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The 10 Most Expensive One-Year Free Agent Starters

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Many different types of free agents end up receiving relatively expensive, one-year deals. Some are looking for the right opportunity to earn a nice single-season paycheck while (hopefully) building up to a multi-year deal in the ensuing winter. Others settle for a solo campaign after trying and failing to find more. Some are younger players who have enough upside to draw a significant offer despite a rough platform campaign. Others are steady veterans that are being paid more for their floor than their ceiling. All such players necessarily receive only a limited commitment from their new teams; those that end up with non-contenders must be prepared for a mid-season scramble for new lodging in the event of a swap.

With about a quarter of the season in the books, we’re looking at how things are shaping up for the highest-paid rental free agents. We already performed this exercise for position players. Now, we’ll take a look at the ten most expensive one-year starters (and, later, relievers):

Matt Harvey, Angels, $11MM: The priciest arm on this list, Harvey hasn’t come through as the Halos hoped. He’s averaging just five frames per outing in nine starts and has limped to a 6.35 ERA. Though his velocity is fine, Harvey isn’t getting many swings and misses (9.7% swinging-strike rate) and has given up a lot of loud contact (40.6% hard contact vs. only a 9.8% soft contact rate). He’s likely performing better than his results, but Harvey is showing no signs of returning to anything approaching his former performance levels at thirty years of age.

Trevor Cahill, Angels, $9MM: I’ll be honest, I thought this deal would turn out well for the team. Cahill has been good when healthy and seemed to be an interesting risk. Unfortunately, he has managed only 44 innings of 6.95 ERA pitching over nine starts. Like several other struggling hurlers on this, he has been ravaged by the long ball, allowing nearly one every three innings.

CC Sabathia, Yankees, $8MM: An offseason heart procedure seemed ominous, but the outcomes have been sparkling since since Sabatahia returned to the hill. He’s now through 36 1/3 innings of sub-3.00 ERA pitching to open the year. Unfortunately, it may only be a matter of time before opposing hitters expose his act. Sabathia carries only 6.7 K/9 go with 3.7 BB/9 and has been torched for 2.23 home runs per regulation game. His FIP number is over twice his ERA.

Derek Holland, Giants, $7MM: Another hurler that settled for a single season despite having a case for multiple years, Holland ended up being knocked to the bullpen after seven starts. That move sparked a clubhouse flare-up reflective of the club’s rough opening stretch to the season. Holland has improved his strikeout rate but otherwise added walks and dingers, leading to an unsightly 7.17 ERA in 37 2/3 innings. While the Giants never expected world-beating results from Holland, the overall run of events is about the opposite of what they hoped for.

Tyson Ross, Tigers, $5.75MM: Elbow nerve issues have put Ross on the shelf. Perhaps they also help explain the rough start he had authored. Through 35 1/3 innings in seven starts, the veteran hurler carries a 6.11 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9. While he has moved back toward his former strengths with a sturdy 51.3% groundball rate, he’s also permitting home runs at a 22.6% HR/FB clip.

Wade Miley, Astros, $4.5MM: Many were surprised to see the Houston organization settle for Miley, but it made sense to go with a short-term hurler of this sort with so much upper-level talent in the system. Plus, Miley had an odd but legitimately interesting 2018 showing. He hasn’t maintained quite the home run-suppression rates he did last year, but is still getting a good number of grounders and turning in quality results despite underwhelming K/BB numbers (15.9% K rate vs. 5.6% BB rate).

Marco Estrada, Athletics, $4MM: The Oakland org was well aware of Estrada’s back issues when it signed him. Unfortunately, the risk hasn’t paid off, as he has made only five starts and struggled through 23 2/3 innings. Worryingly, ERA estimators (including FIP, xFIP, and SIERA) take even dimmer views of Estrada’s showing to date than his 6.85 ERA suggests. He managed only an 11:8 K/BB ratio and 7.6% swinging-strike rate (his lowest since his brief 2008 debut) before hitting the IL.

Martin Perez, Twins, $3.5MM: This signing looks like the best one on the list to this point. It seems the Minnesota org had good reason to believe it could unlock something from Perez, who is throwing harder (at or above 95 mph with both fastballs) and exhibiting much more swing and miss (11.4% swinging-strike rate) than ever before. He has used a newfound cutter to devastating effect. Best of all for the Twins, the deal includes a club option for 2020.

Matt Shoemaker, Blue Jays, $3.5MM: It seemed that Shoemaker was authoring a nice bounceback tale in Toronto. Through five starts, he worked to a 1.57 ERA with 7.5 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and a 51.4% groundball rate. There was some regression in store, to be sure, but generally it seemed as if he had finally turned the corner after some injury-riddled campaigns in Los Angeles. While arm health wasn’t an issue, a freak knee injury left the 32-year-old with a torn ACL and back on the IL for the remainder of the year.

Clay Buchholz, Blue Jays, $3MM: This one isn’t working out for the Jays either. After opening the year on the injured list, Buchholz made it through only five starts before he was diagnosed with a grade 2 shoulder strain. And he hasn’t been good when on the hill, either, with a 6.57 ERA in 24 2/3 frames.

Mariners Expected To Sign Anthony Bass

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The Mariners are “expected” to secure a deal with righty Anthony Bass, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The 31-year-old had been pitching in the Reds organization but is said to have triggered an opt-out clause.

Bass has seen sporadic MLB action in parts of seven seasons, compiling a 4.51 ERA in 299 1/3 total frames. He performed well last year in a 16-appearance stint with the Cubs but settled for a minors deal with the Reds.

After failing to win a MLB job in camp, Bass ended up at Triple-A Louisville to open the current campaign. Through 20 1/3 innings, he owns a 2.21 ERA with 19 strikeouts against six walks and 13 hits.

Whether the Mariners will bring Bass onto the MLB roster as part of the arrangement isn’t yet clear. Regardless, he seems well positioned to get a shot with a bullpen that has already hosted quite a few different hurlers at this early stage of the season.

Andrelton Simmons Suffers Ankle Injury; Ohtani Pulled After HBP

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Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons departed last night’s game with an ankle injury. Fortunately, x-rays were negative, but he has at a minimum suffered a “very bad sprain,” Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times was among those to report on Twitter.

At the moment, there’s no way to know what kind of absence might be anticipated. Simmons is due for an MRI today that will surely give a fuller picture of the damage incurred. He appeared to torque the joint quite forcefully after lunging to first base in an attempt to beat a throw.

The Halos also saw DH Shohei Ohtani leave the game in the same inning. He was struck by a pitch in the right hand. X-rays were also negative in his case, with manager Brad Ausmus indicating that his injury was of lesser concern.

It’s already a tough spot for the Angels, who sit three games below .500 and 9.5 back of the heavyweight Astros. With Justin Upton still sidelined and the rotation still scuffling, it’s tough to see a path to even Wild Card contention that doesn’t involve a huge performance from Simmons, Ohtani, and the peerless Mike Trout.

Fortunately, the club does seem to have the ability to shift some pieces around to cover for any absences. Zack Cozart is probably the most gifted shortstop in the world that doesn’t play that position for a MLB team, so he can slide over there with David Fletcher and Tommy La Stella sharing second and third base. If the team wants another lefty bat to go with Jared Walsh, it can recall Justin Bour.

Victor Arano Headed For Further Elbow Examination

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Phillies reliever Victor Arano is scheduled to be examined next week by orthopedic surgeon Neal ElAttrache, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Arano has already missed a month of action since coming down with elbow inflammation.

It had seemed that the 24-year-old Arano would make it back onto the MLB roster in relatively short order but the problematic symptoms in the joint arose again. That led the team to schedule an appointment with ElAttrache, who is known best for his role as the Dodgers’ team physician as well as for the many Tommy John surgeries he has performed.

Skipper Gabe Kapler says the situation doesn’t “feel” like one in which a major surgery will be required. There’s obviously enough worry to order up a closer look, though the hope will be that a non-invasive treatment approach can solve the issues.

Arano seemed to be a core pen piece for the Phils after a quality showing last year in his first full season in the majors. He opened on optional assignment after a rough spring but earned his way quickly back to the majors — where he got swings and misses on one of every four pitches he threw (albeit in a sample of just 16 batters faced).

Even if the news is relatively good, it seems the Phillies will need to give Arano a while longer to heal. And there is one intriguing replacement option filtering back, Breen further reports.

Vince Velasquez is set for his first mound work since hitting the IL on the 11th of this month. It seems the expectation is that his forearm strain won’t prevent him from bouncing back rather quickly, meaning that the team could soon be presented with some decisions in its rotation.

If the Phils decide to stick with Cole Ervin or restore Nick Pivetta to his spot in the starting five, Velasquez will be without a role. He could drop down to Triple-A to remain stretched out or perhaps function as a potentially handy high-leverage long man. Understandably, it seems the club will wait to make its moves until it is forced to commit.

Giancarlo Stanton Begins Rehab Assignment; Aaron Judge Resumes Throwing

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The Yankees finally put star slugger Giancarlo Stanton back into game action today, as he was in the lineup for the club’s High-A affiliate. That starts a 21-day rehab period. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge has begun playing catch, as Brendan Kuty of NJ.com was among those to cover.

Stanton has been sidelined since the first of April, when he was placed on the injured list with a biceps strain. It emerged recently that the the 29-year-old had also suffered a shoulder injury during the course of his rehab work.

In action tonight, Stanton launched a long ball and went down twice on strikes in three trips to the plate. That sort of showing is a familiar one for Yankees fans, who watched Stanton blast 38 home runs and strike out 211 times in 705 plate appearances last season.

Unfortunately, Stanton won’t come anywhere close to topping that career-high number of trips to the dish. He had been fully healthy in 2017 and 2018, but before that missed time with injuries in several campaigns.

The Yankees have cobbled together an all-time replacement roster, reeling off wins despite injuries to their three best outfielders and an array of other players. Aaron Hicks is back already, with Stanton now on the clock to do the same.

It’s less clear when Judge will finally be ready. He has yet to begin swinging the bat. While it’s encouraging that he feels good enough to pick up the ball, the very significance of that development is a reflection of the seriousness of his oblique strain.

With fill-in players now on the roster, those returning from the injured list will create some crunches. We already discussed the infield situation earlier this evening. Cameron Maybin and Clint Frazier have taken on unexpectedly significant roles, but could be pushed out of the lineup (and perhaps off the roster) when Stanton is ready. The veteran Maybin would need to be dropped from the 40-man if he becomes the odd man out; Frazier could be optioned. DH Kendrys Morales could certainly also be at risk, though the switch-hitter is one of only three active Yankees who swing from the left side.

Brodie Van Wagenen Issues Mickey Callaway Vote Of Confidence

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It was a busy day for Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen, who addressed reporters on the latest strange health twist from outfielder (and former client) Yoenis Cespedes and also issued a vote of confidence in manager Mickey Callaway. Matt Ehalt of Yahoo Sports was among those to cover the presser.

With the Mets still reeling ten days after COO Jeff Wilpon called a sit-down with Van Wagenen and Callaway, the temperature on Callaway’s seat in the dugout is warming. Van Wagenen met with players and the coaching staff today to make clear that Callaway remains in charge, then met with the media to make the same point.

As is often the case when head coaches and managers receive a vote of confidence, the message was somewhat mixed. Van Wagenen said that Callaway “has our full support to lead this team for the foreseeable future,” yet raised some doubt as to the meaning of the term “foreseeable” by stopping well shy of giving any assurances that Callaway would be entrusted with the reins for the remainder of the season.

Van Wagenen says that the club’s focus has been the unity between the players and coaching staff. Callaway scores well in that department in the eyes of the rookie GM, who says that his club’s manager “has the pulse of the clubhouse.”

Whether that will remain the standard by which Callaway is judged moving forward isn’t clear. All that does seem clear is that the second-year skipper won’t be canned in the next few weeks. That’d make for a rather embarrassing change of direction after today’s statements. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess whether and when a change might take place.

Troy Tulowitzki Getting Work At Third Base

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Yankees veteran Troy Tulowitzki has begun taking grounders at third base as well as his accustomed shortstop position, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reports on Twitter. Tulowitzki is said to have approached the club to express a willingness to move around the infield.

The 34-year-old Tulowitzki has never appeared at a position other than shortstop in his 13 seasons at the MLB level. (That’s also true of his 1200+ frames in the minors.) That’s a reflection of his well-deserved reputation for quality glovework at the game’s most challenging defensive position as well as his former excellence as as hitter. Teams have simply never had cause to utilize Tulowitzki elsewhere on the diamond, though there’s little reason to think he wouldn’t thrive in other positions.

Unfortunately, Tulo made it through only thirty innings of action this year before he was once again sidelined with a lower-body injury (this time, his calf). Even as he continues to work back to full strength, the man he was brought in to cover for — the younger Didi Gregorius — has made his own steady progress. Gregorius’s star rose steadily in New York before Tommy John surgery last October. Despite a rehab timeline that stretched into the middle of the 2019 campaign, the Yanks staked $12.4MM in arbitration salary on him.

So long as Gregorius makes it back as hoped — he’s still due to return at some point in June — there isn’t much of a path to playing time at short for Tulowitzki. Indeed, it’s not clear there’ll be a roster spot at all, even with third baseman Miguel Andujar sidelined for the duration of the season.

Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu are clearly at the top of the depth chart. Somehow, most of the Yanks’ fill-in infielders have produced at strong levels. Gio Urshela has been particularly impressive, turning in a robust .346/.400/.490 output in 115 plate appearances. And Thairo Estrada has posted a .303/.324/.545 slash through his first 35 turns at the MLB dish.

Injuries or setbacks could always intervene, as this team well knows, but there could be some tough choices when Tulowitzki and Gregorius are both healthy. It’s hard to fathom the Yankees bumping the out-of-options Urshela from the roster — barring a sudden collapse, at least. Estrada can be optioned, though that would only account for one roster spot. Switch-hitting slugger Kendrys Morales is the most vulnerable member of the roster, but he’s off to a hot start in the Bronx and offers a much-needed lefty bat.

Cubs Prospect Nico Hoerner Diagnosed With Fractured Wrist; Strop, Morrow Progressing

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Cubs infield prospect Nico Hoerner has been diagnosed with a hairline wrist fracture, Mark Gonzales the Chicago Tribune was among those to cover (Twitter links). Hoerner had already been sidelined after being hit by a pitch nearly a month ago; with the new diagnosis, he is expected to miss at least one more month of action.

In other health updates of more immediate concern for the MLB roster, relievers Pedro Strop and Brandon Morrow are progressing in their rehab efforts. The former has thrown his first pen session since he hit the injured list with a hamstring injury. The latter has (again) begun a throwing program once again. He’s still trying to work back from a string of elbow ailments.

Though the Cubs would no doubt put a priority on getting those veteran relievers back in action, the absence of Hoerner does come with possible MLB implications. While there isn’t a clear need at the moment in the infield, he’s a near-term option for the organization.

Hoerner would also be of interest to other clubs in trade talks this summer. The 22-year-old cracked top-100 prospect lists to open the season and is seen by most as the organization’s best prospect. He further improved his stock before the injury, posting a .300/.391/.500 slash over 69 plate appearances at the Double-A level.

As for Strop and Morrow, the former is obviously ahead of the latter but still seems to be a ways off from a return to the MLB pen. The Cubs will need to continue to handle Morrow with the utmost care given the repeat setbacks he has experienced (to say nothing of his lengthy injury history).

The team has managed to fill in the gaps well enough with its groundball-heavy group of relievers. And there are other hurlers with late-inning experience on hand. Still, it’d be nice to have Strop and Morrow back in action. They are arguably the top two relief options on the roster when it’s at full strength.

Mariners To Select Tommy Milone

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4:37pm: Milone will indeed step onto the roster to take the start, manager Scott Servais tells Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).

4:24pm: The Mariners need a starter in what would’ve been righty Erik Swanson’s spot — Swanson was optioned to Triple-A last Friday — and MLB.com’s Greg Johns tweets that southpaw Tommy Milone is with the big league club right now. There’s been no formal announcement from the team, but Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times tweeted today that “all indications” suggested that Milone would start for the Mariners tomorrow. Seattle would need to formally select Milone’s contract and add him to the 40-man roster, which seems quite likely at this point.

Milone, 32, opened the season with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma and has pitched to a 3.83 ERA with 7.8 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 1.28 HR/9 and a 37.7 percent ground-ball rate. Mariners fans would likely prefer to see the upside of top prospect Justus Sheffield rather than the veteran Milone, but manager Scott Servais told Johns and others recently that the team’s preference moving forward is to promote Sheffield only when he’s deemed ready for a long-term audition. It still seems quite likely that’ll come at some point this season, but Sheffield has pitched just 18 2/3 innings with a 4.82 ERA and a 21-to-14 K/BB ratio over his past four starts; it’s not as if he’s kicked in the door to the big leagues with his recent work.

Milone will join Marco Gonzales, Yusei Kikuchi, Wade LeBlanc and Mike Leake in the team’s starting five for now, though the length of his stay will surely be tied to his performance. Seattle does have alternatives in the upper minors, and GM Jerry Dipoto is never shy about adding options from outside the organization.

Tigers Return Rule 5 Pick Reed Garrett To Rangers

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The Tigers announced that they’ve returned right-hander Reed Garrett, their pick in last December’s Rule 5 Draft, to the Rangers. Detroit designated Garrett for assignment last week, and he went unclaimed on outright waivers (as was first reported, on Twitter, by Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press).

Garrett, 26, piqued the Tigers’ interest with a combined 2.04 ERA, 8.9 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 61 2/3 innings of work for the Rangers’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates last season, but it’s been difficult for the club to trust him so far in his big league debut. He’s tallied just 15 1/3 innings, and during that time he’s issued 13 walks, hit a batter and recorded 10 strikeouts. Garrett has also served up 25 hits, three of which have been home runs.

Even for a rebuilding club like the Tigers, carrying a reliever who’s had such pronounced difficulty throwing strikes would be difficult over the course of a full season — particularly when there are other young arms in the organization to evaluate in that spot. The inability to option Garrett to the minors also limits the day-to-day roster flexibility for general manager Al Avila and his staff, which is particularly troublesome given the large number of injuries the Tigers have experienced in the rotation — all of which combine to put further pressure on the bullpen to soak up innings.

The Rangers, who themselves are in need of all the young pitching they can get, will surely be pleased to welcome Garrett and his 95.7 mph fastball back to the organization. He won’t take up a spot on the 40-man roster unless the club decides to select his contract and promote him to the Majors later this season.

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