We’re just two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training and the two biggest free agents on the market have yet to find new deals.
Bryce Harper and Manny Machado remain unsigned and still garner the majority of the headlines around the baseball world, but there are a number of impact players beyond those two stars still waiting to land contracts.
As the MLB season inches closer, here’s an updated look at the top 10 free agents still available:
1. Bryce Harper
Position: Outfield
Age: 26
2018 stats: GP: 159 | Slash line: .249/.393/.496 | HR: 34 | RBI: 100 | SB: 13
Former Team: Washington Nationals
Potential Fits: Nationals, Phillies, White Sox, Padres
The biggest fish in the free agent sea has yet to find a home, and the slow-developing market is drawing the ire of some around the game. Harper is coming off a down year by his standards, hitting just .249. His OPS still rang in at a strong .889, buoyed by a league-high 130 walks. It’s safe to say this winter hasn’t gone as planned for Harper, but that monster contract is still out there, even if it’s not as lucrative as initially expected.
The latest: Harper met with the San Diego Padres Thursday.
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2. Manny Machado
Position: Shortstop/Third base
Age: 26
2018 stats: GP: 162 | Slash line: .297/.367/.538 | HR: 37 | RBI: 107 | SB: 14
Former Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Potential Fits: Padres, White Sox, Phillies
Harper would be by far the best free agent in most classes, but Machado’s presence on this list makes the top spot more of a toss up. The 26-year-old infielder has been one of MLB’s best players for years now and is set to break the bank on a mega deal even if hustling isn’t really his thing. A four-time all-star, Machado’s value is bolstered even further since he plays a premium defensive position. The former Baltimore Oriole is a franchise-altering player, but his asking price makes him a realistic option for only a handful of teams. Like Harper, the $300-million deal may elude him, and his free agency hasn’t played out as predicted.
The latest: Machado hoped to eclipse Giancarlo Stanton’s massive contract and sign with the Yankees.
3. Dallas Keuchel
Position: Left-handed starter
Age: 30
2018 stats: IP: 204.2 | ERA: 3.74 | WHIP: 1.31 | SO: 153 | BB: 58
Former team: Houston Astros
Potential fits: Phillies, Astros, Padres
The lone Cy Young winner on this list, Keuchel is a free agent for the first time and is still looking to cash in on a handsome deal. He’s a proven top-of-the-rotation arm, although 2018 was far from his best showing. He had a solid ERA and logged 200 innings for the third time in his career, but gave up an MLB-high 211 hits and saw his strikeout rate drop by a full point. Nonetheless, he remains a steady performer and his three Gold Gloves certainly won’t hurt his case.
The latest: The Astros aren’t ruling out a reunion with Keuchel.
4. Craig Kimbrel
Position: Right-handed reliever
Age: 30
2018 stats: IP: 62.1 | ERA: 2.74 | WHIP: 0.99 | SO: 96 | BB: 31
Former team: Boston Red Sox
Potential fits: Red Sox, Phillies, Braves
An all-star in eight of the past nine seasons, Kimbrel has been as consistently dominant as any MLB closer, as evidenced by his career K/9 rate of 14.7. Kimbrel wasn’t at his best during the 2018 playoffs, but the Red Sox still won the World Series with him putting a bow on games. The price tag will surely be high, so he’s probably only a realistic option for big-market teams, but the payoff is huge as his presence instantly anchors a bullpen.
The latest: The Braves could be “lying in the weeds” for Kimbrel.
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5. Gio Gonzalez
Position: Left-handed starter
Age: 33
2018 stats: IP: 77.2 | ERA: 4.21 | WHIP: 1.44 | SO: 148 | BB: 80
Former team: Milwaukee Brewers
Potential fits: Padres, Mets, Brewers
Gonzalez’s all-star days are behind him, but the left-hander is still a serviceable option for teams looking for starting pitching. He benefitted from a mid-season trade from Washington to Milwaukee, posting a 2.13 ERA in five games with the Brewers down the stretch. Replicating those numbers over a full season would be far too much to ask from Gonzalez at this point in his career, but he can likely still provide an ERA around 4.00 and log 170-180 innings.
The latest: The Padres and Mets are showing interest in Gonzalez.
6. Marwin Gonzalez
Position: Utility
Age: 29
2018 stats: GP: 145 | Slash line: .247/.324/.409 | HR: 16 | RBI: 68 | SB: 2
Former Team: Houston Astros
Potential Fits: Too many to list
The ultimate Swiss Army knife, Gonzalez can play all over the diamond and hit anywhere in a batting order. If your favourite team has a hole on the roster, chances are Gonzalez could be a strong option to fill it. He took a step back from his breakout 2017 campaign, but he put together a strong second half in 2018 with an .844 OPS. The switch-hitter’s price might be high for a utility player, but there’s no doubting what a luxury it is to have the flexibility he brings to a roster.
The latest: Astros willing to “keep door open” on bringing back Gonzalez.
7. Mike Moustakas
Position: Third base
Age: 30
2018 stats: GP: 152 | Slash line: .251/.315/.459 | HR: 28 | RBI: 95 | SB: 4
Former Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Potential Fits: Brewers, Phillies, Angels
Moustakas is no stranger to a slow-moving free agency. He found himself in the same boat just one year ago, ultimately settling for a discounted one-year deal with the Royals. The slugger was dealt to the Brewers at the non-waiver trade deadline and helped his new squad win the National League Central and make a run to Game 7 of the NLCS. Moustakas could find himself as a fallback option for teams who miss out on Machado, and he would come at a fraction of the price.
The latest: The Brewers are keeping tabs on Moustakas and a number of others.
8. Adam Jones
Position: Outfield
Age: 33
2018 stats: GP: 145 | Slash line: .281/.313/.419 | HR: 15 | RBI: 63 | SB: 7
Former Team: Baltimore Orioles
Potential Fits: Giants, Diamondbacks, Indians
A five-time all-star, Jones might stand to benefit from a change of scenery in 2019. The four-time Gold Glove winner spent the past 11 seasons in Baltimore, experiencing the highs of October baseball and the lows of a 115-loss campaign one year ago. Jones has appeared in at least 137 games in nine straight seasons, which helps him hold his value even as he ages. He’s not going to be the 30-home run bat he once was, but could be a bargain signing this late in free agency.
The latest: A return to Baltimore is unlikely.
9. Martin Maldonado
Position: Catcher
Age: 32
2018 stats: GP: 119 | Slash line: .225/.276/.351 | HR: 9 | RBI: 44 | SB: 0
Former Team: Houston Astros
Potential Fits: Cubs, Astros, Athletics
Maldonado isn’t going to impress with his offence, as evidenced by his career batting average of .220. The 32-year-old’s value comes from what he brings behind the plate, as he is one of the premier defensive backstops in the league. Maldonado controlled the running game better than any of his peers in 2018, throwing out an MLB-high 48.6 per cent of base stealers.
The latest: No recent rumblings.
10. Josh Harrison
Position: Infield/Outfield
Age: 33
2018 stats: GP: 97 | Slash line: .250/.293/.363 | HR: 8 | RBI: 37 | SB: 3
Former Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Potential Fits: Rays, Dodgers, Giants
Harrison has battled injuries over the past two seasons, and the Pirates declined his $10.5 million option in October. His versatility is his most valuable trait, as he’s able to play second, third, or either corner outfield spot. It would make sense for the two-time all-star to ink a one-year deal to re-establish his value before hitting the market again next off-season. If he signs with a rebuilding club, he could also be flipped at the trade deadline should he get off to a hot start.
The latest: Plenty of teams are being linked to Harrison.
