 IP, 656 K’s
Cole: 3.21 ERA, 565 2/3 IP, 751 K’s
Bauer: 3.15 ERA, 556 1/3 IP, 677 K’s
There is a nice link on the MLB network site.
Look at Baseball ref Bauer is a 3.90 career era pitcher
Good take.
James, you are not paying for what he’s done. You are paying on what you think he’ll do.
Again, a nice link on the MLB site.
Those comprise a selection of years. He has had an era under four only thrice. Yes, there are other, fancier metrics I realize, but that is telling. He is very good, I do not argue against that, but is he $35 million good? Nah. $20 million sure. Part of that is the “Trevor Bauer” aspect, which may be headachey. Whatev. Dude will get paid, but be honest with the comps.
Is Cole’s stats with or without the ball sticky stuff?
Sadface:
“…20 to 35 million…”? That’s quite a range for an AAV. While I think many would agree that he’s not worth $35M per, I also think you would get a lot pushback that he’s not worth $20M per.
Talent wise he is worth 30. But he rubs enough people the wrong way. If I am going to pay 30 plus million a year, I want that guy putting people in seats, not keeping some people from coming. And how teammates will fill about him. Like if cole doesn’t like the guy that eliminates him from the Yankees. Of course them wanting to stay under the tax does as well.
That’s a pretty big dollar difference there.
Do you think any one team gets 2 (or more of these guys), and if so what team?
Padres and Mets will split 5 a piece.
Haha. It feels that way, right? I think Toronto gets at least 1, but I can see making Bauer/Springer splash.
@Diggydugler: Apropos of nothing, but I originally read your comment as ‘Padres and Mets will share a 5 piece’. Got Popeye’s on the brain.
Good odds. You can eliminate how many teams that won’t be getting any of these guys?
Occasionally some team that’s not really competing or known for spending will just randomly sign someone near the top of the market if they see value in a slow market. That’s pretty much how SD ended up with Machado, they saw that there were very few other teams that were willing to pay him and just took the opportunity.
So if the market continues to look like this as we get to spring training, you could end up with a situation where a team like the Mariners or Marlins randomly signs a guy like Hendriks out of nowhere. Not saying it’s likely that they will, but my point is I don’t think you can count most of the league out because even teams that are trying to keep a lean payroll might make a splash if they think they’re getting a deal.
Ugh of course I say this then Hendriks immediately signs with Chicago, instantly proving me wrong.
Have no fear. The Blue Jays are “in on” all 10.
I think you could totally fabricate a player – stats and all – even CG him in action and counterfeit his baseball cards, and the Jays would announce they’re interested.
Can we test this? Someone get on it.
Can we trade Inciarte (Braves) for this new player?
Jays have been trying to get a hold of Sidd Finch’s agent for years
To the Red Sox fans on the “Which 15 players should the Red Sox protect in an expansion draft” thread from last May who said they would protect Nate Eovaldi and then defended it with “If they lose Eovaldi, who starts for them?”
Trevor Bauer, Masahiro Tanaka, Jake Odorizzi, Jose Quintana and/or Taijuan Walker are the answers to that question.
As a die hard Red Sox fan we have been told our new favorite play will be “financial flexibility”. Yes we are going to just miss on all of these exciting players, but you can’t put a price on finding hidden talent in between the margins and finishing 4 in the AL East!
Try being a Rays fan, knowing your team will NEVER have the ability to be a contender for the top 15 FA’s, and when you finally develop a really good player(s), and he gets within 2-3 years of free agency, you can’t afford him anymore, so you have to trade him for whatever the best offer happens to be.
Cosmodogs:
I feel for you. Seriously I do, but I would not say “never” if I were you. All they really need is a cool new ballpark that’s not a pain in the neck to get to. That could make a huge difference in their financial situation. I’m not a Rays fan, but I’m rooting for them to get what they need to make them more financially competitive, since they already are on the field.
r/whooooooosh
Cheapo Rogers will not allow any more major FA signings. Maybe a couple minor league ones that’s about it. Sucks to be a Blue Jays fan with one of the worst owners in the game.
Please explain Ryu then? It doesn’t suck being a Jays fan, it sucks having whiny clueless Jays fans like you posing as a real fan.
Poor baby. Such a victim. But take heart. You’re not really much of a fan it seems so it will likely be over when hockey starts!
But seriously mate, instead of whining and crying on a baseball board, why not look for a sport you could learn a bit about and whine and cry there?
What about Marcus Semien?
If they ranked them by AAV Semien would have been up there. They just assumed he was going to take a 1 year deal coming off a down year.
Bauer career: 113 ERA+, 7.9 H/9, 1.1 HR/9, 3.4 BB/9, 9.7 K/9
Gray career: 117 ERA, 7.8 H/9, 0.9 HR/9, 3.2 BB/9, 8.5 K/9.
Would people be clamoring for Gray to get a $35 million per year deal based off a strong, almost assuredly pine tar aided, 60 game sprint?
I like Bauer, but not at ace prices. And I think he’s unsigned because teams are telling his agent the same thing.
I wouldn’t look at someone’s career, I would look at recent trends.
I’m a fan of trends, but that’s also what makes this free agent class so tough. Lots of guys have great months or horrible months. Last year Upton had one of each.
Harder to evaluate trends this year than others.
Again, look at the MLB site.
Halos11:
The trouble with recent trends, while having some value, can also be very misleading. If you’re looking at stats, the largest sample is almost always the most illuminating. Though some guys do turn things around, or finally break out, it’s always better to see the large samples of full seasons to see evidence of that. The 60-game, 2020 season isn’t totally lacking in analytical value, but needs to be taken with at least a modicum of skepticism.
Last 200 IP for Bauer:
4.75 ERA
4.34 FIP
99 ERA+
27.4 K%
8.7 BB%
17.3 Soft Contact%
Last 200 IP for Gray:
4.73 ERA
4.45 FIP
106 ERA+
20.9 K%
8.3 BB%
15 Soft Contact%
Even over their last “Full Season”, they are incredibly comparable.
Neat Steve, where are you filtering for last 200 IP?
Do Wainwright please?
The steal that nobody talks about. He’d be a Card already if they were willing to give 2 years? His arm probably won’t give 2 years. But the 1 year could be a strong veteran #3 in many rotations. How many terrible rotations could use a mentor like him? 2 year, 25m?
“Springer reportedly has multiple offers worth upward of $100MM”.
I have yet to see a rumor connecting Springer with such an offer from any other team besides the Mets and Blue Jays, with NY potentially ready to move on following their blockbuster trade with the Indians. Even the link provided here only mentions those two teams. There are plenty of contending teams in need of the best free agent outfielder in this year’s class but which of them aside from the two already mentioned have a $100MM + offer on the table? The proverbial mystery team or three?!?!
Aaron:
Some teams are just very good at keeping everything in house. I wish we knew about all the offers, but unfortunately we’ll probably never know which teams made offers or how much was offered.
“Multiple” = more than one.
Mets + Jays = Multiple Offers
Have they posted the standings on the FA Prediction Contest? I am missing not knowing how badly my picks were.
They posted one a while back. I just clicked on the link which should be updated as we post: mlbtraderumors.com/mlb-free-agent-prediction-conte…
Thank you Aaron. I have been looking for that, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.
Connor Byrne: “Stop me if you’ve heard this before…”
No one: *…*
Absolutely no one:*…*
Everyone in the comments: “I heard Toronto has some needs.”
These memes are dead.
Every team’s action on the FA market has to be seen through the prisms of their revenue and profits. Add in the time-specific element (where they are on the developmental curve; where other teams in their division are on the same) , and you have some criteria for criticism.
Right now the Jays are disappointing. The Yanks look a bit uncertain, the Rays to be a one year wonder, the Sox confused, and the Orioles to be on their 3rd year of a 10 year plan.
With the right additions, and accepting the fact the Jays have a LOT of money, there’s really little excuse for the way they’ve behaved this off season.
There just aren’t enough teams in spend mode or who are willing to cross the revenue sharing threshold for all these guys to come close to their projected contracts. I think there will be at least 4 of these players who will either have to take pillow contracts, below market short term contracts, or just remain unsigned well into the season. Nobody wants to hear that, but the cold hard reality of economic uncertainty cannot be ignored
Blue Jay’s reviewing list to make certain they have shown interest in all noted.
Lots of criticism from Jays fans that they haven’t done anything yet…. but only 3 of the top 13 free agents have signed.
Two of them accepted the QO and the other had a deadline because of his posting window. Nothing is moving.
It’s brutal to watch as fans… but way too early to criticize front offices yet. Players may have to start signing soon or risk being Moustakased into a crappy one year deal.
Kim, Morton, McCann, Smyly, Minor, Santana, Schwarber, these represent the “major” signings so far
So basically the same from 10 free agents from Nov 1.
This is why no fan should be upset if their team hasn’t signed a top free agent. It’s mid January and only 3 of the top 10 have signed and none of them are top 5.
I wouldn’t sign any big names to long term contracts until Covid is gone & fans are back! In the mean time I’d be keeping my young guys who’d normally be in AA & AAA on my major league roster. Who really cares about a World Series at the end of a “no fans allowed shortened season” like last year? The whole league should of been filled with younger guys getting MLB experience.
Who really cares about WS that’s good one
Sad fact, cheapgm4hire, is that there’s 40 spots and 40 guys under guaranteed contracts that you’ve got to pay. The other truth is that you’d have to pay one of those guys to bring up one of those “younger” guys who, depending on the team and level of league, didn’t earn $10k last year. So fiscally speaking, why pay someone else while you are already paying a much more expensive person?
Let alone starting the clock on a younger player.
Uninformed Padre fans think he’s signing here for 2 years
Bauer is wack job
A team could put together an All-Star rooster with all those remaining free agents
At least Chanticleer will make sure there’s no rain outs.
We need more free agents signed and more Sullivan Bluth Studios movies produced.
Let DJ walk….yesssss I know blasphemy!!! Sign Didi for maybe $12m?, move Gleyber to 2b….and sign Bauer !!…
Even though the diff. between DJ and Bauer salary might not be that small..it aint that big….maybe $22M vs. $28-ishM ??? Why doesnt anyone see that we (Yankees) need SP MORE than anything…. RE-signing DJ does not come close to making them a World Series team…SIGNING Bauer makes them instant Big show team!!!! So if they go over their cap with those salaries…are TWO world series worth it over the course of 4 years?
What, in your mind, makes you think Bauer is the answer for the Yankees? I’d rather resign Tanaka for less. You’ll get about the same production.
Smh…Bauer at #1. Career 3.90 ERA. Not ace material. Only 2 seasons was he below 4 ERA, and he’s entering 2021 30 years old. Everything, to me, points to another bust of a signing.
You can absolutely mark the Cardinals “Off of the Teams interested in signing D. J. LeMahieu!!! Maybe if someone else was president of baseball operations in St. Louis besides John Mozeliak. However, Mozeliak hasn’t made any moves in the last 8 year ( besides Goldschmidt) to add any impact hitters. Mozeliak is the type to sign over the hill pond scum to multi year-High dollar contracts. He’s the reason the Cardinals are in the financial bind plus the fact there are no impact hitters currently on the Cardinals!!! Mozeliak is also the reason of casting off prominent minor leaguers who have developed into superstars for several other teams.
I wish Mets would scoop guys like Jonathan Villar… love Lindor signing! Don’t get me wrong but I’m ready to get a bit greedy lol..Quality depth especially a guy who can still run and play at high level. I would much rather have Villar’s glove and speed over a guy like J.D. Davis. Move Davis to utility role, where he was excellent pinch hitter.
Villar is terrible with the glove and is not a very smart baseball player. A poor man’s Jose Reyes. Aim higher than Villar if you’d like Davis pushed to the bench.
Disagree but I hope your right about Davis but he makes me nervous no matter what position he’s at.