We continue our countdown of the top 100 free agents. Here’s 100-81 , here’s 80-61. Now let’s do the next 20 on the list.
As previously noted, the rankings are not absolute player rankings or rankings which reflect inherent value or how big a bargain the player may be on the market. Rather, these rankings are based, primarily, on how teams might value these guys, going from the largest expected contracts to the smallest.
60. Josh Harrison (2B) Harrison was limited to 97 games due to a fractured hand and a hamstring injury. He hit a disappointing .250/.293/.363 with eight home runs and 37 RBI in 374 plate appearances. pic.twitter.com/dpj3mLtZ5Q
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
59. Garrett Richards (SP) He's going to miss most if not all of the year recovering from Tommy John surgery Look for him to get a Michael Pineda-style two-year deal where a team paying for rehab gambles that it can reap the reward of an underpriced comeback season. pic.twitter.com/iERms9IlzT
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
58. Anibal Sanchez (SP): An out-of-nowhere 2.83 ERA season for the Braves will cause someone to take a chance on him for the back of their rotation. But given how out-of-nowhere it was, many will wonder if 2018 was a fluke. (hint: it was probably a fluke) pic.twitter.com/BvG3LAAj3y
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
57. Kurt Suzuki (C) Two fantastic seasons in which Suzuki posted a .825 OPS will push him into the "elder statement catcher who gives good interviews and maybe teaches us something along the way" portion of his career. All catchers have that, right? pic.twitter.com/p6JvPr6Q6z
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
56. Joakim Soria (SP) He posted a 4.09 ERA in 26 games with the Brewers after being acquired from the White Sox. A 3.12 ERA with 75 K in 61 IP in all. pic.twitter.com/IqGdHqg60x
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
55. Carlos Gonzalez (OF) He hit .276/.329/.467 all year but was way better in his last 100 games or so. That will get him looks, but his glove will limit those looks. Maybe an AL team where he can DH would be a better bet. pic.twitter.com/gy1nfVG5JG
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
54. Greg Holland (RP) He certainly turned things around once he left St. Louis and went to Washington, posting a 0.84 ERA and a 25/10 K/BB ratio in 21 1/3 innings. Which Holland do you think you're getting? Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya? pic.twitter.com/3b4knm20yk
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
53. Jose Iglesias (SS) Good defense, doesn't strike out, doesn't walk, less-than-ideal durability. If there's a team willing to basically punt offense for a slick glove, Iglesias will be a good choice. pic.twitter.com/cBklRBeACY
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
52. Joe Mauer (1B): He's probably retiring so this is probably moot, but if he wasn't, this would seem like a good place for him. Mostly we just want to think of what his career would've looked like if he had never suffered those concussions. pic.twitter.com/ws7koWVhaD
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
51. Drew Pomeranz (SP) A lost year. That's bad. But he was added to the World Series roster. That's good! But he wasn't used, even in an 18-inning game. That's bad. But the Sox won the series! That's good. But Pomeranz's free agency case contains potassium benzoate.
That's bad pic.twitter.com/yTTY0Td6Im
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
50. Martin Maldonado (C), One of the best defensive catchers in the game. Someone will give him a couple of years even if he can't hit a lick. pic.twitter.com/RahKEjJBEH
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
49. Lonnie Chisenhall (OF) a platoon guy who has hit well when healthy — .297/.368/.503 over 320 at-bats over the last two years — but the Indians seem intent on parting ways with him despite having almost no outfield to speak of. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good. pic.twitter.com/Wibzhk3BLs
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
48. Trevor Cahill (SP) Like Anibal Sanchez, he bought himself some time on his career with a nice bounceback season. Just don't expect, like, 200 innings from him or anything. Do we still do swingmen in Major League Baseball? He'd be a good swingman. pic.twitter.com/pMPvOnxlw1
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
47. Steve Pearce (1B) A World Series hero, yes, but a platoon guy still. A good one, who hit .284/.378/.512 in 215 at-bats, but at age 35, don't expect a monster deal or anything. pic.twitter.com/Pwo4oohf78
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
46. Brad Brach (RP): A 1.52 ERA in 27 appearances down the stretch for Atlanta last season will earn him a nice, likely multi-year deal. pic.twitter.com/jxoxiIZz1Z
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
45. Clay Buchholz (SP) A big comeback year in which he went 7-2 with a 2.01 ERA in 16 starts before falling to injury. Assuming he's healthy, someone is going to throw him some real money in the hopes he can do that over, say, 25 starts. pic.twitter.com/lgcwna7JMs
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
44. Matt Harvey (SP) Had a nice resurgence in Cincy but then it fell apart in the second half. Still, his velocity was back in 2018, and that's a good sign. pic.twitter.com/fzcI2G6K1y
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
43. Brian McCann (C) Still OK defensively, but his offense is basically toast these days and his durability is in question. There are other catchers who would help teams more on this list, but his name and reputation might still get him more plate appearances than a lot of 'em. pic.twitter.com/BB30SP0EjU
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
42. Adam Jones (OF) As a center fielder, Jones' value is much lower than it once was. As a corner outfielder who can still carry a league average bat, and maybe better, he may get a lot of suitors. pic.twitter.com/wJeIA0ML4n
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
41. Freddy Galvis (SS) A sure-handed, shortstop who doesn't hit all that much. A lot of non-contenders need a guy like that, especially if they have a young pitching staff which needs to build confidence. pic.twitter.com/RhYoNS7too
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) November 7, 2018
