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SEASON 19 FREE AGENCY RECAP
After a quick rollover, we're out of the gates and into the preseason for Season 19, which is sure to start off with a bang thanks to a well stocked Free Agent pool. It was very difficult to narrow the field down to ten, but it had to be done. Here's a rundown of who made this season's top ten free agents!
1. Justin Jordan, 30, SP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 2.80 career ERA
S18 Team: Tucson
Re-signed with Tucson - 5 years, $100 million
Best Attributes: Control (10), LH Split (10), RH Split (10), Age (9)
Lowest Attributes: Stamina (2)
Projected S19 Role: Staff Ace, Cy Young Contender
Analysis: Although there were other very talented pitchers on the market, Jordan ranked #1 due to be younger than his fellow past Cy Young winners. Tucson retaining him was a major win for the franchise.
2. Alberto Campos, 34, SP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 2.75 career ERA
S18 Team: Syracuse
Signed with Pawtucket - 5 years, $56 million ($45.9 million guaranteed)
Best Attributes: RH Split (10), Control (9), Pitch Arsenal (9)
Lowest Attributes: Age (5)
Projected S19 Role: Staff Ace, Cy Young Contender
Analysis: Campos is still an elite pitcher, and was obtained by Pawtucket at a very nice price. Age related decline will be a concern in the later years of the deal, but he will definitely be great in S19.
3. Stewart Mouton, 36, SP
No Designation
Key Stat: 2.70 career ERA
S18 Team: Pawtucket
Signed with Atlanta - 4 years, $39 million
Best Attributes: Pitch Arsenal (10), RH Split (10), Control (9)
Lowest Attributes: Age (3)
Projected S19: Staff Ace, Cy Young Contender
Analysis: Similar to Campos, age is a concern with Mouton, even though he has shown the ability to ward off age-related decline better than most. For what he was signed for, it was well worth the risk, and Atlanta has themselves an ace-caliber pitcher for this season.
4. Junior Won, 26, SP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 4.28 career ERA
S18 Team: Detroit
Signed with Helena - 5 years, $68 million
Best Attributes: Age (10), Control (10), LH Split (10)
Lowest Attributes: RH Split (5)
Projected S19 Role: #3 starter, fringe All-Star candidate
Analysis: It's not often you find a 26 year-old high quality SP in the free agent pool. There's a slight concern about Won's effectiveness vs. RH hitters, but Won should still be very good, with many productive seasons ahead.
5. Edgar Olivares, SS, 27
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 4.28 career ERA
S18 Team: Toronto
Signed with Oklahoma City - 5 years, $39.3 million
Best Attributes: Fielding (10), Power (10), Age (10)
Lowest Attributes: RH Split (2)
Projected S19 Role: All-Star Candidate
Analysis: It's not often you can find the type of power Olivares has to go with elite fielding abilities. His poor RH split may result in a lot of variability in and sometimes poor batting average, but having his power at SS will be a huge plus for OKC.
6. Felix Cochrane, 30, 3B
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 295 career HR
S18 Team: Memphis
Re-signed with Memphis - 4 years, $31.9 million ($26 million guaranteed)
Best Attributes: Fielding (9), Power (9), Age (9)
Worst Attributes: Batting Eye (3)
Projected S19 Role: Gold Glove Candidate at 3B with 30 HR power
Analysis: Cochrane is a Gold Glove caliber 3B with very good power. His batting eye isn't great, which will lead to a lot of strikeouts, but the rest of his hitting skills combined with his fielding prowess make him a valuable asset at the hot corner.
7. Jose Rincon, 31, 2B
Type Free Agent
Key Stat: .815 career OPS
S18 Team: Oklahoma City
Signed with Pawtucket - 2 years, $14.8 million
Best Attributes: Power (10), Batting Eye (9), Age 8)
Worst Attributes: RH Split (5), LH Split (6), Contact (6)
Projected S19 Role: All-Star Candidate, Silver Slugger Candidate
Analysis: One of the best power bats available, to go with an excellent batting eye, Rincon with a nice signing for Pawtucket. He can play a solid 2B, and is passable at CF as well. Mediocre contact and splits may keep the batting average down, but when he's on, he can mash.
8. Benjamin Allen, 29, 3B/RF
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: .817 career OPS
S18 Team: Oakland
Signed with Tampa Bay - 5 years, $51.3 million ($42.7 million guaranteed)
Best Attributes: Age (10), Batting Eye (9), RH Split (9)
Lowest Attributes: Injury Potential
Projected S19 Role: Excellent #2/#3 hitter
Analysis: One of the best pure hitters available, Allen has a very solid bat and great eye that should get him on base a lot. Injury concerns and average fielding put him below his counterparts, but he will definitely boost the Tampa Bay lineup.
9. Tuck Huff, 34, SP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.38 career ERA
S18 Team: Tampa Bay
Signed with Salt Lake City - 5 years, $31.5 million
Best Attributes: Control (10), Pitch Arsenal (9), RH Split (8)
Lowest Attributes: Durability/Stamina (3.5), Age (5)
Projected S19 Role: #2 starter, potential All-Star
Analysis: Huff has outstanding ratings across the board, including elite control and solid command of his pitches. Durability and stamina put his innings ceiling around 175, which make age-related decline more of a concern, but Huff is still an excellent arm.
10. Allan Farquhar, 32, 3B
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: .816 career OPS
S18 Team: New Orleans
Signed with Pawtucket - 1 year, $6.935 million
Best Attributes: Power (10), Fielding (8), LH Split (8), RH Split (8)
Lowest Attributes: Contact (3)
Projected S19 Role: Excellent Fielding 3B with 40 HR potential
Analysis: Pawtucket also landed another big bat with elite power in Farquhar, who also will make a great fielding 3B. He's also coming off two outstanding seasons at the plate in New Orleans, although his low contact rate could lead to the possibility of poor batting average when he isn't launching bombs out of the park.
Good luck to everyone in Season 19!
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