MLB · 1 year ago

Predicting Landing Spots for the Top 10 Available MLB Free Agents

Grant White

Host · Writer

1. Cody Bellinger - San Diego Padres
Former MVP Cody Bellinger is still looking for a new home. The pissing contest between him and the Chicago Cubs has come to a head, forcing Belli to pursue other avenues in the free agent market. One team that should be interested in him is the San Diego Padres.

Nobody is better than adding a left-handed power bat, and the Padres need that and a centerfielder. Jake Cronenworth and Tucupita Marcano are the only lefties in the entire roster, and as it stands, Jose Azocar is penciled in to start in center.

The Padres tend to spend big, and getting Bellinger is the move they need to make if they have any hope of exceeding their implied odds of +6000 in the World Series futures market.
10. Gio Urshela - New York Yankees
It's been another offseason of change for the New York Yankees as they try to return to playoff glory. The Evil Empire has added to their starting lineup and rotation this offseason, but they could be looking to bolster their bench ahead of Spring Training.

With position players starting to report, Gio Urshela remains unsigned following an abbreviated 2023 season. Urshela missed over half the season after suffering a pelvic fracture with the Los Angeles Angels in June.

Urshela straddles a wide line defensively, playing as a third baseman or shortstop, but he's also played as a first and second baseman. That's an invaluable skillset that could benefit the Yankees in their pursuit to conquer the AL East as +130 chalk.
9. Michael Taylor - Toronto Blue Jays
Despite their front office assurances otherwise, it's been an underwhelming offseason for the Toronto Blue Jays. They decided to move on from Matt Chapman and Whit Merrifield, negatively impacting their starters platoon and ability to generate runs.

Michael Taylor solves both of those problems, albeit one of them more effectively than the other. The World Series-winning outfielder has been an above-average defender throughout his career and can still chip in offensively.

The team added Isiah Kiner-Falefa to replace Chapman in the infield, and Taylor would be the ideal defensive stalwart to add to the outfield.
8. Tim Anderson - Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have a glaring hole in the middle of their infield. Wander Franco won't be available this season, and it's still up in the air if he ever returns stateside. Although the Rays pride themselves in having a plethora of MLB-ready players available in their pipeline, they need to bring in Tim Anderson.

As it stands, Jose Caballero is the de facto shortstop, with Osleivis Basabe potentially competing for playing time. In 280 plate appearances, Caballero put together a .663 OPS with the Seattle Mariners last year. Basabe skipped Triple-A altogether on his way to replace Franco in 2023.

The Rays won't pay the price Anderson is looking for. But for a one-year show-me deal, this could be a marriage benefitting both parties. And for Anderson's sake, reclamation projects always turn out well in St. Pete.
7. Whit Merrifield - Philadelphia Phillies
If there's an area of weakness for the Philadelphia Phillies, it would be their outfield. By comparison, their All-Star caliber infield featuring the likes of Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, J.T. Realmuto, and Trea Turner looks much more imposing than their outfield of Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, and Johan Rojas. But adding Whit Merrifield tilts that balance toward the outfield.

With a career .750 OPS, Merrifield would be a welcome addition to the outfield rotation. Of course, he's spent most of his career playing second base, but we've seen him more involved in the outfield over the past few seasons. Merrifield effectively played a 50-50 split between the infield and outfield, showcasing his defensive skills in any position.

The former Blue Jay would be a welcome addition to a Phillies squad needing run production from their outfielders.
6. J.D. Martinez - New York Mets
J.D. Martinez has been walking around with a 'Bat For Sale' sign since the start of the offseason. But as we're all finding out, there's a limited market for aging sluggers.

Enter the New York Mets.

For years, the Mets have been trying to stay relevant, but remain distant in the NL East, currently priced at +1200 to win the division. Adding Martinez could transform the top half of the batting order, amplifying Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor's offensive ceilings.

Citi Field isn't known as a hitter-friendly ballpark, but Martinez could still do damage in Queens. And at +158 to make the playoffs, the Mets need all the help they can get.
5. Trevor Bauer - Boston Red Sox
After serving his MLB-imposed suspension, Trevor Bauer is looking to re-assert himself as a Cy Young-caliber pitcher. If one team needs an arm like Bauer, it's the Boston Red Sox.

Collectively, Red Sox starters combined for the 22nd-ranked ERA in 2023 and 15th-most wins. Competing against some of the toughest teams in the majors, they'll need to take a big step forward in 2024 to stay in the playoff race.

Boston needs Bauer as much as Bauer needs Boston. If they find each other, the former Dodger could be well on his way to establishing himself as an AL Cy Young contender and helping Boston in their quest to make the playoffs as +300 underdogs.
4. Jordan Montgomery - St. Louis Cardinals
With pitchers and catchers already at camp, Jordan Montgomery is content to sit back and wait for the right deal. That might include bringing him back to his former stomping grounds with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals could use another arm in their rotation, particularly a left-handed one.

In parts of two seasons in St. Louis, Montgomery totaled 184.2 innings across 32 starts, with a 3.31 ERA and 8.2 K/9 rate. Bringing back Montgomery could be the key to helping the Cards right the ship and live up to expectations as +140 favorites to win the NL Central.
3. Matt Chapman - San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants face long odds in the NL West this season, currently installed as +1500 longshots to win the division. It's an indictment of their current roster, strengthening their need to bring on more top-end talent before the start of the year.

Matt Chapman is a player the Giants need in their lineup. He's an upgrade at the hot corner over J.D. Davis, bolstering the middle of their batting order. Moreover, adding Chapman is a natural marriage for the Giants. A California native who played the first five seasons of his career in the Bay Area, the former Blue Jay could be looking for an excuse to migrate back out west.
2. Blake Snell - Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners already have one of the best starting rotations in the majors. Led by Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Logan Gilbert, the M's are positioned for success in 2024. But that might not be enough to offset the offensive deficiencies expected from their batting order. Adding a two-time Cy Young winner in Blake Snell could be what's needed to push the Mariners over the edge in the AL West.

Thankfully, Snell is still available for the right price. Despite Seattle's cost-saving measures from this offseason, there should be a willingness to spend to catch the biggest fish left in the market. Snell's profile is ideally suited for T-Mobile Park, and he would push Seattle off their +300 price to win the division.
1. Cody Bellinger - San Diego Padres
Former MVP Cody Bellinger is still looking for a new home. The pissing contest between him and the Chicago Cubs has come to a head, forcing Belli to pursue other avenues in the free agent market. One team that should be interested in him is the San Diego Padres.

Nobody is better than adding a left-handed power bat, and the Padres need that and a centerfielder. Jake Cronenworth and Tucupita Marcano are the only lefties in the entire roster, and as it stands, Jose Azocar is penciled in to start in center.

The Padres tend to spend big, and getting Bellinger is the move they need to make if they have any hope of exceeding their implied odds of +6000 in the World Series futures market.
10. Gio Urshela - New York Yankees
It's been another offseason of change for the New York Yankees as they try to return to playoff glory. The Evil Empire has added to their starting lineup and rotation this offseason, but they could be looking to bolster their bench ahead of Spring Training.

With position players starting to report, Gio Urshela remains unsigned following an abbreviated 2023 season. Urshela missed over half the season after suffering a pelvic fracture with the Los Angeles Angels in June.

Urshela straddles a wide line defensively, playing as a third baseman or shortstop, but he's also played as a first and second baseman. That's an invaluable skillset that could benefit the Yankees in their pursuit to conquer the AL East as +130 chalk.

Predicting Landing Spots for the Top 10 Available MLB Free Agents

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