With the MLB Free Agency Season upon us, here are our picks for the best free agents and our predictions for their potential destinations.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Arguably the top free-agent pitcher in the MLB this season, Yamamoto is a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher from Japan. Yoshinobu is highly coveted, coming off multiple outstanding seasons for the Orix Buffaloes in the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB). A two-time Pacific League MVP, Yamamoto stands at 5 ’10, 178 pounds. Across seven seasons in the NPB, the free agent boasts a 1.82 Earned Runs Against (ERA) over 897 innings pitched (IP), amassing a 70-29 record. Despite touting 922 strikeouts across his illustrious NPB career, perhaps the most dominant statistic is his three straight Japanese Triple Crowns (2021, 2022, 2023). Yoshinobu has a five-pitch arsenal that consists of a 4-seam fastball, splitter, curveball, cutter, and a sweeper (slider with more horizontal break than vertical break). What makes the right-handed pitcher so dominant is the fact that he can throw all five for strikes around 70% of the time. Yoshinobu has the potential to be a top-10 pitcher in the MLB from the jump and is definitely a must-watch player.
- Prediction: We believe that Yamamoto will land with either the New York Mets or the Boston Red Sox on an eight or nine-year deal. Yamamoto has said that he is open to the idea of sharing a team with other Japanese players, according to his agent Joel Wolfe. The New York Mets roster includes breakout Japanese phenom Kodai Senga, who is represented by Joel Wolfe and is also a right-handed pitcher. Joel Wolfe also represents Edwin Diaz, another player on the Mets. Additionally, the franchise owner Steve Cohen has shown that he is not afraid to spend big in free agency, making them a threat to land Yoshinobu. However, the Boston Red Sox are an intriguing landing spot as well. They feature one of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s closest friends, Masataka Yoshida. The duo recently won the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Team Japan. The issue here may come with the financials, as it is difficult to see the Red Sox outbidding the Mets for the services of Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Despite this, the Red Sox are still a very real spot for the Japanese star, as it all comes down to his preference.
- Dark horse: A dark horse candidate for Yamamoto is the New York Yankees. The Yankees have a history of employing Japanese stars (Tanaka, Ichiro), and it is very possible that this trend could continue. Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been hearing it from the fanbase and seems poised to make a big landing this offseason. The final question is: Could Yoshinobu Yamamoto be his guy?
- Shohei Ohtani
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Image courtesy of Fox News Shohei Ohtani goes by many nicknames – ‘Shotime’, ‘The Unicorn’, ‘The Sho’ – and he is the most sought-after free agent in the history of baseball. This is due to his ability to pitch and hit at the highest level possible, being a top-ten player in both categories. Despite having to miss the entirety of the upcoming 2024 season on the mound due to a torn UCL that required Tommy John Surgery, Ohtani is one of the best hitters in the MLB. Last year Ohtani posted a .304 batting average and a 1.066 OPS, smashing 44 home runs and stealing 20 bases en route to his second MVP. Before Ohtani’s UCL injury that derailed the rest of his season on the mound, he logged a 3.14 ERA while striking out 167 batters in 132 innings pitched. Shohei is the most decorated free agent in baseball currently, boasting two MVPs, two Silver Sluggers as a designated hitter, a Rookie of the Year Award, and three All-Star Game appearances. Many sources predict that Ohtani will land a long-term 500+ million dollar deal, even with the fact that he will be unable to pitch during the 2024 season. Shotime is also a marketing beast who is currently the face of baseball, another thing to take into consideration when it’s time for him to sign.
- Prediction: We predict that The Sho will be airing in 2024 in Hollywood, as Ohtani takes his talents to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This move makes too much sense as Ohtani is already comfortable with the city of Los Angeles, playing for the Los Angeles Angels. Shohei will likely be securing a ten to twelve-year deal to suit up in Dodger blue and bolster an already star-studded Dodger lineup.
- Dark Horse: A dark horse candidate for the services of Shohei Ohtani is the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have already shocked the MLB by hiring the former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, a massive in-division rival, Craig Counsell – why not do it again? The Cubs seem to be linked to almost every free agent and will likely touch base with Ohtani’s camp regarding a contract. We expect the northside of Windy City to make a major splash this offseason, either through a trade or a signing. If the numbers make sense and Ohtani wants to play for a team with an extremely rich history and passionate fanbase, keep your eyes peeled for the Chicago Cubs.
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- Blake Snell
- Fresh off his second Cy Young season, the lefty pitcher Blake Snell is the most sought-after domestic arm in this year’s free agency. The only main concern with Snell has been his control and walk rate, which was rock-bottom amongst qualifying pitchers. Even with this, he can still clearly ball out and has some of the nastiest movement from the left side that baseball has seen in recent years. Snell’s repertoire consists of an upper-90s four-seamer, a wipeout curve, a change piece, and a sharp slider. At only 30 years old and with two Cy Youngs already under his belt, it is clear that Snell has plenty of seasons still fresh in the tank to bring to his next MLB home team.
- Prediction: We predict Blake Snell to lock up a longer-term, six or seven-year deal with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants keep seeming to be on the edge of the postseason, and with an already solid rotation and bullpen, adding a Cy Young winner to help headline the rotation could very well put them over the top. His pairing with Giants ace and Cy Young finalist Logan Webb would make a nasty one-two punch that could swing tides of early-round playoff games in the future for San Francisco.
- Dark Horse: A sneaky team that could swoop in and sign Blake Snell is the Cincinnati Reds, a young squad with a lot of promise. A team that was on the brink of playoff contention last year, the Reds are in need of some veteran mentorship and playoff experience, especially in the pitching department, and Blake Snell would bring just that. Snell could very well slide into the top of that rotation and provide some protection and guidance for younger arms such as Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft who showed plenty of potential last year.
- Cody Bellinger
- Cody Bellinger has dealt with plenty of ups and downs over the course of his tumultuous career, but it seems that he has once again found his stride. After posting a sub-.210 average the previous two years, Bellinger bounced back with a career-saving season batting a healthy .307 with nearly 100 RBIs (97). A former National League MVP, Bellinger is looking to bring some consistent power in the top half of the lineup for teams who could really use an offensive boost. When pairing his hitting prowess with his stellar defense in the outfield (which is arguably the best part of his game) and his sneaky base-stealing ability, Bellinger serves as a true five-tool player for whatever team is lucky enough to land him this offseason.
- Prediction: We assert that Bellinger will find his new home in the Bronx with the New York Yankees. Bellinger and the pinstripes seem to be a match made in heaven, as the Yankees’ short porch in right field allows for Bellinger to have an easier time smashing homers. The Yankees’ offense in most categories last year was often bottom of the barrel, so GM Brian Cashman needs to make a move to upgrade this lineup, and Bellinger looks to be the best bat available this year outside of Shohei Ohtani.
- Dark Horse: Don’t be surprised if the San Francisco Giants come in and take Cody Bellinger off the market. It seems like their name is listed as competitors in almost every free agent, but that is because they always are. The Giants are not afraid to make a push during free agency and spend big money, and a spot where they are truly lacking is the outfield. What better way to fill a weak spot in the lineup than replacing it with arguably the best man at his position.