MLBTR’s positional preview of the upcoming free agent class continues with a look at the corner outfield. This is the highlight of the hitting group — led by a generational talent testing the market at age 26.
Player ages, listed in parenthesis, are for the 2025 season. Stats are through play on September 25. Only players who have appeared in the majors this year are included.
Other Entries: Catcher | First Base | Second Base | Shortstop | Third Base | Center Field
Top of the Class
- Juan Soto (26)
Soto isn’t simply the prize of this class. He’s among the most desirable free agents in history. He’s a prime-aged superstar on an inner circle Hall of Fame track. Soto is the gold standard for plate discipline in MLB. He’s topped 40 homers this season for the first time in his career. His .288/.419/.574 slash across 700 plate appearances is 80 percentage points above league average, as measured by wRC+. That’s his best in any 162-game season and trails only teammate Aaron Judge among qualified batters.
Teams might have some concerns about how Soto’s average-at-best defense will age into his 30s. There’s no such question about his offensive profile. The Yankees should do everything in their power to keep Soto and Judge as one of the greatest 1-2 punches ever. They’ll face a challenge from Steve Cohen’s Mets. The Dodgers are usually involved on any player this talented. Soto’s former teams in Washington and San Diego could make long shot runs at bringing him back. He’s going to establish a new guarantee record (compared to the approximate $461MM net present value of the Shohei Ohtani deal). Soto should beat half a billion dollars. The biggest question is whether the number on his guarantee will start with a 5 or a 6.
Above-Average Regulars
- Anthony Santander (30)
Santander has been a productive power bat for a few years. He picked a good time to turn things up a notch. The switch-hitter carries a .237/.310/.513 line over 652 plate appearances. He has connected on 44 home runs, shattering his previous career high of 33. Only Judge and Ohtani have hit more. Santander isn’t an all-around superstar like those players, of course, but he’s been an elite power threat all year. He doesn’t walk much, so his on-base marks hover around league average. He’s a fringy to average defender in right field. It’s a somewhat limited profile, but Santander is ultra durable and fits comfortably in the middle of a lineup. He’ll decline a qualifying offer from the O’s and could land a four-year deal that gets into the $70-100MM range.
- Teoscar Hernández (32)
Hernández found a disappointing market last winter coming off a down year in Seattle. He took a deferred $23.5MM pillow contract with the Dodgers and has returned to form. The two-time Silver Slugger winner has clubbed 31 homers with a .269/.337/.495 slash over 150 games. It’s back to the level he showed over multiple seasons in Toronto, making his struggles with the Mariners look like a blip. The Dodgers should make a qualifying offer, which he’ll probably decline in search of a three- or four-year pact.
- Jurickson Profar (32)
The Padres’ longstanding love for Profar has paid off in a huge way in 2024. Limited to a $1MM deal after a nightmare season in Colorado, the former #1 overall prospect has turned in a career year at age 31. He’s a first-time All-Star thanks to a .283/.382/.466 slash with a personal-best 24 homers over 654 trips to the plate. Profar has married his typically strong plate discipline profile with much improved batted ball metrics (career-high 91.1 MPH average exit velocity, 44.6% hard contact percentage). There’s a chance the Friars make him a qualifying offer. If he declines or hits free agency without draft compensation attached, he’ll likely pursue a three- or four-year deal.
- Tyler O’Neill (29)
Boston hit on a buy-low acquisition of O’Neill from the Cardinals last offseason. He leads the Red Sox with 31 home runs and sports a .240/.335/.512 slash across 469 plate appearances. He had a trio of brief injured list stints but has been one of the Sox’s best hitters when healthy. O’Neill has obliterated lefty pitching at a .313/.429/.750 clip in 156 trips to the plate. He’s tied with Judge for second in MLB (one behind Ketel Marte) with 16 home runs off southpaws. He’s a two-time Gold Glove winner in left field. There are questions about his durability and his streakiness associated with huge strikeout totals. Few players can match his raw power, though. O’Neill is a fringe QO candidate who could land three or even four years if the Sox let him hit the market unencumbered.
Rebound Hopefuls
- Michael Conforto (32)
Conforto’s two-year deal with the Giants has been a relative disappointment. He’s been a solid hitter but hasn’t returned to the best form he showed with the Mets before undergoing shoulder surgery. Conforto is hitting .234/.306/.450 this season and has a .237/.320/.418 slash in nearly 1000 plate appearances for San Francisco. He’s still a big leaguer but doesn’t have the perceived upside of his previous trip to the market.
- Max Kepler (32)
Kepler has battled injuries en route to a middling .253/.302/.380 slash in his walk year. He was an above-average regular for the Twins just last season, when he hit .260/.332/.484 with 24 homers with plus defense in right field. Kepler is probably looking at a one-year deal as he tries to rebound — potentially outside Minnesota for the first time in his career.
- Tommy Pham (37)
Pham was hitting reasonably well for the White Sox early in the season. His production has fallen off since he moved to the Cardinals and Royals, and he now owns a .251/.310/.372 slash across 465 plate appearances. He could still land a big league deal but he might be better suited for a bench role than everyday playing time.
- Alex Verdugo (29)
Verdugo started his tenure in the Bronx well. He was hitting .267/.358/.446 with more walks than strikeouts through the end of April. Since May 1, he carries a .225/.276/.332 slash line in nearly 500 plate appearances. Verdugo was a capable, if inconsistent and sometimes frustrating, regular during his time with the Red Sox. He’s going into free agency on the heels of a dismal five-month stretch.
Platoon Bats
- Randal Grichuk (33)
Grichuk, a right-handed hitter, has teed off on southpaws this year. He’s hitting .315/.382/.522 in 180 plate appearances with the platoon advantage. The D-Backs have mostly shielded him from right-handed pitching, though he has popped five homers in 92 plate appearances against righties. Grichuk is a solid fourth outfielder who has earned a raise on this year’s $2MM deal. The D-Backs probably don’t want to exercise their end of a $6MM mutual option for next season but could look to bring him back at a slightly lesser salary.
- Jason Heyward (35)
Heyward is finishing the year with the Astros after being squeezed off the Dodgers’ roster. He hasn’t maintained last year’s rebound form. In 253 plate appearances, he’s hitting .210/.286/.411. Heyward is still a good defender in right field and could land a low-cost MLB deal as a rotational outfield piece.
- David Peralta (37)
The Padres have gotten good work from Peralta, whom they initially signed to a minor league deal. The 37-year-old is hitting .267/.332/.422 over 247 plate appearances — almost all of which have come against right-handed pitching. He could land a big league contract this time around.
- Jesse Winker (31)
Winker hit .257/.374/.419 over 379 plate appearances for the Nationals after signing a minor league deal. Washington flipped him to the Mets, where his production has tailed off (.248/.317/.372 in 46 games). Winker is a below-average defensive left fielder who doesn’t have a great track record hitting lefty pitching. It’s a limited profile as a platoon corner/DH bat, but he’s hitting .260/.366/.425 against righties this season and has an excellent track record against right-handers.
Infield/Outfield Hybrids
- Mark Canha (36)
Canha has played more first base than outfield this season. That’ll probably continue as he gets into his late 30s. The right-handed hitter has combined for a .240/.343/.342 line over 492 plate appearances between the Tigers and Giants. He’s still drawing a ton of walks but not hitting for the kind of power needed at the bottom of the defensive spectrum. Canha should still land a big league deal, but it’ll be a pay cut from this year’s $11.5MM salary.
- Adam Frazier (33)
The Royals signed Frazier for $4.5MM last offseason. They’ll decline their side of an $8.5MM mutual option in favor of a $2.5MM buyout. The former All-Star is hitting .202/.283/.296 over 289 plate appearances. He’s likely looking at minor league offers.
- Garrett Hampson (30)
Hampson is a speedy utilityman without any kind of power. He’s hitting .229/.273/.302 in 222 plate appearances for the Royals on a $2MM free agent deal. A minor league contract seems likely in his return to free agency.
- Enrique Hernández (33)
Hernández has made a career off his defensive flexibility, clubhouse reputation and double-digit home run power. The Dodgers have used him most frequently at third base this season. Hernández has played nearly 150 innings in the outfield, two-thirds of which have come in the corners. He’s hitting .223/.275/.364 with 11 homers.
- Whit Merrifield (36)
One of the game’s best contact hitters in his prime, Merrifield is better suited for a second base/left field role off the bench at this stage of his career. He had a rough tenure with the Phillies early in the season. He’s been a bit better since landing with the Braves but still has a middling .222/.311/.314 season line.
- Amed Rosario (29)
Rosario has moved from an everyday shortstop role into a utility capacity. He was hitting .307/.331/.417 in 76 games with the Rays through the trade deadline. Tampa Bay flipped him to the Dodgers and things have gone downhill. Los Angeles surprisingly moved on from Rosario after just five games. He landed with the Reds on a waiver claim. He has a putrid .158/.186/.211 slash through 22 games with Cincinnati. Rosario has logged nearly 200 innings in the outfield this season.
Depth Types
- Brian Anderson (32)
A former regular with the Marlins, Anderson only had five plate appearances in three MLB games with Atlanta this year. He hit .237/.326/.365 through 84 contests in Triple-A.
- Adam Duvall (36)
Duvall’s return trip to Atlanta hasn’t gone as hoped. One season removed from a 21-homer showing with the Red Sox, Duvall has been among the least productive players in the majors. He’s hitting .182/.245/.323 with 11 longballs over 330 trips to the plate.
- Joey Gallo (31)
Gallo is hitting .160/.277/.329 across 73 games with the Nationals on a $5MM free agent deal. Washington is going to decline its end of a 2025 mutual option. Gallo is striking out as much as ever and hasn’t hit for anywhere near the level of power necessary to offset that.
- Ben Gamel (33)
Gamel hit reasonably well in a tiny sample between the Mets and Astros this year. He broke his leg a couple weeks ago and is unlikely to participate in Houston’s playoff run. The lefty-hitting Gamel has a roughly average .252/.334/.382 batting line in more than 2300 career plate appearances.
- Avisaíl García (34)
The Marlins cut García two and a half seasons into his four-year free agent deal. He hit .217/.260/.322 for the Fish, who still owe him $17MM — a $12MM salary and a $5MM buyout on a ’26 option. García didn’t sign after being released in June. He’d only cost a new team the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the big league roster. The Marlins are on the hook for the rest of his 2026 salary.
- Robbie Grossman (36)
The switch-hitting Grossman takes plenty of walks and generally performs well against lefty pitching. There’s limited defensive value, and Grossman has only hit three home runs on the season. He carries a .218/.331/.302 slash in 239 plate appearances between the Rangers and Royals.
- Aaron Hicks (35)
Hicks’ resurgent second half in 2023 earned him a big league contract with the Angels. The switch-hitter struggled to a .140/.222/.193 line and was released after 18 games. He has been a free agent since May.
- Travis Jankowski (34)
A speedy depth outfielder, Jankowski has hit .208/.268/.251 over 100 games for Texas. He had a much better .263/.357/.332 showing for the 2023 World Series team.
- Manuel Margot (30)
The Twins are going to decline their end of a $12MM mutual option on Margot. He’ll pick up a $2MM buyout, for which the Rays remain responsible as a condition of last winter’s trade with the Dodgers. The right-handed outfielder owns a .237/.290/.336 line while splitting his time between all three spots.
- Eddie Rosario (33)
Rosario has had a disastrous year. He hit .175/.215/.316 over 319 plate appearances between the Nationals and Braves. The famously streaky left fielder is going to be limited to minor league offers.
- Austin Slater (32)
Slater has made a career of mashing left-handed pitching. The longtime Giant hasn’t produced against pitchers of either handedness in 2024, though. He owns a .205/.317/.263 slash in 81 games split between San Francisco, Cincinnati and Baltimore.
Player Options
- Cody Bellinger (29)
Bellinger can opt out of his three-year, $80MM deal with the Cubs. He’d be leaving $50MM on the table to do so and has another opt-out chance after next season. Bellinger has had a nice season but hasn’t answered teams’ questions about his subpar exit velocities. He’s hitting .267/.326/.429 with 18 homers while striking out at just a 16% clip. The Cubs have used him primarily in right field in deference to defensive standout Pete Crow-Armstrong. Bellinger could probably beat $50MM if he simply wanted to maximize his guarantee, but he’s not likely to match next year’s $27.5MM salary on a multi-year pact. He could bet on himself and view the 2025-26 offseason as the right time to opt out.
- Mitch Haniger (34)
Haniger isn’t opting out of his $15.5MM salary for next season. The Mariners hoped a return to Seattle would reignite his bat. It didn’t happen, as he’s hitting .209/.285/.338 with 12 homers in 118 games.
- Hunter Renfroe (33)
Renfroe has a $7.5MM player option for next season. He’ll very likely take it after hitting .229/.300/.381 in 414 plate appearances during his first year with the Royals.
Club Options
- Rob Refsnyder (34)
The Red Sox can keep Refsnyder via a $2.1MM club option. There’s a $150K buyout. The option price is a drop in the bucket for the Sox, who should retain him as a rotational righty bat in a lineup that skews heavily left-handed. Refsnyder hit .283/.359/.471 in 307 plate appearances this year. He’s tattooed lefties at a .302/.393/.548 clip.
“The Dodgers are usually involved on any player this talented.”
Imagine that lineup
Soto
Ohtani
Betts
Freeman
Smith
Muncy
Lux
Rojas
Edman
A bit lefty heavy, but, who cares?
Dodgers are more likely to end up with a righty in Teoscar, Santander.or O’Neill.
Or maybe they’ll go back to developing prospects rather than filling lineup via FA?
Just like the friars do huh
@Brew88
“they’ll go back to developing prospects rather than filling lineup via FA?”
Why not both?
Ohtani – free agent
Betts – traded prospects
Freeman – free agent
Teoscar – free agent
Smith – prospect
Muncy – free agent
Lux – prospect
Rojas – traded prospect
Edman – traded prospects
Smart teams should do both. Big ticket FA signings have increased with LA. Wouldn’t surprise me if they sign Soto and Santander.
The Dodgers continually have a top 10, sometimes top 5 farm system, and this is coming from a certified Dodger hater. They are an exemplary organization from top to bottom. They do sign guys, but they also continually trade from that system to acquire premiere players.
But they have the 5th best farm system lol. They would rather have the best available talent vs the best prospects. But they still produce top 10 farm while picking towards the back? Lol
Scouting and signing international guys. Makes a HUGE difference.
Dodgers will sign soto if the yankees dont. then all 5 starters myteriously are injured by all star break. they still win 100 games but are bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs 2025 or 23.
Dodger’s will be going all in on Profar!
Profar will be on the Brewers or Dbacks
A key point left out of the Michael Conforto thumbnail: 3 HR at home, 17 on the road.
79 home wRC+ vs a 133 away wRC+ is one of the largest differences between home/away wRC+ I’ve ever seen, even including Coors/Rockies players.
Thanks! That’s a really significant point to bring up. Kind of makes me think that conforto could be a really savvy mid market or bargain pick up for the right team.
Was just thinking he, or maybe Kepler, would be a good fit for the Pirates
Yeah Pittsburgh could be an interesting fit for those guys. Which one seems like it might depend on how confident they feel about the cruz experiment in center from the defensive perspective. Kepler probably gives more options and projection on defense whereas conforto seems like he might have a bit more of a certain floor and upside on offense.
He’d make a great fit in LF if they commit to Reynolds at 1B. I like the idea of Kepler as a potential platoon for Bryan De La Cruz as well.
So far for Cruz, but he’s looked great and has made some outstanding catches. Small sample size warning, but he’s already racked up +2 outs above average. He’s taken to the position much better than expected.
But has a better WAR than Soler lol.
Refsnyder might simple retire after the season unless he’s changed his mind.
2 of my potential biggest bust FA for this coming winter are among these guys. O’neil, because he’s always hurt, his agent (boras) will be hyping all winter about how good he isn’t and some team just possibly could give him 50-60m and Teoscar hernandez, maybe the most overated player in the game by fans and to me? one of the worst defensive corner OF’s around. always misreading balls, taking crappy routes, throwing to the wrong base. cpl days back in LF turned a single into a triple taking poor route to a flyball. he really has no clue definsively, yet fans on this board (some) post glowingly about him.
Fans in Boston used to rag Jim rice about his defense in LF. It was nothing spectacular, but compared to hernandez, Jim ed was a GG defender. Why he’s not DH’ing is a legit question.
I really have nothing super positive to say about O’neil’s defense either, past GG or not. It’s not poor, but compared to Duran/Rafaela/Abreu? He was the weaker of the bunch defensively, other than having about the same cannon arm as Rafaela and abreu. O’neil’s horrid cold straks and frequent injuries are the issue, tho man.. he can get very hot for a week-2 and carry a team.
You wonder why Teoscar Hernandez isn’t a DH? Heard of this Ohtani guy?
Ohtani will never get moved off DH.. and secondly, Hernandez may be terrible in Left but maybe they should put him in right. His defensive stats were much better there. That being said, I don’t know who is currently in right and if they can be moved..
In right for the dodgers? Oh just a scrappy lil player by the name of Mookie Betts lol.
Ohtani being primarily a DH and still has a better war than Soto and anyone on his team. Ohtani has how many HR and Steals? 1st ever to do it. How bout the RBIs batting leadoff?? Lol can’t compare Ohtani to anyone in MLB. Even being a DH
“……one of the worst defensive corner OF’s around. always misreading balls, taking crappy routes, throwing to the wrong base. cpl days back in LF turned a single into a triple taking poor route to a flyball. he really has no clue definsively, yet fans on this board (some) post glowingly about him.”
johnsilver;
Wrote once before I love your posts.
The guys down near the bottom don’t understand what you’re blathering on about.
Can’t you simply cite the WAR statistic?
(Why are fWAR and bWAR different? I digress.)
Anyway, it’s wonderful to read someone else what actually watches the games on media and live at a park. Better still, understands the responsibilities a player has on the field of play.
There are a few dozen posters here that do. Wish there were more.
—-Anyway, it’s wonderful to read someone else what actually watches the games on media and live at a park. Better still, understands the responsibilities a player has on the field of play.—
Samuel,
Not mentioned this before and maybe shouldn’t, but last 3 yrs has become extremely difficult to get to ballgames, even local GCL Tigers and FSL A ball Tigers, which we attended regularly for years and no extended Ft myers trips for 3y either.
Age, health takes it’s toll so it’s media games or nothing at this point, tho can say have attended 1000’s of games over years (all levels) in person, but am not sure how many more (if any) will be able to again in person.
As for MLB games, definately no more trips to the trop. Stadium has been rickety since the day it was built and even the club seating stinks (been there also). just an awful place that won’t be missed. Miami trips are a shame tho.
Always enjoyed your points on baseball over the years here. Many just throw up randomness, yours seem well thought out, more than some of mine often times..
Cardinals could sure use a lefty masher like Tyler O’Neill. Too bad he got Marmol’d.
Nice work! Team got owned by lefties all year! And they could have at least had Chris Sale in that trade but were too cheap to pay him! Another bad Mo deal.
Cards did o’neill dirty imo. I continue to be baffled by the cards’ decision to extend marmol between that and the whole bizarre Wilson Contreras debacle last season.
Reds fo scanning the depth section for their next starting of
Curious what teams will pay O’Neil. He’s a gamble. Very good when healthy but never healthy all year. I’m guessing 3 year $50 mil if he gets 3. He might just get 2-$35-40. His health will cost him money
health and his severe platoon splits. Can’t imagining a team giving him $50 million, but who knows.
He will be given a qualifying offer which he should take. But he’s a Boras guy so you know he won’t.
Not so sure about the QO given it’s likely he takes it. To me, 3 x $13m max given his injury and strikeout history. I’d rather the team splurge if Henry will spend and get Santander. I’m also curious about whether Ref was serious about retiring.
I don’t see Boras taking it Dewey. He’ll (probably) figure least he can do is a 1y deal, with 1 of those 2nd year options where he can opt out and at least get equal to the 20m, then try and hustle someone out of 50m or so.
Don’t get me wrong, Boston goes looking for a RH bat, I’d rather them get “stuck” paying O’neil 20m than really get hammered with hernandez and the probably albatross 50m deal he’ll end up with.
I’m not saying we don’t need another slugger or another RH bat, but I don’t see any fit. It has to be Duran-Ceddanne-Abreu in the OF, Yoshi at DH, Devers at 3rd, Story at SS and Wong at catcher. I guess 2B is a possibility, but with Hamilton, Grissom, maybe Gonzo in a platoon, and maybe Mayer, if it was me, outside of a RH bench type, I’d spend my allowance on pitching.
And if I had anything left over, I’d spend that on pitching.
Joe, I’m with you there. We really, this offseason have no idea which way this FO is going to go after the team was competitive the 1st 120 games. Will they spend? Will it move 1-2 of thos players you mentioned in search of SP, rather than sign an overpriced veteran SP FA? So many different ways things could go as last winter, the team was pretty much just bad, this winter there is hope and ways to really improve it in different ways.
Things could be very interesting come December. let’s hope Breslow can get henry interested inthe RS, rather than the Penquins.
Love what he has accomplished, but I do wonder what Soto will do after he gets his bag. Will he continue to have the same motivation and drive, or will he get complacent? You see that in his walk year, he has more homers and stolen bases than ever, plus his defense is average or better for maybe the first time in his career. Not saying he will bust; however, if you’re going to spend 600M, the results have got to be sky high.
Ohtani got paid…
And he brought in 3x the sales this year. His bobblehead day sales paid for the entire As teams salary in a weekend lol
And he produced, bigly.. which is the point I was making
I can’t see profar get a QO. Not sure another team would be willing to guarantee him over 20 mil
I’d sort of hate to have my team sign any of these guys for anything but a one year deal.
And yes that includes Soto because my team isn’t a billion dollar a year spending team and that salary drag would guarantee they have a garbage quality team for the next decade. Good on the three teams that can afford to sign him, but the others definitely can’t and shouldn’t.
Most of the rest of the list is a mistake waiting to happen and a gamble that will pay off on a couple of them probably, but it seems clear to me that free agency is kind of over being a place where you find anyone but a short term role player and not your guy for the future 9 times out of 10 anymore.
Out of all of them, it probably makes most sense to prioritize signing Anthony Santander.
Santander is 30 and still in his prime, Has consistently demonstrated power and has shown significant improvement in his overall offensive game this season. The contract will probably be more cost effective and allow for more flexibility in other areas of the roster build. Finally, you have some versatility with him, given that he can also play 1B if necessary.
He will have a bidding war. Every team that’s trying to win and knows they can’t sign Soto and all the teams that go for Soto but lose out will have money to burn. Hopefully Soto signs early…
@ohyeadam
Soto isn’t signing early. He’s riding that out for max dollars.
—-Hopefully Soto signs early…—-
5 reasons he won’t sign early:
B O R A S
It’s baseball, weird things happen sometimes
After Soto there don’t seem to be any good values. Besides age there is a lot of inconsistency or holes in these players resumes.
RWH 2;
Anthony Santander is a gamer, team leader, switch-hitter, quality defensive RF (ignore defensive stats – watch games), consistent player and a smart player.
He’s a bit risky on a 4 year contract. Then again, he keeps himself fit and has no major injury history.
The O’s are going to miss him. He’s exactly what a team like the Pirates need, but they won’t pay him and he probably wants to play meaningful games. Braves. Mets, and Yankees immediately come to mind. In the Yankees case he’d be a much better all-around player for a lot less money.
By the way, yesterday Soto hit a HR into the short porch in Yankee Stadium. It was a normal fly ball. O’s broadcasting crew was laughing. They use an app that showed that in none of the other 29 ML parks would that have been a HR. Santander would hit 50 HR’s
a year if he played his home games in Yankee Stadium.
Whoops….
In the Yankees case he’d be a much better all-around player for a lot less money…THAN SOTO.
Yep. Throw them stats away when looking at Tony Tater’s D. I think what makes him better than average is that he absolutely never takes a play off. Fun to watch. Gonna miss him here in Baltimore.
“Soto’s former teams in Washington and San Diego could make long shot runs at bringing him back. ”
I don’t see it. The money isn’t there for San Diego, the fans (fairly or not, I would say mostly unfairly) booed Soto when he came back, and a certain Jackson Merrill needs to get locked down.
Merrill will never be as elite a bat as Soto. But he’ll be an elite bat AND an elite glove for more years than will Soto. Time to make him a rich man and keep him a Padre for life.
Only Soto or Bellinger ——
The others are too old and not worth the risk
Profar is an interesting case. Elite player this year, but how much do you want to bet on him remaining that way into the rest of his thirties?
I’d QO him if the Pads can afford to. If he turns it down, offer him 3/36 with a team option for a fourth year at $12 million.
I wouldn’t call profar elite, he’s a good maybe great player, but not close to elite.
@Femboy
The words “this year” apply. Not much else to call 4.5 WAR. Maybe “just shy of elite”, if you really have high standards.
I know, m talking about this year…elite IMO would be above 6-6.5
4-5 is a great player
3-4 is a good player
anything below is mid-bad player
@Femboy
That leaves 11 players out of all of MLB that qualify for elite status for you.
fangraphs.com/leaders/war
Definitionally, you’re not off base (pun intended), since “elite” means “the best group” at something. I would just call your “elite” guys the top players. IMO, getting to the All Star game and maintaining that production through the season = elite.
But, I get where you’re coming from.
Bryce Harper is not elite this year based on that metric, so, something to consider. He’s actually had more non-elite years than elite by that standard.
In no universe is Profar elite this season or any other.
Dude has been playing how many years and he has below 10 war? Has a 4.5 war this year who cares he’s been terrible and bench player status the previous 8 years. I get it some people can breakout after so many years but nobody would expect the same results next year. Heck Brandon Drury was good a season or 2. What’s he got going on? Lol
@zlee Noted, and not cared.
Obviously you cared. You made the comment. You were just wrong. Sack up and admit it.
Amazing!
One stat defines a player?
LOL
@Samuel
My new policy is to just mute “no WAR” people.
Everyone gets it. It’s a useful number to start a discussion. You add absolutely nothing whatsoever to any conversation.
If folks have a better stat than WAR, they should feel free to use it.
Informed Sportsball Discussion;
Muted me? Good!
You kids are too heavy for me.
Do know what a cut-off man is and what he does?
Does ingestion of Calories define a persons weight and metabolic health?
WAR is a good general comparative stat, but certainly not the only tool to explain performance. It would be like evaluating Hurricane Helene based solely on her Category (Cat 3, right now) without considering her unusual speed and resultant extreme storm surge. But I degress. My friend who is a major league catcher, argues that WAR greatly undervalues catchers (who play fewer games). Hard to argue with him on that. That said, don’t mute me!.
digress opps
“My friend who is a major league catcher, argues that WAR greatly undervalues catchers (who play fewer games).”
Brew’88;
So why would WAR be any different than any other stat or what 98% of baseball media and fans think about Catchers?
–
Tell you friend that you ran into a guy that believes that the Catcher(s) is/are far and away the most important player(s) on a baseball team. That what they hit is not that important. That quality FO people, managers, scouts, analysts all know this; and that’s why former Catchers make the best managers (allowing for some bench players that had to learn the game to survive).
—that’s why former Catchers make the best managers—
Tell Boston’s FO that so they fire the just extended Cora and hire Varitek to manage please???
Samuel I didn’t say catchers are undervalued, just that WAR doesn’t capture their full value
And Profar’s coming off a career year that he’s never come close to, in the past. You should pay a player based on what you expect, not what you hope for. Buyer beware.
@Pickle @stymee
I’ve made the case based on Profar’s performance this year and what he means to this clubhouse. There is as much reason to think he can continue playing 3-4 WAR ball for a few more years than to assume he will regress.
Nothing is a guarantee. But I’m sure you’ve heard of people getting better at their craft.
Profar is such a great fit for the team from both talent and personality perspective. Such great vibes and the team is more well meshed than I can ever remember another Padre team being.
I would do the same as your suggestion, but make the 3 year deal a little more attractive, maybe make 16/10/10 with opt outs after year 1 and 2. Or bump it up to 3/42 (14/14/14) with an opt out after year 2.
@padrepapi
Good recommendations.
The 2023 team ran the table in September to salvage a winning season with Profar on board.
It’s oversimplistic, but who knows what could have happened if he had been there from the beginning. The eye test clearly indicates he does something for this team. Glue guy.
He would be overpaid based on those contract offers and his demand
@Butter Biscuits
Not it he keeps at least 75% of this production going forward.
And with Profar, it is not just what his numbers say he is worth. It is what his peripherals are also worth to the Padres in particular.
Cody is so overpaid and over rated
If Soto makes his decision Based solely on dollars he is a fool and I hope he pulls a Robbie Cano…….
Signs for the money for the wrong team and is miserable for years
Why would you want someone to be miserable? Odd mindset.
Soto underperformed (by his standard) for my team, so I have some reason to have a beef with him. I’ve got none.
Some people really just like to make money. I don’t see why it’s anyone else’s concern why players play. If a player happens to form a lifer bond with a city and its fans, great.
The opposite will be true; any team who signs him will suffer buyer’s remorse when Soto fails to perform. Ask the Pads about that.
—If Soto makes his decision Based solely on dollars he is a fool and I hope he pulls a Robbie Cano…—
It’s extremely rare for ANY Boras guy to not chase the last dime and hold out to the last second to sign, chasing last said dime, so don’t count on it.
I hope the Diamondbacks bring back Grichuk somehow. He’s done extremely well in his role.
All I’ll say about Soto is this: in his worst FULL season in the majors (not counting 2020 or his rookie year) he batted .282/401/.548 with a .949 OPS (142 OPS+) with 34 homers and 110 RBI’s. That’s a 5.1 oWAR. Granted, this is subjective but I’m basing it off of his lowest OPS+ and lowest oWAR.
If that is his lowpoint, good lord almighty, he’s about as sure of a sure thing and there can be. And a major plus is his eye and ability to take walks. That stays with you your entire career. $550 million is the starting point IMO.
The Pads got their trade’s worth with that trade, even if Soto inexplicably was better before and after his time in San Diego.
Even better that the Pads successfully unwound the trade, and didn’t lose Soto for just a QO draft pick.
Sucks the team didn’t win it all with Soto around, but pound for pound, the trades worked out.
KingZeke8:
Rule #1:
MLB is not Rotisserie League.
–
Stats l.ie. Even DH’s have to run the bases. And position players have to play defense.
Why would Max, or anyone else with a pulse, sign with the Woe Sox?
THAT is funny and thinking it’s a joke. I also nominate Alex verdugo as a ChiSox go to get.
Every stat is now aimed at fantasy baseball and its fans. If you go to MLB.com, a teams position in the standings is buried, but finding out how a particular player affected your fantasy stats can be easily accessed. Rooting for an actual team is something so few users do any more.
I’m wondering who the Tigers will pick up in FA this offseason. Ownership has said they’d open the checkbook when the team starts competing and I’d say that’s happening now. Would be so awesome if they just said f$^*it and have Soto 12 years – $500M to put with Greene, Carpenter, Tork, Keith, Sweeney, etc not to mention prospects like Jobe, Max Clark and others beating down the door to join them. Oh, and of course the CY winner Tarik Skubal! Great things on the horizon for this squad!
I’m not sure that Detroit can stomach another deal like Miggy’s when Soto hits his early/mid 30s and starts declining. Extend Skubal and Greene.
I’m actually hoping the Astros sign Santander. They can play him in left or at first base.
The #1 thing for the Mets offseason must be to get Soto, the Mets have tons of $$ coming off the books, if not than Santander, but all out for Soto. After that than Corbin Burnes and another SP plus resign Manaea.. Than trade McNeil and Marte and give their spots to Acuna and Gilbert.