Important Tell-All Stats to Know About the MLB Free-Agent Class' Top Stars

There are all sorts of numbers for general managers to crunch as they sift through the MLB free-agent market.

Sometimes, that crunching leads to a designated hitter who goes yard nearly as frequently as he punches out. Other times, it leads to a high-priced third baseman who might not be able to hit left-handed pitching. 

What follows are the tell-all stats for the top 10 stars of the 2015 MLB free-agent class. From Hanley Ramirez to Jon Lester, the players are ranked in order of the predicted values of the contracts that they're about to rake in.

10. Brandon McCarthy, SP

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Stat No. 1: Has Never Made A Postseason Appearance

Brandon McCarthy has been in the major leagues for nine seasons, but he's never once appeared in a playoff game. In 2012, while he was pitching for the Oakland Athletics, the American League West club made it to the postseason. However, McCarthy was sidelined for the entire playoffs after sustaining a serious head injury at the end of the regular season.

Stat No. 2: Posted A 1.5 BB/9 Ratio In 2014

McCarthy exhibited pinpoint command in 2014. The right-hander posted a 1.5 BB/9 ratio, which was the sixth-best mark in MLB. 

Stat No. 3: Put Up A 2.89 ERA With The New York Yankees

After an extremely shaky first half with the Arizona Diamondbacks, McCarthy took off once he arrived in the Bronx following a July trade. In 14 outings for the New York Yankees, the starter went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA.

Stat No. 4: Made 32 Starts In 2014

McCarthy set a career high with 32 starts in 2014. Previously, his highest total had been 25 starts. He also pitched 200 innings for the first time in his big league career. Now, the question is if McCarthy, who has a history of shoulder injuries, can once again stay healthy in 2015. 

Contract Prediction: Three Years, $36 Million 

9. Melky Cabrera, LF

Stat No. 1: Cost The Toronto Blue Jays Six Runs In The Outfield In 2014

Melky Cabrera is a minor liability in the field. 

In 2014, the veteran cost the Toronto Blue Jays six runs in the outfield, per Baseball Info Solutions' calculations on Baseball-Reference.com. He also cost the squad six runs in 2013. 

Stat No. 2: Owns A .286 Career Average In The Regular Season

Cabrera, who swung at a clip of .301 in 2014, has always had the ability to hit for high average. One of his greatest attributes is his knack for consistently putting the ball in play. In 2014, he struck out 10.8 percent of the time, which was the ninth-lowest mark in the AL, per FanGraphs.com.

Stat No. 3: Owns A .213 Career Average In The Postseason

The playoffs have been a different story for the switch-hitter. In four October trips, Cabrera has put up a .213 average and a .524 OPS.

Stat No. 4: Posted An .808 OPS In 2014

Cabrera has put up an OPS of .808 or higher in three of the past four seasons. The only time he didn't was 2013, when he appeared in just 88 games. 

Contract Prediction: Three Years, $45 Million

8. Russell Martin, C

Stat No. 1: Saved 12 Runs On Defense In 2014

Russell Martin didn't earn the Gold Glove award, but it's difficult to argue with the quality of his defensive work. In 2014, he led all of baseball with 12 runs saved behind the dish, according to FanGraphs. 

Stat No. 2: Threw Out 37 Attempted Base Stealers In 2014

Martin also has a cannon of an arm. Last year, while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the backstop gunned down 37 would-be base stealers, which led MLB. 

Stat No. 3: Posted A .402 OBP Last Season

With a .354 OBP in nine big league seasons, Martin has always demonstrated strong on-base skills. Last year, the right-handed hitter set a career high, as he reached base at a clip of .402. That mark would have been the fourth-best in baseball had he qualified for the league leaders. He also checked in with an .832 OPS, which was his best mark since the 2007 season.

Stat No. 4: Played In Just 110 Games In 2014

Martin didn't qualify for the league leaders in 2014 because he totaled only 460 at-bats in 110 games. The veteran has now caught 127 games or fewer in back-to-back seasons. That's concerning considering that he will be 32 by Opening Day 2015 and that he's seeking a five-year deal, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Based on his age, Martin will likely have to settle for a four-year contract. 

Contract Prediction: Four Years, $60 Million

7. Nelson Cruz, DH/OF

Stat No. 1: Has Clubbed 16 Postseason Home Runs

Nelson Cruz always shows up in October. 

In four trips to the postseason, the right-handed hitter has connected on 16 home runs while putting up a .669 slugging percentage and a 1.016 OPS in 41 games. 

Stat No. 2: Has Hit At Least 22 Home Runs In Six Consecutive Seasons

Cruz has been one of the most reliable sources of power in recent memory. Last year, the designated hitter/outfielder led baseball with 40 bombs. He has now collected at least 22 homers in six consecutive seasons. 

Stat No. 3: Posted A .333 OBP In 2014

Despite how dangerous Cruz is at the plate, he's never reached base at a particularly high rate. Last season, he produced a .333 OBP, which was actually his best mark over the past four seasons. The root of the problem for the three-time All-Star is that Cruz simply doesn't draw a lot of walks. In 2014, he earned 55 free passes, which was a career best. 

Stat No. 4: Put Up A .769 OPS In The Second Half Of The 2014 Season

The overall numbers looked incredible for Cruz in 2014. However, after posting a .923 OPS before the All-Star break, he put up just a .769 OPS following the Midsummer Classic. His batting average, home runs and RBI output were also way down in the second half. That drop-off leads to legitimate questions about just what type of stats he will post in 2015 and beyond. 

Contract Prediction: Four Years, $60 Million

6. Victor Martinez, DH

Stat No. 1: Posted A .974 OPS In 2014

Victor Martinez torched the American League in 2014. The DH put up a .974 OPS, which led not just his circuit but all of baseball. Martinez also set the pace in the AL with a .409 OBP. Over the course of his 12 seasons in the big leagues, he owns a .373 OBP.

Stat No. 2: Struck Out Just 6.6 Percent Of The Time He Stepped To The Plate Last Season

Big home runs totals usually come with absurd strikeout numbers. That's just not the case with Martinez. Last year, the switch-hitter cracked 32 home runs while punching out just 42 times. In 2014, he struck out just 6.6 percent of the time, which was the lowest rate in baseball, per FanGraphs. 

Stat No. 3: Hit .371 Against Lefties And .321 Against Righties in 2014

It doesn't matter who Martinez is facing—all he does is hit. The five-time All-Star absolutely battered left-handing pitching in 2014, posting a 1.123 OPS. He was no slouch against righties, either, putting up a .923 OPS. 

Stat No. 4: Owns A .315 Batting Average In The Postseason

Martinez has a proven track record of success during the postseason. During five playoff runs with three different teams, he has posted a .315 average and an .878 OPS. 

Contract Prediction: Four Years, $60 Million

5. James Shields, SP

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

Stat No. 1: Owns A 5.46 ERA In The Playoffs

October just isn't James Shields' month. In four postseason runs, the right-hander has put up a 3-6 mark with a 5.46 ERA in 11 outings. In 2014 with the Kansas City Royals, the opposition battered him to the tune of a.330 average.

Stat No. 2: Posted A 1.7 BB/9 Ratio In 2014

Shields has always had strong command of his arsenal of pitches, and that was definitely the case in 2014. Last year, the starter posted a 1.7 BB/9 ratio, which was his best mark since 2007 and the sixth-best in the AL. 

Stat No. 3: Put Up A 2.62 ERA In the Second Half Of The 2014 Season

Shields really hit his stride in the second half of the season. After posting a respectable 3.65 ERA in the first half, the starter recorded a 2.62 ERA in 14 outings following the All-Star break.

2014 marked the third season in a row that he has posted a lower ERA in the second half of the season than in the first. That's particularly impressive considering the sheer number of innings he's piled up. 

Stat No. 4: Has Pitched At Least 203.1 Innings In Eight Consecutive Seasons

There are two different ways to look at this stat. One, Shields is a remarkably consistent starter. Two, with so many innings on his arm already, how long until he runs out of gas?

Contract Prediction: Four Years, $78 Million

4. Pablo Sandoval, 3B

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Stat No. 1: Owns A Career Average Of .426 In The World Series

Pablo Sandoval is unreal in the World Series. In three go-arounds in the Fall Classic, he has a .426 average and a 1.162 OPS. He's provided the San Francisco Giants with plenty of production in the other rounds as well: In 39 postseason games, the third baseman is a .344 hitter.

Thanks to numbers like those, "the Giants clearly want to re-sign the Panda," as Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. However, doing so won't be easy based on the years and dollars that Sandoval is looking for.

"Pablo is 28," his agent, Gustavo Vasquez, explained, via Schulman. “He is still young. Maybe if he was 30 or 31 we could talk about four or five years. But he’s 28. He deserves more than that.”

With the lack of bats on the market, at least one club will offer him a six-year deal. That team just might not be the Giants.

Stat No. 2: Has Hit More Than 16 Home Runs In Only Two Of His Six Full Big League Seasons

Sandoval owns an impressive .811 OPS over the course of his career, but the Venezuelan has never been much of a home-run threat. During his six full seasons, Sandoval has only connected on more than 16 home runs on two occasions. 

Stat No. 3: Saved The San Francisco Giants Four Runs At Third Base In 2014

While he's known mostly for his bat,  Sandoval is also an accomplished defender at third base. In 2014, he accounted for four defensive runs saved, per Baseball Info Solutions. He was also a finalist for the Gold Glove award. 

Stat No. 4: Hit .199 Against Lefties In 2014

Sandoval had all sorts of trouble against left-handed pitching in 2014. In 191 at-bats, the switch-hitter checked in with a .199 average.

While there are concerns about his ability to hit from the right side of the plate, it's worth noting that his numbers have been much stronger in previous seasons. Throughout his career, Sandoval has hit .270 against lefties. 

Contract Prediction: Six Years, $102 Million

3. Hanley Ramirez, SS/3B

Stat No. 1: Owns A Career OPS Of .873

Hanley Ramirez can flat-out hit. Over the course of 10 big league seasons, he has put up a .300 batting average, a .373 OBP and a .500 slugging percentage. 

Stat No. 2: Cost The Los Angeles Dodgers Nine Runs At Shortstop In 2014

Ramirez's defense is questionable at best. In 2014, he cost the Los Angeles Dodgers nine runs in the field, per Baseball Info Solutions. A shift to third base appears inevitable for the three-time All-Star.

Stat No. 3: Has A .356 Average In The Postseason

Ramirez hasn't had a lot of postseason chances, but he's made it count when he's been there. In two appearances with the Dodgers, the right-handed hitter has posted a .356 average and a 1.031 OPS in 13 games.

Stat No. 4: Appeared In 128 Games Or More In Just Two Of The Past Four Seasons

It hasn't been easy for Ramirez to stay on the diamond. He was sidelined for considerable chunks of time during both the 2011 and 2013 seasons. His history of injuries would make him a strong fit in the AL, where he could spend time as a DH.  

Contract Prediction: Five Years, $105 Million

2. Jon Lester, SP

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Stat No. 1: Owns A 2.57 ERA In The Postseason

Even though he turned in a subpar outing during the 2014 AL Wild Card Game, Jon Lester still has an excellent October resume. In five trips to the postseason, he has recorded a 2.57 ERA and picked up two World Series rings. 

Stat No. 2: Pitched At Least 200 Innings In Six Of The Past Seven Seasons

The lefty has been highly consistent throughout his career, pitching at least 200 frames in six of the past seven seasons. In 2014, he set a career high with 219.2 innings of work. 

Stat No. 3: Limited The Opposition To A .185 Batting Average With Runners In Scoring Position And Two Outs In 2014

Lester has a reputation for stepping up big in key moments, and that's exactly what he did during the 2014 regular season. With runners in scoring position and two outs, he consistently got the job done. In those situations, the starter limited opposing batters to a .185 average, per Baseball-Reference.com. Lester also held cleanup hitters to a .216 average and just three home runs in 2014. 

Stat No. 4: Has Only Posted An ERA Lower Than 3.00 On One Occasion

For all his success on the mound, Lester has only once ended a season with an ERA lower than 3.00. He accomplished that feat in 2014 when he posted a 2.46 ERA while splitting the season with the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics.

Contract Prediction: Six Years, $150 Million

1. Max Scherzer, SP

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Stat No. 1: Totaled At Least 231 Strikeouts In Each Of The Past Three Seasons

Max Scherzer has been racking up strikeouts ever since he arrived in the big leagues, but he's taken it to a whole new level over the past three campaigns. In each of those seasons, Scherzer has punched out at least 231 batters. Last year, he set a career high with 252 K's. 

Stat No. 2: Owns A 3.73 ERA In The Postseason

The playoffs have been hit or miss for the right-hander. 

In 2011, his first trip to the postseason, Scherzer posted a 5.74 ERA in four outings. He followed that up with successful Octobers in 2012 (2.08 ERA) and 2013 (2.82 ERA). However, in 2014, he was tagged for five runs in his only playoff appearance. 

The postseason has't been a disaster for Scherzer, but he's also been far from lights-out. 

Stat No. 3: Has Only Pitched 200 Innings Or More On Two Occasions

During his seven sevens in the major leagues, Scherzer has only twice surpassed the 200-innings mark. Admittedly, he has pitched at least 187.2 innings on three other occasions. Still, Scherzer has thrown far fewer frames over his career than either Shields or Lester. That will be an important consideration when teams decide just how many years to offer him. 

Stat No. 4: Posted A 6.26 ERA When He Was Behind In The Count In 2014

It's not shocking to see a pitcher struggle when he falls behind in the count. Still, a 6.26 ERA is more than just struggling. When Scherzer misses his spots, the right-hander is in big trouble. 

Contract Prediction: Seven Years, $175 Million

Note: All stats and videos courtesy of MLB.com. Advanced stats courtesy of Baseball Info Solutions on Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs. 

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