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Free agency has officially begun now that the offseason is underway, and with no signings just yet, here are the top free agents on the board, position by position.
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RHP: Trevor Bauer
Bauer had a career year with the Reds in 2020, leading the NL with a 1.73 ERA. Bauer, who has expressed his confidence in pitching on short rest repeatedly, got the chance to do so down the stretch in September, and he turned in a 8 inning, no run, 13 strikeout performance against the Brewers. Bauer is also a Cy Young finalist as well, which should earn him a big payday.
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LHP: James Paxton
There aren't any top tier left handers on the market this time around, but there are several quality mid rotation options out there, and Paxton fits that bill to a tee, despite not playing in 2020 due to surgery. When Paxton did pitch, he was relatively effective, despite some first inning troubles over the years. Paxton would be a good add for teams looking for middle rotation help.
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Catcher: JT Realmuto
Realmuto is widely considered the best catcher in baseball, as he is potent with the bat and his catching skills. Phillies superstar Bryce Harper has openly campaigned for the team to re-sign Realmuto, but due to how much he will be worth, and the number of teams that have holes at catcher, Realmuto may well be heading elsewhere.
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1B: Mitch Moreland
Moreland is a veteran that is very skilled with the glove and has flashes of power with the bat, which should make him a top candidate, but he has been a free agent for the last few years and took his time finding a deal last winter in the fast moving market. Moreland isn't who he used to be as a player, but is a valuable clubhouse presence, and he is serviceable at his worst, so he should get a short term deal this winter.
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2B: DJ Lemahieu
Lemahieu had to settle for a short term deal with the Yankees the last time he was a free agent. He shouldn't have that problem again, as he's been one of baseball's best hitters the last two years. It is seemingly impossible to get Lemahieu out, as he lays off pitches outside the zone, and he can hit balls to all fields, and he slugs homers too. He can also play multiple positions in the field as well, so he really is a jack of all trades player who shouldn't have trouble finding a longer term home this winter.
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SS: Didi Gregorius
After an injury riddled 2019 that forced Gregorius to take a one year "prove it" deal with the Phillies, Gregorius returned to form, hitting 10 homers and 40 RBI in the short season, looking like the pre-tommy john surgery Gregorius. Gregorius can use this productive season to land a better deal this winter, be it in Philadelphia or elsewhere.
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3B: Justin Turner
Despite the investigation of Turner's breaking of covid protocols, Turner is by far the best 3rd baseman on the market, thanks to a very productive postseason, even though he is 36. His .860 OPS in 2020 was good for 3rd best in the NL, and he had some big defensive moments as well. Turner is arguably the face of the Dodgers, so it would make sense for the Dodgers to try and bring him back at a similar deal he signed with them last time around, a 4 year deal.
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LF: Marcell Ozuna
Ozuna bet on himself in 2020, taking a one year, $18 million deal with the Braves instead of a longer term deal elsewhere. That bet sure paid off, for Ozuna and the Braves. He played in all 60 games for the Braves, leading the NL in homers with 18, also producing 56 RBI and 145 total bases this season. He also had a strong postseason, further boosting his resurgent value for teams looking for a big power bat.
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CF: George Springer
Springer has been one of baseball's best center fielders for a while now, and he's set to cash in this winter in free agency. Another strong season, postseason included, will attest to that. Springer has received a qualifying offer from the Astros, but since Houston has over $120 million invested in 6 players, Springer may very well be leaving town.
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RF: Ryan Braun
Braun, who is a 6 time all star, hits free agency for the first time in his long career after the Brewers declined his $15 million option for next year. Braun hit 8 homers with an OPS just under .800 in 39 games this season, and while he's only made the all star game once since 2013, he can still slug homers, averaging 23 a year between 2015 and 2019. Braun has been a left fielder for the majority of his career, but 19 of his 34 starts this year were in right field.
*Photo from Yahoo! Sports*
DH: Nelson Cruz
Ever since landing with the Twins, Cruz has been a force to be reckoned with, mashing homers left and right like he was back in his prime. His 16 homers in the short season kept him on track for his 40 homer per season average that he's been on recently. Despite the fact that Cruz is 40, he can still mash like he's 25, and is reportedly looking for a two year deal, maybe with the Twins again.
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