It’s that time of spring: Opening Day looms much closer ahead than the opening of training camps in the rear view. And a baker’s dozen of serviceable Major League Baseball free agents lurk.
Oh, it goes a bit further than the so-called ‘Boras Four who sought nine-figure contracts and opted for a waiting game. The list of best available include a likely Hall of Famer, an elite defensive center fielder and plenty of help on the mound – in the late innings or out of the chute.
With that, a look at the best remaining free agents:
MLB top remaining free agents
Blake Snell, LHP: The starting pitcher shortage is a recurring theme and this guy is truly different: Left-handed, the majors’ ERA champion (2.25) for 2023 and soon with a Cy Young Award in both leagues. Snell is not without his downsides – such as a 4.06 ERA in the three seasons after his 1.89 mark won the 2019 AL Cy Young.
Jordan Montgomery, LHP: Big, durable lefties are hard to come by and Montgomery showed his ceiling just in time for free agency, making a career-high 32 starts each of the past two years, topping 200 innings (178 regular season, 31 playoffs) for the first time and ultimately finishing as the No. 2 starter for the World Series champs.
J.D. Martinez, DH: What a renaissance in 2023 for Martinez, who doubled his home run output to 33 and bumped his OPS to .893, best since 2019. That includes 24 homers and an .880 OPS against right-handers.
Mike Clevinger, RHP: After three injury-wracked seasons that included a domestic-violence investigation, Clevinger produced a steady 2023 campaign, making 24 starts, reaching 131 ⅓ innings and posting a 3.77 ERA.
Tommy Pham, OF: Pham had a nice October platform, ripping eight hits in 17 World Series at-bats, and his acquisition by Arizona showed what he could mean to a contending club, possessing a nice power-speed combo and clubhouse gravitas.
Adam Duvall, OF: Wrist injuries curtailed each of his past two seasons, but Duvall remains an aggressive and dangerous hitter, hitting 21 home runs in 320 at-bats. We don’t recommend a .301 career OBP as a means of producing a .799 career OPS, but dude continues to do it.
Brandon Belt, 1B: Still gives you what you want: 19 homers, a .369 OBP, .858 OPS over 339 at-bats. A great fit in the right situation, perhaps with a righty DH partner.
Joey Votto, 1B: An emotional goodbye from Cincinnati gave way to a proud veteran’s intense desire to stay in the fight.
Michael Lorenzen, RHP: Some fabulous bullet points on his job application: All-Star selection and no-hitter in 2023. Lorenzen hit the wall a bit after that September feat and didn’t figure in Philly’s postseason pitching plans but did produce 153 largely quality innings for the Tigers and Phillies. Has ability to start or relieve.
Shelby Miller, RHP: A neck injury limited him to just 36 appearances, and even that was his most since 2015, when he was firmly a starter. But Miller shined in his limited look, with a 1.71 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. His reclamation project is almost complete.
Ryne Stanek, RHP: Yet another Astros reliever, though one who largely drifted outside the playoff circle of trust. Stanek’s ERA leaped to 4.09, highest since his rookie season, as was his 7.5 hits per nine innings. Still, Stanek gasses it up to 98 mph and could be a late-inning piece in the right hands.
Donovan Solano, INF: Versatile but a bit of a stretch as a full-time first baseman due to a lack of power. Still, Solano’s .369 OBP and respectable 26 doubles in 450 plate appearances are plusses.
Michael A. Taylor, OF: Still spectacular enough defensively and with the ability to pop the ball out of the yard (21 home runs) that his overall offensive deficiencies can be overlooked. Unless the Padres offer him something close to a full-time position, Taylor might have to settle for a fourth outfielder job once again.
HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.