Playing Matchmaker with the Top Remaining MLB Free Agents
With the top of MLB's free-agency market settled, some notable players remain unsigned.
Spring training is around the corner, and while most teams know what they are working with, some of them could use these free agents still on the market.
This may have been the plan all along—see what the market dictates at the top of positions and go from there.
In this exercise, we play matchmaker with the top free agents available, based on fit and rumored interest.
Tyler Naquin to Chicago White Sox
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It seems like the White Sox have been trying to fix their right field problem for years. The solution could be Gavin Sheets, a 26-year-old 2017 second-round pick, but the White Sox should still be exploring options.
Chicago ranked last in fWAR at the right field position in 2022. Coming off a disappointing season and with a new manager in place, expect a shake-up or two with this White Sox team.
Tyler Naquin, who slashed .229/.282/.423 with 11 home runs for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets last year, does not answer all of Chicago's questions in right field.
But along with a healthy Eloy Jimenez, who seeks an expanded outfield role beyond DH'ing, Naquin provides a viable option at a spot where the White Sox desperately need it.
Defensively, he's better than their current options.
Michael Wacha to Baltimore Orioles
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The Orioles need more pitching to match up with their vaunted AL East rivals, and they have reportedly shown interest in Michael Wacha.
It will not be enough to rely on Kyle Gibson, who they signed this offseason, with the collection of Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells.
Wacha went 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts for the Boston Red Sox last year. While he may not be the top-of-the-rotation starter the Orioles need, he is as close to it as they can get on the free-agent market at this point.
Grayson Rodriguez will eventually become Baltimore's ace, but it makes sense to bring in a veteran like Wacha to help keep the Orioles competitive in that division.
David Peralta to Texas Rangers
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For all the Rangers have done these past two offseasons, they could still use some help in left field.
Of those who remain unsigned, David Peralta is among the best. Rangers left fielders had the lowest fWAR in and wRC+ in baseball last season. Bubba Thompson is likely their best current option, but Texas should take a look at the 35-year-old Peralta on a short term deal.
Last season, Peralta slashed .251/.316/.415 with 12 home runs in 134 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays.
Given the small amount of production Texas has gotten from the position, it's worth kicking the tires on a low-risk, inexpensive deal for Peralta.
If the Rangers are trying to compete with the Houston Astros, they will need reinforcements and as few holes in the lineup as possible.
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Zack Greinke Back to Kansas City Royals
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At age 39, Zack Greinke does not possess the stuff he used to in his Cy Young days, but even in a diminished role, he is better than the average major league starter.
With the free-agent market mostly settled, Greinke could latch onto a contender or some team looking to fix the back end of its rotation.
Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, he had interest from the Kansas City Royals, a non-contender that paid him $13 million last season. Greinke had his lowest innings total in a full season since 2007, tossing 137 innings.
But as Rosenthal noted, the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner produced an adjusted ERA that was 11 percent above league average.
Greinke, who has earned more than $330 million in his career, will not pitch for less than he believes himself to be worth, according to Rosenthal. It could be that the Royals value him more than anyone else.
Donovan Solano to Houston Astros
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Aledmys Díaz signed with the Oakland Athletics in free agency, and the Astros' plans to bring back Yuli Gurriel in a bench role seem to be moving slowly.
For as talented as the Astros have been these past six years, depth has been an issue. Without Díaz or Gurriel, that leaves Mauricio Dubón as their main utility player.
Donovan Solano, who played three infield positions for the Cincinnati Reds last season, could provide some depth for the World Series champions.
Dubón is fine defensively, but his hitting leaves a lot to be desired. He slashed .208/.254/.294 in 83 games and 216 plate appearances for Houston last year.
Solano slashed .284/.339/.385 in 80 games and 304 plate appearances for Cincinnati last season. He would be an upgrade offensively, and the Astros have a need.
Luke Voit to Tampa Bay Rays
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Luke Voit hasn't been the same since leading the major leagues in home runs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Heading into 2021, Voit seemed like he could be the New York Yankees' first baseman of the future. He was 30 years old with four years left of team control. While it was a small sample size, Voit turned in a slash line of .277/.338/.610 for a wRC+ of 153.
Then he was mostly injured in 2021, leading the Yankees to trade for Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs' midseason fire sale. It was Rizzo's job from that point on.
The Yankees traded Voit to the San Diego Padres in 2022. But his production dipped, and San Diego acquired Josh Bell at the Aug. 2 deadline, sending Voit to the Washington Nationals.
Despite all of the movement, Voit hit 22 home runs between his two stops last year. He could provide some thump for the Tampa Bay Rays, who need it to keep up with teams like the Astros, Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
Of last year's playoff teams, only the Cleveland Guardians hit fewer home runs than Tampa.
Didi Gregorius to St. Louis Cardinals
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After Tommy Edman's breakout season at shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, it seems to be his job for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Didi Gregorius has seen his production dip significantly since the Yankees let him walk in free agency after the 2019 season.
He hit .209 with 13 home runs in 368 at-bats in 103 games for the Phillies in 2021, then he followed that up with .210 and one home run in 214 at-bats before Philadelphia released him last August.
Gregorius' precipitous decline created Philly's need to pursue Trea Turner in free agency.
The role for Gregorius in St. Louis would need to be primarily as a backup. But he would also provide flexibility in how the Cardinals use Edman, who is naturally a second baseman.
Gary Sánchez to San Francisco Giants
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Gary Sánchez has been linked to the San Francisco Giants this offseason, and it is a logical fit. They need a catcher, and he needs a place to work.
We have come a long way from Sánchez hitting 53 home runs in his first 177 major league games, appearing to be on his way to stardom with the Yankees.
But even with his drop-off in production in recent years (.205/.282/.377 in 128 games for the Minnesota Twins last season), he's more proven than Joey Bart, presumably San Francisco's starting catcher going into the 2023 season.
MLB reporter Héctor Gómez was the most recent to note the Giants' interest in the two-time All-Star catcher.
The Giants are looking up at the Los Angeles Dodgers and watching the San Diego Padres make moves within their division.
Sánchez makes sense for San Francisco, though it might hurt to watch Carlos Rodón join Aaron Judge with the Yankees and be left treasuring a Yankees castaway.
Elvis Andrus to Los Angeles Angels
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Elvis Andrus was a pleasant surprise for the Chicago White Sox last season after the A's released him in August.
A return to the AL West makes sense with the Los Angeles Angels, who do not have a shortstop better than Andrus.
He slashed .271/.309/.464 with nine home runs in 181 at-bats for the White Sox, who needed a shortstop with All-Star Tim Anderson injured.
Andrus ranked 12th among qualified shortstops in WAR and wRC+ last season, so the 34-year-old showed he can still be productive.
He's also better than Luis Rengifo, the Angels' No. 1 option at shortstop. The Angels have disappointed the past couple of seasons but have enough talent to compete if they stay healthy.
Signing Andrus would be an easy upgrade.
Jurickson Profar to Atlanta
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Atlanta has options in left field, but it's fair to say it could find a better and more reliable one in Jurickson Profar.
Eddie Rosario and Marcell Ozuna seem most likely to play in that spot. Atlanta also traded for Sam Hilliard from the Colorado Rockies and signed Jordan Luplow to a one-year deal.
Yet with Profar, the team would be better and more consistent. He ranked top-10 in fWAR and wRC+ among qualified left fielders.
Atlanta is in a stacked division with competitors like the Phillies and New York Mets making aggressive moves.
Despite losing Dansby Swanson in free agency, Atlanta should be among the NL contenders after winning 101 games last season.
The rotation, led by Spencer Strider, is strong. So is the lineup. Left field could be a problem Atlanta calls on Profar to solve.
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