The offseason for Major League Baseball is dominated by free agency rankings. Keith Law and Jim Bowden have compiled rankings of top free agents, contributing to a market-wide “Big Board”. To analyze the market depth and identify weak points, a hypothetical team roster made exclusively of free agents was created. This hypothetical free agent team provides a visual of the available talent, highlighting the strong options for team roles like rotation, bullpen, or outfield corner. Conversely, the proposition also underscores the slim options for nearly all middle-of-the-field positions.
The projected lineup includes several power hitters, with five of the 18 players who hit more than 30 home runs last season being free agents. These free agents include Juan Soto, Anthony Santander, Pete Alonso, Teoscar Hernández, and Willy Adames, with Alex Bregman and Travis d’Arnaud also providing some offense. The free agents who didn’t make the hypothetical starting lineup such as Randal Grichuk, Joc Pederson, Tyler O’Neill, and Kyle Higashioka, each slugged at least .475 this past season.
A scarcity of options are observed within the middle positions. The decision of Cody Bellinger to stick with the Chicago Cubs left a gaping hole in the available center-fielders. No other center fielder got close to making the Big Board, thus Harrison Bader was chosen despite being the market’s thinnest position. On the other hand, the market is rich in corner outfielders and has enough first basemen near the top.
In terms of constructing a big-league bench, the options appear limited, especially in the infield. There’s no backup third baseman or center fielder, and the availability of the utility player appears uncertain. Catchers are missing from the Big Board, however, d’Arnaud and Jansen generated some bottom-of-the-list consideration. The market does not boast a standout everyday catcher but presents a few potential solutions for teams wishing to build a catching duo.
The Big Board’s top 12 includes six starting pitchers, but No. 3 Roki Sasaki was excluded from the All-Free Agent rotation due to his youth and his need to sign cheaply. However, among proven big-league starters, four out of the top 20 in ERA this past season are presently on the market. The roster depth from the best starter onwards depends on whether teams believe in the sustainability of Flaherty and Manaea.
In the bullpen department, several relief players who have been All-Stars within the past two seasons are available for the taking. The only exceptions are Blake Treinen and David Robertson. This free-agent class is notably plentiful in pitchers with vast closer experience. From this pool, 11 free agents boast a top 25 ranking in saves among active players. This roster paints a decidedly mixed picture – there’s wealth in corner spots such as outfielders and power hitters, yet a clear deficiency up the middle including in central fielding and infield substitutes.
