Don’t sleep on these 6 free agents — including a former MVP

Though lots of this offseason’s prime free brokers wasted no time discovering new (or outdated) properties, there are nonetheless loads of gamers out there who may make an influence in 2023.

With that in thoughts, six MLB.com specialists had been requested to select their most attention-grabbing remaining free agent in the marketplace. To be clear, it isn’t essentially the most effective out there participant, however merely probably the most intriguing — for no matter cause.

Here are the six gamers who made the listing:

Andrew McCutchen, LF/DH
It’s been a really very long time since McCutchen was the MVP centerpiece of some excellent Pirates groups, and, at 36 years outdated, he’s not more likely to be seen as an on a regular basis participant for groups hoping to contend in 2023. That mentioned, in the suitable scenario, there’s nonetheless a chance to contribute, as a result of he’s a league-average bat who’s obtained a streak of 14 consecutive double-digit-homer seasons going, and his operating velocity continues to be close to the highest of the league — even after tearing his left ACL in 2019.

These days, McCutchen is best in opposition to lefty pitching (.901 OPS during the last three seasons, in comparison with only a .672 mark in opposition to righties), so it’s not laborious to see a match on a membership with younger, lefty outfielders, like Seattle (the place he may platoon with Jarred Kelenic) or Arizona. Maybe “aging platoon part-time DH” doesn’t excite you. But who amongst us wouldn’t need to see some of the essential gamers of the final 15 years lastly get an opportunity at that ring he’s by no means been near?
– Mike Petriello

Nelson Cruz, DH
It’s really easy to take a fast look at Cruz’s 2022 stat line, together with his career-worst .337 slugging proportion and different unhappy marks, and say, “Ah, he’s too old.” But Cruz, who didn’t expertise his breakthrough season till his age-28 marketing campaign in 2009, has form of all the time been outdated within the Majors. And till very not too long ago, he was unquestionably elite on the plate. From 2015-20, no participant crushed extra homers (220) and solely Mike Trout had the next OPS+. Cruz was on his solution to one other stellar yr in ‘21, slashing .294/.370/.537 with 19 house runs in 85 video games with the Twins earlier than he was dealt to the Rays simply three weeks after his forty first birthday.

Cruz hit 13 dingers for Tampa Bay, however his batting common (.226) and on-base proportion (.283) fell off a cliff. Matters didn’t enhance final yr with the Nationals. He nonetheless hit the ball laborious with regularity, however his energy totals plummeted. His .103 ISO ranked one hundred and twentieth out of 130 certified batters. Was this the inescapable grip of time on Cruz’s shoulder or one thing extra tangible? In October, he introduced an excellent cause to consider it was the latter: He couldn’t see clearly out of his left eye. Cruz mentioned then that he had been dogged by the problem for nearly a yr and a half. Surgery on the finish of the month was a hit. He must be prepared for Spring Training and has said his need to maintain enjoying.

With Albert Pujols retired, Cruz holds the crown because the oldest energetic place participant in MLB (lefty pitcher Rich Hill arrived into this world a number of months earlier). Cruz can be simply 41 house runs away from 500. He nearly definitely gained’t attain that revered benchmark in 2023, his age-42 season. But together with his imaginative and prescient restored, Cruz deserves a glance from a crew looking for some lineup thump.
– Brian Murphy

Alex Reyes, RHP
Reyes is tantalizing if he pitches, however that is perhaps the most important “if” of any free agent on the market. The former Cardinals prime prospect has pitched a full season solely as soon as within the seven years since his huge league debut. That one season, 2021, was nice, as Reyes was an All-Star reliever for St. Louis. Instead of constructing on it, although, Reyes missed all of ’22 attributable to proper shoulder surgical procedure.

But if a crew throws a dart on Reyes and he stays wholesome, that membership is getting a 28-year-old pitcher who has a 2.86 profession ERA and averages 11.0 strikeouts per 9 innings — and he throws within the higher 90s with a wipeout slider. Reyes’ final season on the mound, his fastball averaged 96.6 mph and his slider generated a 56% whiff price, making it a top-5 swing-and-miss breaking ball in 2021, behind solely Craig Kimbrel’s knuckle-curve, Jacob deGrom’s slider, Liam Hendriks’ slider and Josh Hader’s slider. With the highest closers now off the market, you are not going to seek out many remaining free-agent relievers with Reyes’ expertise, and none which can be so younger.
– David Adler

Adam Duvall, OF
Duvall is coming off a disastrous 2022 marketing campaign that ended prematurely when he underwent surgical procedure for a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist. Prior to that damage, he slashed simply .213/.276/.401 (.677 OPS) with 12 house runs in 86 video games. Duvall struck out 101 instances in 315 plate appearances, which equates to a strikeout price of 32.1%.

But Duvall had a strikeout price of 31.4% in 2021 — and that did not cease him from racking up 38 house runs and 113 RBIs. He additionally had a ridiculous 19 Defensive Runs Saved throughout that 2021 marketing campaign, tied with Michael A. Taylor for probably the most by any outfielder. It was ok to earn Duvall his first profession Gold Glove Award. There are definitely some dangers on the subject of Duvall. He’s 34 years outdated, he is coming off wrist surgical procedure and he’ll strike out lots. But if he can rediscover his ’21 kind that helped lead the Braves to a World Series title, he may assist nearly any lineup.
– Paul Casella

Brandon Belt, 1B
A soon-to-be 35-year-old first baseman with a major damage historical past and a .676 OPS (92 OPS+) in 2022 won’t appear all that attention-grabbing, however take into account what Belt did when he was wholesome throughout 2020-21. The veteran slashed .285/.393/.595 with 38 homers over 148 video games in that span, and his 165 OPS+ ranked third in MLB (minimal 500 plate appearances) behind solely Bryce Harper and Juan Soto. Belt crushed the ball in that two-year stretch, registering a barrel price (17.0%) that put him within the identical neighborhood as a number of the recreation’s most spectacular sluggers.

Even final yr, when his manufacturing dipped as he battled a lingering proper knee damage that finally led to season-ending surgical procedure, Belt had a 12.6% barrel price, a quantity that may have ranked within the 87th percentile if he had sufficient plate appearances to qualify. He additionally had a superb 12.4% stroll price, consistent with his profession mark. Belt is all the time an damage danger, however now that his knee subject has been addressed, his left-handed bat could possibly be a possible difference-maker.
– Thomas Harrigan

Zack Greinke, RHP
Greinke is all the time some of the attention-grabbing gamers and personalities in baseball. And proper now, the 39-year-old is without doubt one of the most attention-grabbing free brokers remaining as a result of he presents us with a captivating query: Can he maintain the magic going for a minimum of another season?

If you have a look at most of Greinke’s 2022 numbers with the Royals, you see a pitcher who had no business being efficient. His fastball velocity was within the fourth percentile (lower than 20% of his “heaters” reached 90 mph). Of the 140 pitchers who threw 100 innings, his 12.5% strikeout price ranked lifeless final. And but, Greinke discovered a manner by mixing 5 pitches, avoiding walks and customarily utilizing all the artful veteran-ness he may muster. While he averaged solely just a little greater than 5 innings per outing throughout 26 begins, the six-time All-Star posted a 3.68 ERA that was 11% higher than league common by ERA+ — the identical as MLB strikeout king Gerrit Cole. (Amazingly, Greinke’s ERA was 2.53 over the six begins during which he struck out no a couple of batter.)

Now, the problems talked about above are undoubtedly regarding to potential suitors. Same goes for the truth that the hole between Greinke’s anticipated ERA, per Statcast, and his precise ERA was one of many widest of any common starter. Father Time is undefeated, however the future potential Hall of Famer is just not your typical pitcher in any manner. If he finds a house for 2023, he can be price watching.
– Andrew Simon