The league-wide spending spree heading into December took a number of high-profile names off the board in this year’s free-agent market, and things picked up right where they left off as soon as the lockout was lifted Thursday.
For teams looking to strengthen their rosters at certain positions, the top talent has mostly been snapped up, leaving those still in need at spots such as catcher, second base or starting pitcher without myriad options. Shortstop depth decreased as well on Friday and Saturday when Andrelton Simmons and José Iglesias came off the board, after their reported deals with the Cubs and Rockies, respectively.
There are some spots on the field with plenty of depth remaining, making the next couple of weeks quite intriguing for both the free agents and their potential suitors.
Here’s a look at some of the top players at the most stocked positions remaining on the free-agent market:
Freddie Freeman
It’s somewhat surprising that Freeman is still a free agent, as most industry insiders expected him to return to the Braves shortly after Atlanta won the World Series. If the Braves don’t act soon, it’s entirely possible that the 2020 National League MVP could be wearing a new uniform in 2022. The Dodgers are reportedly making a strong push.
Anthony Rizzo
An interesting alternative for a team not looking to spend big on Freeman, the 32-year-old Rizzo will be looking to rebound from a pair of average seasons that saw him hit 33 home runs with a .775 OPS in 199 games. From 2014-19, Rizzo averaged 30 homers and a .901 OPS in 152 games per year.
Albert Pujols
At 42, Pujols could still decide to retire prior to the season. But he proved to be a useful bench player for the Dodgers last season, hitting 12 homers with 38 RBIs in 85 games. With the universal DH now in place, there should be a spot for Pujols somewhere if he wants to play a 22nd season.
Carlos Correa
Correa was the No. 1 free agent entering the offseason, but the market never developed for him the way it did for Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Javier Báez. The 27-year-old two-time All-Star was expected to land the top free-agent deal of the winter, which would mean eclipsing the 10-year, $325 million deal Seager signed with Texas.
Trevor Story
The other unsigned member of the “Big Five” shortstops, Story should be more affordable for clubs that aren’t looking to spend on Correa. The Mariners, Astros, Angels and Cardinals could all be potential fits for the 29-year-old.
Kris Bryant
Bryant is the top free-agent option at both third base and left field, so he could have a number of interested clubs. Bryant bounced back from a subpar 2020 season, slashing .265/.353/.481 with 25 home runs and 73 RBIs in 144 games for the Cubs and Giants.
Kyle Schwarber
Schwarber’s market could expand significantly now that the universal DH is a reality, though he’s shown the ability to play left field and even a little first base. Schwarber put his difficult 2020 shortened season behind him, swatting 32 homers with a .928 OPS in 113 games last year with the Nationals and Red Sox.
Andrew McCutchen
It’s been five years since McCutchen posted All-Star-type numbers, but the 35-year-old produced a solid season in 2021, hitting 27 home runs with a .778 OPS. He may not be a middle-of-the-lineup hitter anymore, but he would be an outfield upgrade for a number of teams.
Nick Castellanos
Having opted out of the final two years and $34 million of his deal with the Reds, Castellanos figures to cash in following a stellar 2021 season (.309/.362/.576, 34 homers and 100 RBIs in 138 games). Entering his age-30 season, Castellanos is the most impactful outfield bat on the market.
Michael Conforto
Conforto had emerged as a legitimate offensive threat between 2017-20, but he took a step backward in 2021, slashing .232/.344/.384 with 14 home runs in 125 games last season. His hard-hit rate and average exit velocity have dipped during the past few seasons, though his strikeout and walk rates have improved.
Seiya Suzuki
Suzuki is one of the more intriguing free agents following a monster season (38 homers, 1.069 OPS in 134 games) with Hiroshima. From the day the lockout ended, Suzuki has 20 days remaining to sign with an MLB club, or he could opt to return to Japan for a 10th season.
Right-handed relief pitcher
Kenley Jansen
Jansen had his best season since 2017, posting a 2.22 ERA with 38 saves in 69 appearances. His Statcast numbers were impressive, as he ranked in the top 10 percentile in hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity, whiff percentage and barrel percentage. Jansen is unquestionably the best closer out there.
Collin McHugh
McHugh endured a subpar 2019 season with the Astros and opted out of the COVID-shortened 2020 season, but the righty bounced back with a stellar season for the Rays in 2021. McHugh had a career-low 1.55 ERA over 64 innings, while his off-the-charts Statcast numbers make the 34-year-old an intriguing option for many clubs.
Ian Kennedy
The 37-year-old did a solid job in the closer’s role for both the Rangers and Phillies in 2021, successfully converting 26 of 30 save opportunities. For teams in search of late-inning help that might not want to invest in a sizeable multi-year deal, Kennedy presents a solid option.