Top 20 free agents of the 2020-21 MLB offseason
With a number of talented players set to become free agents, this winter in MLB could get interesting. Here's a look at the top 20 players slated to hit the market.
Age: 30
As by far the best catcher and arguably the best overall player on the market, Realmuto is set to sign a huge contract this offseason. To put Realmuto's free agency in perspective, fellow backstop Yasmani Grandal signed a four-year, $73 million deal with the White Sox in 2019. Expect Realmuto to shatter that.
UPDATE (Jan. 26): Realmuto reportedly is staying with the Phillies on a five-year, $115 million deal.
Age: 30
Bauer is the premier starting pitcher in this year's free-agent market after a Cy Young-caliber campaign in which he posted a 1.73 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with Cincinnati. Making Bauer's free agency even more interesting is he has said he'll only sign one-year contracts throughout his career. Will he keep that promise?
Age: 31
Springer is set to be one of the most coveted players on the market this offseason. The three-time All-Star center fielder once again was one of the Astros' top hitters in 2020, posting a .899 OPS and putting up his usual big numbers in the playoffs. Expect the Red Sox to be in the running for Springer if they opt to move on from Jackie Bradley Jr.
UPDATE (Jan. 20): Springer has signed a six-year, $150 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Age: 30
Another potential Red Sox target, Ozuna was one of the best hitters in baseball in 2020. "The Big Bear" hit .338 with a whopping 18 homers and 56 RBI during the shortened season. In fact, three of those homers came against Boston at Fenway Park. Foreshadowing, perhaps?
Braves GM addresses Ozuna's free agent status
Age: 32
The Yankees signing LeMahieu to a two-year, $24 million deal prior to the 2019 season turned out to be an absolute bargain. He finished fourth in AL MVP voting in '19 and followed that up by hitting a ridiculous .364 in the abbreviated 2020 campaign. Expect LeMahieu to be in high demand as he hits the open market.
UPDATE (Jan. 15): LeMahieu is staying in the Bronx, finalizing a six-year, $90M deal with the Yankees, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Age: 31
The Cubs picked up Rizzo's $16.5 million option for 2020, but will they do the same for their star first baseman in 2021?
The abbreviated 2020 campaign turned out to be a rough one for Rizzo as he hit just .222 with 11 homers. Those numbers are a major outlier, however, as the three-time All-Star has consistently been among the best first basemen in the game over the last six seasons. It'd be a surprise if the Cubs didn't pick up his option once again.
UPDATE (Oct. 31): The Cubs have exercised Rizzo's option for 2021.
Age: 32
Hendriks has established himself as one of the game's top relievers over his last two seasons in Oakland. In 2019, he posted a 1.80 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 75 appearances. He was just as dominant during the abbreviated 2020 campaign with a 1.78 ERA and 0.67 WHIP.
UPDATE (Jan. 11): Hendriks has agreed to a three-year deal, $54 million deal (with an option for a fourth season) with the Chicago White Sox.
Age: 30
Semien came crashing back down to earth in 2020 following a 2019 season in which he placed third in MVP voting. The talent is clearly there, but teams looking to sign him will have to temper expectations as that ridiculous '19 campaign was an outlier.
UPDATE (Jan. 26): Semien reportedly is joining the Blue Jays on a one-year, $18 million deal.
Age: 31
Gregorius set himself up for a lucrative deal this offseason by slashing .284/.339/.448 with 10 homers and 40 RBI in 2020. Over the last few years, the former Yankee has established himself as one of the best offensive shortstops in baseball.
Age: 29
Stroman's tenure with the New York Mets was cut short as he decided to opt out of the 2020 MLB campaign. The right-hander has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy, including in 2019 when he had a solid 3.22 ERA in 32 starts between New York and Toronto.
UPDATE (Nov. 11): Stroman accepted the Mets' $18.9 qualifying offer for the 2021 season.
Age: 36
It's hard to believe Turner is 36 years old, because he's producing at the plate like he's still in his prime. While his power dipped in 2020, Turner still hit .307 with an .860 OPS. The Dodgers likely will try to re-sign their prized third baseman, but they'll have plenty of competition.
Age: 33
Brantley has a lengthy injury history, so that along with his age may raise some red flags. But when healthy, the four-time All-Star is one of the most consistent hitters in the game. In 2020, Brantley hit .300 with five homers in 46 games.
UPDATE (Jan. 20): After early reports leaked that Brantley was signing with the Blue Jays, he will remain in Houston after reportedly agreeing to a two-year, $32 million contract.
Age: 28
Castellanos wasn't as productive at the plate in 2020 following his monster 2019 season, but make no mistake, he'll be one of the best hitters on the market if he declines his player option. That would be a surprise, however, as the option is worth $14 million and the Reds should be playoff contenders in 2021.
UPDATE (Oct. 31): Castellanos has decided to exercise his option and stay with the Reds for 2021.
Age: 31
With Simmons, any offensive production is just icing on the cake. The veteran shortstop is one of the best defensive players in the game, and that should automatically make him a coveted free agent this offseason.
UPDATE (Jan. 26): Simmons reportedly is headed to the Twins on a one-year, $10.5 million contract.
Age: 32
Treinen hasn't been able to match his dominance from 2018, when he finished sixth in Cy Young award voting as the best closer in the league for Oakland. With the Dodgers in 2020, Treinen had a 3.86 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 27 appearances.
Those numbers should still earn the right-hander a solid contract in free agency, and there's no doubt he still has the stuff to make hitters look silly.
UPDATE (Jan. 5): Treinen will return to the Dodgers, signing a two-year deal with a team option for the 2023 season.
Age: 32
It may finally be time for a change of scenery for Tanaka, who has spent all seven of his MLB seasons in Yankees pinstripes. Tanaka is a consistent arm who has thrived in the postseason and would be a solid pickup for any team in need of a starter they can count on every fifth day.
Age: 34
When the Rangers signed Corey Kluber, this is not what they had planned. The two-time Cy Young award winner injured his shoulder in the first inning of his Rangers debut and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
With Texas deciding to pass on Kluber's $18 million option, expect the veteran right-hander to be one of the most coveted arms on the free-agent market.
UPDATE (Jan. 15): Kluber is headed to the Yankees on a one-year deal worth north of $10 million.
Age: 32
Colomé has been one of the more reliable closers in the game since beginning his career with the Rays in 2014. In 2020, Colomé posted a sparkling 0.81 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 21 appearances with the White Sox. If Chicago doesn't re-sign him, expect Colomé to be one of the most sought after relievers in free agency.
Age: 32
Greene burst on the scene with the Tigers in 2019 when he was an All-Star and made a name for himself as one of the game's best relievers. Detroit, in the midst of a rebuild, capitalized on Greene's success by dealing him to the Braves for prospects.
Since then, Greene has regressed a bit but still put up solid numbers in 2020 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 28 appearances. The right-hander should be one of the most coveted bullpen arms on the market.
Age: 40
Cruz's age also represents the number of homers you can count on him to hit in a 162-game season. The veteran slugger remains one of the most feared hitters in the game and will have plenty of short-term contract offers sent his way, especially if the universal DH becomes a permanent rule change.
