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Season 16 is kicking off in Kenny Powers and we're on to Offseason Free Agency! This Free Agent Class is highlighted by a couple of two-time former Cy Young winners and a handful of excellent bats. Let's see who made this season's top ten Free Agent list!
1. Ted Wagner, 30, SP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.64 career ERA, 2 Cy Young awards
Salary Over/Under: 5 years, $95 million
Possible Destinations: Chicago (AL), Pawtucket, Cleveland, Oakland
Signed with Pawtucket - 5 years, $95 million
Wagner is the prize of this free agent class, it appears. Although his career ERA isn't microscopic, his last three years have been front-line starter quality, and he has taken home 2 Cy Young awards in his career. On top of that, he's only 30, meaning he should be solid throughout the entire contract if signed to a five year deal. If he has a weakneess, it's pitch quality, but he makes up for that with tremendous effectiveness vs. RH hitters and very good control.
2. Antonio Liang, 28, 2B
Type Free Agent
Key Stat: 39 HR 117 RBI average last 4 seasons
Salary Over/Under: 5 years, $75 million
Possible Destinations: Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Memphis, Burlington
Signed with San Francisco - 5 years, $36.5 million
Liang has plus power that has seen him hit many long balls since his rookie campaign. He also has good, but not great, splits, batting eye and contact. He can probably be a serviceable, but below average 2B or CF fielding wise, but his bat should make up for any fielding woes. The major plus for Liang is that he is only 28, which means he shouldn't deteriorate too much, if at all the next five seasons.
3. Sherman Perez, 33, 3B
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 32 HR 105 RBI average last 4 seasons
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $42 million
Possible Destinations: Oklahoma City, Memphis, Rochester, Pawtucket
Signed with Oklahoma City - 5 years, $44.2 million
Perez was our #1 Free Agent of Season 11, the very first season of blog coverage, and five seasons later he's still got gas left in the tank at age 33, making him a quality add. His hitting skills are still plus across the board and he can still handle the hot corner in the field. But age is a factor with him, as a decline upcoming is inevitable, but he still has at least a few very good seasons left in him.
4. Richard Ma, 32, SP
Type B Free Agent
Key Stat: 2.64 career ERA, 2 Cy Young awards
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $44 million
Possible Destinations: Oklahoma City, Chicago (AL), Scranton, San Juan
Signed with San Francisco - 5 years, $55 million
The two-time Cy Young winner with a microscopic career ERA hits the market this offseason. Unfortunately, a major elbow injury in Season 14 zapped some of his skills, stamina and durability. If not for that, he'd be by far and away the #1 player on this list, practically guaranteed a max contract. Still, he has a solid arsenal that would help just about any rotation, granted only for about 175 innings compared to what he could do in the past.
5. Robb Ross, 33, LF
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: .892 OPS average over last 4 seasons
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $33 million
Possible Destinations: Tucson, San Juan, Chicago (AL), Vancouver
Signed with Cleveland - 4 years, $29.2 million
Ross, a former MVP from Season 11, is getting up there in age as well, but is still a quality hitter, and is capable of playing a solid Left Field with his defensive skills. At this point, he isn't a star you build your team around, but he can still be a great piece for a contender to help lift the offense a notch., given his outstanding splits and contact and plus power and batting eye.
6. Evan Richardson, 32, RF
Type B Free Agent
Key Stat: .863 career OPS
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $30 million
Possible Destinations: Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Rochester, Tucson
Signed with Toronto - 3 years, $17.6 million
Richardson is another solid hitter who could contribute good production. His fielding skills a bit iffy for Right Field, but he's probably passable there. His main asset is his bat, with very good contact, batting eye, power, and effectiveness vs. LHP. His .863 career OPS shows he can produce, despite some shaky seasons recently.
7. Trenidad Franco, 31, DH
Type B Free Agent
Key Stat: .931 career OPS
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $36 million
Possible Destinations: Toronto, Oakland, Detroit, Pittsburgh
Signed with Salt Lake City - 4 years, $26.8 million
Franco is the most powerful bat on this list, and he also has outstanding splits and contact. His career .931 OPS is the best of any of the players on the top 10 list. He's probably more suited to be a DH in the AL at this point, but could probably play catcher in a pinch (pretty badly though). His low durability may limit him to about 450 AB's, but those will be quality AB's with a bunch of homers mixed in.
8. Randy Gonzales, 32, 3B
No Designation
Key Stat: .832 career OPS
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $26 million
Possible Destinations: San Francisco, Burlington, Memphis, Pawtucket
Signed with Indianapolis - 4 years, $23.8 million
Gonzales is an excellent bat with very good splits, plus power, but only a decent batting eye and contact. His biggest asset is the fact that he is a capable 3rd baseman. Having a strong bat like his at the hot corner would be a boost to most lineups. Age and durability may be a slight concern, but he should be an above average performer for at least the next couple of seasons.
9. Lawrence Crabtree, 34, SP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.98 career ERA
Salary Over/Under: 3 years, $24 million
Possible Destinations: Oklahoma City, Tampa Bay, Seattle, San Francisco
Signed with San Francisco - 5 years, $40 million
Crabtree's career 3.98 ERA is a bit surprising, given he's played in Seattle, a park highly geared for pitchers, but he is still a quality arm. He's got nice control and a good arsenal of pitches, and knows how to keep the ball down. His effectiveness vs. LH hitters is mediocre, however, which may be a reason for the higher career ERA. Still, he's a solid #3 type, at least, for a contending team.
10. Harry Shiell, 32, RP
Type A Free Agent
Key Stat: 3.70 career ERA
Salary Over/Under: 4 years, $36 million
Possible Destinations: Pawtucket, Oklahoma City, Scranton, Seattle
Signed with Pittsburgh - 3 years, $17.6 million
Shiell gets the nod as the top reliever in this year's class. His excellent durability-stamina combo makes him a practical lock for 120+ IP per season. On top of that, he throws with excellent velocity, has outstanding control, and is solid against RH hitters. His LH split is a bit down, but that is about his only weakness. He'll make someone's bullpen a lot better.
That's it for the Free Agency Preview, good luck getting the players you're after!
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