The free agent market in Major League Baseball (MLB) is an ever-evolving landscape of teams and players looking to make their mark in the league. Every year, a new crop of free agents emerge who are looking to make an impact on their new teams and help steer them to a championship. With the 2020 MLB season now underway, there are a number of free agents who stand out as some of the best available. In this article, we’ll take a look at who some of the best free agents in MLB are.
What is a Free Agent?
A free agent is a player who is not under contract with any team and is free to sign with any team in the league. Most free agents are players who have had their contracts expire or have been released from their contracts by the teams they were previously with.
In baseball, free agents are typically classified into three categories: Type A, Type B, and Type C. Type A free agents are considered to be the most sought-after and are typically the most expensive to acquire. Type B free agents are seen as slightly less desirable than Type A, but still have value to teams. Finally, Type C free agents are the least desirable and are usually signed to minor league contracts.
Who are the Best Free Agents in MLB?
There are a number of free agents who stand out as some of the best available in the MLB. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the top free agents in the league.
Gerrit Cole
When it comes to the best free agents in MLB, Gerrit Cole is at the top of the list. The 29-year-old right-hander has been one of the best pitchers in the league for the past few seasons and is considered to be the best free agent on the market.
Cole has been a standout in the AL East for the past two seasons, posting a combined 3.02 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with the New York Yankees. He is also a two-time All-Star and has won the AL Cy Young Award in 2019. Cole has been one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason and is expected to sign a lucrative contract with a team soon.
Anthony Rendon
Anthony Rendon is another top free agent in MLB this offseason. The 29-year-old third baseman is coming off of a career year in 2019 in which he hit .319 with 34 home runs and 126 RBIs for the Washington Nationals. He was also instrumental in leading the Nationals to a World Series victory and was named the MVP of the NLCS.
Rendon is considered to be one of the best all-around players in the league and is expected to command a large contract from whichever team he signs with. He is expected to sign with one of the top contenders in the league and could make a huge difference in the team’s lineup.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Hyun-Jin Ryu is another top free agent this offseason. The 32-year-old left-hander is coming off of a career year in 2019 in which he posted a 2.32 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was also named an All-Star and won the NL Cy Young Award.
Ryu is one of the top free agents in MLB and is expected to be highly sought after by teams. He is a proven winner and could make a huge impact on whichever team he signs with.
Stephen Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg is another top free agent this offseason. The 31-year-old right-hander is coming off of a career year in 2019 in which he posted a 3.32 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with the Washington Nationals. He was also instrumental in leading the Nationals to a World Series victory and was named MVP of the World Series.
Strasburg is considered to be one of the top pitchers in the league and is expected to command a large contract from whichever team he signs with. He is expected to sign with a top contender in the league and could make a huge difference in the team’s rotation.
Madison Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner is another top free agent this offseason. The 30-year-old left-hander is coming off of a solid season in 2019 in which he posted a 3.90 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with the San Francisco Giants.
Bumgarner is a proven winner and is considered to be one of the best pitchers in the league. He is expected to command a large contract from whichever team he signs with and could make a huge difference in the team’s rotation.
Josh Donaldson
Josh Donaldson is another top free agent this offseason. The 34-year-old third baseman is coming off of a solid season in 2019 in which he hit .259 with 37 home runs and 94 RBIs for the Atlanta Braves.
Donaldson is considered to be one of the best all-around players in the league and is expected to command a large contract from whichever team he signs with. He is expected to sign with a top contender in the league and could make a huge difference in the team’s lineup.
Marcell Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna is another top free agent this offseason. The 29-year-old outfielder is coming off of a solid season in 2019 in which he hit .241 with 29 home runs and 89 RBIs for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ozuna is considered to be one of the best power hitters in the league and is expected to command a large contract from whichever team he signs with. He is expected to sign with a top contender in the league and could make a huge difference in the team’s lineup.
Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler is another top free agent this offseason. The 29-year-old right-hander is coming off of a solid season in 2019 in which he posted a 3.96 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with the New York Mets.
Wheeler is considered to be one of the top pitchers in the league and is expected to command a large contract from whichever team he signs with. He is expected to sign with a top contender in the league and could make a huge difference in the team’s rotation.
Will Smith
Will Smith is another top free agent this offseason. The 30-year-old left-hander is coming off of a strong season in 2019 in which he posted a 2.76 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with the San Francisco Giants.
Smith is considered to be one of the top relievers in the league and is expected to command a large contract from whichever team he signs with. He is expected to sign with a top contender in the league and could make a huge difference in the team’s bullpen.
Conclusion
The free agent market in MLB is always a competitive landscape of teams and players looking to make their mark in the league. This offseason has seen a number of top free agents emerge who are looking to make an impact on their new teams and help steer them to a championship. From Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon to Hyun-Jin Ryu and Stephen Strasburg, there are a number of free agents who stand out as some of the best available in the MLB.
No matter which team signs these free agents, they will be sure to make a huge impact in their new homes and could help lead their teams to a championship.