On Monday, we printed this 12 months’s installment of our annual Prime 50 Free Agent rankings. These rankings had been compiled by Ben Clemens, with the gamers listed within the order during which he prefers them, however he’d be the primary to inform you that there isn’t quite a lot of daylight separating lots of the guys towards the again of the record. Notably in a category like this, with quite a lot of good-but-not-great free brokers, there are in all probability plenty of gamers who fell simply exterior the Prime 50 who you might argue advantage inclusion. With that in thoughts, I requested the writers who supplied the player-specific commentary for this 12 months’s rankings a query: Which participant who didn’t make the record would you could have included in your private Prime 50?
These are their solutions, with the gamers listed in alphabetical order. Get pleasure from!
Scott Barlow, Reduction PitcherReliable relievers are particularly worthwhile in at the moment’s sport, and that ought to make Scott Barlow a horny, comparatively low-cost possibility on the free agent market. During the last 4 seasons, the 31-year-old right-hander has averaged 66 appearances with a 3.21 ERA, a 3.38 FIP, and a 27.7% strikeout charge. Sliders and curveballs have been his major weapons. Once I talked to Tim Herrin earlier this summer season, Barlow’s then teammate known as him “Scotty Spin,” saying that he had “the perfect breaking stuff” within the Cleveland Guardians bullpen.
Which brings us to a caveat. Whereas Barlow’s general monitor file is one in all dependability, his 2024 season ended prematurely because of a scarcity of effectiveness in August and early September. After logging a 3.12 ERA, a 3.49 FIP, and a 31.4% strikeout charge over 50 appearances by July, he noticed these numbers plummet to eight.49, 6.00, and 17.% over his subsequent 13 outings, prompting the Guardians to chop him unfastened on September 11. That he wasn’t subsequently picked up by one other group is additional indication that the standard of his stuff wasn’t seen as being as much as snuff.
As for what the latest previous means for the foreseeable future, that’s one thing potential employers might want to work out. Barlow has certainly seen his velocity drop and his stroll charge improve, however are these correctable hiccups or indicators that his finest days are behind him? No matter what finally proves true, groups might be kicking the tires as free company unfolds.
Matthew Boyd, Beginning PitcherMatthew Boyd hasn’t thrown greater than 78.2 innings in a season since his 2019 with the Tigers, a breakout marketing campaign throughout which he struck out 30.2% of the batters he confronted whereas commerce rumors swirled. He ended up staying in Detroit for the remainder of that season and one other two years after, however since then, he’s bounced round, going from the Mariners again to the Tigers, earlier than lastly touchdown with the Guardians in 2024.
His eight begins with Cleveland had been his finest displaying since that 2019 breakout, with a 2.72 ERA and 27.7% strikeout charge previous a postseason during which he gave up only one run in 11.2 innings whereas hanging out 14. Persevering with a development from the common season, October Boyd relied much less on his fastball and extra on a stable changeup/slider/curveball combine. That ought to assist allay any issues a group might need about an getting older pitcher dropping velocity, although Boyd’s common fastball velo has remained pretty fixed in recent times.
Boyd began 2024 rehabbing from elbow surgical procedure and thus didn’t signal with the Guardians till halfway by the season, although he nonetheless made $1.75 million for his half-season’s value of labor. The final time he was wholesome getting into an offseason was previous to the 2023 season, when he parlayed 13.2 nice reduction innings with the Mariners right into a $10 million contract to return to Detroit. Logically it follows that Boyd ought to have the ability to beat that Tigers deal, particularly with the additional benefit of three dominant begins on the postseason stage. One thing like $14 million-$16 million for one 12 months, or $20 million-$25 million for 2, feels about proper.
Yimi García, Reduction PitcherFor many of the 2024 season, Yimi García seemed like one in all baseball’s finest relievers. His fastball dismantled hitters, topping out at 99 mph from a vicious method angle. However as quickly as he landed in Seattle on the deadline, his stuff didn’t look proper. After a number of rocky August outings, he landed on the injured record with what proved to be season-ending proper elbow irritation.
If García had stayed wholesome, he possible would’ve ended up ranked on the Prime 50, perhaps someplace above the cluster of previous relievers like Aroldis Chapman and David Robertson. By means of July, his Ok% – BB% ranked seventh amongst all bullpen arms, as he struck out 36.5% of the hitters he confronted whereas limiting injury on contact. His method is unorthodox for a reliever. There’s the four-seam fastball, which had probably the greatest velocity/vertical method angle combos within the majors — however he solely threw it 38% of the time. His different 5 pitches — three breaking balls, a sinker, and a changeup — permit for a number of assault plans in opposition to each right-handed and left-handed hitters.
A kitchen sink arsenal, moderately correct command, and a top-end fastball — give García a wholesome proper elbow, and he would slot into the again of any contender’s bullpen.
Enrique Hernández, UtilitymanAt first look, it may appear simple to dismiss Enrique Hernández, who hit for simply an 83 wRC+, the fifth time up to now six years that he’s been at 86 or decrease. Nonetheless, simply earlier than the All-Star break, a radical eye examination revealed that the 33-year-old suffers from astigmatism in his proper eye. It prevented him from selecting up the spin of the baseball till he began sporting glasses, whereupon his efficiency improved markedly. After hitting an anemic .191/.258/.299 (59 wRC+) by the primary half, he improved to .274/.307/.458 (112 wRC+) within the second, trimming his strikeout charge by over three factors. He carried his enchancment into the postseason, the place he got here up with some enormous hits whereas batting .294/.357/.451 (129 wRC+) in 57 PA, persevering with his future of October excellence.
Sure, there was in all probability some regression and/or luck concerned in Hernández’s turnaround, as he fell nicely wanting his Statcast anticipated numbers within the first half however outdid them considerably within the second, and truly chased extra pitches exterior the zone (and walked much less regularly) after getting glasses. Nonetheless, he’s a sure-handed defender who can do every part besides catch (he even pitched 4.1 innings in 2024, and made a number of begins at second, third, and heart subject in October), doesn’t get overwhelmed on the largest stage, and has an incredible fame as a teammate and clubhouse presence. Any group may use his good vibes.
Kyle Higashioka, CatcherFunction gamers don’t seize huge headlines in the course of the winter, however trying on the free brokers who didn’t make our Prime 50, Kyle Higashioka is the one who fascinates me probably the most. Higgy’s by no means been a full-time starter within the majors, however at a time when groups more and more take a look at the catcher place as a tandem state of affairs, a part-time backstop who can hit the occasional homer whereas additionally dealing with the defensive facet of issues is a tantalizing addition. During the last three seasons, Higashioka has been value 4.5 WAR over 771 plate appearances (2.6 WAR per 450 PA). And after beginning 2024 as Luis Campusano’s backup, he seized the lion’s share of the enjoying time by late summer season and began all seven of San Diego’s postseason video games.
Sure, he turns 35 early subsequent season, however many of the different part-time-ish catchers obtainable in free company are additionally up there in age, and Higashioka has fewer innings in his knees (in some instances, significantly fewer) than actually all of the catchers however Danny Jansen. The low on-base proportion hurts, however the general package deal makes Higashioka a tremendous plug-and-play possibility, and his glove is sweet sufficient that he can tackle a bigger position in a pinch.
Jose Iglesias, ShortstopThesis: Jose Iglesias simply hit .337/.381/.448 as defensive center infielder, produced 2.5 WAR in about half a season, and ended the 12 months hitting in the midst of the order for a group that made the NLCS. How on earth is that this man not one of many prime 50 free brokers?
Antithesis: Iglesias put up these numbers thanks to not some revolution in method or contact high quality, however a comically fluky .382 BABIP. He’s nonetheless a Punch-and-Judy hitter with a GB/FB ratio near 2.00 and a stroll charge that solely peeks over 4.0% in good years. He’ll be 35 in January, and he hasn’t posted a wRC+ over 100 in a full season since 2013. Why is he something greater than a non-roster invitee?
Synthesis: Any sane particular person would take the underneath on Iglesias repeating his 137 wRC+ from 2024, however the fact is he hasn’t been a horrible hitter for a while. Leaving apart short-season outliers in 2020 and 2024, Iglesias has posted high-80s wRC+ marks fairly routinely since 2018. Add in solid-to-plus protection – in a market the place you guys assume Gleyber Torres, the Man with the Iron Mitt, goes to get $18 million a 12 months – and Iglesias has been no less than a 1.0 WAR participant in each season during which he’s taken half, courting again to 2013. That seems like damning with faint reward, however what number of guys on the again finish of our Prime 50 record are platoon nook outfielders or no. 5 starters who’ve that sort of manufacturing as a ceiling? Give the person an opportunity.
Jonathan Loáisiga, Reduction PitcherThere may be mainly no time between once we watch the gamers who’re thrust into significant postseason spots and once we take a look at the record of impending free brokers, and when digesting that record of names, it’s pure to think about who has the expertise to thrive in these harrowing October moments. Although he has suffered a litany of accidents all through his profession, most just lately needing Tommy John surgical procedure in April of 2024, the wholesome model of Jonathan Loáisiga fairly clearly has the stuff to be a contender’s high-leverage bullpen weapon.
Loáisiga’s damage historical past is terrifying, and his subsequent deal ought to look just like the one-year, $10 million contract the Dodgers gave Blake Treinen means again in 2019 when he was additionally a talented-but-injured enigma. Loáisiga has had 14 IL stints since his 2013 professional debut with San Francisco, the membership that launched him earlier than he left the DSL partly as a result of he couldn’t keep wholesome. The Yankees signed him after he was seen pitching for Nicaragua in a world match, and regardless of a number of extra accidents (typically to his shoulder) throughout his growth, Loáisiga finally turned an essential a part of New York’s huge league bullpen.
For a short while, anyway. He has solely exceeded 48 innings in a season as soon as (70.2 IP in 2021) as a result of accidents have wreaked such havoc on his profession. Earlier than he blew out in April, Loáisiga was sitting 97-99 mph with nasty sink, whereas additionally that includes his normally vicious upper-80s slider and a low-90s energy changeup. He has mainly seemed this manner whereas he’s been wholesome for his total profession, together with all through 2023 when he additionally handled elbow points (2022 was the final time he had a shoulder damage). The timing of Loáisiga’s surgical procedure means he’ll be again early sufficient in 2025 to make an affect on an enormous portion of the season and, in the precise state of affairs, the postseason. His ceiling as a high-leverage reliever is large enough to advantage inclusion close to the again of our Prime 50.
Chris Martin, Reduction PitcherChris Martin is 38 years previous. Nervousness and elbow irritation restricted him to 45 appearances in 2024. As crimson flags go, that’s about it. Sooner or later, Martin will cease being efficient, however there’s no cause specifically to consider that day will are available 2025. His fastball velocity was nonetheless a bit above the league common in 2024, and as for his efficiency, nicely, he was the identical man as ever. He leans closely on a wonderful cutter and four-seamer, together with the occasional splitter or sinker to maintain hitters off stability. He ran a 3.45 ERA and a 2.78 FIP, and the anticipated variations of these stats had been even higher. Martin’s 35.2% chase charge was among the many finest in baseball. Amongst pitchers with no less than 40 innings pitched, his 1.7% stroll charge was the best possible. None of that is new.
From 2019 to 2024, Martin’s 6.0 WAR ranks ninth amongst all relievers, just under Kenley Jansen and Edwin Díaz. He has a 2.81 ERA and a 2.77 FIP over that span, and he’s equally efficient in opposition to lefties and righties. He’s a World Sequence champion with a 1.88 ERA over 15 postseason appearances. The final time he ran an FIP above 3.50 was 2018, when he was at 3.52. What contender wouldn’t desire a man like that popping out of the bullpen?
J.D. Martinez, Designated HitterWhen you get all the way down to the gamers who didn’t make our Prime 50, there aren’t many high-upside guys left. J.D. Martinez is an exception. It’s not exhausting to see why Ben left him off: He’s already 37, and his 108 wRC+ this previous season was unimpressive for a DH. But, there nonetheless is perhaps middle-of-the-order manufacturing inside this getting older slugger’s bat.
In 2023, Martinez put up a 135 wRC+ throughout 113 video games. He hit at a comparable tempo by the primary half of 2024, posting a 130 wRC+ over 66 contests. A second-half stoop diminished his full-season stat line, however remember that his .258 BABIP after the All-Star break was one of many lowest figures he’s produced in any equally lengthy stretch of his profession. In the meantime, his .334 xwOBA in that point was nonetheless nicely above common. Certainly, Martinez completed the season with an 88th-percentile xwOBA. For comparability, he ranked within the 91st percentile in 2023, the 83rd in 2022, and the 88th in 2021. He was an All-Star all three years. What’s extra, Martinez confirmed higher plate self-discipline in 2024 than he did the 12 months earlier than. He lowered his chase, whiff, and strikeout charges whereas strolling at his highest clip since 2019.
Time comes for everybody finally, and Martinez could possibly be nearing the tip of the street. Then once more, I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s a greater hitter subsequent 12 months than anybody under Joc Pederson on our Prime 50. He ought to be capable to discover somebody to guess on that upside.
