2015-16 MLB Free Agents: Breaking Down the Top 5 Players at Every Position
Earlier this month, we took a look at the top 25 MLB free agents who are set to hit the open market this coming offseason once the postseason comes to a close next month.
Now, it's time to dive a bit deeper into the free-agent class with a position-by-position look at the top five free agents at each spot on the field.
As always, some positions are stronger than others.
This year a handful of elite starting pitchers (David Price, Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and Johnny Cueto) and big-name outfielders (Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Alex Gordon) headline the class.
However, there are intriguing options at every position as teams will continue to try to make the most of their available payroll flexibility to gear up for the season ahead.
So with that said, here is a look at the top five players at every position for the 2015-16 MLB free-agent class.
Catchers
1 of 12
| 1. Matt Wieters | .267 | .742 | 69 | 14 | 8 | 25 | 24 | 0.8 | 29 |
| 2. Alex Avila | .191 | .626 | 34 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 21 | -0.1 | 28 |
| 3. A.J. Pierzynski | .300 | .769 | 122 | 24 | 9 | 49 | 38 | 1.6 | 38 |
| 4. Geovany Soto | .219 | .708 | 41 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 20 | 1.0 | 32 |
| 5. Chris Iannetta | .188 | .628 | 51 | 10 | 10 | 34 | 28 | 0.7 | 32 |
Position Overview
The free-agent market for catchers is thin as always this year, but a pair of intriguing bounce-back candidates will be looking for new homes this offseason.
A three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, Matt Wieters was one of the best all-around catchers in baseball prior to missing the bulk of last season with an arm injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery.
With a full offseason of rest and a normal preseason, he could return to that level of production next year. The Scott Boras client is a risky sign, but it's a risk that could come with significant reward, especially considering he is still in the prime of his career at 29 years old.
Then there is Alex Avila, who struggled with concussions this year and played just 44 games behind the plate. He's never been able to match his monster 2011 numbers, but in the three years prior to 2015 he posted a .705 OPS and averaged 19 doubles and 10 home runs, so he could provide some nice value.
At 38 years old, A.J. Pierzynski played his way into being the Braves' primary catcher after signing a one-year, $2 million deal last offseason. He hit .300 for the first time since 2009 and should be able to land a slight raise on another one-year deal.
Geovany Soto posted a .780 OPS against left-handed pitching in a part-time role with the White Sox and remains a solid catch-and-throw guy, while Chris Iannetta is just a year removed from a .252/.373/.392 line and 2.1 WAR season for the Angels.
First Basemen
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| 1. Chris Davis | .262 | .923 | 150 | 31 | 47 | 117 | 100 | 5.2 | 29 |
| 2. Justin Morneau* | .310 | .821 | 52 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 19 | 0.4 | 34 |
| 3. Mike Napoli | .224 | .734 | 91 | 20 | 18 | 50 | 46 | 1.0 | 33 |
| 4. Mark Reynolds | .230 | .713 | 88 | 21 | 13 | 48 | 35 | -0.6 | 32 |
| 5. Steve Pearce | .218 | .711 | 64 | 13 | 15 | 40 | 42 | -0.4 | 32 |
*$9 million mutual option likely to be declined
Position Overview
Power bats are hard to come by these days, so Chris Davis should have no problem landing a nine-figure deal this winter as a result.
A breakout superstar in 2013 when he posted a 1.004 OPS with 53 home runs and 138 RBI, he saw his stock drop off dramatically in a rough 2014 season as his stats fell to a .704 OPS with 26 home runs and 72 RBI. His season was capped off with a 25-game suspension for using Adderall without league clearance.
Facing a contract year, he bounced back in a big way in 2015, leading the AL with 47 home runs and positioning himself to cash in on the free-agent market.
Justin Morneau won the NL batting title in 2014, but he was limited to just 49 games this season while battling a neck injury and concussion symptoms. Assuming his $9 million option is declined, he'll be an intriguing buy-low option with some upside.
After a rough season in Boston where he hit .207/.307/.386, Mike Napoli joined the Rangers in August and benefited greatly from the change of scenery. He hit .295/.396/.513 in 78 at-bats in Texas and boosted his stock as a result.
Mark Reynolds and Steve Pearce are solid part-time players with pop, and both guys bring some versatility defensively. Reynolds can play a passable third base, while Pearce saw time at both corner outfield spots and second base this year.
Second Basemen
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| 1. Ben Zobrist | .276 | .809 | 129 | 36 | 13 | 56 | 76 | 1.9 | 34 |
| 2. Howie Kendrick | .295 | .746 | 137 | 22 | 9 | 54 | 64 | 1.1 | 32 |
| 3. Daniel Murphy | .281 | .770 | 140 | 38 | 14 | 73 | 56 | 1.4 | 30 |
| 4. Stephen Drew | .201 | .652 | 77 | 16 | 17 | 44 | 43 | 0.3 | 32 |
| 5. Chase Utley | .212 | .629 | 79 | 21 | 8 | 39 | 37 | 0.4 | 36 |
Position Overview
This year's second base market is significantly deeper than it was a year ago, when Stephen Drew and Emilio Bonifacio were the best available options.
Ben Zobrist, Howie Kendrick and Daniel Murphy are all capable of putting up All-Star-caliber numbers at the position, and all three figure to be on the move in free agency.
We could have listed Zobrist at a number of positions, but he's spent the bulk of his career playing second base, and his offensive skills play best there. After struggling early and then undergoing knee surgery on a torn meniscus, he returned on May 26 and hit .281/.365/.456 with 31 doubles, 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 417 at-bats the rest of the way.
The Dodgers could re-sign Kendrick, but after they acquired prospect Jose Peraza at the deadline, they do have a potential replacement in house.
Kendrick may not be a superstar, but he's as steady as they come, hitting at least .279 in each of his 10 seasons with good gap power, double-digit stolen-base speed and a solid glove.
Since becoming an everyday player in 2012, Murphy has averaged a .287/.326/.416 line with 38 doubles and 10 home runs per season. He's a fringe candidate for a qualifying offer, and the Mets do have Dilson Herrera waiting in the wings.
Stephen Drew provided some solid pop for the Yankees, ranking third at the position with 17 home runs, but it came with a .201 batting average and mediocre defense (-3 DRS, -0.3 UZR/150) at second.
Veteran Chase Utley should find some interested teams if he's willing to accept a lesser role, while utility types such as Sean Rodriguez, Skip Schumaker and Kelly Johnson will also be available.
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Third Basemen
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| 1. David Freese | .257 | .743 | 109 | 27 | 14 | 56 | 53 | 2.3 | 32 |
| 2. Daniel Murphy | .281 | .770 | 140 | 38 | 14 | 73 | 56 | 1.4 | 30 |
| 3. Juan Uribe | .253 | .737 | 91 | 17 | 14 | 43 | 40 | 1.7 | 36 |
| 4. Mark Reynolds | .230 | .713 | 88 | 21 | 13 | 48 | 35 | -0.6 | 32 |
| 5. Conor Gillaspie | .228 | .627 | 54 | 15 | 4 | 24 | 14 | -1.0 | 28 |
Position Overview
A postseason hero with the Cardinals, David Freese was traded to the Angels prior to the 2014 season for Randal Grichuk and Peter Bourjos in a deal where St. Louis now looks like the clear winner.
That being said, Freese is still a solid run producer when healthy and has been good for 3.7 WAR the past two seasons. He's the best of a thin market at third, and he'd represent an upgrade for a number of teams, so a multiyear deal should be within reach.
Daniel Murphy has spent the bulk of the past four seasons at second base, but he has always been a poor defender there (-42 DRS, -6.3 UZR/150). He's a better fit at the hot corner at this point in his career.
The 30-year-old may not have traditional third baseman pop, but he has averaged 38 doubles, 10 home runs and 68 RBI over the past four seasons, so his bat and glove would both play there if he's willing to make the move.
Juan Uribe and Mark Reynolds are best served as part-time players and bench bats at this point in their respective careers, and Reynolds is a below-average fielder at the hot corner.
Conor Gillaspie is an intriguing buy-low option who could make good on a minor league deal. He's just a year removed from posting a .282/.336/.416 line with 31 doubles, seven home runs and 57 RBI for the White Sox and is still just 28 years old.
Shortstops
5 of 12
| 1. Ian Desmond | .233 | .674 | 136 | 27 | 19 | 62 | 69 | 2.0 | 30 |
| 2. Asdrubal Cabrera | .265 | .744 | 134 | 28 | 15 | 58 | 66 | 1.8 | 29 |
| 3. Stephen Drew | .201 | .652 | 77 | 16 | 17 | 44 | 43 | 0.3 | 32 |
| 4. Jimmy Rollins | .224 | .643 | 116 | 24 | 13 | 41 | 71 | -0.1 | 36 |
| 5. Cliff Pennington | .210 | .578 | 44 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 0.2 | 31 |
Position Overview
After three consecutive 20-20 seasons in which he hit .275/.326/.462 and compiled a combined 10.9 WAR, Ian Desmond has suffered through a down season at the worst possible time.
In hindsight, he probably should have signed that extension with the Washington Nationals when he had the chance.
According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, Desmond turned down a seven-year, $107 million extension offer prior to the start of the 2014 season, and it's now hard to imagine him getting anywhere near that in both years and dollars.
He did manage to turn in a strong second half, though, hitting .262/.331/.446 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI; therefore, he may be able to convince someone that his shaky first half was simply an outlier.
Asdrubal Cabrera had a solid year for the Tampa Bay Rays on a one-year, $7.5 million deal, though he graded out as a poor defender (-7 DRS, -10.4 UZR/150) and is no doubt a bat-first option.
Stephen Drew spent the year playing second base for the Yankees, but he's still capable of playing shortstop, while the versatile Cliff Pennington should continue to find work as a utility infielder.
Veteran Jimmy Rollins had a rough season for the Dodgers, and his job will go to Corey Seager next year. He'll be looking for a new home just like his longtime teammate Chase Utley, and if Rollins is not willing to accept a lesser role, he may wind up hanging it up.
Left Fielders
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| 1. Yoenis Cespedes | .291 | .870 | 184 | 42 | 35 | 105 | 101 | 6.3 | 29 |
| 2. Justin Upton | .251 | .790 | 136 | 26 | 26 | 81 | 85 | 4.4 | 28 |
| 3. Alex Gordon* | .271 | .809 | 96 | 18 | 13 | 48 | 40 | 2.8 | 31 |
| 4. Marlon Byrd | .247 | .743 | 125 | 25 | 23 | 73 | 58 | 1.4 | 38 |
| 5. Franklin Gutierrez | .292 | .974 | 50 | 11 | 15 | 35 | 27 | 2.4 | 32 |
*$12.5 million player option likely to be declined
Position Overview
How much of an impact did Yoenis Cespedes make on the Mets lineup after they acquired him at the deadline?
Prior to trading for the slugger, the Mets had a 53-50 record, and their offense was bordering on anemic with 3.54 runs per game. After the trade, the team went 37-22 and averaged an impressive 5.39 runs per game to secure the NL East title.
On top of his impressive power and run production, he also graded out as an elite defender this season (11 DRS, 14.5 UZR/150) and has one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball. He's piled up 48 outfield assists in his four big league seasons.
Justin Upton has seemingly been in the majors forever after debuting as a 19-year-old back in 2007, and while he's never quite turned into that elite-level slugger, he is a consistent run producer with 30-homer power. He also became a factor in the running game again, swiping 19 bases in 24 attempts.
The free agency of Alex Gordon will be an interesting test of just how much teams value elite corner outfield defense, assuming he turns down his $12.5 million player option.
Since moving to left field in 2011, Gordon ranks eighth among all position players with a 26.8 WAR, but much of that value stems from his glove as he's contributed 94 DRS and won four Gold Gloves.
Marlon Byrd looked finished at the age of 34 back in 2012, but he's posted a .782 OPS and averaged 29 doubles, 24 home runs and 82 RBI the past three years. His right-handed power should continue to draw interest.
Rounding out the list here is Franklin Gutierrez, one of the better comeback stories of 2015.
The 32-year-old was out of the majors altogether in 2014 and a .238/.276/.363 hitter in just 173 total games the previous three season while battling injury. He turned into a phenomenal platoon option this year, though, as he hit .317/.357/.617 with eight home runs in 104 at-bats against left-handed pitching.
Center Fielders
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| 1. Dexter Fowler | .250 | .757 | 149 | 29 | 17 | 46 | 102 | 2.2 | 29 |
| 2. Denard Span | .301 | .796 | 74 | 17 | 5 | 22 | 38 | 0.8 | 31 |
| 3. Colby Rasmus | .238 | .789 | 103 | 23 | 25 | 61 | 67 | 2.6 | 29 |
| 4. Austin Jackson | .267 | .696 | 131 | 25 | 9 | 48 | 56 | 1.5 | 28 |
| 5. Rajai Davis | .258 | .746 | 88 | 16 | 8 | 30 | 55 | 1.6 | 34 |
Position Overview
In search of a viable leadoff hitter and an everyday center fielder, the Chicago Cubs killed two birds with one stone when they acquired Dexter Fowler in a trade with the Houston Astros.
As a switch-hitter with a good mix of power and speed and plus on-base skills, he should find plenty of interested teams on the free-agent market if he decides not to re-up with the Cubs this offseason.
Denard Span hit .302 and led the NL with 184 hits last season, but he played in just 61 games this year while dealing with a hip injury that eventually required surgery in August.
The Nationals were 36-25 (.590) with him in the lineup compared to 47-54 (.465) without him, so he certainly made his presence felt atop the order and in center field.
Colby Rasmus made good on a one-year, $8 million deal with the Astros in the offseason, hitting a career-high 25 home runs. He spent the bulk of his time in left field but was a center fielder in the years prior and could move back there depending on where he winds up.
After a terrific first four seasons in the league while playing with the Tigers, Austin Jackson has struggled the past two years with a .261/.310/.364 line and was shipped to the Cubs in August. The 28-year-old still has some upside, but he'll likely need to settle for a one-year deal to rebuild some value.
Speedster Rajai Davis rounds out the list, and since the 2008 season only Michael Bourn (307) has more stolen bases than Davis' 299. He's best served as a platoon player against left-handed pitching at this point in his career, though.
Right Fielders
8 of 12
| 1. Jason Heyward | .293 | .797 | 160 | 33 | 13 | 60 | 79 | 6.5 | 26 |
| 2. Gerardo Parra | .291 | .780 | 159 | 36 | 14 | 51 | 83 | 1.0 | 28 |
| 3. Chris Young | .252 | .773 | 80 | 20 | 14 | 42 | 53 | 1.1 | 32 |
| 4. Torii Hunter | .240 | .702 | 125 | 22 | 22 | 81 | 67 | -0.8 | 40 |
| 5. Alex Rios* | .255 | .640 | 98 | 22 | 4 | 32 | 40 | -1.1 | 34 |
*$12.5 million mutual option likely to be declined
Position Overview
Jason Heyward is not your prototypical star right fielder, but he has been among the most valuable players in the league in recent years.
At 6'5", 245 pounds and with a smooth left-handed swing, Heyward looks like someone who should be a perennial 30-homer threat in the middle of the lineup. Instead, his value stems from his defense, speed and on-base skills.
Since his rookie season in 2010, he ranks ninth among all position players with a 31.0 WAR, and his 119 DRS over that span are the most in all of baseball. He's a truly elite defender.
Considering he is still just 26 years old and whoever signs him will pay for nothing but prime seasons, a contract north of $200 million should be within reach.
Gerardo Parra was quietly having a fantastic season with the Brewers leading up to the trade deadline, as he hit .328/.369/.517 in 323 at-bats. However, his numbers dropped off significantly after he was dealt to the Orioles, as he hit just .237/.268/.357 the rest of the way.
He should still be able to land a decent multiyear deal, though, as he brings a good mix of defense, speed and power in his own right.
As far as platoon options go, few are better than Chris Young. He wore out left-handed pitching to the tune of a .327/.397/.575 line with 15 doubles and seven home runs in 153 at-bats, and that should get him a raise over the one-year, $2.5 million deal he signed last winter.
Torii Hunter will likely return to the Twins for one more year or hang it up after completing his 19th season in 2015, while Alex Rios was a disappointment on a one-year, $11 million deal but should still find some interested teams based on his track record.
Right-Handed Starting Pitchers
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| 1. Zack Greinke* | 19-3 | 1.66 | 2.76 | 0.844 | 200 | 222.2 | 9.3 | 31 |
| 2. J. Zimmermann | 13-10 | 3.66 | 3.75 | 1.205 | 164 | 201.2 | 3.4 | 29 |
| 3. Johnny Cueto | 11-13 | 3.44 | 3.53 | 1.132 | 176 | 212.0 | 3.9 | 29 |
| 4. Mike Leake | 11-10 | 3.70 | 4.20 | 1.161 | 119 | 192.0 | 2.9 | 27 |
| 5. John Lackey | 13-10 | 2.77 | 3.57 | 1.211 | 175 | 218.0 | 5.6 | 36 |
*Has an opt-out clause in his contract that will likely be exercised
Position Overview
The idea of leaving $77 million over three years on the table may seem absurd, but with Zack Greinke turning in a brilliant season in 2015, the decision to opt out and search for another long-term deal is a no-brainer.
He got $147 million over six years last time he was on the open market, and he should be able to improve on that average-annual value with perhaps another six-year deal this time around. The question is, will it come from the Dodgers or a different team?
Jordan Zimmermann has quietly been one of the best pitchers in baseball the past five years, going 66-43 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.135 WHIP while posting a 19.6 WAR that ranks 11th among all starters.
The Royals were hoping for an ace when they acquired Johnny Cueto at the deadline, and he had certainly pitched like one to that point with the Reds. After going 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.960 WHIP in 2014, he was 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA and 0.934 WHIP in 19 starts.
However, he struggled after making the move to Kansas City, going 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts. That's enough to move him just below Zimmermann in these rankings.
Mike Leake has never been an ace-caliber starter, but he has age on his side at 27 years old and has been nothing if not consistent as a middle-of-the-order arm.
On the other side of things, John Lackey turned in perhaps the best season of his career stepping into the role of staff ace for the Cardinals this year. However, at 36 years old he's nearing the end of his impressive career, and he may have to settle for a two-year deal.
Beyond those five guys there is plenty of quality depth, as Yovani Gallardo, Hisashi Iwakuma, Jeff Samardzija, Ian Kennedy, Colby Lewis, Marco Estrada, Mike Pelfrey, Chris Young, A.J. Burnett, Tim Lincecum and Bartolo Colon are also set to reach free agency.
Left-Handed Starting Pitchers
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| 1. David Price | 18-5 | 2.45 | 2.78 | 1.076 | 225 | 220.1 | 6.0 | 29 |
| 2. Scott Kazmir | 7-11 | 3.10 | 3.98 | 1.208 | 155 | 183.0 | 3.3 | 31 |
| 3. Wei-Yin Chen | 11-8 | 3.34 | 4.16 | 1.218 | 153 | 191.1 | 3.8 | 30 |
| 4. Brett Anderson | 10-9 | 3.69 | 3.94 | 1.331 | 116 | 180.1 | 1.6 | 27 |
| 5. J.A. Happ | 11-8 | 3.61 | 3.41 | 1.267 | 151 | 172.0 | 3.0 | 32 |
Position Overview
One of the game's few legitimate aces dating back to his second full season in the Rays' rotation in 2010, David Price will be one of the marquee names on the free-agent market this coming offseason.
The big left-hander is 104-56 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.132 WHIP and 1,372 strikeouts in 1,441.2 career innings over his eight big league seasons.
His 2.45 ERA was best in the American League this past season, and he should have a shot at adding a second Cy Young award to his trophy case this winter ahead of hitting the open market, where he should command north of $200 million.
Scott Kazmir figures to improve on the two-year, $22 million deal he landed last time he was a free agent, as he has proved his surprise comeback season was no fluke by going 22-20 with a 3.33 ERA, 1.184 WHIP and 5.0 WAR the past two years.
The Orioles gambled on Wei-Yin Chen when they signed him to a four-year, $15.47 million deal out of the Korean Baseball Organization prior to the 2012 season. He's turned into a solid No. 3 starter, though, and should generate plenty of interest on the second-tier market.
Brett Anderson finally managed to stay healthy after signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason. He surpassed 150 innings for the first time since he was a rookie in 2009 and succeeded on the strength of an MLB-best 66.3 percent ground-ball rate, per FanGraphs.
For all the attention on David Price and Johnny Cueto being moved at the trade deadline, J.A. Happ made as big an impact as any arm that changed teams in July.
The 32-year-old went 7-2 with a 1.85 ERA and 1.026 WHIP in 11 starts after joining the Pirates and likely made himself a good chunk of change in the process.
Mark Buehrle is also a free agent, and he'll need to decide whether or not to return for a 17th season at the age of 36.
Right-Handed Relievers
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| 1. Darren O'Day | 68 | 6-2 | 18 | 1.52 | 0.934 | 11.3 | 2.8 | 32 |
| 2. Joakim Soria | 72 | 3-1 | 11 | 2.53 | 1.094 | 8.5 | 1.7 | 31 |
| 3. Tyler Clippard | 69 | 5-4 | 8 | 2.92 | 1.127 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 30 |
| 4. Ryan Madson | 68 | 1-2 | 20 | 2.13 | 0.963 | 8.2 | 1.7 | 34 |
| 5. Mark Lowe | 57 | 1-3 | 17 | 1.96 | 1.055 | 10.0 | 1.6 | 32 |
Position Overview
There is no elite closer on the free-agent market this offseason, but a trio of elite setup arms will look to cash in.
Since the start of the 2012 season, only Craig Kimbrel (10.3) and Aroldis Chapman (10.2) have a better WAR among relievers than the 9.7 mark put up by side-winding setup man Darren O'Day.
He's been particularly good the past two seasons, posting a 1.61 ERA and 0.910 WHIP in 136 games, and he was rewarded with a well-deserved trip to the All-Star Game in 2015 as a result.
Joakim Soria ranks ninth among active relievers with 202 career saves, but he spent the stretch runs serving as a setup man in the Pittsburgh bullpen.
He went 23-of-26 on save chances with the Tigers before being traded, and there's a good chance he'll find a team that is willing to plug him back into the ninth inning role this winter.
Rounding out the trio is Tyler Clippard, who is a two-time All-Star as a setup man and also has some experience in the closer's role with 32 saves in 2012 and 19 this season.
Since his first full season in the league in 2009, he ranks third in baseball with 481 appearances while posting a 2.68 ERA, 1.043 WHIP and 11.4 WAR.
Ryan Madson had not thrown a pitch in the majors since 2011 prior to this season as he dealt with multiple elbow surgeries, but he emerged as a key member of the Royals bullpen in 2015. He had a 2.13 ERA, 0.963 WHIP and 20 holds on the year and proved to be worth every penny of his one-year, $850,000 deal.
Mark Lowe was another pleasant surprise, as he made just 18 total appearances in 2013 and 2014, before signing a minor league deal with the Mariners last offseason. He was traded to the Blue Jays at the deadline and should at the very least be able to find a guaranteed contract this time around.
Blaine Boyer, Shawn Kelley, Jason Frasor, Ryan Webb, Tommy Hunter and Fernando Rodney are also among the notable free-agent relief arms. In addition, Neftali Feliz is an intriguing bounce-back candidate to keep an eye on.
Left-Handed Relievers
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| 1. Antonio Bastardo | 66 | 4-1 | 9 | 2.98 | 1.134 | 10.1 | 0.9 | 30 |
| 2. Tony Sipp | 60 | 3-4 | 13 | 1.99 | 1.031 | 10.3 | 1.7 | 32 |
| 3. Neal Cotts | 68 | 1-0 | 4 | 3.41 | 1.263 | 8.2 | 0.6 | 35 |
| 4. Matt Thornton | 60 | 2-1 | 18 | 2.18 | 1.065 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 38 |
| 5. Oliver Perez | 70 | 2-4 | 10 | 4.17 | 1.317 | 11.2 | -0.3 | 33 |
Position Overview
There is no Andrew Miller on this year's free-agent market, but some quality left-handed relievers figure to be in demand.
Antonio Bastardo was one of the first players shipped out by the now rebuilding Phillies when they traded him to the Pirates last offseason, and he wound up being a key piece of what was the best bullpen in baseball.
In his two seasons with the Astros, Tony Sipp has posted a 2.66 ERA, 0.962 WHIP and 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings in 116 appearances. Chances are the team will make every effort to re-sign him in the offseason as the key left-hander in the pen.
Beyond those two we have a trio of elder statesmen in Neal Cotts, Matt Thornton and Oliver Perez who will all probably have to settle for a one-year deal given their ages. Nevertheless, they are still reliable late-inning arms with good track records of success.
Over the past three seasons, Cotts (199 G, 3.03 ERA), Perez (199 G, 3.54 ERA) and Thornton (184 G, 2.61 ERA) have all been steady setup options, and all three should land a major league contract this winter.
Joe Beimel, Randy Choate, James Russell, Manny Parra, Craig Breslow, Jerry Blevins and Brian Duensing are other notable southpaws on the relief pitcher free-agent market.
All standard stats and WAR come courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. Defensive statistics such as DRS and UZR/150 via FanGraphs.
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