Top Free Agents for 2018-2019: Pitchers

Starting Pitchers

1. Patrick Corbin (2019 Age: 29-30)
2018 Stats: 11-7, 3.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 246/48 K/BB, 200 IP in 33 starts
There are no true aces available on the market this year, though 29 year old Patrick Corbin is arguably the closest. He has been improving steadily over the past three seasons, dropping his ERA from 5.15 in 2016 to 4.03 in 2017 and 3.15 in 2018 while increasing his strikeout rate from 18.7% to 21.6% to 30.8%. His big success in 2018 even came while losing velocity on his fastballs, which have dropped about 1.5 MPH over the past year. Still, you can't argue with the results this year, and the high strikeout rate paired with the low walk rate shows that very little luck was involved in his big season. As one of the younger arms available (he turns 30 in July), he has the ability to continue pitching at this #2 to #3 starter level for quite a few years, making him a candidate for a long term deal. For his career, the Syracuse native is 56-54 with a 3.91 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and an 897/271 strikeout to walk ratio over 172 games (154 starts) since 2012.

2. Dallas Keuchel (2019 Age: 31)
2018 Stats: 12-11, 3.74 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 153/58 K/BB, 204.2 IP in 34 starts
Keuchel is a similar option to Corbin in terms of projection, though while Corbin is a strikeout pitcher, Keuchel gets his outs with ground balls. It's a more sustainable model for success later into into his career, but it's also more volatile due to the nature of batted balls (a strikeout is a strikeout regardless of luck, but bad luck with ground balls leads to more hits). He has to be weary that he was getting fewer swings and misses on all of his pitches, so continuing to keep the ball on the ground will be key for him. I think this season is indicative of how he will pitch going forward, as a solid #2 or #3 starter. For his career, the former Arkansas Razorback is 76-63 with a 3.66 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 945/343 strikeout to walk ratio over 192 games (183 starts) since 2012.

3. Charlie Morton (2019 Age: 35)
2018 Stats: 15-3, 3.13 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 201/64 K/BB, 167 IP in 30 starts
Charlie Morton's career looked like it was on the downswing in 2015 and, if you weren't looking closely, 2016. After posting a 4.81 ERA in 2015, he literally just decided to throw harder over the offseason. He was injured for much of 2016 but kept with the new deal, and he has been lights out ever since. Between 2017 and 2018, he went 29-10 with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, striking out 364 and walking 114 in 313.2 innings. All of this by just deciding to throw harder. He literally added about 2.5 MPH to his sinker and nearly 4 MPH to his fastball, and the result has been taking a back-end starter and making him into a solid #3 or even #2 starter. Turning 35 this offseason, he won't get a long term deal, but he'll be a very useful starting pitcher for any team over the next couple of seasons. For his career, the Connecticut native is 75-81 with a 4.23 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 994/451 strikeout to walk ratio over 217 games (216 starts) since 2008.

4. Nathan Eovaldi (2019 Age: 29)
2018 Stats: 6-7, 3.81 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 101/20 K/BB, 111 IP in 22 games (21 starts)
It's hard to peg Eovaldi's value exactly because he has a lot of factors in his favor and a lot against him, and it all averages out to an average pitcher. He missed the 2017 season with Tommy John surgery and hasn't qualified for the ERA title (162+ IP) since 2014. However, he's been pretty consistent when on the mound, and he posted his second best ERA (3.81), best WHIP (1.13), and best K/BB (101/20) in 2018. Flipping back to the negative side, that 2014 season was his only full season. And on the positive, he turns 29 in February and is one of the youngest free agent starters available. Going forward, the hard throwing right hander has built his value up enough with a strong postseason to be a safe bet to be a valuable #3 or #4 starter, but only if he's healthy. The health isn't a safe bet, which knocks his value, but overall he'll be a good addition to any rotation that has the depth to make up for injuries should they strike. His excellent performance in the playoffs certainly helps. For his career, the Houston area native is 44-53 with a 4.16 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and a 640/259 strikeout to walk ratio in 156 games (148 starts) since 2011.

5. Hyun-Jin Ryu (2019 Age: 32)
2018 Stats: 7-3, 1.97 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 89/15 K/BB, 82.1 IP in 15 starts
Ryu, like Eovaldi, is difficult to rank. He is clearly a #2 starter when healthy, but health has been a huge issue with trips to the disabled list stemming from his shoulder, elbow, both hips, foot, and groin all since 2014, which was also the last time he threw 150 innings in a season. This year, Ryu was dynamite when he was actually on the mound, posting a 1.97 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and an 89/15 strikeout to walk ratio over 82.1 innings. While he's not a guy that will sustain those numbers over a full season, he has proven he is perfectly capable of ERA's consistently below 3.50 when on the mound. While age might render him even more susceptible to injury, he's healthy right now, and that's saying a lot. For his career, the South Korean lefty is 40-28 with a 3.20 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a 502/140 strikeout to walk ratio over 97 games (96 starts) since 2013.

6. J.A. Happ (2019 Age: 36)
2018 Stats: 17-6, 3.65 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 193/51 K/BB, 177.2 IP in 31 starts
J.A. Happ may have just turned 36 during the playoffs, but he's still a valuable #3 starter even in his mid 30's. He has made at least 25 starts in each of the past five seasons and has kept his ERA below 3.70 in each of the past four, and deeper analytics show no sign of him slowing down. I think he's the safest bet on this list, at least in the short term, to give you exactly what you expect: 150-180 innings, a sub-4.00 ERA, good command, and relative start-to-start consistency. He only ranks this low because even just a three year deal will see him pitch right up to his 39th birthday. For his career, the former Northwestern Wildcat is 109-82 with a 3.90 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and a 1357/556 strikeout to walk ratio over 284 games (259 starts) since 2007.

7. Yusei Kikuchi (2019 Age: 27-28)
2018 Stats (NPB): 14-4, 3.08 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 153/45 K/BB, 163.2 IP in 23 starts
Japan's Seibu Lions will be posting 27 year old lefty Yusei Kikuchi this year, and he could be a mid-rotation starter right off the bat. In 2017, Kikuchi had a huge year in Japan by going 16-6 with a 1.97 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and a 217/49 strikeout to walk ratio in 187.2 innings. He took a minor step back in 2018 with a 3.08 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 153/45 strikeout to walk ratio in 163.2 innings, but he was still effective with a 23.4% strikeout rate and just a 6.9% walk rate. Kikuchi throws a mid 90's fastball, a good slider, and a curve and changeup, the classic mid-rotation arsenal, and he commands it all well. For his career (in Japan), Kikuchi is 73-46 with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 903/371 strikeout to walk ratio over 158 starts since 2011.

8. Lance Lynn (2019 Age: 32)
2018 Stats: 10-10, 4.77 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 161/76 K/BB, 156.2 IP in 31 games (29 starts)
After years of being a well above average starter, Lynn's ERA jumped above 4.00 for the first time in his seven year career, landing way up there at 4.77. He was actually throwing a little bit harder and was keeping the ball on the ground better in 2018, but he stopped throwing strikes and his walk rate rose to a career-high 10.9%. Interestingly, even though Lynn's 3.43 ERA in 2017 was far better than his 4.77 ERA in 2018, deeper analytics such as FIP and xwOBA actually think he was a better pitcher in 2018 and the difference was simply luck. I somewhat agree, and while I think he's done with those ERA's around 3.00, I think he settles in around 4.00 for the next few seasons, considering he doesn't turn 32 until May. For his career, the former Ole Miss Rebel is 82-57 with a 3.57 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a 1080/445 strikeout to walk ratio over 214 games (190 starts) since 2011.

9. Drew Pomeranz (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 2-6, 6.08 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 66/44 K/BB, 74 IP in 26 games (11 starts)
It's tough to know exactly where to rank Pomeranz, who was an above average starting pitcher from 2016-2017 (38-18, 3.32 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 360/134 K/BB) but who struggled in 2018 (2-6, 6.08 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 66/44 K/BB). He has always been inconsistent, interspersing dominant stretches with times where it looked like he couldn't get anyone out. While he was at his best often in that 2016-2017 stretch, 2018 was a different ballgame as he lost about 1-2 MPH and forgot how to throw strikes. He turns 30 in a few weeks, so he's one of the younger free agents available, and a team that thinks they can unlock his 2016-2017 success will have a young, effective arm on their pitching staff. For his career, Lance Lynn's Ole Miss teammate is 44-48 with a 3.92 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and a 687/305 strikeout to walk ratio over 196 games (122 starts) since 2011.

10. Gio Gonzalez (2019 Age: 33)
2018 Stats: 10-11, 4.21 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 148/80 K/BB, 171 IP in 32 starts
Honestly, it's hard to know what to expect from Gio Gonzalez. After watching him for six and a half years in Washington, I can tell you that you never know what kind of game Gio is going to have until about the fourth or fifth inning. He tends to cruise early on before either finishing off a gem or falling apart, and it has led to wildly erratic seasons: a 4.57 ERA in 2016, 2.96 in 2017, and 4.21 in 2018. You can look at him month to month, as he posted a 2.10 ERA over the first two months this year, a 6.53 ERA over the next three months, and a 2.13 ERA in the final month. He'll probably continue to be maddeningly inconsistent over the next couple of seasons, but with enough good days to fit into most rotations. On his side is the fact that his one consistent attribute has been health, making at least 27 starts in each of the past nine seasons and at least 31 starts in each of the past four. For his career, the Miami native is 127-97 with a 3.69 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a 1748/759 strikeout to walk ratio over 313 games (307 starts) since 2008.

11. Garrett Richards (2019 Age: 30-31)
2018 Stats: 5-4, 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 87/34 K/BB, 76.1 IP in 16 starts
Honestly, I have no idea where to rank a guy who might not even pitch in 2019, so I'll slap him at number ten. Richards is an immensely talented arm who should already have a $100 million plus contract by now if he could actually stay healthy, and while he is 6-9 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over his last 28 starts, those 28 starts have been the entirety of his last three seasons. He'll miss most if not all of 2019 as well after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July, so he'll likely get at least a two year deal with most of the money deferred. There is recent precedent for this, with the Rays signing Nathan Eovaldi to a two year deal before the 2017 season with full knowledge he would not pitch until 2018, and it worked out for them. Richards is a better arm, near ace-like when he is healthy, though his high numbers of unearned runs should be a minor red flag. He's so talented that I really hope he can get it together and have a productive, healthy 2020 season. For his career, the former Oklahoma Sooner is 45-38 with a 3.54 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 645/268 strikeout to walk ratio over 170 games (115 starts) since 2011.

12. Jeremy Hellickson (2019 Age: 32)
2018 Stats: 5-3, 3.45 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 65/20 K/BB, 91.1 IP in 19 starts
If it weren't for a down 2017 (5.43 ERA, 96/47 K/BB), Jeremy Hellickson would be a higher profile free agent this winter. He was very good in 2016 (3.71 ERA, 154/45 K/BB), and he was pitching well in 2018 (3.45 ERA, 65/20 K/BB) before a wrist injury shut him down for the most part in August. Turning 32 at the start of the 2019 season, he's not old as far as free agents go and probably has a few productive seasons in him as a #4 starter. While he hasn't been the most consistent, he is very effective during many stretches. For his career, the Des Moines native is 74-72 with a 4.07 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and an 899/365 strikeout to walk ratio over 223 games (216 starts) since 2010.

13. Clay Buchholz (2019 Age: 34-35)
2018 Stats: 7-2, 2.01 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 81/22 K/BB, 98.1 IP in 16 starts
Honestly, it's hard to say what happened for Clay Buchholz in 2018. Released by the Royals in May, he ended up going 7-2 with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP over 16 starts for the Diamondbacks, allowing two or fewer earned runs in 14 of those 16 starts. His velocity was actually down, dropping 2-3 MPH from where he sat in his healthy 2015-2016 seasons. He also outperformed his peripheral stats, though his 3.47 FIP and .300 xwOBA (vs 2.01 ERA and .269 wOBA) aren't bad by any means. He did succeed with a career-best 32.4% chase rate, but he's been pretty consistent with that metric throughout his career and his next best season was 32.3% in 2015 (3.26 ERA). Overall, it's hard to know what to expect from Buchholz going forward, but he has a very good chance of at least being a productive starter if he can maintain some of whatever gave him success in 2018. For his career, the southeast Texas native is 88-64 with a 3.86 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 985/442 strikeout to walk ratio in 224 games (206 starts) since 2007.

14. Matt Harvey (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 7-9, 4.94 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 131/37 K/BB, 155 IP in 32 games (28 starts)
The Matt Harvey who posted three straight seasons with an ERA under 2.75 from 2012-2015 (sitting out 2014 with Tommy John) isn't coming back, but Harvey doesn't turn 30 until spring training and had a great strikeout to walk ratio (131/37) in 2018 while turning around his season, and maybe his career, with the Reds. After posting a 7.00 ERA and a 20/9 strikeout to walk ratio before the trade, his ERA dropped to 4.50 in 24 starts with the Reds as he struck out 111 and walked 28 in 128 innings. A team that thinks it can bring Harvey further along towards its former self will hope to get a #4 starter out of him. For his career, the former UNC Tar Heel is 41-44 with a 3.80 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and a 723/203 strikeout to walk ratio over 133 games (128 starts) since 2012.

15. Trevor Cahill (2019 Age: 31)
2018 Stats: 7-4, 3.76 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 100/41 K/BB, 110 IP in 21 games (20 starts)
Cahill has been very inconsistent throughout his career, serving as a valuable mid-rotation starter from 2009-2013 before being ineffective from 2014-2015, having a good year as a reliever in 2016, putting up and up and down 2017, and finally having a solid 2018. This past year, he was 7-4 with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, the latter of which was his best since his 1.11 WHIP in 2010, and his 9.1% walk rate was his lowest since 2015. Overall, he can't be counted on to contribute a full season's worth of innings to a starting rotation, either because of injuries or because of ineffectiveness, with his most recent qualifying season (162+ IP) coming in 2012. He's likely a good option to make 20 or so solid starts. For his career, the San Diego area native is 80-83 with a 4.08 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, and a 1007/548 strikeout to walk ratio over 304 games (208 starts) since 2009.

Other Notable
Derek Holland (7-9, 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 169/67 K/BB, 171. IP)
Wade Miley (5-2, 2.57 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 50/27 K/BB, 80.2 IP)
Tyson Ross (8-9, 4.15 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 122/62 K/BB, 149.2 IP)
Martin Perez (2-7, 6.22 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 52/36 K/BB, 85.1 IP)
Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 135/42 K/BB, 136.2 IP)
Marco Estrada (7-14, 5.64 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 103/50 K/BB, 143.2 IP)
Ervin Santana (0-1, 8.03 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 16/9 K/BB, 24.2 IP)
Doug Fister (1-7, 4.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 40/19 K/BB, 66 IP)
Matt Moore (3-8, 6.79 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 86/41 K/BB, 102 IP)
Edwin Jackson (6-3, 3.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 68/37 K/BB, 92 IP)

Right Handed Relievers
Note: RE24 stands for Run Expectancy 24, a theoretical stat which measures the run expectancy subtracted from one at bat to the next. An RE24 of 5.00 would mean that a pitcher has taken five runs off his team's theoretical run expectancy based on the situations he inherited and left. Higher is better and it is both cumulative (like fWAR as opposed to ERA) and park adjusted. More here.

1. Craig Kimbrel (2019 Age: 30-31)
2018 Stats: 2.74 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 16.93 RE24, 96/31 K/BB, 62.1 IP in 63 appearances
Kimbrel is the best reliever on the market, and he'll probably make something close to the $80 and $86 million given to Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman, respectively, though I don't think he'll reach quite that high. While Kimbrel was easily the best reliever in baseball from 2012-2014, he has been more inconsistent since 2015. His ERA reached as high as 3.40 in 2016, when his WHIP was a career-high 1.09 and his strikeout and walk rates were among the worst of his career. Then in 2017, his ERA dropped to 1.43, his WHIP to 0.68, and his strikeout and walk rates to among the best of his career. This past year was something in the middle, with a 2.74 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and a 38.9% strikeout rate to a 12.6% walk rate. Whether he can maintain himself as one of the best in the game going forward depends on whether he can maintain his command, which is a valid question, but he should continue to remain elite or at least very, very good for the next few seasons. He's also younger, turning 31 in May. For his career, the Huntsville, Alabama native has a 1.91 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and an 868/205 strikeout to walk ratio over 542 appearances.

2. Adam Ottavino (2019 Age: 33)
2018 Stats: 2.43 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 23.77 RE24, 112/36 K/BB, 77.2 IP in 75 appearances
Pitchers in Colorado often fly under the radar, and that is what Adam Ottavino has done. He doesn't have the name recognition of Craig Kimbrel, but he's a great option that will come slightly cheaper. Over 75 appearances this season, he had a 2.43 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and a 112/36 strikeout to walk ratio in 77.2 innings, finishing ninth in all of baseball (min. 50 IP) with his 36.3% strikeout rate, three spots behind Kimbrel and his 38.9% rate. While walks were a little bit of a problem, he was nearly un-hittable and should be a viable closing option wherever he goes. For his career, the righty out of Northeastern University has a 3.68 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and a 464/174 strikeout to walk ratio over 366 games (3 starts) since 2010.

3. Jeurys Familia (2019 Age: 29)
2018 Stats: 3.13 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 9.76 RE24, 83/28 K/BB, 72 IP in 70 appearances
Familia has had so much happen in his career, from ups and downs as the Mets closer to a 2016 domestic violence charge that was ultimately dropped to his 2018 trade to Oakland, that is easy to forget he'll spend the whole 2019 season at 29 years old. Familia was one of the better relievers in baseball from 2014-2016 when his ERA's were 2.21, 1.85, and 2.55, respectively, though recently he has fallen into more of a second tier category. In 2018, he posted a 3.13 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP while striking out 83 and walking 28 over 72 innings, showing shut-down stuff on most nights but also being subject to the occasional rough game. He's younger than the above two options but less consistent, so he offers a cheaper option to those two, still with closing experience. For his career, the Dominican has a 2.73 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a 369/143 strikeout to walk ratio over 343 games (one start) since 2012.

4. Kelvin Herrera (2019 Age: 29)
2018 Stats: 2.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 8.72 RE24, 38/10 K/BB, 44.1 IP in 48 appearances
Herrera, like Familia, was one of the better relievers in baseball from 2014-2016 with ERA's of 1.41, 2.71, and 2.75, respectively, though also like Familia, he was down a bit in 2017 and has been inconsistent in 2018. This year, as of June 21st (two games after his trade from Kansas City to Washington), he had a 0.98 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP, and a 22/2 strikeout to walk ratio over 27.2 innings. From then on, though, he had a 4.86 ERA, a 1.92 WHIP, and a 16/8 strikeout to walk ratio in 16.2 innings. It's hard to know what to expect out of him going forward, but he's likely to be at least a solid late-inning guy, and when he's at his best he's still one of the best in the game. Also in his favor is that he'll spend all of 2019 at 29 years old, making him one of the younger free agents available. For his career, the Dominican has a 2.82 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 454/136 strikeout to walk ratio over 463 appearances since 2011.

5. David Robertson (2019 Age: 34)
2018 Stats: 3.23 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 6.81 RE24, 91/26 K/BB, 69.2 IP in 69 appearances
Now about a decade into his run as one of the game's better relievers, Robertson has managed remarkable consistency while most relievers around him suffer through ups and downs. Since 2011, his ERA has never gone above 3.47 and his WHIP has reached above 1.17 just once. This past year, those numbers were 3.23 and 1.03, respectively, and even though he'll turn 34 at the start of next season, I see no reason he can't be a late-inning reliever for the next couple of seasons. As far as relievers go, he's a high floor, low ceiling option in terms of output; you know what you are going to get. For his career, the University of Alabama alumnus has a 2.88 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and an 874/260 strikeout to walk ratio over 654 appearances since 2008.

6. Joakim Soria (2019 Age: 34-35)
2018 Stats: 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 7.23 RE24, 75/16 K/BB, 60.2 IP in 66 appearances
Soria finds himself in a very similar spot to Robertson. Both have been unusually consistent for relievers, with Soria's ERA never reaching above 4.05 in any of his ten major league seasons. Over the last few seasons, his walk rate has been dropping, and his component ratios (strikeouts to walks to batters faced) leave him in a very good position to continue to be successful in the short run. Like Robertson, he's a safe bet, but probably at a slightly lower level of production. For his career, the Mexico native has a 2.88 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 688/189 strikeout to walk ratio over 639 appearances since 2007.

7. Cody Allen (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 4.70 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 3.30 RE24, 80/36 K/BB, 67 IP in 70 appearances
After five straight seasons with ERA's below 3.00, it wasn't a great season for Cody Allen. His ERA ballooned from 2.94 last year to 4.70 this year while his WHIP jumped from 1.16 to 1.36. While he wasn't actually quite as bad as the ERA might say, he still wasn't great and his walk rate jumped to a career high 11.4% while his strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 27.7%. His velocity has also been trending down, and he's just no as deceptive as he was in years' past, which is interesting because he's just turning 30 at the beginning of the offseason. He's young enough to bounce back, but the trends aren't in his favor and I'm not confident he can drop his ERA back below 3.00 consistently. For his career, the Orlando native has a 2.98 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 564/173 strikeout to walk ratio over 456 appearances since 2012.

Other Notable
Tyler Clippard (3.67 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 5.32 RE24, 85/23 K/BB, 68.2 IP)
Greg Holland (4.66 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, -9.14 RE24, 47/32 K/BB, 46.1 IP)
Joe Kelly (4.39 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 3.10 RE24, 68/32 K/BB, 65.2 IP)
Adam Warren (3.14 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 7.88 RE24, 52/20 K/BB, 51.2 IP)
Sergio Romo (4.14 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, -4.39 RE24, 75/20 K/BB, 67.1 IP)
David Phelps (did not play - injured)

Left Handed Relievers

1. Andrew Miller (2019 Age: 33-34)
2018 Stats: 4.24 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 4.80 RE24, 45/16 K/BB, 34 IP in 37 appearances
After four years as the game's premier left handed reliever, Miller made three separate trips to the disabled list in 2018 while battling hamstring, knee, and shoulder problems. In between, his 4.24 ERA and 1.38 WHIP were his highest marks since 2011, when he was a starter for the Red Sox. His strikeout rate also dipped below 30% for the first time since that year. It seems that his troubles likely originated from those injuries, as it is really tough to get anything going when you're always playing hurt. To me, his production in 2019 will not be a matter of his performance, but his ability to stay healthy and on the mound. A healthy Miller likely drops his ERA back below 3.00, in my opinion, even though he turns 34 in May. For his career, the former UNC Tar Heel has a 3.98 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP, and an 853/335 strikeout to walk ratio over 483 games (66 starts) since 2006.

2. Zach Britton (2019 Age: 31)
2018 Stats: 3.10 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 5.15 RE24, 34/21 K/BB, 40.2 IP in 41 appearances
It has been mostly downhill since Britton posted a 0.54 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP in 2016, finding himself on and off the disabled list. He still posted a 3.10 ERA over 41 appearances this year, though his 20.1% strikeout rate and career-high 12.4% walk rate leave something to be desired. He's still young, turning 31 in December, so his signing team should still hope to get a late-inning reliever out of him. For his career, the Weatherford, Texas native has a 3.21 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and a 446/205 strikeout to walk ratio over 331 games (46 starts) since 2011.

3. Justin Wilson (2019 Age: 31)
2018 Stats: 3.46 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.82 RE24, 69/33 K/BB, 54.2 IP in 71 appearances
Wilson has been up and down throughout his career, but with a rising walk rate, he's looking closer to a lefty specialist than the closer he was for much of 2017. In 2018, lefties slashed just .188/.301/.342 with a 34.4% strikeout rate against him, while right handed hitters hit a healthier .244/.350/.358 with a 25.9% strikeout rate. He's not strictly a specialist at this point, but the Cubs clearly saw a little bit of that in him as he managed just 54.2 innings in his 71 appearances, well under an inning per appearance. For his career, the former Fresno State Bulldog has a 3.33 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a 407/166 strikeout rate over 412 appearances since 2012.

Other Notable
Tony Sipp (1.86 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 14.64 RE24, 42/13 K/BB, 38.2 IP)
Zach Duke (4.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2.27 RE24, 51/21 K/BB, 52 IP)
Oliver Perez (1.39 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 17.55 RE24, 43/7 K/BB, 32.1 IP)
Jake Diekman (4.73 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, -4.58 RE24, 66/31 K/BB, 53.1 IP)
Jerry Blevins (4.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, -6.20 RE24, 41/22 K/BB, 42.2 IP)

Twins Add Lance Lynn in Latest Move

Lance Lynn: 11-8, 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 153/78 K/BB, 186.1 IP
One year, $12 million

Unlike Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn did not get the kind of contract he was looking for, signing for just $12 million on a one year deal. It can run up to $13 million if he reaches 170 innings this season and $14 million if he reaches 180 innings, but it is still far short of the $50 million+ deal he was expected to receive. The good news about a one year deal for Lynn is that he'll be a free agent next season in what has to be a better market. Lynn joins a new-look Twins team that has already added Jake Odorizzi to the rotation, Addison Reed, Fernando Rodney, and Zach Duke to the bullpen, and Logan Morrison to the lineup. The Twins' rotation is looking good for the season, with Lynn joining Odorizzi, Ervin Santana, Jose Berrios, and Kyle Gibson, with Phil Hughes and rookie Stephen Gonsalves acting as insurance. Lynn was a quietly above-average starter for the Cardinals from 2012-2015, then missed 2016 with Tommy John surgery, but picked right back up where he left off in 2017 by posting a 3.43 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a 153/78 strikeout to walk ratio over 33 starts. He's a bit inconsistent, and the increased walk rate is a bit troubling (career high 10.1% in 2017) as well as the diminished strikeout rate (career low 19.7%). Lynn should be a solid #4, but don't get ahead of yourself in thinking that he could turn the Twins rotation from a good one to a great one. For his career, the Indiana native and former Ole Miss Rebel is 72-47 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 183 games (161 starts), all with the Cardinals. 

Hot Stove Preview: Pitchers

Starting Pitchers

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.

Bonus: Shohei Ohtani (Previous Team: Nippon-Ham Fighters. 2018 Age: 23-24)

2017 Japan Stats: 3-2, 3.20 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 29/19 K/BB, 25.2 IP

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.

1. Yu Darvish (Previous Team: Dodgers. 2018 Age: 31-32)

2017 Stats: 10-12, 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 209/58 K/BB, 186.2 IP

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.

2. Jake Arrieta (Previous Team: Cubs. 2018 Age: 32)

2017 Stats: 14-10, 3.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 163/55 K/BB, 168.1 IP

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.

3. Lance Lynn (Previous Team: Cardinals. 2018 Age: 30-31)

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)