As the old saying goes, an MLB team can never have too much pitching.
Injuries are inevitable over the course of a season and having the combination of high-end talent and depth to withstand the blows is synonymous with team success.
It’s not just starters that command the spotlight in today’s game. With bullpens being used more than ever, having enough relievers to soak up high-leverage innings — whenever they should occur — is becoming a focus league-wide. Hard-throwing, multi-inning weapons out of the ‘pen are some of the most valuable players in the league.
Teams looking to bolster their pitching staffs will have an opportunity to do so this winter, with a plethora of quality arms on the free agent market. While there is probably only one true ace up for grabs, there are a number of players capable of slotting into the middle of a rotation or the back of a bullpen. Here’s a look at the top 10 pitchers available this off-season.
For a list of the top 10 position players, click here.
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1. Trevor Bauer
Position: Starter
Age: 29
Throws: Right
2020 stats: IP: 73 | ERA: 1.73 | WHIP: 0.80 | SO: 100 | WAR (per Fangraphs): 2.5
Former team: Cincinnati Reds
Following a disappointing 2019 campaign split between Cleveland and Cincinnati, Bauer rebounded with an extraordinary 2020. He posted a minuscule 1.73 ERA and his FIP came in at an impressive 2.88. The National League Cy Young finalist is electric on the mound and off it, racking up strikeouts and Twitter followers.
The Reds gave him a qualifying offer, which is worth $18.9 million over one year, and Bauer has been vocal in the past about his interest in a series of one-year deals. His agent has since walked back that sentiment, saying the 29-year-old is certainly open to multi-year contracts. He has the highest ceiling of any pitcher on this list and will be paid accordingly. The only question is, who will end up forking over the money?
2. Marcus Stroman
Position: Starter
Age: 29
Throws: Right
2019 stats (did not play in 2020): IP: 184.1 | ERA: 3.22 | WHIP: 1.31 | SO: 159 | WAR: 3.9
Former team: New York Mets
Like Bauer, Stroman is not afraid to speak his mind and he channels that energy whenever he toes the rubber. The Duke product actually has a longer track record of success than Bauer, posting an ERA under 4.00 in four of his six seasons. Working against him is the fact he did not pitch in 2020 due to a combination of injury and concerns about COVID-19, as well as his style of pitching, which favours groundballs over the more in vogue strikeouts. At his best, Stroman can slide in atop any rotation and he’s a proven big-game pitcher in the playoffs and World Baseball Classic.
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3. Masahiro Tanaka
Position: Starter
Age: 32
Throws: Right
2020 stats: IP: 48 | ERA: 3.56 | WHIP: 1.17 | SO: 44 | WAR: 0.8
Former team: New York Yankees
Tanaka’s days of dominance are likely in the past, but he’s still a reliable arm for the middle of a starting staff. He mixes pitches very well, which is a necessity considering opponents hit .351 with a .649 slugging percentage against his fastball in 2020. Tanaka did have some difficulty keeping the ball in the yard last season, surrendering 1.7 home runs per nine innings. At this point in his career, he offers a high floor but a low ceiling, which is still valuable for most teams.
4. Liam Hendriks
Position: Reliever
Age: 31
Throws: Right
2020 stats: IP: 25.1 | ERA: 1.78 | WHIP: 0.67 | SO: 37 | WAR: 1.4
Former team: Oakland Athletics
Hendriks has to be one of the best stories in baseball. The Australian has been designated for assignment four times over his career, including as recently as 2018. Now he’s emerged as one of the game’s elite relievers, anchoring a very good Oakland bullpen. His past two seasons have been absolutely dominant and he should cash in as the top closer on the market.
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5. Charlie Morton
Position: Starter
Age: 36
Throws: Right
2020 stats: IP: 38 | ERA: 4.74 | WHIP: 1.40 | SO: 42 | WAR: 0.9
Former team: Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays surprisingly turned down the $15-million team option on Morton’s contract for 2021, allowing him to test the market. He had a bloated ERA this season, but his FIP was a much more respectable 3.45. He should be available on a low-risk, one-year contract given his age, and he’s still just one year removed from finishing third in AL Cy Young voting. His career 3.38 playoff ERA has to be enticing for any contender.
6. Brad Hand
Position: Reliever
Age: 30
Throws: Left
2020 stats: IP: 22 | ERA: 2.05 | WHIP: 0.77 | SO: 29 | WAR: 1.1
Former team: Cleveland Indians
Similarly to the Rays’ decision on Morton, Cleveland placing Hand on waivers with the intention of declining his $10-million option was a surprise. The southpaw has been one of MLB’s best relievers since 2016 and was an all-star in each season from 2017-19. He didn’t allow a home run in 23 appearances this year and registered an MLB-high 16 saves.
7. Taijuan Walker
Position: Starter
Age: 28
Throws: Right
2020 stats: IP: 53.1 | ERA: 2.70 | WHIP: 1.16 | SO: 50 | WAR: 0.6
Former team: Toronto Blue Jays
Walker split his season between Seattle and Toronto and was particularly impressive after the Blue Jays acquired him at the trade deadline, pitching to a 1.37 ERA in six appearances. The right-hander was once one of MLB’s most enticing prospects, but he never quite reached that potential as he’s battled a number of injuries over his career. When healthy, he’s a steady pitcher and would look good in the middle of a rotation. He’s at least open to a return to Toronto.
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8. Kevin Gausman
Position: Starter
Age: 29
Throws: Right
2020 stats: IP: 59.2 | ERA: 3.62 | WHIP: 1.11 | SO: 79 | WAR: 1.5
Former team: San Francisco Giants
Gausman signed a one-year deal with the Giants after taking a step back in 2019. He responded by turning in a quality season that resulted in San Francisco extending him a qualifying offer. The Colorado native posted a career-best strikeout rate and also improved his fastball velocity. Having draft-pick compensation attached to him may limit his market, but he’s one of the top starters available.
9. James Paxton
Position: Starter
Age: 31
Throws: Left
2020 stats: IP: 20.1 | ERA: 6.64 | WHIP: 1.48 | SO: 26 | WAR: 0.3
Former team: New York Yankees
If we were basing this list strictly on talent, it’s possible Paxton would rank first or second. Big Maple’s lengthy injury history is what puts a damper on his value, as he has never pitched more than 160.1 innings in a season and has eclipsed 150 just twice over his career. He does produce when he can stay on the field and hadn’t posted an ERA above 4.00 prior to 2020. A short-term deal is the most likely outcome for Paxton and he has the upside to be a major difference-maker for whoever signs him this winter.
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10. Alex Colome
Position: Reliever
Age: 31
Throws: Right
2020 stats: IP: 22.1| ERA: 0.81 | WHIP: 0.94 | SO: 16 | WAR: 0.6
Former team: Chicago White Sox
For teams that miss out on Hendriks and Hand, or for those who may not feel like spending as much on an impact reliever, Colome is a logical target. He may not profile as your typical closer thanks to his underwhelming 6.4 K/9 rate, but the results (2.95 career ERA) speak for themselves. An 0.81 ERA is obviously not sustainable but he minimizes hard contact, which should lead to continued success.
Honourable mentions: Corey Kluber, Mark Melancon, Trevor Rosenthal, Jake Odorizzi, Trevor May.
