All-MLB Free-Agent Team with Landing Spot Predictions Ahead of Spring Training
Even though teams across Major League Baseball will soon start reporting for spring training, there are still dozens of players looking for work on the free-agent market.
Since they can't form their own team, we kinda-sorta did it for them.
We've singled out the best free agent remaining at each position—meaning all eight defensive spots, a designated hitter and both a right-hander and left-hander to represent starters and relievers—based on their track records and outlook for the 2021 season.
To make things even more interesting, we also took a whack at predicting where these players will sign.
Let's get to it.
Catcher: Yadier Molina
1 of 13
Age: 38
Key 2020 Stats: 42 G, 156 PA, 4 HR, 0 SB, .262 AVG, .303 OBP, .359 SLG, 81 OPS+
2020 WAR: 0.3
With J.T. Realmuto, James McCann and Wilson Ramos already spoken for, Yadier Molina stands alone as the best catcher left on the open market.
After 17 years with the St. Louis Cardinals, Molina arguably already has a resume worthy of the Hall of Fame. He's been an All-Star and a Gold Glover nine times apiece, and he picked up World Series rings in 2006 and 2011.
In light of the 85 OPS+ that he's put across the last two seasons, Molina clearly isn't much of an offensive threat anymore. But nor is he totally inept with a bat in his hands, and he still offers good framing and the ability to police the running game on defense.
Though the Toronto Blue Jays reportedly have interest in Molina, other indications are that it's just a matter of time before he makes like longtime battery mate Adam Wainwright and re-signs with St. Louis.
Prediction: St. Louis Cardinals
First Baseman: Mitch Moreland
2 of 13
Age: 35
Key 2020 Stats: 42 G, 152 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, .265 AVG, .342 OBP, .551 SLG, 139 OPS+
2020 WAR: 1.2
Once Carlos Santana signed with the Kansas City Royals in December, Mitch Moreland has been and still is the market's top first baseman.
Mind you, his numbers from 2020 must be taken with a grain of salt. The left-handed swinger did almost all of his damage against right-handers. He also struggled following a trade from the Boston Red Sox to the San Diego Padres, with whom he posted a 66 OPS+.
But even if his 2020 results overstate his upside, Moreland figures to be in 2021 what he's always been: a semi-regular who'll hit roughly 20 home runs while playing solid defense.
The best fit for Moreland is with the Colorado Rockies, who could use a lefty-swinging complement for Josh Fuentes. But since that would require owner Dick Monfort to actually spend money, it's a better bet that the Red Sox will follow through on their reported interest in a reunion with Moreland.
Prediction: Boston Red Sox
Second Baseman: Marwin Gonzalez
3 of 13
Age: 31
Key 2020 Stats: 53 G, 199 PA, 5 HR, 0 SB, .211 AVG, .286 OBP, .320 SLG, 68 OPS+
2020 WAR: 0.2
The free-agent market initially had a deep pool of second basemen, but it's looking shallower now after DJ LeMahieu, Cesar Hernandez, Tommy La Stella, Kolten Wong and Jonathan Schoop have signed.
But if we can get a little loose with the definition of "second baseman," at least Marwin Gonzalez is still out there.
Second base is but one of many positions he's capable of playing, which is certainly his top selling point as a free agent. His offensive ability is more suspect after his numbers cratered in 2020, but he was generally solid to the tune of a 108 OPS+ between 2014 and 2019.
There are numerous potential fits for Gonzalez, including the Red Sox, Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies. Yet the best is with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have room for a low-risk hitter who could play all over their infield and outfield.
Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks
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Third Baseman: Justin Turner
4 of 13
Age: 36
Key 2020 Stats: 42 G, 175 PA, 4 HR, 1 SB, .307 AVG, .400 OBP, .460 SLG, 135 OPS+
2020 WAR: 1.5
Justin Turner has been one of the best hitters in baseball over the last seven years, compiling a .302/.382/.503 batting line and a 139 OPS+.
So why is he still looking for work? It could be because some teams are spooked by his modest power output from 2020. It's more likely, though, that Turner's asking price is the problem.
He's reportedly looking for a four-year contract. Even if his power is in better shape than last season indicates, such a deal would represent quite the risk in context of his age and his already diminishing defensive ability.
Turner nonetheless has four teams after him, including the Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. The latter certainly needs him more and obviously knows him well. So as long as they don't lowball him, he would probably be only too happy to return to the place that he called home between 2014 and 2020.
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers
Shortstop: Jonathan Villar
5 of 13
Age: 29
Key 2020 Stats: 52 G, 207 PA, 2 HR, 16 SB, .232 AVG, .301 OBP, .292 SLG, 64 OPS+
2020 WAR: Minus-0.1
With Marcus Semien, Didi Gregorius and Andrelton Simmons off the board, the pickings among free-agent shortstops are pretty slim at this juncture.
If it's a question of which available player has the most upside, Jonathan Villar stands out. He first emerged as a dynamic offensive threat when he hit 19 homers with 62 stolen bases in 2016. He more or less did it again in 2019 when he clubbed 24 homers and stole 40 bases.
The catch with Villar is twofold. For one, his 2020 season is symbolic of his offensive inconsistency. For two, he's more of a utility guy than a true shortstop.
Still, there are fits for Villar. The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly open to a reunion, yet it's no surprise to hear that he's in talks with the Cincinnati Reds. They badly want a shortstop, after all, and buying low on Villar is probably the best they can do right now.
Prediction: Cincinnati Reds
Left Fielder: Brett Gardner
6 of 13
Age: 37
Key Stats: 49 G, 158 PA, 5 HR, 3 SB, .223 AVG, .354 OBP, .392 SLG, 108 OPS+
2020 WAR: 0.7
Marcell Ozuna was by far the best left fielder on the open market for a while there, but he's now spoken for after re-upping with Atlanta on a four-year deal on Friday.
The next man up is Brett Gardner, who's in his late 30s yet also ageless.
Gardner is an All-Star and Gold Glover whose .343 career OBP is symbolic of his talent for giving pitchers headaches at the plate. He's also come into some power as he's gotten older, cranking out more home runs over the last four seasons (66) than he had in his first nine seasons (63).
As for where Gardner might end up, it's certainly hard to imagine him with anyone other than the New York Yankees. And because the two sides are reportedly discussing a new deal, it's seemingly just a matter of time before he returns for a 14th season in The Bronx.
Prediction: New York Yankees
Center Fielder: Jackie Bradley Jr.
7 of 13
Age: 30
Key 2020 Stats: 55 G, 217 PA, 7 HR, 5 SB, .283 AVG, .364 OBP, .450 SLG, 118 OPS+
2020 WAR: 2.1
Once George Springer signed a six-year, $150 million deal with the Blue Jays, Jackie Bradley Jr. went from No. 2 to No. 1 on the list of available center fielders.
He reportedly desires a four-year contract. That would be risky because, though his bat was productive in 2020, he previously had a 90 OPS+ between 2017 and 2019.
In Bradley's defense, his best selling point is, well, his defense. He deserves more than just the one Gold Glove that he has in his collection, and he indeed should have gotten one last year after co-leading the American League with seven outs above average.
Though the New York Mets are reportedly interested in Bradley, in theory he makes more sense as a center field upgrade for the Philadelphia Phillies. For what it's worth, new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski knows Bradley well from his time in Boston.
Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies
Right Fielder: Yasiel Puig
8 of 13
Age: 30
Key 2019 Stats: 149 G, 611 PA, 24 HR, 19 SB, .267 AVG, .327 OBP, .458 SLG, 99 OPS+
2019 WAR: 1.3
We've listed Yasiel Puig's 2019 stats, of course, because he didn't play in 2020.
For whatever reason—his high-maintenance personality, for example—Puig lingered on last year's free-agent market into the summer. Once he finally seemed to be on the verge of signing in July, his deal with Atlanta fell apart after a positive coronavirus test.
Yet Puig has arguably been the top right fielder available on this winter's market from the beginning. He's not without his flaws, but the power, speed and arm strength that have defined his career surely still exist in some form.
A handful of teams have been linked to Puig throughout the offseason, but perhaps none fit him as well as the one in Kansas City. The Royals have already bought low on Carlos Santana, Mike Minor and Michael A. Taylor. It would make sense for them to also do so with Puig and slot him into their opening in right field.
Prediction: Kansas City Royals
Designated Hitter: Edwin Encarnacion
9 of 13
Age: 38
Key 2020 Stats: 44 G, 181 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, .157 AVG, .250 OBP, .377 SLG, 70 OPS+
2020 WAR: Minus-0.3
Now that Nelson Cruz is back with the Twins, Edwin Encarnacion looms as the biggest name left among free-agent designated hitters.
He was a reliable offensive producer between 2012 and 2019, racking up a 138 OPS+ and an MLB-high 297 home runs. Last season therefore marked quite the fall from grace, and it was no fluke. Basically all of Encarnacion's peripheral stats finished in well-below-average territory.
Per agent Paul Kinzer, Encarnacion nonetheless wants to play two more seasons in the majors. More specifically, he wants a shot at hitting the 76 home runs he needs to reach 500 for his career.
As for which team might give Encarnacion that chance, the Tampa Bay Rays are one to watch. Their reported interest in Marcell Ozuna indicated they are aware of their need for an additional slugger. Encarnacion would be a low-risk Plan B.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher: Jake Odorizzi
10 of 13
Age: 30
Key 2020 Stats: 4 G, 4 GS, 13.2 IP, 12 K, 3 BB, 4 HR, 68 ERA+
2020 WAR: Minus-0.2
With Trevor Bauer joining Charlie Morton, Corey Kluber, Kevin Gausman and Marcus Stroman among right-handed aces who have signed on the dotted line, it's now Jake Odorizzi's turn.
Last season was one that he would like to forget, as he battled several different injuries and was mostly ineffective when he could pitch.
Previously, however, Odorizzi was a dependable innings-eater who posted a 106 ERA+ and 165 innings per season between 2014 and 2019. He peaked as an All-Star in 2019, in which he had a 129 ERA+ and a rate of 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
Odorizzi's market is understandably crowded, with teams such as the Twins, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants reportedly in on him. A reunion with the Twins seems especially likely, as there's familiarity between the two and the club needs all the help it can get for its arms race with Chicago.
Prediction: Minnesota Twins
Left-Handed Starting Pitcher: James Paxton
11 of 13
Age: 32
Key 2020 Stats: 5 G, 5 GS, 20.1 IP, 26 K, 7 BB, 4 HR, 65 ERA+
2020 WAR: Minus-0.4
Sans Mike Minor, Robbie Ray, Drew Smyly and J.A. Happ, the market for left-handed starters now revolves around James Paxton.
The knock against him even before 2020 was that he was injury-prone, which proved to be true once again as a flexor strain kept him out of action for most of last season. Perhaps equally alarming was the downturn in his average fastball velocity from 95.5 mph in 2019 to 92.1 mph in 2020.
If there's a bright side here, it's that all this makes Paxton an intriguing buy-low opportunity. He was, after all, a previously effective hurler who tossed a no-hitter in 2018 and otherwise accounted for a 117 ERA+ across 2016 and 2019.
Paxton is reportedly on the Blue Jays' radar, which is indeed a perfect fit. They need another starter, and he's one of the better pitchers to ever come out of Canada.
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays
Right-Handed Relief Pitcher: Trevor Rosenthal
12 of 13
Age: 30
Key 2020 Stats: 23 G, 18 GF, 23.2 IP, 38 K, 8 BB, 2 HR, 240 ERA+
2020 WAR: 1.2
Once Liam Hendriks signed with the White Sox, Trevor Rosenthal rose to the top of the market for right-handed relievers.
He had a rough time for a while there. He missed the entire 2018 season after having Tommy John surgery in August 2017. Upon returning to the mound in 2019, he never found his control as he walked 26 batters and allowed 23 earned runs in 22 appearances.
The silver lining amid all that was that Rosenthal's fastball was in fine form, averaging 98.0 mph and getting as high as 100.6 mph. That much didn't change in 2020, but this time he got his control back and spent the year blowing away hitters.
Though the Blue Jays reportedly have interest in Rosenthal, they already have Kirby Yates set to close. It would be better for Rosenthal to re-up with the Padres, who are indeed interested in a reunion.
Prediction: San Diego Padres
Left-Handed Relief Pitcher: Jake McGee
13 of 13
Age: 34
Key 2020 Stats: 24 G, 4 GF, 20.1 IP, 33 K, 3 BB, 2 HR, 161 ERA+
2020 WAR: 0.4
Cleveland raised eyebrows back in October when it declined its 2021 option on closer Brad Hand. That eventually benefited the Nationals, who inked the three-time All-Star in January.
But in Jake McGee, the market still has at least one good left-handed reliever to offer.
Following his rough seasons in 2018 and 2019, the Rockies released McGee ahead of the final season of his three-year contract in 2020. That backfired as he found new life with the Dodgers, boosting his fastball to an average of 95.0 mph and actually doing better against right-handed batters than left-handed ones.
There are any number of teams that could sign McGee as a late-inning weapon. Perhaps the best fit for him is in Boston. The Red Sox need another reliever, and Chaim Bloom, the club's chief baseball officer, knows McGee from their time with Tampa Bay.
Prediction: Boston Red Sox
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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