Simply put, Shohei Ohtani’s deal was record-shattering. I mean, seeing that notification come across my phone made my jaw drop to the floor. 700 MILLLION? 680 of it deferred? We all knew Ohtani was going to get a “bag,” but I don’t think people thought he’d get quite that much. I could write a piece on that alone, but instead let’s focus on players that teams can still sign. Here are my top five remaining MLB free agents and where I believe they will end up.
1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Some Japanese players who are MLB-worthy wait to make the move until their late 20s and even sometimes their early 30s. Yamamoto, however, is only 25 and by all accounts ready to be a top 10 starting pitcher, and quite possibly an ace. There are few teams who can afford someone like him, some MLB insiders believe he could get as much as 300 million. I think this bidding war could come down to the New York teams, and I expect the boys from the Bronx to win it. I believe Yamamoto will be the Yankees number two starter behind Gerrit Cole.
2. Blake Snell. Some people may think he’s too high on this list, and they could be right. There’s no doubt Snell has had some individual seasons that wouldn’t align with him being number two on this list, even despite the fact a few of the big names are off the board. But to me, the talent needed to be a legit ace has always been there for Snell. He’s a former Cy Young award winner and had a very solid season in 2023 going 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA. Snell is a high reward medium risk signing, one that I believe the Mets will take after they miss out on Yamamoto.
3. Jordan Montgomery. You could argue this is a lower-risk signing than Snell, I just think Snell is more of a big time signing. With that being said, any team would be lucky to have Montgomery, especially if his 2023 campaign is the new normal for him, particularly in the postseason. Montgomery owns a 2.63 ERA in his postseason career and was a massive reason the Rangers won it all this past October. He did struggle for large parts of his Yankees career, but he seems to have turned a page. I expect him to resign with the Rangers and try and help them become the first repeat world champions since the Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000.
4. Cody Bellinger. The 2019 NL MVP regained his stardom in a huge way in 2023, just missing a 30-100 season, registering 26 HRs and 97 RBIs. Bellinger should have multiple suitors, but I think Chicago is a great fit for him. Wrigley Field supports his hitting style, especially on those windy nights. The fans also took to Bellinger, and I expect him to remain in the Windy City.
5. Josh Hader. I have no idea why Hader isn’t getting talked about more. I get that a setup man isn’t the most valuable thing in the current MLB and I also get that his 2022 season wasn’t good at all. But he rebounded in a big way in 2023, and his stuff is as nasty as any pitcher in the league. For teams looking to sure up their bullpen, Hader should be near the top or at the top of their list. The Angels have money to spend, and I think there is a good chance they turn out to be the highest bidder. I say Hader takes the money.
What are your thoughts? Feel free to send me an email at lservello@www.clermontsun.com