The following players are currently eligible for free agency. Players’ ages for the 2023 season are listed in parentheses. Generally, the cutoff for this list is at least 50 plate appearances or 20 innings pitched in 2022.
Updated 3-28-23
Catchers
Robinson Chirinos (38)
Kevin Plawecki (32)
Austin Romine (34)
Gary Sanchez (30)
First Basemen
Franchy Cordero (28)
Miguel Sano (30)
Second Basemen
Robinson Cano (40)
Charlie Culberson (34)
Cesar Hernandez (33)
Andrelton Simmons (33)
Jonathan Villar (32)
Shortstops
Alcides Escobar (36)
Didi Gregorius (33)
Andrelton Simmons (33)
Dee Strange-Gordon (35)
Jonathan Villar (32)
Third Basemen
Charlie Culberson (34)
Phil Gosselin (34)
Jonathan Villar (32)
Left Fielders
Albert Almora (29)
Franchy Cordero (28)
Center Fielders
Albert Almora (29)
Odubel Herrera (31)
Rafael Ortega (32)
Right Fielders
Albert Almora (29)
Luis Barrera (27)
Kole Calhoun (35)
Travis Demeritte (28)
Nomar Mazara (28)
Designated Hitters
Gary Sanchez (30)
Justin Upton (35)
Starting Pitchers
Chris Archer (34)
Dallas Keuchel (35)
Mike Minor (35)
Michael Pineda (34)
Anibal Sanchez (39)
Right-Handed Relievers
Archie Bradley (30)
Jhoulys Chacin (35)
Kyle Crick (30)
Ken Giles (31)
Will Harris (38)
Corey Knebel (30)
Reyes Moronta (30)
Garrett Richards (35)
Hansel Robles (32)
Joe Smith (39)
Left-Handed Relievers
Zack Britton (35)
Ross Detwiler (37)
Brixton
I’d guess Trea is the only 200M player
tigersfan1320
Unless Xander or Anderson decline the option
Tim Dierkes
Anderson has a club option, so he won’t be a free agent. Bogaerts can opt out after ’22, so he probably will be a free agent unless the Red Sox extend him.
kroeg49
If Anderson continues to play close to, or better than his current play, he’ll be extended. He’s team leader and a roll model for African-American ball players.
jimthegoat
@kroeg49 Extension takes two to tango fam.
afl forever
I think he’s a role model for all ball players
Pete'sView
White Sox have already picked up Anderson’s option.
LordD99
I do wonder if the Red Sox will try and negotiate a new contract with Bogaerts in advance if that opt out? In the open market, hard to say what he’ll get. He’ll be a SS looking to sign a contract past the age of 30. His home/road splits suggests he’s greatly helped by Fenway. A .269/.332/.423 hitter on the road. It may be to both Boston and Bogaerts benefit to work out a new deal
detroitdave84
I haven’t seen any ball player opt out of these contracts. Too much risk & I think teams are leery about signing players beyond age 34 now. Huge declines unless you have a Big Pappi ending. Most of the endings look like VMART, MIGGY, AROID, ETC…..
Steve Nebraska
@Tim Dierkes: I was gonna say, Wild guess. regardless of the official status of players on this list none of Tim Anderson, Max Muncy, Trevor Bauer, Whit Merrifield, Jose Ramirez, Jurickson Profar, Ketel Marte, Charlie Blackmon, Sonny Gray, Aaron Nola or Chris Flexen are actually going to be free agents. Blackmon, Profar and Bauer will all likely pick up their player options because it’s very unlikely they get as much money elsewhere. The rest of the players will all likely have their club options picked up barring injury because their contracts are a steal. Those Blackmon, Bauer and Profar contracts are all pretty bad for the teams that signed them.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Tim Anderson isn’t going to get 200mil. Maybe 125-135. Somewhere in that range. No chance he gets 200mil
Franco22
He isn’t worth the effort, he only played 77 games this year and just over 100 games last year. Hope the Sox trade him. He’s all hype , terrible fielder. Some role model, has two mistresses chasing him and gets suspended whenever he suits up.
Arnold Ziffel
Looking at what is now listed the barrel just has bottom left.
Deleted User
I know it’s a long shot, but if Buxton stays healthy all next year (big if) and produces like he has for the last 3 when he has been healthy, he could make a push, but it would have to be incentive based on number of games played.
tstats
Big big big big if
fs54
Even if all that is true, a team would be foolish to commit so much cash to a player with his injury history.
Appalachian_Outlaw
I feel like Judge could potentially get 200m from the Yankees.
Jaysfan1981
August 19th Trea and Judge getting 200 million
Dec 6th Trea got 300. Judge might get 400 who knows
Crazy off-season
sfgiantsguy
This aged well.
southpawjb
That aged well
robluca21
Lol
syndergaardshair
Weak class
hiflew
Could get stronger depending on who signs 1 year deals or accepts qualifying offers this offseason as well. No one knows how strong a class will be two years out anyway. Between injuries and breakouts, lots of things can change in the next 15 months or so.
iverbure
Couple Japanese or Korean pitchers could get posted as well.
Pete'sView
Senga for sure.
Cosmo2
Remains to be seen if it is a “weak class”… there’s an entire season to be played after this one that could very well affect things
Ted
This too aged well.
ftasports
Think you forgot Rizzo?
Tim Dierkes
This is a list of free agents after 2022.
Nelly 2
Hi Tim, suspect you don’t write the headlines for your articles, but —
This is the 2021 baseball season. Next year is the 2022 season. A free agent who is looking to sign a contract to play in the 2023 season is thus a 2023 free agent Yes he can sign a contract in December, but the contract is for the 2023 season.
Or do we now honor the 1927-28 Yankees?
Tim Dierkes
All MLBTR writers write their own headlines. We don’t have editors.
We’ve used this format for many years…given that I’m referring players that will sign in the 2022-23 offseason – on dates in both of these years – I’m good with the way we do it.
I don’t believe the 1927 Yankees also played in 1928?
Faith in the Padres
This is for guys after next season.
Snellzilla #7
No, it’s this year
phillies give me depression
Joe Ross seems to be a good middle rotation fit for the Phillies
Wilmer the Thrillmer
Curt Casali is not a free agent next year. He is Arb eligible one last time (according to Baseball Reference and Roster Resource).
Tim Dierkes
Correct, this is a list of players who will be free agents after the 2022 season.
iverbure
Good rule of thumb. Don’t correct things unless you’re absolutely sure you’re correct.
SalaryCapMyth
Well how do you do that? Certainly not by reading the article!
jims1969
It says after the 22 season
greatgame 2
Chris Volstad is still a free agent
DarkSide830
as is Johan Santana
Michael Chaney
As is Ted Lilly
tstats
As is Big Sexy
InherentVice
Don’t forget Matt Garza
SalaryCapMyth
Or Matt Gaetz. If you’re 15 or younger, you don’t stand a chance.
bobtillman
Bobby Bonilla is NOT a Free Agent, since he’s still under contract.
meckert
Bernie Goetz also has a shot. Or five.
Pete'sView
Todd Linden.
jimthegoat
Where is Buster Posey?
Tim Dierkes
This is a list of players who will be free agents after the 2022 season.
jimthegoat
Per Baseball Reference, he has a club option for 2022 after which he can be a free agent (he’ll probably be extended but leaving him off this list before anything is official would be jumping the gun).
Ra
Hosmer is a Free Agent now.
mister guy
on the bottom, he is listed as free agent if 2022 option happens
jimthegoat
Wasn’t listed there when I posted the comment you replied to.
Datashark
he will be extended bank on that.
jimthegoat
Not relevant and never bank on a player signing an extension.
AboveHockey
Rough comment there bud
mrgreenjeans
Can you divide starting pitchers into LHP & RHP ?
just_my_thoughts
Not sure Bauer is making it to that opt out…
j_butte
Teams already shied away from him before this latest crap. I’d guess he’s done in mlb.
bravesiowafan
Nah teams have become callous to this stuff several teams with several domestic violence guys. Some team will be interested in the lotto ticket
Cosmo2
Bauer’s situation is way beyond the other situations where players got a second chance. Unless info comes out greatly altering the perception of events, Bauer is done for good.
A'sfaninUK
Nah Bauer will be in the Mexican league with Addison Russell, neither of them coming back.
brandons-3
What’s ironic is that he left tens of millions of dollars (if not around $100 million) on the table in favor of the shorter-term deal that offered more year-to-year flexibility.
By no means is $102 million anything to sniff at and if you believe the absolute worst for Bauer will come to pass (it won’t), he’s still going to walk away from this season and that contract with about $40 million.
Obviously, he can still make the Dodgers pay him for the next two seasons, but that’s better than the typical 6-8 seasons a reigning Cy Young winner normally demands.
Though, Bauer has never been the typical dude so it would surprise me if they worked out some kind of buyout agreement where he gets a portion of the remaining money owed (after he’s eventually suspended) and they can wipe their hands clean of the player while he gets a fresh start elsewhere.
Jwills
He’ll play again. Remember Reyes on the Mets? There was video of him beating a woman, he continued to play after his suspension. T
mazbilleroski
He won’t play again. This is not the NFL.
Jwills
He’ll play again. Remember Reyes on the Mets? There was video of him beating a woman, he continued to play after his suspension. T
Dustyslambchops23
Honestly. Even though it wasn’t that long ago, so much has changed. I don’t think any team will be able to handle the negativity around signing Bauer.
IronBallsMcGinty
Exactly. No team wants all that negative baggage not to mention how it would be poison to a teams chemistry. I don’t care how good he can pitch. He wouldn’t be worth it even at league minimum.
jimthegoat
Y’all gonna be doing an article on who will and won’t be getting QO’s this offseason soon?
the outlaw
Am I not seeing Story?
jimthegoat
Article is about 2022-23 free agents so unless Story accepts the QO he is not part of that consortium.
the outlaw
Gotcha! Thanks
Melvin McMurf
and I cant track what is happening tomorrw
Ronk325
Seems like a decent but unspectacular class. Teams might be more aggressive in free agency this year knowing that the following year won’t be nearly as strong
stymeedone
Anyone know what year all these guys will be free agents?
TigerFanFromIndiana
I don’t see Jonathan Schoop on there…
jimthegoat
He’s after 2023
TigerFanFromIndiana
He has an option after 22
snakqadj
no, its a 2-year extension that goes for 2022 and 2023, then the option is for 2024
cubfanforever
Most of these guys are long in the tooth.
Cubs absolutely need to extend Contreras.
jimthegoat
Miguel Amaya: Am I a joke to you?
ABCD
Amaya will probably repeat AA to begin next year.
InherentVice
Contreras will be a 31-year-old catcher with a long history of injury problems, and fairly average results already on offense and defense. And that’s not to mention all the prospects behind him in the Cubs’ system, nor the fact that he has the maturity of a 10-year-old. The Cubs will trade him, and he won’t come back, and that’s for the best.
Dan Hunter
Castellanos free agent and Conforto?
jimthegoat
This article is about 2022-23 free agents.
j_butte
I’d expect Swanson to sign an extension but his value is hard to peg. He can’t hit until July.
toddkirchenberg
Eduardo Escobar?
gbs42
Read the headline
AshamedMethGoat
LOL…Like Hosmer would ever opt out of THAT deal!
jimthegoat
I mean, he won’t. But like what I said about Buster Posey, leaving him off the list before anything is official would be jumping the gun.
InherentVice
Jimthegoat, don’t know what team you root for and don’t care, but you’re on it.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Tim Anderson is a White Sox lifer. I can see them extending him within a year. And before winter ’22
Xander Bogaerts I can see going to the Dodgers.
DarkSide830
how many SS do they need, and why would BOS be trading him?
snakqadj
i mean if corey seager and trea turner become free agents with no extension, it’s understandable
jimthegoat
Why would tbe Dodgers overpay for yet ANOTHER shortstop?
bravesiowafan
I think the logic is turner will be a free agent
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Could be a short term deal.
Diatribefan
A short, stop gap measure
Datashark
If Xander changes his name to Trea Turner…..then yeah
BasedBall
Give us all your SS!
Seager, Trea, Xander, and hopefully we can sign Correa too.
All SS infield coming to LA in 2023.
abc123baseball
Weirdly none of them will be.
InherentVice
Tim Anderson is a Sox lifer the way every player is a lifer for his first team. Which is to say, not much.
kroeg49
Reinsdorf might be cheap but he loves to keep players with a White Sox connection.
Johhos
Thanks for posting this. Phillies need to inquire on Buxton and Marte for CF on last year of current deals.
Datashark
Best year for Judge to claim his 180m-250m….pretty weak class of FA
muskie73
Among the four youngest on the list is Seattle righthander Chris Flexen, who Wednesday evening moved to 10-5 with a 3.78 ERA in 22 starts (3,27 K/BB, 2.2 fWAR, 2.0 bWAR).
muskie73
Correction: Chris Flexen pitched to a no-decision Thursday afternoon, lowering his ERA to 3.65 in 23 starts.
BeforeMcCourt
Austin Hedges is only 29 this year!? Feels like he’s 35
greyhound
Marcus Semien?
gbs42
Read the headline
bts76
Carlos Rodon is also a free agent
kroeg49
Sheesh. These people can’t read.
ktrudolph
In a stunning turn of events, every 2021free agent is missing from this list.
InherentVice
Rsox
Not an awe inspiring group. Trea Turner is certainly the headliner and Maybe Dansby Swanson. I question if Bogaerts will opt-out after this years crop of free Agent Shortstops sign there may not be many big money teams looking for a SS. And looking at the current CBA proposal from MLB there may be even fewer teams looking to spend
BasedBall
You might be right, depending on where they negotiate the new tax but guys like Xander can usually find a market.
Opting out might be smart even if he just resigns for more years in Boston though.
kroeg49
Aaron Judge will be highly sought after with a pretty substantial contract, something like $150K to $175K five or six years
ktrudolph
I wouldn’t sign for $175k over six years.
Rsox
At that price you are correct. He would be the free agent steal of a lifetime
snakqadj
I would be a McDonald’s worker and I could earn more
timyanks
trevor bauer
frankiegxiii
If he’s on paid administrative leave while being investigated and is found guilty of a crime, does he get to keep all the money accrued during leave or does he have to give it back?
timyanks
he won’t be guilty in a court of law, but baseball will find him in breach of ‘their’ laws
Col_chestbridge
No, there’s no mechanism for the administrative leave being retroactively a punishment. Whatever suspension he gets will be his punishment, and whatever length of time that is will be the amount of money he misses out on.
Rsox
Bauer keeps his money. Will probably never opt-out forcing the Dodgers to pay the remainder of his salary. It is unlikely he will get any sort of jail time for this. However, as a pariah, and a player who is basically un-signable/unplayable his career is basically over
timyanks
buster posey
jkwdbu
Looks to be missing Kendall Graveman.
jamaicajan
Again… this is for AFTER the 22 season. It’s literally the headline.
tstats
Did you add on the list of 2021 link cause people can’t read the article headlines?
MasterShake
Hey u guys! Mets about to run away with the East sn 400 WAR riding the pine snd Daddy cohen about to buy sll these fa’s!
gbs42
The letters “s” and “a” are not interchangeable.
sfes
I could legit see Master Shake making a post like this. He lives in Jersey too.
BasedBall
Or Carl
MinorLeagueFan
I like how the headline indicates 2022, the first line also includes that in bold, and the first paragraph has a link to the 2021 FA list. But still I looked for Trevor Story and did a double take when I didn’t see his name. We humans truly see what we expect to see and not always much else.
Tim Dierkes
I have learned not to be annoyed with people misreading this, because it’s not intuitive to have the 2022-23 list pop up right now. So it’s pretty natural to skim it and make that mistake. But I do like to publish the “next offseason” list, because I think it’s relevant to have a general idea of who might be on the market.
mike156
It’s a good idea. Some of those options are wildly off-value based on present production. Would be interesting to see if those players are moved (or can be moved with a pay-down) in the coming offseason.
YourDreamGM
Excellent article. All the comments about 2021 2022 free agents missing provided a opportunity to weed out more useless dead weight.
Monsox
Good lord, Yuli Gurriel will be 39 in 2022
mrkinsm
ATT: TIM Dierkes
Adam Duvall should be listed as a FA next offseason only if his mutual option is picked up. I.E. he should be listed at the bottom with Barnhart and Wilson not at the top.
I posted a couple of comments in the 2021-22 thread.
mlbnyyfan
Yankees priority number one is bringing back Rizzo. I know he’s definitely going to Boston since that’s where he wanted to be now but I can hope he’s enjoying life in Pinstripes. Priority number 2 unload Stanton to anyone even if it means paying more than half his salary. Voit is showing he belongs in same lineup with Rizzo
Tim Dierkes
Hello,
I operate under the assumption that mutual options will not be picked up, since they almost never are. Then it’s just a matter of service time, and Duvall will not have six years until after 2022. Of course, the Braves may non-tender him this winter, in which case he’d be removed from this list and added to the 2021-22 one.
gobears
Bryant? Rizzo? Baez?
sfes
Every other comment here is by someone who hasn’t read the the title of the friggin article. Pretty weak class though. I assume that’s mostly due to most teams locking up guys younger to get their best years.
MetsFan22
I was wrong about the Mets. They really need to fix their offense this offseason…. It’s not good. Players were overrated and underperformed.. doesn’t help that we had the worst injuries also. They will still be a good team. I’d say they finish like 5 o ver 500 and 2nd place with all the injuries is not bad at all. Congrats Braves on a 4 peat. Next year Cohen won’t let it happen again.
MetsFan22
I also think we would have won division if healthy. Ik Braves were hurt too. But both fully healthy I think we would have won.
MetsFan22
It sucks bc if Degrom was still healthy they would have done more at the trade deadline. The Mets front office didn’t want to go full go at it bc of Degrom injury. It’s sad that the best roster in the east won’t win the east.
Say Hey Now Kid
How does a player option with buyout work?
ajrodz1335
So will Longoria finally return to the Rays
Nelly 2
Would be nice if MLBT could fix the page titles
Thanks
Artie23
Maybe Bobby Bonilla is finally a free agent and get another big contract.
George44
No, he still has about 13 years left
mpm366
Isn’t Ohtani a FA?
jimthegoat
Nope. One more year.
rond-2
The player that intrigues me is Benintendi from the Royals. If he can put together a good season, with his younger age and still possible growth in skills, he may command a good salary when FA comes around.
Stevil
Joey Wendle should be listed. He has a mutual option for 2023 that will likely be declined.
ddub44
It would be awesome if MLBTR could include baseball reference links on this list.
Joospife
Cubs Offseason
Carlos Correa SS – 250×7 opt-outs after the third year.
Kodai Senga SP – 72×4
José Abreu 1B/DH – 26×2
Cody Bellinger CF 18×1
Pablo López SP 85×5 contract extension with 1 club options of 20 million that would raise the contract to 105×6.
Nico Hoerner SS/2B 60×5 contract extension with a 15 million club option that would raise the contract to 75×6.
TRADE
Pablo López SP Marlins for prospects Kevin Alcántara CF, Caleb Kilian SP, Luis Verdugo SS
Danny Jansen C for Adrian Sampson SP/RP, Adbert Alzolay RP
Cubs 2023
1- Nico Hoerner 2B
2- Seiya Suzuki RF
3- Ian Happ LF
4- Carlos Correa SS
5- José Abreu 1B
6- Cody Bellinger CF
7- Danny Jansen C
8- Matt Mervis/Patrick Wisdom DH
9- Christopher Morel/Zach Mckinstry 3B
Rotación
1- Pablo López R
2- Justin Steele L
3- Marcus Stroman R
4- Kodai Senga R
5- Hayden Wesneski or Kyle Hendricks R
abc123baseball
Well that sure as heck didn’t happen.
CleaverGreene
He got some numbers right and Bellinger. Taillon instead of Senga and Barnhardt instead of Jansen.
ohyeadam
One of the elite level players, hitter or pitcher, will need to take a one year deal. This is where the Twins lurk:)
George44
I think Trea Turner, Correa, Xander, & maybe even Swanson will get 200. Judge may get 400.
George44
Question to all users- With Angels ownership near a sale, and team focus to Re-sign Ohtani long term being the #1 priority, do you think they will look to deal Trout in the offseason/by deadline if they aren’t in contention? I’m thinking Ohtani will sign 10-$500M, and Rendon’s $38M/year untradeable,, Trout would be the only player who can bring them back a haul of talent/prospects big enough to keep Ohtani happy?
YankeesBleacherCreature
@George44 Trout has a full no-trade clause.
George44
I am aware of that, but I think Trout would be more than happy to waive the clause for a trade to a contender, especially if it is closer to his hometown Philadelphia or the Yankees.
dirkg
No, I think Trout and Ohtani are tied together. In other words, if you dealt Trout, I think Ohtani would be less inclined to sign with the Angels (why would he?). If you can’t sign Ohtani, then you don’t want to trade your face of the franchise.
Now if they can’t sign Ohtani prior to seasons end and they aren’t in contention, then it would behoove them to trade him to get something in return. There’s always the chance you tell him you’re going to trade him, get some pieces to help the team, then sign him in the off-season. Aroldis Chapman style with the Yanks-Cubs-Yanks scenario.
dkhits20
Michael Papierski signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers last month
KingSall77
George if Angels compete, does Ohtani get 450 million? 10 year deal?
George44
I think if the Angels make the playoffs, Ohtani will re-sign w/LAA for $500M, maybe 10-12 years.
George44
KingSall, How do you foresee that situation playing out? Manfred said that new ownership should be in place “around opening day”.
Tacoshells
I’m confused is this next years class???
Y2KAK
No, this is the remainder of this years FA’s
bbgods
Tommy Hunter signed a minor league deal with Mets.
Armaments216
Per MLBTR in November 2022, Aristides Aquino is signed with the NPB Chunichi Dragons for the 2023 season.
George44
I’m surprised no MLB team gave Aquino a big league deal. He has shown ridiculous power at times, although he hasn’t progressed much in the past 2 seasons(much due to injury). If I were a small market team like KC,OAK, CLE, I’d have definitely scooped him up.
Wilmer the Thrillmer
In response to the 12/25 post, add Hosmer and substract Astudillo and Chi Chi Gonzalez (both signed minor league pacts). Merry Christmas!
Buzz Killington
That’s a dreadful class.
bcjd
Didi Gregorius and Jose Iglesias are the same age? I feel like they came up to the show 10-years apart. Guess I’m nuts.
jason 54
I can’t believe Odor is 28 years old.
Devlsh
I think that group of free agents MIGHT beat Team Egypt and Team Easter Island in the World Baseball Classic.
Buuba ho tep
Should have taken Christmas off instead of reposting old posts…just sayin
Tim Dierkes
Hey Buuba ho tep…we did take Christmas off, I auto-scheduled those posts in advance. Did it bother you to see those pop up in place of nothing? I’m not being facetious…really asking.
richardc
I think Guillermo Heredia should be crossed off the list, as I believe he signed overseas…
Vanilla Good
Jake Lamb signed with the Angels
mlbtraderumors.com/?s=jake+lamb
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
There are quite a few good relievers (particularly from the right side) for Texas to pick up cheaply. If one says no to a low offer, move onto the next one, making sure to avoid Boras guys at all costs. I see a few decent rebound outfield candidates like AJ Pollock too. They can trade for the outfielder with their several top 100 middle infield prospects and maybe sign 3 of them for 3 million each. That’s a playoff contender in my book. 77-85 expected win loss last year and significant improvements to starting pitching, bullpen (hopefully), and a 3rd baseman this year + hopefully a left fielder = maybe 85-90 wins
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I’m saying relievers at 3 mil each, not outfielders, though that would be quite a bargain!
2012orioles
Was hoping I posted something dumb and could chirp myself
phenomenalajs
Should recent DFAs like Hosmer and Moustakas be included? Also, should those signed to minor league deals like Tommy Hunter be removed? The Royals have the opportunity to get most of the core of the 2015 team back together if they want to do it. As a Mets’ fan, that’s depressing, but Hosmer, Moustakas, Cain, Greinke, and A. Escobar aren’t as scary as they once were.
MLBHistory
A few on the list who have signed somewhere:
Tyler Wade = Oakland
Willians Astudillo = Fukuoka
Guillermo Heredia = SSK Landers
Luis Barrera = Anaheim
Jake Lamb = Anaheim
Chi Chi Gonzalez = Miami
Tommy Hunter = Mets
Anthony Gose = Cleveland
andrewk
One more from the KBO: Kirk McCarty has signed with SSG Landers.
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/12/26/sports/Bas…
Kershaw's Lesser Known Right Arm
If I’m the Angels and I know that Arte Moreno won’t spend much more (at least certainly not to the point of the 1st luxury treshold), and I’m slowly building a still relatively weak farm system, I’d take a flyer on one of the hitters left, particularly a left-handed bat.
First of all, if I’m the Angels, I’d play Urshela over Rendon, but I know that’s not realistic so Gio is at the very least a very nice depth piece. And you get what you can get from Rendon.
I feel like Drury and Renfroe are kinda redundant bats (really streaky hitters who strike out a lot, don’t walk much and can smash left-handed pitching), though I get they cover different parts of the diamond and each provide some value at their respective positions. Drury actually reminds me of the Zack Cozart signing, which I’m sure Angels fans don’t need to be reminded of. That’s why I’d get a lefty bat to platoon with Renfroe. Or move Walsh to left and Ward to RF against righties and maybe sign a Brandon Belt to play first base, since he’s not likely to command much more than $5M, and I think that’s being generous. Or if I’m being real bold, I’d sign Edwin Rios and hope he comes back to bite the Dodgers in the you-know-where haha. Or I could contradict myself and just sign Trey Mancini to platoon with Walsh at 1B, since he can’t hit lefties.
I like Mickey Moniak as a defensive backup should/when Mike Trout goes down with injuries again. I’d also like to see Livan Soto take on a bigger role at shortstop and have Rengifo more in the Ben Zobrist/Chris Taylor position. I think Soto will have growing pains with the bat but if he can keep the on base up (which this offense really needs), I don’t think that a Gavin Lux 2022 season with the bat is out of the question. And of course he’s a stud defensively, one of the best young defensive prospects at that position today.
I really thought Conforto would have been a perfect fit for them, and while I do think the GIants overpaid a bit, I think the Angels could have matched that. Could’ve been a high risk/high reward deal. But Arte’s gonna Arte.
The starting pitching is interesting, way better than most pundits give them credit for. Bullpen was a problem last season with too many home runs and not enough strikeouts, but you never really know with bullpens anyway. I think the best they could do at this point is go bargain shopping and hope they hit on a couple. I think one of the biggest “F yous” of the offseason could be the Angels picking up Trevor Bauer if the Dodgers do end up releasing him. That could really elevate a team that’s slowly become more of a run preventer than the run producer they were thought to be.
This is one of the most interesting teams heading into 2023 and it’s not just because of the Ohtani factor. They don’t really have any holes, per se, especially on the position player side, as they have somebody to fill each role. In my opinion, I just don’t believe that some of the people they have to fill those spots are the most appropriate options. It’ll be interesting to see how the ownership sage unfolds, as well as the Ohtani subplot, but this is a sneakily dynamic, young team. If I were to pick a sleeper team to make a Phillies run next season, the Angels would be my #1 choice.
I’m not an Angels fan and I admit, I’m critiquing from afar. But as a baseball fan, it’s painful to watch generational talent get wasted in mediocrity. However, I do like where they’re starting from this year way more than I have in prior years. They have some solid depth and over 162, that plays up. I was curious what Angels fans would think about a change-of-scenery swap of Jarred Kelenic for Jo Adell with the Mariners? I also think the Twins could be a perfect trade partner to get Max Kepler, though I’m not sure what the Angels would give up. Maybe Suárez and then they could sign Kluber to fill the Noah Syndergaard spot from last year. Not sure, but certainly curious to hear anyone’s thoughts!
raulp
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