Aside from possibly Shohei Ohtani, there are no true aces available on the market. That said, Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn, and even Alex Cobb profile well in the top half of any rotation. Interestingly, it's a class full of risk, with Lynn, Cobb, Chris Tillman, Michael Pineda, Tyson Ross, and Wily Peralta all recently missing significant time to injury or simply underperforming, plus Jason Vargas, C.C. Sabathia, John Lackey, R.A. Dickey, Ricky Nolasco, and Bartolo Colon will all be 35 or older during the 2018 season.
Like with the outfielders, I am not going to rank Shohei Ohtani among the pitchers, but he very well may be the best starter on the market at just 23 years old. He'll certainly be the cheapest, costing his team around $25 million versus the nine figures some of the other guys may draw. Ohtani can hit 100 MPH with his fastball and has a full arsenal including a forkball, a curveball, and a slider. An ankle injury limited him to just five starts in 2017 (3.20 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 29/19 K/BB), but his 2016 shows just how good he is: 10-4, 1.86 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 174/45 K/BB in 140 innings. That's 31.8% of his opponents going down on strikes in his age 21-22 season. His control could use some work (8.2% walk rate in 2016, 18.1% in 2017 as he worked through injury), but he has ace potential. As stated in the outfielders section, he is also a very good hitter, and he could be a two-way player in the majors. For his career, the righty out of the semi-small town (by Japanese standards) of Hanamaki is 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP over 85 games, striking out 624 and walking 200 in 543 innings.
Because there are no true, proven aces available, Yu Darvish sits at the front of the regular free agent pack as a solid #2 starter. He may have had his worst year to date in 2017 (3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP), but those aren't bad numbers by any means and any team should be happy to have him in their rotation. That said, he has broken 200 innings just once in his six years in the MLB, including missing all of 2015 with Tommy John surgery. A team signing Darvish should expect something along the lines of his 2016 season, where he put up a 3.41 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP for the Rangers, which is mid-to-upper rotation stuff. He'll be expensive, but good starting pitching is hard to find nowadays. For his career, the 31 year old Japanese hurler is 56-42 with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over 131 starts, striking out 1021 and walking 307 in 832.1 innings and racking up 19.0 fWAR.
Jake Arrieta isn't what he was in 2015, when he went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP to win the NL Cy Young Award. However, he's still a #2 or #3 starter, coming off a season with a 3.53 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over 30 starts. He also got better as the season moved along, beginning 7-6 with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over the first three months of the season but finishing 7-4 with a 2.26 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP over the final three months. He'll look to continue that success in 2018 and draw out his prime for another few years, making him a high dollar but high reward signing. For his career, the 31 year old former TCU Horned Frog is 88-56 with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over 197 games (191 starts), striking out 1070 and walking 403 in 1161 innings and totaling 21.2 fWAR.
2017 Stats: 11-8, 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 153/78 K/BB, 186.1 IP
Lance Lynn may have missed all of 2016 with Tommy John surgery, but be bounced back at full strength for most of 2017 before fading in September, likely stemming from the year off. In his first 29 starts through September 7th, Lynn went 10-7 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, on pace for arguably the best year of his career. However, in his final four starts, he was 1-1 with a 9.20 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP, inflating his final ERA and WHIP to 3.43 and 1.23, respectively. I believe the numbers from the first starts over the final starts, as he was up over 150 innings after not pitching at all last season. Quietly, he has been one of the better pitchers in baseball over the past half decade, and he doesn't turn 31 until May. For his career, the former Ole Miss Rebel is 72-47 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 183 games (161 starts), striking out 919 and walking 369 over 977.2 innings, compiling 14.9 fWAR.
4. Alex Cobb (Previous Team: Rays. 2018 Age: 30)
2017 Stats: 12-10, 3.66 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 128/44 K/BB, 179.1 IP
Alex Cobb pitches for a small market team and made just five starts from 2015-2016, so you may not know that he's actually pretty good. In 29 starts this year, he put up a 3.66 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP for the Rays, proving he is recovered from Tommy John surgery and ready for a long term deal. Before the injury, he was quietly excellent from 2013-2014, going 21-12 with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP over 49 starts, and at his best he may be able to provide that to a signing team. Do beware, though, that Cobb's 179.1 innings this season was his career high, and he has never been around for 30 starts in a season. For his career, the Vero Beach, Florida native is 48-35 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over 115 starts, striking out 570 and walking 204 in 700 innings, enough for 10.5 fWAR.
5. Tyler Chatwood (Previous Team: Rockies. 2018 Age: 28)
2017 Stats: 8-15, 4.69 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 120/77 K/BB, 147.2 IP
Don't underestimate Tyler Chatwood. On the surface, his 4.69 ERA and 1.44 WHIP may not look good, but he pitched for the Rockies this year and struggled mightily at home, where he was 3-8 with a 6.01 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP over 17 games (12 starts). Meanwhile, in 16 games (13 starts) on the road, he was 5-7 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. This split was even starker in 2016 (4-8, 6.12 ERA, 1.64 WHIP at home vs 8-1, 1.69 ERA, 1.11 WHIP on the road), and once he escapes Coors Field full time, he could easily be a mid-rotation starter with the numbers to back it up. He's a sinkerballer, so he generates a lot of ground balls, but he does well on the road due partly to the increased ability to spin his curveball in the lower altitudes, which will be big with his new team. As a bonus, he will be 28 for all of 2018, making him one of the youngest starters available. For his career, the SoCal native is 40-46 with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP in 130 games (113 starts), striking out 438 and walking 300 in 647.2 innings, good for 5.1 fWAR.
6. Jaime Garcia (Previous Team: Yankees. 2018 Age: 31-32)
2017 Stats: 5-10, 4.41 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 129/64 K/BB, 157 IP
For the first time since 2010-2011, Jaime Garcia has put up back to back healthy seasons, though he has been largely average on the mound. This past season, split between the Braves, Twins, and Yankees, he put up a 4.41 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP over 27 starts, well above his career averages, but at least he was healthy. He profiles as a #3 or a #4 starter, but has shown flashes of better (2.43 ERA, 1.05 WHIP in 20 starts in 2015). He'll turn 32 in July, so he's not the oldest arm available, and he's been pretty consistent as long as he has been on the mound. For his career, the South Texas native is 67-55 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 185 games (174 starts), striking out 852 and walking 325 over 1053 innings, totaling 15.6 fWAR.
7. Jhoulys Chacin (Previous Team: Padres. 2018 Age: 30)
2017 Stats: 13-10, 3.89 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 153/72 K/BB, 180.1 IP
The full season numbers don't tell the story for Jhoulys Chacin. First off, he was much better over the last four months (21 starts, 9-6, 2.98 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) than he was over the first two months (11 starts, 4-4, 5.77 ERA, 1.46 WHIP). However, the more intriguing split for Chacin is home/road. In 16 starts at PETCO Park, he looked like an ace: 9-3, 1.79 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 83/37 K/BB. However, in 16 starts away from home, he was just plain awful: 4-7, 6.53 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 70/35 K/BB. These splits aren't new to Chacin, as he was better at home in 2016 as well (3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP at home vs 5.85 ERA, 1.66 WHIP on road). A team signing Chacin needs to know that they may be getting two different pitchers, and they may want to maximize his starts at home. For his career, the 29 year old Venezuelan is 59-67 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP over 195 games (167 starts), striking out 807 and walking 417 in 1023 innings, worth 13.2 fWAR.
8. Andrew Cashner (Previous Team: Rangers. 2018 Age: 31)
2017 Stats: 11-11, 3.40 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 86/64 K/BB, 166.2 IP
The good news is that Andrew Cashner's numbers look great on the surface. The bad news is that they aren't as great as they seem. That 3.40 ERA in a hitters' park over 28 starts is shiny, but his 86/64 strikeout to walk ratio is a big red flag. In fact, it produces a 4.61 FIP (fielding independent pitching, set to ERA scale), as his .267 BABIP was much lower than his career .294. Much of that can be attributed to a career high 18.5% soft contact rate and a lower hard hit rate (28.5%). It's hard to tell exactly what we'll get out of Cashner in 2018, but it most likely won't look like his 2017 season, making him a likely #4 starter. For his career, the former TCU Horned Frog (where he was a teammate of fellow free agent starter Jake Arrieta) is 42-64 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over 230 games (137 starts), striking out 694 and walking 319 over 893 innings, accumulating 9.2 fWAR.
9. Jason Vargas (Previous Team: Royals. 2018 Age: 35)
2017 Stats: 18-11, 4.16 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 134/58 K/BB, 179.2 IP
Jason Vargas ranks fairly low due to his age, as he turns 35 in February, but he has been very dependable when on the mound. Despite missing part of 2013 and much of 2015 and 2016 to injuries, he has not posted an ERA above 4.25 in any season since 2009, including a 4.16 mark over 32 starts in 2017. As an aging veteran, his production may begin to slip soon, so he'll likely get a short term deal. For his career, the lefty out of Long Beach State is 85-81 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP over 248 games (228 starts), striking out 939 and walking 415 over 1401.1 innings, accumulating 13.7 fWAR.
10. Chris Tillman (Previous Team: Orioles. 2018 Age: 30)
2017 Stats: 1-7, 7.84 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 63/51 K/BB, 93 IP
Chris Tillman is a buy-low guy. A shoulder injury delayed the start of Tillman's season until May, but he obviously experienced lingering effects because he was just awful. Over 24 games (19 starts), Tillman went 1-7 with a 7.84 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP, seemingly getting pounded every time he went out to the mound and making just one scoreless start – his first start – before spending some time in the bullpen in August and September. The nightmare season stands in stark contrast to 2016, when he went 16-6 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP, running up 140 strikeouts to 66 walks in 172 innings. It remains to be seen how his shoulder will hold up, but a healthy Tillman could approach those numbers again in 2018 and at 29 years old, he isn't an aging arm. For his career, the SoCal native is 73-55 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in 203 games (198 starts), striking out 834 and walking 419 in 1118.1 innings, compiling 9.4 fWAR.
11. Jeremy Hellickson (Previous Team: Orioles. 2018 Age: 31)
2017 Stats: 8-11, 5.43 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 96/47 K/BB, 164 IP
Jeremy Hellickson accepted the Phillies' qualifying offer last year, and he likely cost himself a large payday due to an inability to repeat his 2016 numbers. In 32 starts for the Phillies in 2016, he went 12-10 with a 3.71 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 154/45 strikeout to walk ratio, but those numbers fell to 8-11, 5.43, 1.26, and 96/47 in 2017. He allowed more fly balls in 2017 and his hard hit rate jumped slightly, but his strikeout rate also plummeted from 20% in 2016 to 13.8% in 2017. Still just 30, he may very well squeeze a few more solid seasons out, but 2016 is looking more and more like an exception rather than a rule, with the other four of his past five seasons producing ERA's of at least 4.52. He is outlook is that of a #5 starter. For his career, the Des Moines native is 69-69 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 204 games (197 starts), striking out 834 and walking 345 in 1139 innings for a total of 9.6 fWAR.
12. Michael Pineda (Previous Team: Yankees. 2018 Age: 29)
2017 Stats: 8-4, 4.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 92/21 K/BB, 96.1 IP
Michael Pineda ranks better than many of the players above him on skill, but he went down with Tommy John surgery in July and likely won't be available until after the All Star Break in 2018. That said, he's just 28 and provides mid-rotation skill, so he's a solid piece when healthy. This past season, he put up solid numbers, including a 4.39 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 92/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 17 starts. If a team can afford to wait until August to use him, he can provide stretch value and then stick around for a full season in 2019. For his career, the 6'7" Dominican is 40-41 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in 117 starts, striking out 687 and walking 157 in 680 innings for a total of 13.2 fWAR.
13. C.C. Sabathia (Previous Team: Yankees. 2018 Age: 37-38)
2017 Stats: 14-5, 3.69 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 120/50 K/BB, 148.2 IP
C.C. Sabathia looked like he was down and out after back to back poor seasons in 2014 (5.28 ERA, 1.48 WHIP) and 2015 (4.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP), but he rebounded nicely in 2016 (3.91 ERA, 1.32 WHIP) and 2017 (3.69 ERA, 1.27 WHIP). He'll turn 38 in July, but it looks like he may have one or two more productive seasons in him, so he could get some decent money. However, with any aging pitcher, there is always the risk of a drop-off, so that is why he ranks this lowly. For his career, the 6'6", 300 pound Oakland-area native is 237-146 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 509 starts, striking out 2846 and walking 1009 in 3317 innings, compiling 65.3 fWAR.
14. John Lackey (Previous Team: Cubs. 2018 Age: 39)
2017 Stats: 12-12, 4.59 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 149/53 K/BB, 170.2 IP
John Lackey is another veteran starter, one who has been very good up until this past season. After back to back seasons with ERA's of 3.35 or below, he finished at 4.59 in 2017, but he still managed a very solid 1.28 WHIP. The 39 year old probably only has one or two productive years left in him, but he could be a good get as a back-end starter who can also provide a veteran presence. For his career, the Abilene, Texas native is 188-147 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 448 games (446 starts), striking out 2294 and walking 815 over 2840.1 innings, totaling 43.4 fWAR.
15. Tyson Ross (Previous Team: Rangers. 2018 Age: 31)
2017 Stats: 3-3, 7.71 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 36/37 K/BB, 49 IP
Tyson Ross's past two seasons have been nothing short of nightmares, as he has pitched in just 13 games and gone 3-4 with an 8.12 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. The good news is that when he was healthy back in 2015, he put up a 3.26 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP over 33 starts, so we know Ross is a good pitcher. If all he needs is more time between himself and the 2016 shoulder surgery (as well as the blisters that plagued him in 2017), then he could provide great return on investment in 2018. If he truly isn't the same pitcher anymore, then Ross's future in baseball looks bleak. Essentially, he is no guarantee to even be adequate, but there is the chance that he rebounds into a mid-rotation starter. For his career, the UC-Berkeley alumnus is 35-56 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, striking out 669 and walking 308 over 719.2 innings, accumulating 10.3 fWAR.
Others: Miguel Gonzalez (8-13, 4.62 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 100/55 K/BB), R.A. Dickey (10-10, 4.26 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 136/67 K/BB), Matt Garza (6-9, 4.94 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 79/45 K/BB), Wily Peralta (5-4, 7.85 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, 52/32 K/BB), Ricky Nolasco (6-15, 4.92 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 143/58 K/BB)
Right Handed Relievers
Two big names highlight this class, with Wade Davis and Greg Holland easily coming out on top as the best relievers available. However, Addison Reed, Steve Cishek, and Pat Neshek form a solid second tier, with other guys like Bryan Shaw, Joe Smith, Brandon Kintzler, and Brandon Morrow providing different looks. It's a fairly deep class of right handers, and with relievers becoming more and more important, these guys could make more money than they would have in years past.
*RE24 measures the change in run expectancy from one base/out situation to the next and accumulates them for the year. For example, a leadoff strikeout takes the difference in run expectancy from bases empty/no outs to bases empty/one out. Higher is better, and remember that it is cumulative, not a rate like ERA.
1. Wade Davis (Previous Team: Cubs. 2018 Age: 32)
2017 Stats: 2.30 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 79/28 K/BB, 58.2 IP, 12.05 RE24
Wade Davis hasn't been able to repeat the level of success he had from 2014-2015 (0.97 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 187/43 K/BB), but he has still been one of the top relievers in baseball over the past few seasons. In 2017, his worst season as a full time reliever, he put up a 2.30 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 59 appearances, striking out 32.6% of the batters he faced while walking 11.6%. He's not an elite closer on the level of Kenley Jansen or Craig Kimbrel, but he's in that second tier and is a reliable weapon for the back ends of games. For his career, the Central Florida native is 59-39 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP over 393 games (88 starts), striking out 768 and walking 312 in 835.1 innings for 13.1 fWAR.
2. Greg Holland (Previous Team: Rockies. 2018 Age: 32)
2017 Stats: 3.61 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 70/26 K/BB, 57.1 IP, 9.78 RE24
Though Holland's numbers look more good than great, it's important to note that 2017 was a) his first season back after missing 2016 with Tommy John surgery and b) spent with the Rockies, where he had to make 30 appearances in Coors Field. Somehow, he came out with a better ERA at home (3.34) than on the road (3.90) despite being predominantly a fly ball pitcher. He even had a higher BABIP at home (.284) than on the road (.219), indicating more luck on the road, so it's hard to tell exactly why he was so much better at home. He did limit his hard hit rate at home (28.6% vs 39.7%) as well as his fly ball rate (39.1% vs 51.5%), so maybe he just enjoyed the challenge of pitching in altitude. Coming from the small town of Marion, North Carolina, up 1400 feet in the Smoky Mountains, his taking kindly to altitude makes a little sense, and as rare as it is to hear a pitcher say it, he has expressed a desire to stay in Colorado. Like Davis, he isn't a top tier closer any more, but he's not far down the list and will make any team better. For his career, the Western Carolina University alumnus is 21-18 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over 370 appearances, striking out 500 and walking 151 in 377 innings for 10.9 fWAR.
3. Addison Reed (Previous Team: Red Sox. 2018 Age: 29)
2017 Stats: 2.84 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 76/15 K/BB, 76 IP, 11.61 RE24
Addison Reed may not be racking up the saves like the other guys, but he is almost just as good. This season, he pitched in 77 games and posted a 2.84 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP, striking out 24.8% of the batters he faced but walking just 4.9%. The excellent control keeps runners off base and helps him stay consistent even when his stuff isn't, and he'll be a nice piece at the back of some bullpen for years, as he turns just 29 in December. For his career, the former San Diego State Aztec is 18-21 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over 410 appearances, striking out 425 and walking 104 over 402.2 innings for 6.9 fWAR.
4. Steve Cishek (Previous Team: Rays. 2018 Age: 31-32)
2017 Stats: 2.01 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 41/14 K/BB, 44.2 IP, 13.84 RE24
Steve Cishek was an excellent reliever for the Marlins from 2011-2014, but it seems like he lost some of his shine with a relatively rough 2015 (3.58 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 48/27 K/BB). Quietly, he's gotten his swagger back and has proven 2015 to be more of an anomaly than a rule, setting career bests this year with a 2.01 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. He started rolling more ground balls, with his 56.1% rate his highest since 2011, helping lower his BABIP to .204. He's due to for some regression, but if his ERA jumps a full run, he'll still be a very valuable asset in the bullpen. For his career, the Massachusetts native is 24-28 with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over 422 appearances, striking out 449 and walking 154 over 421.2 innings for 6.7 fWAR.
5. Pat Neshek (Previous Team: Rockies. 2018 Age: 37)
2017 Stats: 1.59 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 69/6 K/BB, 62.1 IP, 21.50 RE24
It didn't get a lot of attention, but Pat Neshek was awesome in 2017. Over 71 appearances, 28 of which were with the Rockies (and 14 of which were in Coors Field), Neshek put up a 1.59 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP, striking out 29.4% of the batters he faced while walking just 2.6% (that would be six all year). The funky delivery and excellent command have been too much for most hitters, and though he turned 37 in September, Neshek has proven that he can still be a very effective late-inning reliever. For his career, the former Butler Bulldog is 33-22 with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP over 494 appearances, striking out 447 and walking 126 in 445.2 innings for 6.1 fWAR.
6. Bryan Shaw (Previous Team: Indians. 2018 Age: 30)
2017 Stats: 3.52 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 73/22 K/BB, 76.2 IP, 5.87 RE24
Bryan Shaw has quietly been a reliable reliever for the Indians, having never posted an ERA above 3.52 or a WHIP above 1.26 since joining them in 2013, appearing in at least 70 games in each season. In a time when hitters are starting to shift to fly ball approaches, he has been effective at increasing his ground ball rate, keeping runs off the board consistently. He'll be fairly cheap and can get important outs late in games. For his career, the Long Beach State alumnus is 23-28 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP over 475 appearances, striking out 398 and walking 151 in 446.1 innings for 4.0 fWAR.
7. Joe Smith (Previous Team: Indians. 2018 Age: 34)
2017 Stats: 3.33 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 71/10 K/BB, 54 IP, 12.41 RE24
Joe Smith turns 34 in March, but as for now, the sidearmer is still getting outs at a high rate. This past season, he only threw 54 innings, but he posted a 3.33 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP while striking out 33.2% and walking 4.7%. Those component ratios can help reduce uncertainty about Smith's production into his mid 30's, as he doesn't appear to be slowing down yet and could still have quite a few years left in him. For his career, the former Wright State Raider is 44-28 with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over 698 appearances, striking out 547 and walking 220 in 624.2 innings for 6.1 fWAR.
8. Brandon Kintzler (Previous Team: Nationals. 2018 Age: 33-34)
2017 Stats: 3.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 39/16 K/BB, 71.1 IP, 9.05 RE24
Brandon Kintzler put up his fourth very good season in five years, posting a 3.03 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP over 72 appearances, doing so through high ground ball rates, low hard-hit rates, and low walk rates. However, he also has low strikeout rates, just 13.5% this year. This is a little bit worrisome, as he turns 34 in August and can only ride those ground ball rates for so long. For now, though, he's still effective and he can still get outs. For his career, the former Dixie State Trailblazer is 14-14 with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP over 298 appearances, striking out 208 and walking 75 over 306.2 innings for 2.3 fWAR.
9. Brandon Morrow (Previous Team: Dodgers. 2018 Age: 33-34)
2017 Stats: 2.06 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 50/9 K/BB, 43.2 IP, 11.90 RE24
Brandon Morrow is difficult to rank, considering he is 33 years old, injury prone, and new to relieving. This past season, his first in full time relief, was a huge success, as he posted a 2.06 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP while striking out 29.4% of his opponents and walking just 5.3%. The righty may find more durability in the bullpen, which could make him a huge boon to whoever sign him, but there is always the risk that the persistent arm troubles that have plagued him throughout his career catch up to him again. For his career, the UC-Berkeley alumnus is 51-43 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over 299 games (113 starts), striking out 846 and walking 359 over 828.1 innings for 12.4 fWAR.
10. Tommy Hunter (Previous Team: Rays. 2018 Age: 31-32)
2017 Stats: 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 64/14 K/BB, 58.2 IP, 8.73 RE24
Tommy Hunter quietly posted the best year of his career, with a 2.61 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP over 61 appearances. He has sustained this success, too, having posted ERA's below 3.20 in four of the past five seasons, twice (including this year) dropping his WHIP below 1.00. His 28.1% strikeout rate was a career high this year, and he has the ability to go more than an inning, so he is a nice dynamic piece to have. For his career, the 31 year old out of the University of Alabama is 51-40 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 378 games (75 starts), striking out 510 and walking 173 in 769.1 innings for 6.1 fWAR.
Others: Matt Albers (1.62 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 63/17 K/BB, 12.26 RE24), Sergio Romo (3.56 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 59/19 K/BB, 6.12 RE24), Luke Gregerson (4.57 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 70/20 K/BB, -2.22 RE24), Tyler Clippard (4.77 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 72/31 K/BB, -6.75 RE24), Craig Stammen (3.14 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 74/28 K/BB, 11.97 RE24)
Left Handed Relievers
The pool of left handed relievers is usually shallow, but three great options stand out this year. Jake McGee, Mike Minor, and Tony Watson are all reliable, high-leverage guys who can fit into any bullpen. Even in the second tier, veteran guys like Zach Duke, Brian Duensing, Fernando Abad, and Boone Logan stand out, and Kevin Siegrist could be a bargain if he bounces back.
1. Jake McGee (Previous Team: Rockies. 2018 Age: 31-32)
2017 Stats: 3.61 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 58/16 K/BB, 57.1 IP, 12.10 RE24
It took McGee a year to adjust to Coors Field (6.38 Coors ERA in 2016, 4.73 in 2017), but he was great in 2017 with an overall 3.61 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. As expected, he had pronounced home/road splits (4.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP at home, 2.64 ERA, 0.88 WHIP on road), showing he is one of the best left handed relievers available. Though he has missed some time to injuries, he is a proven talent who had very effective seasons in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017. As with any reliever, he carries a bit of risk, but he could help any team. For his career, the Northern Nevada native is 23-16 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP over 416 appearances, striking out 415 and walking 104 in 362.2 innings for 7.4 fWAR.
2. Mike Minor (Previous Team: Royals. 2018 Age: 30)
2017 Stats: 2.55 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 88/22 K/BB, 16.15 RE24
After missing 2016 due to shoulder surgery, Mike Minor was converted to relief work and he took it in stride, posting a 2.55 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP over 65 appearances, going multiple innings on occasion and totaling 77.2 innings. He hasn't built a track record yet, but the early results are extremely promising, enough so that he may even switch back to the rotation in 2018. For his career, the former first rounder out of Vanderbilt is 44-42 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over 176 games (110 starts), striking out 654 and walking 209 in 730.1 innings for 9.0 fWAR.
3. Tony Watson (Previous Team: Dodgers. 2018 Age: 32-33)
2017 Stats: 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 53/20 K/BB, 66.2 IP, 4.48 RE24
Tony Watson was nearly unhittable with the Pirates from 2014-2015 (1.77 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 143/32 K/BB), and though he has come down a bit from that level, he is still very good, especially as a lefty. This past season, he was struggling a bit with the Pirates (3.66 ERA, 1.52 WHIP), but a trade to the Dodgers seemed to turn him around (2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP), restoring much of his free agent stock. He's a durable lefty who has made at least 67 appearances in each of the past six seasons without his ERA ever touching 3.40, so he should fetch a fair amount on the market. For his career, the former Nebraska Cornhusker is 33-17 with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP over 474 appearances, striking out 398 and walking 127 in 453 innings for 3.5 fWAR.
4. Zach Duke (Previous Team: Cardinals. 2018 Age: 35)
2017 Stats: 3.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 12/6 K/BB, 18.1 IP, 1.58 RE24
Zach Duke had Tommy John surgery in October of 2016, but recovered remarkably quickly and was back on a major league mound before the 2017 All Star Break. The results over 27 appearances were decent, as he posted a 3.93 ERA alongside a solid 1.04 WHIP. Back in 2016, he posted a 2.36 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP over 81 appearances, showcasing what he can do when healthy. He's mainly a LOOGY (left handed one out guy) at this point, but he's very effective and provides a veteran presence. For his career, the 34 year old Waco native is 61-85 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP over 468 games (169 starts), striking out 785 and walking 380 over 1284.2 innings for 13.5 fWAR.
5. Brian Duensing (Previous Team: Cubs. 2018 Age: 35)
2017 Stats: 2.74 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 61/18 K/BB, 62.1 IP, 14.94 RE24
Brian Duensing had a big comeback year in 2017, posting a 2.74 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP with a nice 61/18 strikeout to walk ratio in 62.1 innings. He's a veteran lefty who shouldn't be too expensive, though he does turn 35 in February and he doesn't have a long track record of being much better than average. Of course, because he's left handed, his value does jump just a bit. For his career, the former Nebraska Cornhusker (where he was teammates with Watson in 2005) is 43-38 with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP over 436 games (61 starts), striking out 499 and walking 229 in 725 innings for 5.8 fWAR.
Others: Kevin Siegrist (1-1, 4.81 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 43/22 K/BB, -3.42 RE24), Fernando Abad (3.30 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 37/14 K/BB, 7.20 RE24), Boone Logan (4.71 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 28/9 K/BB, -1.00 RE24)
