2017 MLB Free Agents: An Early Look at Next Winter's Best Available Players
Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion of the Toronto Blue Jays are not only two of the most dangerous hitters in the American League, but they are also two of the headliners of the 2017 MLB free-agent class.
"Joey Bats" is the top right fielder and Encarnacion is the scariest designated hitter, but who are the prime-time guys at all the other spots?
After digging through the recent stats—and placing the most emphasis on 2015 numbers—here's the breakdown of the top free-agents-to-be at every position on the diamond.
In addition to singling out the biggest stars (and some deserving honorable mentions), we've also included logical landings spots based on which clubs have a need (and an opening) at the given positions.
After poring over MLB Trade Rumor.com's free-agent list, there's no question that the class of starters is looking awfully weak. However, there are still plenty of game-changing pitchers who will be up for grabs next winter.
*Note: Players with an asterisk either have a team option or an opt-out clause.
Catcher
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The Top Catcher: Matt Wieters
2017 Opening Day Age: 30
Matt Wieters only played in 75 games for the Baltimore Orioles last season, as the veteran backstop worked his way back from a Tommy John procedure that he underwent in the summer of 2014.
The switch-hitter, who slugged at least 22 home runs per season from 2011 to 2013, is hoping to put his elbow problem in the rearview mirror.
"I think I’ll be past 18 months removed from the surgery come spring training," Wieters said, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. "And hopefully I’ll be able to feel that much closer to presurgery and be able to cut it loose and be able to get back to playing baseball instead of monitor things that keep the pace of how the elbow is doing.”
If that elbow doesn't cooperate, Pittsburgh's Francisco Cervelli could steal this title away. In 2015, his first season with the Pirates, Cervelli hit .295 while starting 124 games behind the dish.
Logical Landing Spots: Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners
Honorable Mention: Cervelli and Nick Hundley (Colorado Rockies)
1st Base
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The Top First Baseman: Mark Teixeira
2017 Opening Day Age: 36
New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira was torching the AL before a busted leg ended his season in the middle of August.
In 111 contests, the masher went yard 31 times, posted a .906 OPS and earned his first All-Star nod since 2009. Per Ryan Hatch of NJ.com, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said in an appearance on YES Network's "CenterStage," that he expects Teixeira to be back to 100 percent by the start of spring training.
If Teixeira can emulate his 2015 numbers during the upcoming season, the 13-year vet will be on track to haul in one more multiyear payday.
Logical Landing Spots: Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays
Honorable Mention: Adam Lind, Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli
2nd Base
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The Top Second Baseman: Neil Walker
2017 Opening Day Age: 31
Neil Walker, the new second baseman for the New York Mets, has never been an All-Star or Gold Glove Winner. But the switch-hitter has quietly enjoyed a productive and consistent career.
Walker, who the Pittsburgh Pirates snagged with the No. 11 overall pick way back in 2004, has posted double-digit home run totals in each of the past six seasons. Last year, Walker had a higher OPS (.756) than guys like Brian Dozier, Howie Kendrick and DJ LeMahieu.
Free agency is looming for Walker at the end of 2016, but he's looking forward to playing in Queens.
"This was a team that had a lot of success last year, and they know where they want to improve this year," Walker said, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. "And I’m just real excited to be a part of it."
The Mets should be excited to have him, too.
Logical Landing Spots: Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers
Honorable Mention: Martin Prado and Chase Utley
Shortstop
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The Top Shortstop: Erick Aybar
2017 Opening Day Age: 33
At a position where it is notoriously difficult to find quality free agents, this spot belongs to Atlanta Braves shortstop Erick Aybar. That could change if for some reason the Kansas City Royals decide to decline their $6.5 million club option for Alcides Escobar in 2017.
For now, Aybar is the clear pick over Stephen Drew and Daniel Descalso—the only other shortstops slated to hit the market.
Simply put, he's the least-worst option.
Aybar isn't going to leave the yard much—he went deep just three times in 2015—but he did total 30 doubles and has always hit for average (.276 average in 10 seasons).
Admittedly, he's no wizard in the field. Per Baseball-Reference.com, Aybar was in the negative for defensive runs in four of the past five seasons.
Logical Landing Spots: Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres
Honorable Mention: A. Escobar* and Yunel Escobar*
3rd Base
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The Top 3rd Baseman: Adrian Beltre
2017 Opening Day Age: 37
Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is the guy here—that is assuming he actually makes it to the free-agent marketplace.
In an interview on MLB Network Radio, via Greg Tepper of Fox Sports Southwest, Rangers GM Jon Daniels explained that extension talks with the third baseman have already begun.
If the Rangers end up locking in Beltre, the call here would go to Justin Turner. The right-handed hitter has taken a two-by-four to the Senior Circuit ever since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers. In two seasons at Chavez Ravine, the versatile infielder owns a .314/.384/.492 slash line, which is good for an .876 OPS.
Turner is about to be a bargain for the Dodgers during the upcoming season. Per MLB Trade Rumors.com, Turner is projected to earn $5.3 million in 2016.
Logical Landing Spots: Los Angeles Angels, Dodgers, Miami Marlins and Rangers
Honorable Mention: Yunel Escobar*, Martin Prado, Turner and Luis Valbuena
Left Field
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The Top Left Fielder: Colby Rasmus
2017 Opening Day Age: 30
Matt Holliday's uncertain future at Busch Stadium complicates this decision.
The St. Louis Cardinals hold a $17 million team option (with a $1 million buyout) on Holliday for the 2017 season. After injuries limited the left fielder to just four homers in 75 games a season ago, his showing in 2016 will determine whether he's worth that kind of loot.
Until we have some clarity on the Holliday situation, Colby Rasmus gets the gig as the top left fielder for the 2017 free-agent class. Last season for the Houston Astros, the lefty hitter clocked 25 homers during the regular season and went yard four more times in October.
Rasmus parlayed his power surge into a $15.8 million qualifying offer, which he accepted. That's one hefty raise considering he made $8 million in 2015.
Logical Landing Spots: Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Astros and Los Angeles Angels
Honorable Mention: Gregor Blanco, Rajai Davis, Franklin Gutierrez and Holliday*
Center Field
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The Top Center Fielder: Carlos Gomez
2017 Opening Day Age: 31
Houston's Carlos Gomez has a lot on the line in 2016.
Millions and millions of dollars.
With the dynamic center fielder just one year away from free agency, it will be intriguing to see which version of Gomez shows up.
Will it be the guy who underwhelmed to the tune of 12 home runs, 17 steals and a .724 OPS, or the guy who was a flat-out game-changer in 2013 and 2014? Take a look at the numbers:
- 2014: 27 2B, 10 3B, 24 HR, 40 SB, .843 OPS
- 2015: 34 2B, 4 3B, 23 HR, 34 SB, .833 OPS
If that second Gomez emerges, that's the guy that could be due for the richest contract of all the position players in his class.
Logical Landing Spots: Astros, Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees
Honorable Mention: Gregor Blanco, Jon Jay and Cameron Maybin*
Right Field
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The Top Right Fielder: Jose Bautista
2017 Opening Day Age: 36
The Toronto Blue Jays are aiming to keep Jose Bautista (and Edwin Encarnacion) north of the border beyond the end of the 2016 season.
"Would we like to have them here long-term? Absolutely," Toronto GM Ross Atkins said in an interview on MLB Network Radio, via TSN.ca. "The challenge is can we see eye to eye on what that value is going to be? That will be the challenging part."
Another challenge will be fending off all the other suitors.
Sure, "Joey Bats" turns 36 next October, but he smoked 40 homers in 2015. During his eight-year stint with the Jays, Bautista has compiled 243 home runs, a .497 slugging percentage and an .864 OPS. That's some serious power.
Logical Landing Spots: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants and Blue Jays
Honorable Mention: Carlos Beltran, Jay Bruce* and Brandon Moss
Designated Hitter
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The Top Designated Hitter: Edwin Encarnacion
2017 Opening Day Age: 34
Edwin Encarnacion is the second Toronto Blue Jay to crack this list and one of the three "bash brothers" at the Rogers Centre.
"ESPN Stats/Info: TOR has three players this season with at least 30 HR/100 RBI (Donaldson, Bautista, Encarnacion). All other teams have 3," ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted.
As we just noted, the Blue Jays brass wants to hold onto Encarnacion. But as with Jose Bautista, the designated hitter (and sometimes first baseman) is going to be one popular target.
Last season, Encarnacion clubbed 39 jacks and just keeps adding to his shiny resume. Over the past four seasons, the vet hasn't posted an OPS lower than .901.
Logical Landing Spots: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Blue Jays
Honorable Mention: Carlos Beltran, Kendrys Morales* and Carlos Santana
Starting Pitcher
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The Top Starting Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg
2017 Opening Day Age: 28
Stephen Strasburg was the obvious option for this position, and it wasn't even close.
There is a slew of veteran starters with team options or opt-out clauses, but right now, the market is Strasburg and a lot of "meh."
Even though he's the lone ace on the block, Strasburg still has plenty to prove in 2016. Last season, due to back and shoulder problems, the righty posted his worst ERA (3.46) and lowest innings total (127.1) since 2011.
If Strasburg shows his 2014 form (when he grabbed a share of the NL lead with 242 strikeouts) during the upcoming season, who knows what kind of price tag super agent Scott Boras will slap on this starter.
Logical Landing Spots: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Nationals
Honorable Mention: Brett Anderson, Andrew Cashner, Bartolo Colon, Gio Gonzalez*, Derek Holland*, Scott Kazmir*, Matt Moore*, Ivan Nova, James Shields* and Edinson Volquez*
Reliever
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The Top Reliever: Aroldis Chapman
2017 Opening Day Age: 29
Wow.
Talk about loaded. From Kenley Jansen to Mark Melancon to Jonathan Papelbon, this class is flooded with front-line closers. Ultimately, no one can touch Aroldis Chapman.
Literally.
Joe Giglio of NJ.com provided the cold, hard numbers: "Since MLB started tracking, lefties have thrown 1,295 pitches at least 100 mph. Aroldis Chapman has 1,287 of those."
Last season, Chapman piled up 116 Ks in 66.1 innings, posted a 1.63 ERA and limited the opposition to a .181 average.
The X-factor here—and it's a big one—is that the league is investigating Chapman under its domestic violence policy. If or when MLB hands out a suspension, Chapman's status could change significantly. But for now, he's still the nastiest reliever in the class.
Logical Landing Spots: Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankees and Washington Nationals
Honorable Mention: Santiago Casilla, Jansen, Melancon, Drew Storen and Wade Davis
Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.
If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.
