Catchers
1. Yasmani Grandal (2020 Age: 31)
2019: 28 HR, .246/.380/.468, 5 SB, 121 wRC+, 5.2 fWAR in 153 games
We all know Grandal is good, but the Brewers got a complete bargain when they signed him for $18.25 million last offseason. He set career highs in virtually every category, totaling 5.2 fWAR that was enough to place him ninth in the National League and second among all catchers behind only J.T. Realmuto's 5.7. Grandal hits for power, gets on base due to a high walk rate (17.2% in 2019), and plays excellent defense behind the plate, giving a serious argument for being the second best catcher in baseball behind Realmuto at a position that's looking shallower and shallower. This offseason should go much better for him. For his career, the former Miami Hurricane has 141 home runs, a .241/.348/.446 slash line, and 32.6 fWAR over 879 games since 2012.
2. Robinson Chirinos (2020 Age: 35-36)
2019: 17 HR, .238/.347/.443, 1 SB, 113 wRC+, 2.3 fWAR in 114 games
It might be because he has spent most of his career as a back-up catcher with the medium market Texas Rangers, but Robinson Chirinos has flown under the radar as one of the game's more productive catchers over the last half decade. Despite topping out at 114 games in 2019, Chirinos has reached double digits in home runs in five of the past six seasons while drawing enough walks to keep his on-base percentage at at least .314 in each of the past five. Like Grandal, he set a lot of career highs in 2019, and he brings power, decent on-base ability, and solid defense at a shallow position. He might not be good enough to be a full time starter on a contending team, but he produced this year for the Astros and would make a very good back-up on a contender or a starter on a worse team. For his career, the Venezuela native has 85 home runs, a .234/.329/.439 slash line, and 6.1 fWAR over 576 games since 2011.
3. Travis d'Arnaud (2020 Age: 31)
2019: 16 HR, .251/.312/.433, 0 SB, 98 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR in 103 games
When healthy, Travis d'Arnaud is one of the better catchers in the game, inning for inning. He's got pop, gets to it regularly, and plays solid defense. However, he hasn't stayed on the field for any kind of regular basis, topping out at 112 games in 2017 and only topping 75 games three times in his seven year career. He played just four games in 2018 after undergoing Tommy John surgery then slashed just .087/.160/.087 in ten games with the Mets before being designated for assignment. He lasted all of five days with the Dodgers before being sold to the Rays, where he was finally healthy and caught his stride, slashing .263/.323/.459 with 16 home runs in 92 games. The thing is, that's d'Arnaud's true talent level, and if he can just stay healthy, he could be a 20+ home run guy annually. Health will be the big gamble for whichever team picks him up for 2020, but the upside is big. For his career, the Southern California native has 63 home runs, a .246/.307/.412 slash line, and 10.3 fWAR over 500 games since 2013.
Others: Jason Castro (13 HR, .232/.332/.435, 1.6 fWAR, age 32-33)
Yan Gomes (12 HR, .223/.316/.389, 0.8 fWAR, age 32-33)
Martin Maldonado (12 HR, .213/.293/.378, 0.8 fWAR, age 33)
First Basemen
1. Jose Abreu (2020 Age: 33)
2019: 33 HR, .284/.330/.503, 2 SB, 117 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR in 159 games
I know that RBI aren't an accurate way of tracking success, but it's at least correlated with success, and Jose Abreu is fourth in all of baseball with 611 since 2014, when he debuted, behind only Nolan Arenado (682), Edwin Encarnacion (636), and Nelson Cruz (630). He's hit at least 22 home runs and 32 doubles in each of his six major league seasons, his on-base percentage never falling below .325 and his slugging percentage staying at at least .468 in each season. His lower walk rates (5.2% in 2019, 6.3% career) eat into his offensive value a bit, but he's a classic #5 hitting run-producer who could fit into any lineup, contending or non-contending. However, he provides little to no value on defense, so you're buying the bat and the bat only. For his career, the Cuban has 179 home runs, a .293/.349/.513 slash line, and 17.9 fWAR 901 games since 2014.
2. Howie Kendrick (2020 Age: 36-37)
2019: 17 HR, .344/.395/.572, 2 SB, 146 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR in 121 games
With the Nationals' big run to the World Series win, you've probably heard all about Howie Kendrick. After all, the 36 year old slashed .344/.395/.572 this year with 17 home runs and a low 13.2% strikeout rate. If there's one thing he does, it's hit the ball hard. His 48.3% hard hit rate placed him 23rd in baseball, and as someone who watched him all season long, it felt like he made hard contact every time he came to the plate. In other words, that .344 batting average wasn't the product of luck, but of just crushing the ball around the park. Unfortunately, he's certainly slowing down with age, with both his glove and legs losing a bit of value, and even he admitted that his body is no longer able to take the beating of playing every day. In that case, he becomes one of the most valuable, if not the most valuable, bench bats on the market as someone who can start against lefties and get spot starts here and there while providing real, middle-of-the-order caliber offense. For his career, the Jacksonville-area native has 125 home runs, a .294/.337/.431 slash line, and 31.3 fWAR over 1596 games since 2006.
3. Eric Thames (2020 Age: 33)
2019: 25 HR, .247/.346/.505, 3 SB, 116 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR in 149 games
Thames slashed just .232/.273/.399 in 2012 before heading to South Korea for the 2013-2016 seasons, but since he returned to the U.S. in 2017, he's been a very productive hitter for the Brewers and should continue to be in 2020. This past year, he knocked 25 home runs and slashed .247/.346/.505 over 149 games, giving him a third straight season with above-league-average production. He's a much better hitter against right handed pitchers (.254/.348/.529) than against lefties (.200/.339/.340 in a small sample), so Thames profiles much better as a platoon bat than as an every day guy, and he could fill that role successfully even for a contending team. For his career, the Pepperdine product has 93 home runs, a .244/.327/.478 slash line, and 4.8 fWAR over 564 games since 2011.
Others: Mitch Moreland (19 HR, .252/.328/.507, 0.7 fWAR, age 34)
Justin Smoak (22 HR, .208/.342/.406, 0.2 fWAR, age 33)
Neil Walker (8 HR, .261/.344/.395, 0.4 fWAR, age 34)
Second Basemen
1. Brian Dozier (2020 Age: 32-33)
2019: 20 HR, .238/.340/.430, 3 SB, 99 wRC+, 1.7 fWAR in 135 games
The second base class is more balanced than those at catcher and first base, with four players of almost equal caliber all available. Of the four, I give the slight edge to Brian Dozier, but you could make strong arguments for any and the most important thing here will be their fit on the roster. He lost some playing time to Asdrubal Cabrera during the regular season and to Howie Kendrick in the postseason, but Dozier has power and a professional approach at the plate that enables him to produce a satisfactory amount of offense for a second baseman. At the same time, he's a solid defender at the position, making him an overall average all-around player. His upside separates him from the other players on this list, as he's only a few seasons removed from crushing 76 home runs between 2016 and 2017 in Minnesota. For his career, the former Southern Miss Golden Eagle has 192 home runs, a .245/.326/.442 slash line, and 24.0 fWAR over 1137 games since 2012.
2. Starlin Castro (2020 Age: 30)
2019: 22 HR, .270/.300/.436, 2 SB, 91 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR in 162 games
Though not a star, Castro has been one of the more consistently average infielders over the past half decade or so. This past year, he set a career high with 22 home runs while slashing .270/.300/.436 over all 162 games. He's played over 150 games in seven of the past nine seasons and he's posted an OPS of at least .729 in eight of the past ten, though he's also never cracked .800. Defensively, he's solid if unspectacular, and together, he brings a similar end product to Dozier. He doesn't have as much power or as strong of an approach at the plate, but he's been more consistent and is a couple years younger. For his career, the Dominican has 133 home runs, a .280/.319/.414 slash line, and 18.2 fWAR over 1470 games since 2010.
3. Jason Kipnis (2020 Age: 33)
2019: 17 HR, .245/.304/.410, 7 SB, 82 wRC+, 1.1 fWAR in 121 games
Jason Kipnis has played a massive role on the strong Cleveland Indians teams of the 2010's, but at this point, it doesn't look like he's the impact player he was half a decade ago. In 2013, 2015, and 2016 he was worth 5.1 fWAR, 4.5, and 4.7, respectively, but he's slumped in recent years and was down to .245/.304/.410 in 2019. Still, he has a strong track record, strong plate discipline, and enough pop to keep pitchers honest, and he's still a good defender. That should fit the bill as a starting second baseman on a lot of teams, though he'd fit better into a lineup that wasn't set to win 95-100 games. For his career, the Chicago native who spent time with both Kentucky and Arizona State has 123 home runs, a .261/.333/.417 slash line, 135 stolen bases, and 22.8 fWAR over 1121 games since 2011.
Others: Jonathan Schoop (23 HR, .256/.304/.473, 1.4 fWAR, age 28)
Scooter Gennett (2 HR, .226/.245/.323, -0.5 fWAR, age 29-30)
Eric Sogard (13 HR, .290/.353/.457, 8 SB, 2.6 fWAR, age 33-34)
Shortstops
1. Didi Gregorius (2020 Age: 30)
2019: 16 HR, .238/.276/.441, 2 SB, 84 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR in 82 games
So much has happened over such a spread out period of time for Didi that it's hard to believe he's still only 29. He started with Cincinnati in 2012, was traded to Arizona that year and then to New York in 2014 in a pair of three team deals that included Trevor Bauer, Shin-Soo Choo, and Robbie Ray, took over for Derek Jeter at shortstop in The Bronx, posted three straight 20 home run campaigns, went down with Tommy John surgery in 2018/2019, and returned to play a pivotal role in getting the Yankees within two wins of a World Series berth. While his 2019 campaign, even after recovering from the surgery in June, wasn't the prettiest (.238/.276/.441, 84 wRC+), he's still one of the better hitting shortstops in baseball and certainly the best one available on the free agent market. Guys like Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez, Xander Bogaerts, and now Fernando Tatis Jr. have made the impact-hitting shortstop a bit easier to find nowadays, but they still don't grow on trees and Gregorius provides what a lot of teams, even contending teams, don't have. He can hit for some power, get on base fairly well, and play good defense at the toughest non-catcher position. As recently as 2018, when he slashed .268/.335/.494 with 27 home runs, he was worth 4.7 fWAR. For his career, the Netherlands-native has 110 home runs, a .264/.313/.429 slash line, and 17.5 fWAR over 851 games since 2012.
2. Jose Iglesias (2020 Age: 30)
2019: 11 HR, .288/.318/.407, 6 SB, 84 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR in 146 games
The juiced balls helped Iglesias get over the hump and start hitting for power in 2019, and his .288/.318/.407 slash line meant his highest OPS (.724) since 2013. Iglesias is so good with the glove that if he can hit at all, he's valuable, and his wRC+ marks of 89 in 2018 and 84 in 2019 fulfill the "at all" requirement. On a contending team, he would fit better as a slick fielding utility man, but he could certainly start on a non-contending team such as the Reds, where he played 2019. For his career, the Cuban has 32 home runs, a .273/.315/.371 slash line, and 11.6 fWAR over 802 games since 2011.
3. Asdrubal Cabrera (2020 Age: 34)
2019: 18 HR, .260/.342/.441, 4 SB, 98 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR in 131 games
Is Asdrubal Cabrera really a true shortstop at this point? Probably not, but he's spent a lot of time at second, short, and third over the past few seasons, and with shortstop being so shallow in this year's class, I'm including him over here. He's been so consistently average for so many teams for such a long time that he has kind of flown under the radar, but he's topped 130 games while hitting at least 14 home runs and 25 doubles in each of the past nine seasons, and that's enabled him to be worth at least 1.3 fWAR in each of those seasons. Set to turn 34 in November, I'm not sure how much longer he can keep this up, but Cabrera provides a solid bat with a flexible glove to whichever team chooses to pick him up. He was actually already a free agent once this season, as the Rangers released him after he slashed .235/.318/.393 with 12 home runs in 93 games for them, but the Nationals picked him up as bench depth and he caught fire, slashing .323/.404/.565 with six home runs in 38 games, effectively stealing the starting second base job from Brian Dozier. That's not sustainable, but it certainly helps his free agent value. For his career, the Venezuelan has 180 home runs, a .268/.331/.425 slash line, and 27.5 fWAR in 1660 games since 2007.
Others: Adeiny Hechavarria (9 HR, .241/.299/.443, 0.7 fWAR, age 31)
Jordy Mercer (9 HR, .270/.310/.438, 0.6 fWAR, age 33-34)
Third Basemen
1. Anthony Rendon (2020 Age: 29-30)
2019: 34 HR, .319/.412/.598, 5 SB, 154 wRC+, 7.0 fWAR in 146 games
Over the past three years, Christian Yelich leads the National League in fWAR at 20.0, but Anthony Rendon is *right* behind him with 19.9. That mark leads all third basemen in either league, topping Alex Bregman (19.5), Jose Ramirez (17.9), and Nolan Arenado (17.4). He's grown tremendously as a ballplayer since slashing .270/.348/.450 with 20 home runs in 2016, jumping from 4.3 fWAR that year to 6.7 in 2017, 6.2 in 2018, and 7.0 in 2019. At this point, there are very few holes in his game, as he is the complete package at the plate with three straight seasons with at least 24 home runs, 41 doubles, and a .374 on-base percentage, and he topped out in all three with 34, 44, and .412 this year. Defensively, his exceptional reactions make him one of the best defenders in the league at the hot corner, and all together, he has a very strong argument against Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado as the best third baseman in baseball. That should net him nearly a decade on his contract and well north of $200 million, as he already turned down a seven year deal from the Nationals worth $210-215 million. For his career, the former Rice Owl has 136 home runs, a .290/.369/.490 slash line, and 32.7 fWAR over 916 games since 2013.
2. Josh Donaldson (2020 Age: 34)
2019: 37 HR, .259/.379/.521, 4 SB, 132 wRC+, 4.9 fWAR in 155 games
Donaldson slashed .246/.352/.449 with just eight home runs in 52 games during an injury-ravaged 2018 season, then took a one year, $23 million deal with the Braves as he bet on himself. As I, a big Josh Donaldson fan, figured, that turned out to be the right decision for both teams as Donaldson hit 37 home runs, drew 100 walks, and played great defense over at third base, looking almost like his old self. That should help him land a much larger deal this offseason as a middle of the order hitter with lots of defensive value, though teams will have to be cognizant that he turns 34 in December and has a bit of an injury history. Still, remaining healthy all year long in 2019 and playing in 155 games is a big help. For his career, the Auburn product has 219 home runs, a .273/.369/.509 slash line, and 41.4 fWAR over 1038 games since 2010.
3. Mike Moustakas (2020 Age: 31)
2019: 35 HR, .254/.329/.516, 3 SB, 113 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR over 143 games
Hopefully, the third time is the charm for Mike Moustakas. Two unlucky free agencies caused him to make much less than market value, but 101 home runs over the past three seasons as well as more leverage will help him fare better. Moustakas is a power hitter who also does a solid job of getting on base, and he proved some defensive versatility in 2019 by filling in at second base as well as playing his typical third base. He was young enough when he originally hit free agency after the 2017 season that he'll play most of the 2020 season at age 31, so he's still a solid, semi-long term piece who could hit near the middle of the lineup with some defensive value. For his career, the Los Angeles native has 182 home runs, a .252/.310/.441 slash line, and 16.1 fWAR over 1131 games since 2011.
Others: Todd Frazier (21 HR, .251/.329/.443, 1.9 fWAR, age 34)
Pablo Sandoval (14 HR, .268/.313/.507, 1.0 fWAR, age 33-34)
Jedd Gyorko (2 HR, .174/.248/.250, -0.7 fWAR, age 31)
Showing posts with label Yasmani Grandal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yasmani Grandal. Show all posts
Monday, November 4, 2019
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Top Free Agents for 2018-2019: Catchers and Outfielders
Catchers
1. Yasmani Grandal (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 24 HR, .241/.349/.466, 2 SB, 125 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR in 140 games
Grandal will be a very hot commodity on the free agent market this year, just since good catchers are so hard to come by. In 2018, only three catchers accumulated more than 3.0 fWAR: J.T. Realmuto (4.8), Grandal (3.6), and Francisco Cervelli (3.3). Most teams have to choose between a catcher with some pop who is iffy with the glove, or a good fielder that they have to bury at the bottom of their lineup. However, Grandal can both hit and field well, and in a scarce market, that is valuable. At the plate, he is on a run of three straight 20 homer seasons, and he has always been considered one of the better pitch framers in the game. He's not quite a middle of the order anchor, but among catchers who can field, not many are better than him at the plate. Set to play all of 2019 at 30 years old, he's not too old as far as catchers go either. For his career, the former Miami Hurricane has 113 home runs, a .240/.341/.441 slash line, and 15.2 fWAR over 726 games since 2012.
2. Wilson Ramos (2019 Age: 31-32)
2018 Stats: 15 HR, .306/.358/.487, 0 SB, 131 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR in 111 games
Ramos is a better catcher than he gets credit for. From 2010-2015, he was essentially a league average hitter, slashing .258/.301/.411 for a respectable 92 wRC+. However, since having Lasik eye surgery in 2016, he's at .298/.343/.483 with a 120 wRC+, the latter of which is second among all catchers behind only Gary Sanchez's 124. At this point, it is safe to say that the Lasik has had a profound effect on his hitting and that pre-2016 Wilson is not relevant as a factor for predicting his future performance, leaving us with three seasons as one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. On top of it, he has always been well regarded as a defender. The only downside to Ramos, and it's a big one, is health. He has never played more than 131 games in a season he has only managed more than 88 games four times since debuting in 2010. His signing team will have to grapple with that, especially knowing he turns 32 next August and presumably isn't getting any less breakable. However, if he stays healthy, I can see his signing team getting a great bargain. For his career, the Venezuelan catcher has 109 home runs, a .273/.317/.439 line, and 13.2 fWAR over 760 games since 2010.
3. Kurt Suzuki (2019 Age: 35)
2018 Stats: 12 HR, .271/.332/.444, 0 SB, 108 wRC+, 2.0 fWAR in 105 games
Overall, I think the #3 spot is somewhat ambiguous, with the third best catcher available changing depending on what you're looking for. For some teams, Matt Wieters or Martin Maldonado could be the #3 option. I'm going to go with Kurt Suzuki here though because for someone who turned 35 just after the end of the regular season, he's still a good player. His .271/.332/.444 slash line was very respectable all around, and with good defense, he's an above-average all around catcher. Whether that success continues into 2019, his age 35 season, or beyond is anybody's guess, but my guess is that any 2019 regression does not pull him too far below average, and he should still be a serviceable starting catcher if he's healthy. Even with more regression than expected, he could still be a good backup and with his twelve years of experience in the majors, he's a valuable veteran. For his career, the Cal State Fullerton alumnus has 114 home runs, a .258/.315/.387 slash line, and 18.9 fWAR over 1394 games since 2007.
Other Notable
Matt Wieters (8 HR, .238/.330/.374, 0 SB, 89 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR)
Martin Maldonado (9 HR, .225/.276/.351, 0 SB, 74 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR)
Jonathan Lucroy (4 HR, .241/.291/.325, 0 SB, 70 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR)
Brian McCann (7 HR, .212/.301/.339, 0 SB, 82 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR)
Nick Hundley (10 HR, .241/.298/.408, 2 SB, 91 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR)
Outfielders
1. Bryce Harper (2019 Age: 26)
2018 Stats: 34 HR, .249/.393/.496, 13 SB, 135 wRC+, 3.5 fWAR in 159 games
Bryce Harper represents one of the best free agents we have ever seen, just turning 26 at the beginning of the offseason while bringing an NL MVP award and six All Star selections to the table. The age is especially nice because unlike with most free agents, Harper's signing team will have him for much of his prime, as he won't even turn 30 until after year four. While much has been said about his low batting averages (.243 in 2016 and .249 in 2018), batting average is the last thing you should be concerned about with Harper. His on-base percentages in those two seasons were .373 and .393, respectively, due to an exceptional 14.8% career walk rate, making him one of the game's better players when it comes to getting on base, and that's completely disregarding power. Harper has hit at least 24 home runs in each of the past four seasons, including 42 in his MVP 2015 season and 34 this past year. All of that will amount to a contract in the $400 million range, possibly higher, as a team will look to sign Harper for the remainder of his career. For his career, the Las Vegas native has 184 home runs, a .279/.388/.512 slash line, and 30.7 fWAR over 927 games since 2012.
2. Michael Brantley (2019 Age: 31-32)
2018 Stats: 17 HR, .309/.364/.468, 12 SB, 124 wRC+, 3.5 fWAR in 143 games
I think a lot of people forgot about Brantley because he played just 101 games between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, but he bounced back nicely with a .309/.364/.468 line and 3.5 fWAR in a full season this year. When he's healthy, Brantley is actually a pretty consistent two to four win player who gets on base, hits for some power, and unlike most players these days, rarely strikes out. He's not much help on defense, but his consistent, productive bat would fit in any lineup and could help any contender. For his career, the outfielder from Florida's Treasure Coast has 87 home runs, a .295/.351/.430 slash line, 118 stolen bases, and 19.5 fWAR over 1051 games since 2009.
3. Andrew McCutchen (2019 Age: 32)
2018 Stats: 20 HR, .255/.368/.424, 14 SB, 120 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR in 155 games
McCutchen isn't the consistent six to eight win player he used to be, with his last three years looking more pedestrian. While I think this is now the true McCutchen, a consistent two to four win player is still a good find on the market and he should get a considerable amount of money. He has hit at least 20 home runs and 25 doubles in each of the past eight seasons, and only in 2016 did he fail to steal more than ten bases. While his batting averages have dropped from the great to decent range, he has kept a great walk rate (12.0% career), which makes him overall a pretty good power/on-base threat even at this stage in his career. His defense has taken a hit since his prime, but he's not necessarily a liability at this point as long as you don't play him in center field. For his career, the small town Florida native has 223 home runs, a .287/.378/.481 line, 185 stolen bases, and 48.6 fWAR over 1501 games since 2009.
4. A.J. Pollock (2019 Age: 31)
2018 Stats: 21 HR, .257/.316/.484, 13 SB, 110 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR in 113 games
Pollock might have slashed .315/.367/.498 with 39 stolen bases and 6.8 fWAR in 2015, but he's more realistically a two to three win player who can contribute a little bit of everything. He's got some power, good for 15-20 home runs per season, some on-base ability, some speed, and pretty good defense. Turning 31 in December, he should be able to maintain that all-around ability at its current level for at least a few more years and should land a nice contract. For his career, the Notre Dame product has 74 home runs, a .281/.338/.467 slash line, 103 stolen bases, and 17.2 fWAR over 637 games.
5. Marwin Gonzalez (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 16 HR, .247/.324/.409, 2 SB, 104 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR in 145 games
Marwin Gonzalez is much more valuable than the numbers say. As a guy who has seen significant time at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and left field throughout his career, he can fit on literally any roster, but unlike other recent super-utility men (Andrew Romine, Alfredo Amezaga), he can swing the bat. In four of the past five seasons, he has produced a wRC+ above 100 (league average), including a 144 mark in 2017 that stemmed from a .303/.377/.530 line and 23 home runs. The numbers were down a bit this year at .247/.324/.409 with 16 home runs, but there is not a team out there that shouldn't be at least a little bit interested in a guy who can play almost anywhere you want and still hit enough to remain relevant in the lineup. For his career, the Venezuelan has 76 home runs, a .264/.318/.419 slash line, and 7.8 fWAR over 795 games since 2012.
6. Adam Jones (2019 Age: 33-34)
2018 Stats: 15 HR, .281/.313/.419, 7 SB, 98 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR in 145 games
For baseball's sake, I hope Jones stays in Baltimore, having become synonymous with the Orioles over the past eleven years. However, for now he's a free agent and will test the open market. Turning 34 in August, he's not the 4-5 win player he once was, with both his glove and bat regressing to about average. Still, he's good for some all around contribution, hitting for some power while getting on base enough to justify keeping him in the lineup as long as he stays out of center field. He has been extremely durable, having avoided the disabled list entirely since his 2009 season was cut short by a sprained ankle, so that should help him remain a productive player deep into his thirties. Off the field, he's a great role model both in the clubhouse and out in the community. For his career, the San Diego native (weird to think about, isn't it?) has 266 home runs, a .278/.318/.456 slash line, and 29.4 fWAR over 1686 games since 2006.
7. Nick Markakis (2019 Age: 35)
2018 Stats: 14 HR, .297/.366/.440, 114 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR in 162 games
Despite turning 35 in November, Nick Markakis is showing no signs of slowing down. Having landed on the disabled list just once in his entire major league career (for just over a month in 2012), the durable outfielder had his best season since 2008 in terms of fWAR this year, his 2.6 being the most he's had in a season since he put up 6.0 in 2008. He gets on base, smacks doubles (at least 38 in each of the past four seasons including 43 in 2018), doesn't strike out much, and isn't too much of a liability on defense. He could start even for some contenders, with his age being the only reason he ranks this low on the list. I see no reason he won't be a productive player at least in 2019 and 2020. For his career, the Atlanta area native has 179 home runs, a .288/.358/.424 slash line, and 28.5 fWAR over 2001 games since 2006.
8. Lonnie Chisenhall (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 1 HR, .321/.394/.452, 1 SB, 129 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR in 29 games
It's easy to forget about Lonnie Chisenhall, as he has played just 111 games over the past two seasons due to injury, including just 29 in 2018, but he's actually a very productive player when on the field. Over those past two seasons, he is slashing .297/.368/.503 with 13 home runs and 2.1 fWAR in what amounts to about two thirds of a season's worth of games. That's a three win pace if he's healthy, comparable to what we might see out of a guy like Josh Reddick, except Chisenhall's left/right splits aren't as drastic. He also joined the fly ball revolution last year, which helped produce those numbers. His lack of consistent health pushes him down to #8 on this list, but a healthy Chisenhall could be a steal for whoever signs him. For his career, the eastern North Carolina native has 64 home runs, a .268/.320/.427 slash line, and 7.9 fWAR over 688 games.
9. Carlos Gonzalez (2019 Age: 33)
2018 Stats: 16 HR, .276/.329/.467, 5 SB, 96 wRC+, 1.7 fWAR in 132 games
Gonzalez isn't the 3-5 win player he once was, but he's still a solid left handed bat with a proven track record and enough sock to justify a spot lower in the lineup. He has fairly significant left/right splits, hitting righties at a .284/.344/.485 clip in 2018 but putting up just a .259/.295/.424 line against lefties, so he could fit nicely into a platoon role. His numbers will drop with his new team, but expect some power with the ability to get on base at a decent rate, especially against right handed pitching. For his career, the Venezuelan has 231 home runs, a .287/.345/.506 slash line, and 26.3 fWAR over 1332 games since 2008.
10. Denard Span (2019 Age: 35)
2018 Stats: 11 HR, .261/.341/.419, 9 SB, 112 wRC+, 1.5 fWAR in 137 games
While Span's loss of speed with age has sapped his value on defense and on the base paths, he still walks enough to get on base at a pretty good rate, and he seems to have found his home run stroke late in his career. After never hitting more than eight home runs in a season from 2008-2015, he has reached double digits in each of the past three seasons. This shifts his value more to his bat and away from his speed and defense, and while he shouldn't be a starter for a contending team, he could be a productive regular on most non-contending teams and even bat at the top of a few lineups. He does turn 35 in spring training, so he won't get a long term deal. For his career, the Tampa native has 71 home runs, a .281/.347/.398 slash line, 185 stolen bases, and 27.7 fWAR over 1359 games since 2008.
Other notable
Curtis Granderson (13 HR, .242/.351/.431, 2 SB, 116 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR)
Jon Jay (3 HR, .268/.330/.347, 4 SB, 86 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR)
Cameron Maybin (4 HR, .249/.326/.336, 10 SB, 88 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR)
Melky Cabrera (6 HR, .280/.335/.420, 1 SB, 102 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR)
Carlos Gomez (9 HR, .208/.298/.336, 12 SB, 80 wRC+, -0.5 fWAR)
Jose Bautista (13 HR, .203/.348/.378, 4 SB, 107 wRC+, 1.0 fWAR)
Matt Joyce (7 HR, .208/.322/.353, 0 SB, 89 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR)
Gerardo Parra (6 HR, .284/.342/.372, 11 SB, 80 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR)
Austin Jackson (3 HR, .245/.299/.326, 3 SB, 74 wRC+, -1.0 fWAR)
Hunter Pence (4 HR, .226/.258/.332, 5 SB, 59 wRC+, -0.9 fWAR)
Designated Hitters
1. Nelson Cruz (2019 Age: 38-39)
2018 Stats: 37 HR, .256/.342/.509, 1 SB, 134 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR in 144 games
Even though Cruz turns 39 in July, he is proving that he still has plenty of sock left in his bat and can contribute to any lineup that can fit him in at DH. Even with no defensive value, he has put up five straight seasons with at least 37 home runs, and with his decent walk rate, he gets on base enough to where he's a real threat at the plate. At this point, nearing 40, he probably fits as a #5 hitter on a non-contending team or as a #6 hitter on a contender, and even at this age I see no reason why he can't hit 30+ home runs in each of the next two seasons, albeit with falling on-base percentages that sit in the .340-.360 range now but could fall below .330 in the near future. For his career, the Dominican has 360 home runs, a .274/.342/.518 slash line, and 33.1 fWAR over 1569 games since 2005.
2. Evan Gattis (2019 Age: 32)
2018 Stats: 25 HR, .226/.284/.452, 1 SB, 99 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR in 128 games
The bad news is that Gattis' offense took a hit in 2018 and dropped below league average for the first time in his career, but the good news is that he still hit more than 20 home runs for the fourth time in his five major league seasons. He's not exactly the impact hitter that Cruz is, and as a DH, that's problematic, but he can still fit in towards the bottom of a major league lineup and if a team has an opening at DH, it's a starting-quality bat. As recently as 2016, he slashed .251/.319/.508 with 32 home runs and 2.7 fWAR, and he can get behind the plate and catch in a pinch, so Gattis should find a place to fit in and contribute to a major league team. For his career, the Dallas native has 139 home runs, a .248/.300/.476 slash line, and 7.7 fWAR over 706 games since 2013. Not bad for a former janitor.
1. Yasmani Grandal (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 24 HR, .241/.349/.466, 2 SB, 125 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR in 140 games
Grandal will be a very hot commodity on the free agent market this year, just since good catchers are so hard to come by. In 2018, only three catchers accumulated more than 3.0 fWAR: J.T. Realmuto (4.8), Grandal (3.6), and Francisco Cervelli (3.3). Most teams have to choose between a catcher with some pop who is iffy with the glove, or a good fielder that they have to bury at the bottom of their lineup. However, Grandal can both hit and field well, and in a scarce market, that is valuable. At the plate, he is on a run of three straight 20 homer seasons, and he has always been considered one of the better pitch framers in the game. He's not quite a middle of the order anchor, but among catchers who can field, not many are better than him at the plate. Set to play all of 2019 at 30 years old, he's not too old as far as catchers go either. For his career, the former Miami Hurricane has 113 home runs, a .240/.341/.441 slash line, and 15.2 fWAR over 726 games since 2012.
2. Wilson Ramos (2019 Age: 31-32)
2018 Stats: 15 HR, .306/.358/.487, 0 SB, 131 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR in 111 games
Ramos is a better catcher than he gets credit for. From 2010-2015, he was essentially a league average hitter, slashing .258/.301/.411 for a respectable 92 wRC+. However, since having Lasik eye surgery in 2016, he's at .298/.343/.483 with a 120 wRC+, the latter of which is second among all catchers behind only Gary Sanchez's 124. At this point, it is safe to say that the Lasik has had a profound effect on his hitting and that pre-2016 Wilson is not relevant as a factor for predicting his future performance, leaving us with three seasons as one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. On top of it, he has always been well regarded as a defender. The only downside to Ramos, and it's a big one, is health. He has never played more than 131 games in a season he has only managed more than 88 games four times since debuting in 2010. His signing team will have to grapple with that, especially knowing he turns 32 next August and presumably isn't getting any less breakable. However, if he stays healthy, I can see his signing team getting a great bargain. For his career, the Venezuelan catcher has 109 home runs, a .273/.317/.439 line, and 13.2 fWAR over 760 games since 2010.
3. Kurt Suzuki (2019 Age: 35)
2018 Stats: 12 HR, .271/.332/.444, 0 SB, 108 wRC+, 2.0 fWAR in 105 games
Overall, I think the #3 spot is somewhat ambiguous, with the third best catcher available changing depending on what you're looking for. For some teams, Matt Wieters or Martin Maldonado could be the #3 option. I'm going to go with Kurt Suzuki here though because for someone who turned 35 just after the end of the regular season, he's still a good player. His .271/.332/.444 slash line was very respectable all around, and with good defense, he's an above-average all around catcher. Whether that success continues into 2019, his age 35 season, or beyond is anybody's guess, but my guess is that any 2019 regression does not pull him too far below average, and he should still be a serviceable starting catcher if he's healthy. Even with more regression than expected, he could still be a good backup and with his twelve years of experience in the majors, he's a valuable veteran. For his career, the Cal State Fullerton alumnus has 114 home runs, a .258/.315/.387 slash line, and 18.9 fWAR over 1394 games since 2007.
Other Notable
Matt Wieters (8 HR, .238/.330/.374, 0 SB, 89 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR)
Martin Maldonado (9 HR, .225/.276/.351, 0 SB, 74 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR)
Jonathan Lucroy (4 HR, .241/.291/.325, 0 SB, 70 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR)
Brian McCann (7 HR, .212/.301/.339, 0 SB, 82 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR)
Nick Hundley (10 HR, .241/.298/.408, 2 SB, 91 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR)
Outfielders
1. Bryce Harper (2019 Age: 26)
2018 Stats: 34 HR, .249/.393/.496, 13 SB, 135 wRC+, 3.5 fWAR in 159 games
Bryce Harper represents one of the best free agents we have ever seen, just turning 26 at the beginning of the offseason while bringing an NL MVP award and six All Star selections to the table. The age is especially nice because unlike with most free agents, Harper's signing team will have him for much of his prime, as he won't even turn 30 until after year four. While much has been said about his low batting averages (.243 in 2016 and .249 in 2018), batting average is the last thing you should be concerned about with Harper. His on-base percentages in those two seasons were .373 and .393, respectively, due to an exceptional 14.8% career walk rate, making him one of the game's better players when it comes to getting on base, and that's completely disregarding power. Harper has hit at least 24 home runs in each of the past four seasons, including 42 in his MVP 2015 season and 34 this past year. All of that will amount to a contract in the $400 million range, possibly higher, as a team will look to sign Harper for the remainder of his career. For his career, the Las Vegas native has 184 home runs, a .279/.388/.512 slash line, and 30.7 fWAR over 927 games since 2012.
2. Michael Brantley (2019 Age: 31-32)
2018 Stats: 17 HR, .309/.364/.468, 12 SB, 124 wRC+, 3.5 fWAR in 143 games
I think a lot of people forgot about Brantley because he played just 101 games between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, but he bounced back nicely with a .309/.364/.468 line and 3.5 fWAR in a full season this year. When he's healthy, Brantley is actually a pretty consistent two to four win player who gets on base, hits for some power, and unlike most players these days, rarely strikes out. He's not much help on defense, but his consistent, productive bat would fit in any lineup and could help any contender. For his career, the outfielder from Florida's Treasure Coast has 87 home runs, a .295/.351/.430 slash line, 118 stolen bases, and 19.5 fWAR over 1051 games since 2009.
3. Andrew McCutchen (2019 Age: 32)
2018 Stats: 20 HR, .255/.368/.424, 14 SB, 120 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR in 155 games
McCutchen isn't the consistent six to eight win player he used to be, with his last three years looking more pedestrian. While I think this is now the true McCutchen, a consistent two to four win player is still a good find on the market and he should get a considerable amount of money. He has hit at least 20 home runs and 25 doubles in each of the past eight seasons, and only in 2016 did he fail to steal more than ten bases. While his batting averages have dropped from the great to decent range, he has kept a great walk rate (12.0% career), which makes him overall a pretty good power/on-base threat even at this stage in his career. His defense has taken a hit since his prime, but he's not necessarily a liability at this point as long as you don't play him in center field. For his career, the small town Florida native has 223 home runs, a .287/.378/.481 line, 185 stolen bases, and 48.6 fWAR over 1501 games since 2009.
4. A.J. Pollock (2019 Age: 31)
2018 Stats: 21 HR, .257/.316/.484, 13 SB, 110 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR in 113 games
Pollock might have slashed .315/.367/.498 with 39 stolen bases and 6.8 fWAR in 2015, but he's more realistically a two to three win player who can contribute a little bit of everything. He's got some power, good for 15-20 home runs per season, some on-base ability, some speed, and pretty good defense. Turning 31 in December, he should be able to maintain that all-around ability at its current level for at least a few more years and should land a nice contract. For his career, the Notre Dame product has 74 home runs, a .281/.338/.467 slash line, 103 stolen bases, and 17.2 fWAR over 637 games.
5. Marwin Gonzalez (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 16 HR, .247/.324/.409, 2 SB, 104 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR in 145 games
Marwin Gonzalez is much more valuable than the numbers say. As a guy who has seen significant time at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and left field throughout his career, he can fit on literally any roster, but unlike other recent super-utility men (Andrew Romine, Alfredo Amezaga), he can swing the bat. In four of the past five seasons, he has produced a wRC+ above 100 (league average), including a 144 mark in 2017 that stemmed from a .303/.377/.530 line and 23 home runs. The numbers were down a bit this year at .247/.324/.409 with 16 home runs, but there is not a team out there that shouldn't be at least a little bit interested in a guy who can play almost anywhere you want and still hit enough to remain relevant in the lineup. For his career, the Venezuelan has 76 home runs, a .264/.318/.419 slash line, and 7.8 fWAR over 795 games since 2012.
6. Adam Jones (2019 Age: 33-34)
2018 Stats: 15 HR, .281/.313/.419, 7 SB, 98 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR in 145 games
For baseball's sake, I hope Jones stays in Baltimore, having become synonymous with the Orioles over the past eleven years. However, for now he's a free agent and will test the open market. Turning 34 in August, he's not the 4-5 win player he once was, with both his glove and bat regressing to about average. Still, he's good for some all around contribution, hitting for some power while getting on base enough to justify keeping him in the lineup as long as he stays out of center field. He has been extremely durable, having avoided the disabled list entirely since his 2009 season was cut short by a sprained ankle, so that should help him remain a productive player deep into his thirties. Off the field, he's a great role model both in the clubhouse and out in the community. For his career, the San Diego native (weird to think about, isn't it?) has 266 home runs, a .278/.318/.456 slash line, and 29.4 fWAR over 1686 games since 2006.
7. Nick Markakis (2019 Age: 35)
2018 Stats: 14 HR, .297/.366/.440, 114 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR in 162 games
Despite turning 35 in November, Nick Markakis is showing no signs of slowing down. Having landed on the disabled list just once in his entire major league career (for just over a month in 2012), the durable outfielder had his best season since 2008 in terms of fWAR this year, his 2.6 being the most he's had in a season since he put up 6.0 in 2008. He gets on base, smacks doubles (at least 38 in each of the past four seasons including 43 in 2018), doesn't strike out much, and isn't too much of a liability on defense. He could start even for some contenders, with his age being the only reason he ranks this low on the list. I see no reason he won't be a productive player at least in 2019 and 2020. For his career, the Atlanta area native has 179 home runs, a .288/.358/.424 slash line, and 28.5 fWAR over 2001 games since 2006.
8. Lonnie Chisenhall (2019 Age: 30)
2018 Stats: 1 HR, .321/.394/.452, 1 SB, 129 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR in 29 games
It's easy to forget about Lonnie Chisenhall, as he has played just 111 games over the past two seasons due to injury, including just 29 in 2018, but he's actually a very productive player when on the field. Over those past two seasons, he is slashing .297/.368/.503 with 13 home runs and 2.1 fWAR in what amounts to about two thirds of a season's worth of games. That's a three win pace if he's healthy, comparable to what we might see out of a guy like Josh Reddick, except Chisenhall's left/right splits aren't as drastic. He also joined the fly ball revolution last year, which helped produce those numbers. His lack of consistent health pushes him down to #8 on this list, but a healthy Chisenhall could be a steal for whoever signs him. For his career, the eastern North Carolina native has 64 home runs, a .268/.320/.427 slash line, and 7.9 fWAR over 688 games.
9. Carlos Gonzalez (2019 Age: 33)
2018 Stats: 16 HR, .276/.329/.467, 5 SB, 96 wRC+, 1.7 fWAR in 132 games
Gonzalez isn't the 3-5 win player he once was, but he's still a solid left handed bat with a proven track record and enough sock to justify a spot lower in the lineup. He has fairly significant left/right splits, hitting righties at a .284/.344/.485 clip in 2018 but putting up just a .259/.295/.424 line against lefties, so he could fit nicely into a platoon role. His numbers will drop with his new team, but expect some power with the ability to get on base at a decent rate, especially against right handed pitching. For his career, the Venezuelan has 231 home runs, a .287/.345/.506 slash line, and 26.3 fWAR over 1332 games since 2008.
10. Denard Span (2019 Age: 35)
2018 Stats: 11 HR, .261/.341/.419, 9 SB, 112 wRC+, 1.5 fWAR in 137 games
While Span's loss of speed with age has sapped his value on defense and on the base paths, he still walks enough to get on base at a pretty good rate, and he seems to have found his home run stroke late in his career. After never hitting more than eight home runs in a season from 2008-2015, he has reached double digits in each of the past three seasons. This shifts his value more to his bat and away from his speed and defense, and while he shouldn't be a starter for a contending team, he could be a productive regular on most non-contending teams and even bat at the top of a few lineups. He does turn 35 in spring training, so he won't get a long term deal. For his career, the Tampa native has 71 home runs, a .281/.347/.398 slash line, 185 stolen bases, and 27.7 fWAR over 1359 games since 2008.
Other notable
Curtis Granderson (13 HR, .242/.351/.431, 2 SB, 116 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR)
Jon Jay (3 HR, .268/.330/.347, 4 SB, 86 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR)
Cameron Maybin (4 HR, .249/.326/.336, 10 SB, 88 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR)
Melky Cabrera (6 HR, .280/.335/.420, 1 SB, 102 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR)
Carlos Gomez (9 HR, .208/.298/.336, 12 SB, 80 wRC+, -0.5 fWAR)
Jose Bautista (13 HR, .203/.348/.378, 4 SB, 107 wRC+, 1.0 fWAR)
Matt Joyce (7 HR, .208/.322/.353, 0 SB, 89 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR)
Gerardo Parra (6 HR, .284/.342/.372, 11 SB, 80 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR)
Austin Jackson (3 HR, .245/.299/.326, 3 SB, 74 wRC+, -1.0 fWAR)
Hunter Pence (4 HR, .226/.258/.332, 5 SB, 59 wRC+, -0.9 fWAR)
Designated Hitters
1. Nelson Cruz (2019 Age: 38-39)
2018 Stats: 37 HR, .256/.342/.509, 1 SB, 134 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR in 144 games
Even though Cruz turns 39 in July, he is proving that he still has plenty of sock left in his bat and can contribute to any lineup that can fit him in at DH. Even with no defensive value, he has put up five straight seasons with at least 37 home runs, and with his decent walk rate, he gets on base enough to where he's a real threat at the plate. At this point, nearing 40, he probably fits as a #5 hitter on a non-contending team or as a #6 hitter on a contender, and even at this age I see no reason why he can't hit 30+ home runs in each of the next two seasons, albeit with falling on-base percentages that sit in the .340-.360 range now but could fall below .330 in the near future. For his career, the Dominican has 360 home runs, a .274/.342/.518 slash line, and 33.1 fWAR over 1569 games since 2005.
2. Evan Gattis (2019 Age: 32)
2018 Stats: 25 HR, .226/.284/.452, 1 SB, 99 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR in 128 games
The bad news is that Gattis' offense took a hit in 2018 and dropped below league average for the first time in his career, but the good news is that he still hit more than 20 home runs for the fourth time in his five major league seasons. He's not exactly the impact hitter that Cruz is, and as a DH, that's problematic, but he can still fit in towards the bottom of a major league lineup and if a team has an opening at DH, it's a starting-quality bat. As recently as 2016, he slashed .251/.319/.508 with 32 home runs and 2.7 fWAR, and he can get behind the plate and catch in a pinch, so Gattis should find a place to fit in and contribute to a major league team. For his career, the Dallas native has 139 home runs, a .248/.300/.476 slash line, and 7.7 fWAR over 706 games since 2013. Not bad for a former janitor.
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