MLB · 1 year ago

Predicting Landing Spots for the Top 12 Available MLB Free Agents: Updated

Grant White

Host · Writer

Trevor Bauer
Predicted Landing Spot: St. Louis Cardinals

Trevor Bauer finds himself in baseball purgatory. Teams are seemingly unwilling to look past his alleged sorted past, leaving him without a contract weeks into Spring Training.

There is no shortage of teams that could use an arm of Bauer's caliber. Chief among them is the St. Louis Cardinals, as they try to live up to expectations as the NL Central betting favorite. Cardinals' starters finished last season with the fifth-worst ERA in the MLB, compiling an atrocious 43-64 record. Bauer stabilizes that rotation and would quickly cement himself as the staff ace.

If he lands a spot on a big league roster, inevitably, Bauer will find his way onto the Cy Young futures board. Considering his improved velocity and expanding arsenal, he could skyrocket to the top of the list.
Johnny Cueto
Predicted Landing Spot: Washington Nationals

Every year, we have the same conversation: how bad can the Washington Nationals be, and how long until they fix the problem? Unfortunately for the remaining Nats fans, the outlook on either question isn't promising.

Washington has one of the worst starting rotations in the bigs. Through their first four starts of the year, Nats starters have combined for an 8.20 ERA and 1.82 WHIP, putting them among the bottom three teams in the MLB.

Johnny Cueto isn't the magical solution to their problems, but he does offer some much-needed relief. The now 38-year-old can still eat up innings and has effectively limited baserunners over the past few seasons. Signing with the Nationals will at least help them be more competitive throughout the season.
Jonathan Schoop
Predicted Landing Spot: Los Angeles Angels

Jonathan Schoop has taken Trevor Bauer's lead and signed with a Mexican League team to stay fresh and earn another shot with an MLB team. The Los Angeles Angels are one team that could use assistance at second base.

Never an offensive catalyst, Schoop has been a steadying defensive stalwart throughout his MLB career. And that's precisely where the Halos need help. Brandon Drury has been a solid offensive contributor in Anaheim, but his negative defensive WAR rankings over the past few years leave much to be desired.

Bringing in Schoop would be the ideal fit, as he would serve primarily as a late-innings defender when the Angels are out in front.
Jean Segura
Predicted Landing Spot: Milwaukee Brewers

As part of the Corbin Burnes deal this offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers landed Joey Ortiz. The rookie has been deployed as a second and third baseman this season, but the Brewers may want to insulate Ortiz with a veteran presence/mentor. That's where Jean Segura comes in.

Segura is a two-time All-Star with a profile similar to Ortiz. He's been used across the infield, flashing defensive prowess across second, third, and shortstop. Moreover, Segura has been an above-average contributor offensively.

With a career .729 OPS, Segura straddles a wide line between quality defender and bottom-of-the-order contributor, a skillset that the Brewers desperately need.
Julio Teheran
Predicted Landing Spot: New York Mets

Former two-time All-Star Julio Teheran is looking for another shot in the MLB, and the New York Mets may be happy to oblige.

Teheran spent Spring Training with the Baltimore Orioles, looking effective in four starts. The Colombian native tossed 13.1 innings while striking out ten and allowing five earned runs on nine hits. Still, that wasn't enough to crack the O's roster, leaving Teheran out of a home.

Enter the Mets, who are already trying to salvage the 2024 season. In need of quality arms in its starting rotation, New York could be looking to make an early-season splash and sign Teheran to a contract.
Noah Syndergaard
Predicted Landing Spot: Tampa Bay Rays

Injuries have prevented Noah Syndergaard from achieving his full potential, but he still has a quality mix of pitches that could extend his MLB career. Further, Syndergaard wasn't as bad as his stat line implies from last season, but he'll likely need to sign a minor league deal with a club and earn his way onto a big league roster.

Last season, Syndergaard mixed in seven different pitchers. His four-seamer, curveball, and rarely used splitter were his best offerings, while he was hurt by his slider, change-up, cutter, and sinker. Finding a team that can maximize his pitch repertoire is the key to sustainable success for Syndergaard.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a solid track record of making the most with the least, and that's particularly true with their pitchers. If Syndergaard is willing to put in the time in Triple-A, this could be his best chance of salvaging his major league career.
Adalberto Mondesi
Predicted Landing Spot: Chicago White Sox

Just a few years ago, Adalberto Mondesi was trending upward. However, recurrent ACL injuries have stalled his growth and kept him as a free agent. There's no easy path back to the MLB for Mondesi, but a shortstop-needy team should be willing to give him a shot at some point this season.

The Chicago White Sox moved on from longtime shortstop Tim Anderson this offseason. Their solution was bringing in Paul DeJong, sacrificing offensive production for more sure-handed defending.

Throughout his career, Mondesi has flashed above-average hitting and power. He could be an ideal fit for the White Sox if he can deliver more consistent performances.
Zack Greinke
Predicted Landing Spot: Toronto Blue Jays

This isn't how Zack Greinke wants to ride off into the sunset. Securing victory in just two of his 30 games (27 starts) last season, Greinke has expressed an interest in coming back for one last hoorah in 2024. His underlying metrics support the idea that he still has a little gas left in the tank.

The former Cy Young winner was better than average in 2023, posting a 1.0 WAR. Across 142.1 innings pitched, Greinke posted a decent 4.74 FIP, 1.5 walks, and 6.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Moreover, he posted above-average metrics in hard-hit rate, ground ball percentage, and barrel rate.

Greinke isn't the stalwart we remember from years past, but he's still a serviceable arm at the bottom of the rotation. A contending team with some Spring Training injury concerns, like the Toronto Blue Jays, would be a natural landing spot.
Evan Longoria
Predicted Landing Spot: Tampa Bay Rays

It would be a damn shame if Evan Longoria decided to hang up his cleats without taking one more shot at a World Series. The veteran third baseman wrapped up his 16th professional season in 2023. Although he struggled at various points of the campaign, he would be a reliable depth option for any postseason contender.

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At 37 years old, Longoria still had positive WAR ratings on both sides of the ball last season. He came in at 0.3 in oWar and 0.1 in dWar, getting the bump on rounding errors. Longo had a respectable .422 slugging percentage, with 20 of his 47 hits going for extra bases. Further, he had an above-average sweet spot rating, with a 51.6% hard-hit rate that put Longoria in the 90th percentile.

Signing a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays is the poetic ending Evan Longoria deserves. The Rays have untested players expected to fill some glaring holes this season. Longoria could soften that blow, helping the next generation get acclimated quickly.
Brandon Belt
Predicted Landing Spot: Los Angeles Angels

There's still plenty of pop left in Brandon Belt's bat; however, he's aging into a proper DH role, limiting his versatility for any team willing to sign him. Coincidentally, the Los Angeles Angels recently lost a left-handed DH bat, and Belt could step into that role.

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Belt isn't going to fill the gap that Shohei Ohtani left, but he would be a complementary piece. Heading into the regular season, Brandon Drury, Anthony Rendon, and Mike Trout are projected to platoon as designated hitters. However, all three have fielding duties they must abandon to fill that spot.

Signing in LA would allow Belt to settle into a proper DH role without compromising any of the Angels' position players.
Tommy Pham
Predicted Landing Spot: Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies were pleasantly surprised with Nolan Jones's MLB development in 2023. The second-year pro posted a sterling 4.3 WAR, solidifying himself as a potential All-Star. And nobody would ever want to rob Charlie Blackmon of defensive reps out in right field. However, Tommy Pham would be a solid depth option for the Rockies ahead of the 2024 season.

Pham can play both corner outfield spots, but he's also a potential designated hitter with plus speed on the basepath. Last year, the mercurial outfielder nabbed 22 bags, adapting to the runner-friendly rule changes of 2023. Combined with his .446 slugging percentage, he would be a welcome addition at Coors Field.

The Rockies are busy developing their young roster. Having Pham available off the bench would help ease the transition and not force Colorado into rushing anyone's development.
Donovan Solano
Predicted Landing Spot: Cleveland Guardians

The Minnesota Twins decided not to bring Donovan Solano back for another kick at the can in 2024. The 36-year-old had a productive 2023 campaign, but the Twins decided that Carlos Santana could fulfill the first baseman/DH role instead. Still, a familiar foe would benefit from having a player of Solano's ilk for the upcoming campaign.

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The Cleveland Guardians were one of the least productive teams from the DH position. Cumulatively, their .667 OPS was second-worst in the majors. Although they managed a respectable 93 RBIs from that position, they still had only 53 extra-base hits, including 21 homers, the entire season.

Solano alone managed 32 extra-base hits in 2023. It's not the substantive upgrade they need, but it is a step in the right direction. Bringing Solano in as a designated hitter and backup first baseman could help the Guardians keep their collective heads above water.
Trevor Bauer
Predicted Landing Spot: St. Louis Cardinals

Trevor Bauer finds himself in baseball purgatory. Teams are seemingly unwilling to look past his alleged sorted past, leaving him without a contract weeks into Spring Training.

There is no shortage of teams that could use an arm of Bauer's caliber. Chief among them is the St. Louis Cardinals, as they try to live up to expectations as the NL Central betting favorite. Cardinals' starters finished last season with the fifth-worst ERA in the MLB, compiling an atrocious 43-64 record. Bauer stabilizes that rotation and would quickly cement himself as the staff ace.

If he lands a spot on a big league roster, inevitably, Bauer will find his way onto the Cy Young futures board. Considering his improved velocity and expanding arsenal, he could skyrocket to the top of the list.
Johnny Cueto
Predicted Landing Spot: Washington Nationals

Every year, we have the same conversation: how bad can the Washington Nationals be, and how long until they fix the problem? Unfortunately for the remaining Nats fans, the outlook on either question isn't promising.

Washington has one of the worst starting rotations in the bigs. Through their first four starts of the year, Nats starters have combined for an 8.20 ERA and 1.82 WHIP, putting them among the bottom three teams in the MLB.

Johnny Cueto isn't the magical solution to their problems, but he does offer some much-needed relief. The now 38-year-old can still eat up innings and has effectively limited baserunners over the past few seasons. Signing with the Nationals will at least help them be more competitive throughout the season.

Predicting Landing Spots for the Top 12 Available MLB Free Agents: Updated

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