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Perez is arguably the top prize in this year's free agent class, with a big bat and great fielding skils
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But there are some nice pitchers available as well.
SEASON 11 FREE AGENCY PREVIEW
This is a very deep free agent class, particularly in pitching. There were over 20 players considered for the top 10, so there are still some quality players available beyond this list. With the $100 million salary cap, teams have less to spend, so it will be interesting to see how things go down with this very deep free agent class. There could be some nice bargains out there or do you go for the big guns? Without further adieu, here's who made our top 10 list for this year's free agent class.
1. Sherman Perez, 3B, 28
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: .905 career OPS
Salary Over/Under: 5 years, $85 million
Possible Destinations: Cincinnati,
Oklahoma City, Rochester, Memphis, Portland
Signed with Pawtucket - 5 years, $97 million
Signed with Pawtucket - 5 years, $97 million
Perez is a four-time all-star and has won five Gold Gloves in RF.
Durham must have had a pretty stout defense to use Perez in RF, as he
could be one of the league’s best defensive 3B wherever he lands. Oh yeah, and he can completely crush the ball
too, all of his hitting ratings are plus and beyond. Plus he’s only 28. Whoever lands Perez will greatly improve their
team.
2. Will Dale, SP, 33
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.16 career ERA
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $60
million
Possible Destinations: Buffalo, Burlington,
Oklahoma City, Cincinnati
Signed with Cleveland - 5 years, $50.5 million
Signed with Cleveland - 5 years, $50.5 million
The top SP in this year’s free agent class, Dale is a 2-time all-star,
and it’s surprising he hasn’t made more.
There are few weaknesses to speak of in Dale’s arsenal, with tremendous
ratings across the board. Great control
and splits, keeps the ball down, throws hard with a killer splitter. He will make an impact wherever he goes in
greatly improving their pitching staff.
3. Ramiro Vazquez, SP, 31
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 4.02 career ERA
Salary Over/Under: 5 years, $70
million
Possible Destinations: Burlington,
Los Angeles, Augusta, Louisville, Rochester
Signed with Rochester - 5 years, $63 million
Signed with Rochester - 5 years, $63 million
Vazquez is a not very distant #2 SP in this free agent class, and if
you rated him #1, we wouldn’t blame you.
He can throw a lot more innings than Dale, but won’t be quite as
effective, due to lower splits, velocity and GB/FB ratio. He pitched in a band box in Cincy which
inflated his career ERA, but did win a Cy Young and make 2 all-star teams
there. He has the potential for more of both wherever
he lands.
4. Randall Paquette, 31, RP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 279 career saves, 89%
conversion
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $48 million
Possible Destinations: Augusta,
Vancouver, Philadelphia, Seattle, Oklahoma City
Signed with Cincinnati - 5 years, $35 million
Paquette is a three-time all-star and a former fireman of the year who has been lights out as a closer throughout his career, but also has the potential to throw a ton of innings as a setup A guy. Whatever his role is with the team who signs him, he is sure to be a solid reliever, as his ratings are solid across the board.
5. Juan Medrano, 34, SP
Type B Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.54 career ERA
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $27 million
Possible Destinations: Vancouver,
Rochester, Buffalo, Durham
Signed with Boston - 2 years, $11.2 million
Signed with Boston - 2 years, $11.2 million
Medrano is a 2- time all-star who throws hard with great control. His change-up is amongst the elite, and has
two other pitches that rate in the 60’s.
His weaknesses are he is only good, not great vs. lefties, and tends to
leave the ball up in the zone. But he is
still solid and can be a great addition to any staff, particularly if you aren’t
looking to give up a draft pick.
6. Turk Mullen, 25, DH
No Designation
Key Stat: 0 years of Major League Service
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $15 million
Possible Destinations: Nashville,
Seattle, Cincinnati, Augusta
Signed with Cleveland - 5 years, $29 million
Signed with Cleveland - 5 years, $29 million
Mullen looks like he can flat out mash, and his 1.004 minor league OPS
tends to yield credence to that, but he has never gotten the opportunity to
play full time in the majors. He’d make
a great DH in the AL, or an extremely poor defensive catcher or first
baseman. He should be able to approach
.900 OPS in the big leagues, if given the opportunity to play, with a top notch
batting eye, elite power and effectiveness vs. lefties.
7. Damaso Merced, 29, RP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.96 career ERA
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $21 million
Possible Destinations: Oklahoma
City, Cleveland, Monterrey, Vancouver
Signed with Chicago - 4 years, $25.6 million
Signed with Chicago - 4 years, $25.6 million
Merced is an extremely solid RP with great control, splits and
velocity, and he also keeps the ball down.
His sinker is amongst the best.
His slider and change-up aren’t great, but his other ratings make up for
it. Could be a very nice closer or a
solid setup A guy.
8. Mike Oquist, 34, 2B
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 392 career HR
Salary Over/Under: 2 years, $10 million
Possible Destinations: Chicago,
Philadelphia, Seattle, Memphis
Signed with Philadelphia - 3 years, $27.5 million
Signed with Philadelphia - 3 years, $27.5 million
At 34, Oquist, a 4-time all-star and 2-time silver slugger winner,
still has elite power, and can still play a solid 2B or CF. His downside is he isn’t extremely effective
vs. RHP, and his age. Clearly on the
downside of his career, prospective owners will have to weigh the pros and cons
of giving up a draft pick to sign a guy who can help a lot now, but maybe only
for one or two more seasons.
9. Hank Sellers, 28, SP
No Designation
Key Stat: 4.05 career ERA
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $24 million
Possible Destinations: Monterrey,
Louisville, Nashville, Los Angeles
Signed with Nashville - 4 years, $34.6 million
Signed with Nashville - 4 years, $34.6 million
Sellers has solid splits and control and throws hard. His pitches are good but not great. If you’re looking for a quality #4 starter
at a good price for the next several seasons though, he’d be a nice
pickup. But there are others with better
ratings if you are just looking for a one or two season stand in.
10. Lon Sappelt, 29, 3B
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: .346 career OBP
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $22 million
Possible Destinations: Memphis,
Rochester, Portland, Augusta
Signed with Cincinnati - 5 years, $32.5 million
Signed with Cincinnati - 5 years, $32.5 million
Sappelt makes the list mostly because of the lack of quality offensive
players outside of the 1B/DH types in this free agent class. He has great contact and a good batting eye,
so he should get on base a lot, but doesn’t have a lot of power. He has plus fielding ratings for any position
except SS, which is again why he makes the list.
Good luck to all in free agency, there are a lot of quality players available, it will be tough to decide who to go after!
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