25 under-the-radar MLB free agents to keep an eye on

Proper-handed slugger C.J. Cron is actually not the flashiest offensive participant out there by way of free company, however he certain gives important energy potential and upside. The veteran first baseman simply endured an injury-plagued 2023 season break up between the Rockies and Angels, however previous to that he’d belted 28 or extra homers and pushed in 92 or extra runs for Colorado in back-to-back campaigns. Groups in want of a primary baseman or a DH ought to undoubtedly monitor the marketplace for Cron. 

Proper-handed swinging Mitch Garver has by no means performed in additional than 102 video games in a single season, however this winter, it is a truthful wager that somebody will hand him a profitable free-agent contract to be their beginning catcher. Garver has blasted 75 house runs in his final 325 video games, and there simply should not many backstops that may present that sort of offensive energy. 

Righty Seth Lugo spent the primary seven seasons of his profession working primarily out of the Mets bullpen, however he persistently expressed a want to get an opportunity to start out. The Padres gave him the chance he craved once they signed him to a one-year free-agent contract final winter, and he thrived in his most well-liked function. In 26 begins for San Diego, Lugo pitched to a 3.57 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP, whereas placing out 140 hitters in 146.1 innings and incomes eight victories. That efficiency ought to assist him land a multi-year deal to affix a workforce’s beginning 5 this time round. 

Proper-handed swinging Hunter Dozier was chosen within the first spherical by the Royals in 2013 and has spent his complete profession to this point in Kansas Metropolis, as a strong function participant. Accidents have been an issue for the veteran, and actually he participated in solely 29 video games a yr in the past, however when wholesome he can flat-out hit. Dozier is just some years faraway from a season the place he slashed .279/.348/.522 with 26 homers, 29 doubles, 10 triples, and 84 RBI, and he represents an intriguing buy-low possibility for a bat-needy workforce. 

There might not be a greater low-risk probably high-reward hitter on this winter’s free-agent class than outfielder Austin Meadows. Drafted ninth general by Pittsburgh within the 2013 draft, Meadows appeared like a budding star early in his profession. He has seasons of 27 and 33 house runs on his ledger, and twice has knocked in additional than 89 runs. He was with the Tigers the final two seasons however performed very minimally, lacking most of 2022 attributable to damage, and sitting out nearly all of final season to give attention to his psychological well being. Meadows realizes he doubtless might want to signal a one-year contract to reestablish his standing as a productive run producer, and a few workforce will certainly give him a possibility. 

First baseman Rhys Hoskins has been a vital a part of Philadelphia’s offensive assault since 2017, however circumstances outdoors of his management will all probability have him enjoying elsewhere in 2024. Hoskins tore his ACL in spring coaching final February and missed your complete 2023 marketing campaign. In the meantime, Phillies’ star Bryce Harper‘s injured elbow restricted his capacity to throw from the outfield, so Philly started using him at first base, one thing they’ve dedicated to full-time transferring ahead. Thus, a now wholesome Hoskins, who boasts a .242/.353/.492 lifetime slash line to associate with 148 profession house runs in 667 video games finds himself one of many extra fascinating free-agent bats. 

Adam Duvall has already performed for 5 totally different groups throughout his decade-long profession, and after a productive season in Boston in 2023 he ought to have suitors lining as much as be his sixth. Regardless of lacking practically half the season with a damaged wrist, the veteran crushed 21 homers and drove in 58 runs for Boston, whereas bringing consistency and management to the clubhouse. Duvall is a former World Collection winner and a sneaky good defender within the outfield, and whereas his addition won’t be a splashy one, whichever workforce indicators him will probably be completely happy it did. 

One of many wild playing cards of this winter’s free-agent class is 25-year-old Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, who is anticipated to be posted by the Kiwoom Heroes. In seven seasons in Korea Lee has been dynamic, slashing .340/.407/.491 in 884 profession video games. He is by no means hit greater than 23 house runs, however he is a doubles machine and has pushed in 100 or extra runs twice. Lee’s elite bat-to-ball abilities make him a perfect number-two hitter in a great big-league line-up, and the checklist of groups right here will probably be prolonged. 

Left-handed slugger Joey Gallo actually seems to be like the latest instance from a participant who simply wanted to get away from the microscope of enjoying within the media capital of the world. After basically being run out of city within the Bronx, the veteran rebounded in an enormous manner with the Twins final season, crushing 21 house runs in solely 332 at-bats, and slugging greater than 100 factors larger than he did with the Yankees in 2022. Gallo won’t ever be a high-average hitter, in truth his lifetime batting common is below .200, however he possesses gentle tower energy, and may at all times break a sport open with one swing. 

Outfielder Jesse Winker was an all-star with Cincinnati in 2021, however sadly for him he is skilled a gradual regression since then. After a disappointing ’22 with the Mariners he landed in Milwaukee final season, the place he slashed simply .199/.320/.247 with solely six extra-base hits in 61 video games. This winter Winker is looking for a workforce that can give him an opportunity to earn common enjoying time in hopes of rebuilding his worth, and he may signify a low value possibility for groups keen to gamble on his capacity to bounce again. 

One of many actual feel-good tales of the 2023 season was Andrew McCutchen returning to Pittsburgh, town through which he started his profession, blossomed right into a star, and in the end received a NL MVP award. In his age 36 season the veteran was a powerful function participant for the Pirates, slashing .256/.378/.397 with 31 extra-base hits and 43 RBI, whereas reaching the spectacular milestone of two,000 profession hits. McCutchen has vocalized that he doesn’t plan to retire and needs to return to Pittsburgh, although how this in the end transpires will probably be dependent upon what the rebuilding Bucs select to do. 

Edmond, OK native Brian Anderson is a helpful and versatile participant that may adequately deal with each third base and proper area, whereas offering a harmful right-handed bat in the course of the line-up. Accidents have sadly dramatically restricted his manufacturing in recent times, however in his final full marketing campaign Anderson hit .261 and crushed 20 house runs for Miami. Bringing him in wouldn’t essentially swing the steadiness of energy within the league, however groups are at all times searching for constant offensive gamers, and when wholesome, Anderson has at all times hit. 

Final winter infielder Jean Segura signed a two-year contract with the Marlins in a deal that simply by no means actually labored out. After spending his complete profession within the center infield, Miami moved Segura to 3rd base the place he was by no means actually snug, and offensively he appeared like a shell of his former self. In 85 video games the veteran slashed simply .219/.277/.279 earlier than being traded to Cleveland and subsequently launched. This winter he is looking for a membership that can see what occurred final yr as an aberration. 

Outfielder Tommy Pham has bounced across the league fairly a bit the previous few years, which is considerably stunning given how a lot offensive expertise he possesses. Splitting final season between the Mets and Diamondbacks, the veteran right-handed hitter slashed .256/.328/.446 with 16 house runs and 68 RBI. Down the stretch he performed a number one function in Arizona’s run to the playoffs and in the end the World Collection, and also you’d need to think about some workforce will deliver Pham in to play a beginning nook outfield place this winter. 

Even in in the present day’s sport the place a lot emphasis is placed on offensive statistics, protection nonetheless issues, particularly behind the plate. Which is why gamers like Martin Maldonado will at all times be in excessive demand. Final season the veteran slashed simply .191/.258/.348 for the Astros, however he did crush 15 house runs on the backside of the line-up, so he was removed from an computerized out. That stated, Maldonado will at all times deliver extra worth behind the plate, the place he’s an elite defender that pitchers crave working with. If he can hit even slightly bit, he ought to once more be capable of land a beginning job in 2024. 

Scrappy second baseman Tony Kemp’s lifetime .238/.325/.352 lifetime slash line with little or no energy doesn’t precisely scream difference-making beginning caliber participant, however the numbers do not inform the entire story. Kemp is a gifted defender and stolen base risk, and whereas he may need been miscast as an on a regular basis participant in Oakland, he may simply be a productive utility man on a great workforce. 

For the primary eight seasons of his profession right-hander Zach Davies was a productive middle-of-the-rotation starter and a precious a part of 4 totally different workforce’s pitching staffs. The 2023 marketing campaign, nonetheless, was one he’d prefer to overlook. Slowed by an indirect damage early and a again downside in midsummer, Davies in the end made solely 18 extremely disappointing begins for the Diamondbacks. The 7.00 ERA he posted was by far the worst variety of his profession, and Arizona truly ended up releasing him in September. This winter he finds himself looking for a workforce keen to make a calculated gamble on him being a strong bounce-back candidate. 

Righty Dakota Hudson appeared like a rising star with the Cardinals early in his profession, however after having Tommy John surgical procedure in late 2020, he hasn’t actually maintained the identical stage of effectiveness. The 29-year-old is coming off back-to-back seasons with an ERA properly over 4, and all of his peripheral numbers have been trending within the mistaken route as properly. The Cardinals have been certainly one of baseball’s most disappointing golf equipment a yr in the past and have a whole lot of inquiries to reply this winter, which may depart Hudson seeking to flip his profession round in a brand new metropolis. 

Hammond, LA native Wade Miley has already logged over 300 begins within the Main Leagues, and for properly over a decade the southpaw has quietly been one of many higher and extra sturdy beginning pitchers in baseball. Miley has pitched for eight totally different groups throughout his profession and has labored to a lifetime 4.06 ERA in 1,738.1 innings on the sport’s highest stage. He isn’t usually thought of a star, however Miley has at all times been an integral piece in the course of his workforce’s rotation, and he’ll be a sought-after commodity this winter. 

College of San Francisco product Adam Cimber’s final two seasons couldn’t be starker. In 2022 he led the Majors in appearances with 77, earned 10 wins in reduction, and posted an incredible 2.80 ERA. Final season, nonetheless, was a a lot totally different story. A rhomboid pressure after which a proper shoulder impingement restricted him to solely 22 appearances, through which he was not all that efficient, working to a 7.40 ERA in 20.2 innings. Cimber had a reasonably prolonged observe document of success coming into final season, and whether or not it comes from the Blue Jays or a brand new workforce, his disappointing ’23 should not impression his capacity to land a spot in a big-league bullpen. 

Forward of the 2016 draft, third baseman Nick Senzel was seen as a future famous person popping out of the College of Tennessee. And whereas he at all times hit within the minor leagues, sadly, he is but to essentially get right into a groove on the sport’s highest stage. The Reds moved Senzel off third base and slid him into kind of a jack of all commerce’s function, and he performed 5 totally different positions for them in 2023. However for a man who not way back was projected to be an offensive distinction maker, the .236/.297/.399 slash line he turned in is just not going to chop it. I personally assume Senzel would profit from having a steady defensive place, and maybe if he will get that with a brand new workforce keen to provide him a contemporary begin, his finest days may nonetheless be forward of him. 

Left-handed swinging outfielder Kole Calhoun was as soon as one of many core offensive gamers in some good Angels line-ups, however he is bounced round fairly a bit the previous few years. For the reason that COVID truncated 2020 marketing campaign, Calhoun has performed for the Diamondbacks, Rangers, and Guardians, and hasn’t been in a position to recapture the shape he had with the Halos for any of the three. At 36-years-old Calhoun’s days of being a beginning outfielder on a championship-caliber workforce are doubtless over, however that does not imply he cannot be a productive contributor. 

Flamethrowing Alex Reyes gave the impression to be a rising star as a 21-year-old rookie with the Cardinals in 2016, however a myriad of arm accidents has critically derailed his profession since then. Tommy John surgical procedure in ’17 was only the start of his damage woes, and the Cardinals ultimately gave up on rehabbing him as a starter. In 2021 he lastly made all of it the best way again and have become a dominant nearer for St. Louis, notching 29 saves and placing out 95 hitters in 72.1 innings, however frustratingly, accidents have once more stopped him in his tracks. Reyes has not thrown a Main League pitch since that ’21 marketing campaign, and whereas he nonetheless boasts excessive upside, he faces an uphill battle to shed his injury-prone label.  

Outfielder Kyle Lewis was the eleventh general decide within the 2016 draft and later received the American League Rookie of the Yr award 2020. However the three years since then haven’t been practically as gratifying for the Mercer College product. A severe knee damage suffered in 2021 basically value him the higher a part of two seasons, and in the end led to him being traded from the Mariners to the Diamondbacks. In his lone season within the desert Lewis participated in solely 16 Main League video games, however that is to not say his yr was unfruitful. He spent nearly all of his season within the minor leagues, the place he slashed .371/.457/.641 with 17 house runs, 80 RBI, and 16 doubles. Now a free agent, he is looking for a membership keen to provide him a possibility to reestablish himself as a beginning outfielder on the sport’s highest stage. 

Proper-handed slugger Wil Myers was a extremely productive offensive participant for the Padres for a half dozen or so years, however the finish of his San Diego tenure got here with little or no fanfare. Accidents stored Myers sidelined for a lot of the marketing campaign and performed a task within the membership buying and selling for a number of offensive items that in the end contributed to holding him out of the line-up. He moved on to Cincinnati final season, however his Reds tenure by no means bought off the bottom. Kidney stones and a shoulder sprain led to him slashing simply .189/.257/.283 in 37 video games. Cincinnati in the end launched him in June, leaving Myers looking for a brand new workforce keen to provide him an opportunity to get his profession again on observe.