Selecting the All-2015 MLB Free-Agent Team
Heading into every season, the winners and losers of MLB's free-agency period are often already decided. Over the next few slides, we'll revisit those premature coronations and decide which players are worthy of B/R's All-2015 MLB Free-Agent Team.
Some of the choices you'll see in this slideshow were no-brainers. Max Scherzer, Andrew Miller and Nelson Cruz all figured to be among the best free-agent pickups at their positions heading into the season.
But did anybody expect Kendrys Morales to rank in MLB's top five in RBI? What about Asdrubal Cabrera putting together his best offensive season in years? Nori Aoki? Nick Markakis?
Those names are just a few of the players we'll cover over the next several slides. Make sure to let your voice be heard in the comments section below. Which of the following players has had the biggest impact on his team? Who would you have included that didn't make the list?
Let's jump right in with our choice of starting pitcher.
Starting Pitcher: Max Scherzer
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2015 Stats: 11-11, 190 IP, 3.03 ERA, 10.66 K/9, 1.23 BB/9, .216 AVG
Although Max Scherzer has underachieved in the second half, the right-hander is still the best free-agent starting pitching signing from last year's class.
Scherzer seemed destined for the National League Cy Young before posting a 5.12 ERA after the All-Star break. Even with his recent struggles, Scherzer ranks fourth among hurlers in strikeouts per nine innings, eighth in innings pitched, ninth in WAR and 15th in ERA.
A promising development in Scherzer's game this season has been improved control. He has lowered his walk rate to a career-best 3.4 percent. The velocity is still there, but he's also comfortable throwing any of his three off-speed pitches for strikes.
Francisco Liriano, A.J. Burnett and Edinson Volquez all deserve credit for making an impact with their new teams, but Scherzer has still managed to be one of MLB's best in a disappointing season for the Washington Nationals.
Relief Pitcher: Andrew Miller
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2015 Stats: 32-for-33 SV, 51 IP, 1.76 ERA, 13.94 K/9, 2.82 BB/9, .152 AVG
After struggling to find his niche in MLB during his younger years, Andrew Miller has turned himself into one of baseball's best late-inning options over the past few seasons.
Miller's career resurgence culminated in a 2.02-ERA season in 2014 and a subsequent four-year, $36 million contract from the New York Yankees last winter.
The southpaw has proven to be worth every penny, saving 32 games and striking out nearly 14 hitters per nine innings. Among MLB relievers, Miller ranks fourth in average against, fourth in K/9, seventh in saves and 12th in WAR. His second-ranked strikeout-to-walk ratio indicates just how dominant he's been in 2015.
There have been plenty of notable free-agent relievers who have turned in outstanding seasons in 2015—David Robertson and Francisco Rodriguez immediately come to mind—but Miller's importance to the New York bullpen gives him the edge.
Catcher: Russell Martin
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2015 Stats: .238/.327/.430, 17 HR, 64 R, 57 RBI, .757 OPS
A five-year, $82 million contract for a catcher on the wrong side of 30 wasn't universally celebrated among baseball circles. The Toronto Blue Jays may end up regretting the ramifications of that financial commitment by the end of the deal, but Russell Martin has been a quality fit for the club this season.
Martin is on pace to set career highs in homers and RBI this season. The 32-year-old ranks fourth among major league backstops in WAR and slugging percentage. He also ranks ninth in baseball in earning extra strikes for his pitching staff.
Martin has seen a sharp decline in his on-base percentage, which is strange considering his walk rate has remained above 10 percent and he's actually lowered his soft contact percentage. After posting a .336 average on balls in play last season, his .262 BABIP this season indicates some bad luck has been in play.
A.J. Pierzynski is the only other free-agent catcher from last year's class worth mentioning. Martin was a prized target last winter and has proven to be a valuable piece of the Toronto puzzle.
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First Base/DH: Kendrys Morales
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2015 Stats: .292/.355/.475, 17 HR, 64 R, 101 RBI, .830 OPS
The Kansas City Royals inking Kendrys Morales to a two-year, $17 million contract last winter was arguably the most underrated move of the offseason.
Signing Morales was the type of bargain buy a small-market team like Kansas City needed to hit on. He was coming off the worst season of his big league career and had little going for him in terms of future value.
But Morales has ended up becoming one of K.C.'s most important hitters. He leads the team in RBI and is second in homers. In fact, Morales ranks fourth in MLB in RBI.
The 32-year-old can attribute his regained stroke to a more balanced approach at the plate. Last year, Morales pulled the ball over 42 percent of the time. That total is down to 39.2 percent this season, while he's hitting the ball up the middle or the other way over 60 percent of the time.
We're cheating a bit here, since Morales gets most of his playing time at designated hitter. But since he's played sparingly at first base this season, including him here when he's more than deserving seems fair.
Second Base: Stephen Drew
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2015 Stats: .203/.272/.390, 17 HR, 42 R, 44 RBI, .662 OPS
Finding a free-agent second baseman from last year's class was no easy task, so we'll try to make a case for Stephen Drew.
Obviously, Drew's .203 average and sub-.300 on-base percentage immediately jump off the page. Those numbers aren't good no matter how you slice them. But the 32-year-old has hit 17 homers this season, which ranks second among major league second basemen.
Drew's strikeout-to-walk ratio isn't horrible, making his on-base struggles contact-related. His soft- and hard-contact percentages nearly match, which has resulted in the lowest BABIP in baseball. Drew doesn't generate hard contact consistently, but he still has the potential to go deep or walk when he's at the dish.
This wasn't an easy sell, but Drew is really the only candidate worth mentioning. Gordon Beckham? Yeah, we'll stick with Drew here.
Third Base: Chase Headley
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2015 Stats: .273/.338/.393, 10 HR, 69 R, 58 RBI, .731 OPS
Chase Headley hasn't done anything special for the New York Yankees this season, but he's been steady enough to warrant mention here.
After signing a four-year, $52 million contract last winter, Headley is right on par with his career averages. He's flashed a little bit of pop, hit for a decent average and both scored and driven in runs for the Yankees.
Headley's left-handed swing has benefited from the short porch at Yankee Stadium. Seven of Headley's 10 homers have come from left-handed swings. The 31-year-old has seen slight improvements in his average, OBP and slugging percentages from last season, as well as a lower strikeout percentage.
Jed Lowrie would have probably grabbed this spot on the list if he hadn't missed most of the season with an injury. Since Headley has been a consistent presence in the New York lineup all year, he gets the nod.
Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera
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2015 Stats: .264/.318/.419, 11 HR, 57 R, 44 RBI, .737 OPS
The Tampa Bay Rays moved Asdrubal Cabrera back to shortstop this season and were rewarded with his best offensive season since 2012.
Cabrera has been one of the few bright spots in an anemic Tampa Bay lineup. He ranks fourth on the team in WAR and has bettered his batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage from a season ago.
The 29-year-old has always done a solid job staying clear of soft contact. He's done that again this season, as his 15.9 percent mark is the third-lowest percentage among major league shortstops.
The Rays signed Cabrera to a one-year, $7.5 million deal this offseason. In terms of bang for your buck, he's been one of the most underrated signings of the winter.
Outfield: Nori Aoki
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2015 Stats: .287/.353/.380, 5 HR, 42 R, 26 RBI, 14 SB, .733 OPS
It's a shame that Nori Aoki has run into injury issues over the last few months because the San Francisco Giants outfielder was on pace for a career year with his new team.
Aoki is hitting .287 with an on-base percentage over .350 on the season. He's also chipped in five homers, 14 stolen bases and has walked more than he's struck out.
The 33-year-old's contact-driven game has fit perfectly at the spacious AT&T Park. Despite not consistently hitting the ball hard, Aoki makes contact over 90 percent of the time. He plays to his strengths, hitting the ball on the ground over 60 percent of the time and ranking eighth in MLB in infield hits.
San Francisco doesn't look like it will get a chance to defend its World Series crown this October, but signing Aoki was a slam dunk. Don't be surprised to see the Giants try to bring him back next season.
Outfield: Nick Markakis
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2015 Stats: .297/.371/.374, 2 HR, 59 R, 48 RBI, .745 OPS
Atlanta Braves fans haven't had much to cheer for this season, but the acquisition of Nick Markakis is a good place to start.
Markakis is hitting .297 with an on-base percentage over .370 in 2015. He leads the Braves in games played, average, on-base percentage and hits.
However, the 31-year-old has seen a huge decline in his power numbers. After going deep more than 10 times in each of his first nine seasons, Markakis has only hit two homers this season. Preseason neck surgery has affected his pop, but Markakis has also lowered his fly-ball rate from 34.5 percent to 26.2 percent.
Despite a dip in homers, Markakis has fit in nicely in Atlanta. He's a quality player who plays hard and is solid in every facet of the game.
Outfield/DH: Nelson Cruz
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2015 Stats: .310/.380/.587, 39 HR, 77 R, 82 RBI, .967 OPS
There hasn't been a better free-agent acquisition this season than Nelson Cruz.
The Seattle Mariners outfielder has crushed opposing pitching this season. Cruz is setting career highs in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage and should surpass previous bests in homers and WAR.
Cruz hasn't had a problem adjusting to the spacious Safeco Field. If anything, he's become a more balanced hitter because of it. Cruz has lowered his fly-ball rate and is pulling the ball less than he did a season ago. When the 35-year-old does lift the ball, it leaves the park nearly 30 percent of the time.
The Mariners may have underachieved in 2015, but bringing back Cruz is a huge lift for their 2016 aspirations. He's been arguably the best overall hitter in the American League this season and deserves to be on this list.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Sept. 8.
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