logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home Sports Correa, Freeman, Scherzer among baseball's top free agents
    Correa, Freeman, Scherzer among baseball’s top free agents
    Baseball, National Sports, Pro
    November 24, 2021

    Correa, Freeman, Scherzer among baseball’s top free agents

    With a possible lockout on the horizon, it’s been mostly business as usual on the free agent market — so far.

    Detroit signed left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez. Houston retained star righty Justin Verlander. Noah Syndergaard went from the Mets to the Angels on an expensive one-year deal.

    The deadline to accept qualifying offers came and went last week, further clarifying who was heading to the open market.

    It remains to be seen whether the uncertainty about the next labor agreement will affect offseason moves for the top players available, but it’s clear there are plenty of good options for teams looking to upgrade.

    Here’s a look at baseball’s top free agents by position. Players’ current ages are in parentheses:

    LEFT-HANDED STARTER

    Carlos Rodón, White Sox (28)

    It’s a toss-up between Rodón and Robbie Ray. Rodón didn’t really threaten Ray in the Cy Young vote, but his ERA was about a half a run lower and he’s also younger. And Ray received a qualifying offer while Rodón did not, so that may make Rodón a more enticing target.

    Other options: Ray rebounded impressively from a poor 2020, but he isn’t some one-year wonder. He was very good in 2017 as well. Clayton Kershaw has never pitched for anyone but the Dodgers, but he’s available now and at age 33 can still be effective if healthy.

    LEFT-HANDED RELIEVER

    Aaron Loup, Mets (33)

    Loup went 6-0 with a 0.95 ERA in 65 appearances. Opponents hit .192 off him.

    Other options: Andrew Chafin was impressive last season for both the Cubs and Athletics. Tony Watson cut down on the walks after being traded from the Angels to the Giants.

    RIGHT-HANDED STARTER

    Max Scherzer, Dodgers (37)

    No signs yet of any major decline for Scherzer despite his age. He’s had an ERA at 3.15 or lower in eight of the last nine seasons — the only time it was higher was in the shortened 2020 campaign.

    Other options: Kevin Gausman was good in 2020 and looked like a Cy Young contender this year until a second-half stumble. Marcus Stroman gave the Mets a 3.02 ERA over 33 starts in 2021.

    RIGHT-HANDED RELIEVER

    Raisel Iglesias, Angels (31)

    Iglesias saved 34 games for Los Angeles, and things did not go smoothly for the Cincinnati bullpen after he left. He’s had at least 30 saves in each of the past three non-shortened seasons.

    Other options: Kenley Jansen seemed to be slipping after three straight years with an ERA over 3.00. Then he lowered it to 2.22 this year and held opponents to a .153 average. Tampa Bay signed Collin McHugh before last season, and that alone is a good endorsement of a reliever’s potential. He went 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA.

    CATCHER

    Yan Gomes, Athletics (34)

    There aren’t any star catchers available this year, but Gomes can provide a bit of pop.

    Other options: Roberto Pérez hit 24 homers in 2019 and then batted under .200 in 2020 and 2021. Robinson Chirinos hit double-digit homers three straight seasons from 2017-19 but has played only 71 games since.

    FIRST BASE

    Freddie Freeman, Braves (32)

    Losing Freeman would be a major downer for the World Series champions, but the five-time All-Star and 2020 MVP will obviously command a big price. Even at first base it’s hard to find this kind of consistent production.

    Other options: Anthony Rizzo’s OPS has been under .800 the past two seasons, but he’s the only other big name available at first. Brad Miller is coming off a 20-homer season in Philadelphia but is unlikely to provide a high batting average.

    SECOND BASE

    Marcus Semien, Blue Jays (31)

    Let’s list Semien as a second baseman — where he mostly played this season — and avoid a tough decision at shortstop. Semien hit 45 home runs this year while playing all 162 games, and he finished third in the MVP vote. He has the most WAR of any player in baseball since the start of the 2019 season, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

    Other options: César Hernández hit 18 home runs for Cleveland this season before being traded to the White Sox. Donovan Solano’s offensive numbers dipped slightly this year but he was a solid contributor for the 107-win Giants.

    THIRD BASE

    Eduardo Escobar, Brewers (32)

    Escobar hit 28 home runs this year in the first full season since he slugged 35 in 2019. He played a bit at first, second and shortstop in addition to third.

    Other options: Kyle Seager got a big ovation from Seattle fans at the last game of this season — they were apparently well aware that he might be moving on to another team. Jonathan Villar’s stolen base numbers aren’t what they used to be, but he can still provide double-digit homers.

    SHORTSTOP

    Carlos Correa, Astros (27)

    Correa made his big league debut at age 20 and reaches free agency well shy of his 30th birthday. That makes him a good bit younger than some of the other top players on this list, and he may be the most sought-after name this offseason.

    Other options: There are plenty of good shortstops available this year. Corey Seager is also 27, and Trevor Story just turned 29. Javier Báez turns 29 on Dec. 1.

    OUTFIELD

    Starling Marte, Athletics (33)

    Kris Bryant, Giants (29)

    Nick Castellanos, Reds (29)

    Marte did what he could to help the A’s down the stretch, and he ended up with an .841 OPS this year for Oakland and Miami. Bryant doesn’t turn 30 until January and can obviously play third base in addition to the outfield. Castellanos set career highs in homers (34), batting average (.309) and OPS (.939) this year.

    Other options: Avisaíl García hit a career-high 29 homers for Milwaukee and is only 30 years old. Chris Taylor remained productive for the Dodgers while playing six positions. Japanese slugger Seiya Suzuki hit 38 homers this season with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

    DESIGNATED HITTER

    Nelson Cruz, Rays (41)

    Cruz may finally be slowing down, but only a little. He hit 32 homers this year but posted an .832 OPS, his lowest since 2012.

    Other options: Kyle Schwarber finally ended up with an American League team when he was traded from Washington to Boston. He can play the outfield, but he’s known for his bat, and his role will likely depend on where he goes and what the rules are. Mitch Moreland spent a lot more time at DH than at first base this year, and his offensive numbers dipped significantly.

    Tags:

    baseball national pro
    By NOAH TRISTER A.P. Baseball Writer

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    Cattaraugus County Museum to host quilting talk
    Local News
    Cattaraugus County Museum to host quilting talk
    July 5, 2025
    MACHIAS, N.Y. — The Cattaraugus County Museum’s Summer at the Stone House series continues Thursday with a presentation by noted quilt appraiser and e...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Greenhouse, hydroponic production webinar
    Local News
    Greenhouse, hydroponic production webinar
    July 5, 2025
    UNIVERSITY PARK  — For those interested in learning more about greenhouse fundamentals and hydroponic vegetable production basics, Penn State Extensio...
    Read More...
    Harvest new ideas at ‘Starting and Improving Farms Conference’ in Sept.
    Business, Local News, PA State News
    Harvest new ideas at ‘Starting and Improving Farms Conference’ in Sept.
    July 5, 2025
    UNIVERSITY PARK — Interested in starting a farm, diversifying an existing farm or beginning an agritourism business? To help participants explore new ...
    Read More...
    Dubas puts emphasis on individual development for Penguins’ 1st round ‘triplets’
    Local Sports, Sports
    Dubas puts emphasis on individual development for Penguins’ 1st round ‘triplets’
    TIM BENZ The Tribune-Review, Greensburg/TNS 
    July 5, 2025
    The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted three players in the first round, it was 1984. Two of those players were Doug Bodger and Roger Belanger....
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Why elite talent trumps scheme fit in the NFL Draft
    Sports
    Why elite talent trumps scheme fit in the NFL Draft
    By Cleveland.com 
    July 5, 2025
    CLEVELAND (TNS) — The eternal NFL Draft debate continues to rage: Should teams prioritize raw talent or scheme fit? In a recent episode of Orange and ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    ‘Round the Square: Got worms?
    Round the Square
    ‘Round the Square: Got worms?
    July 5, 2025
    MEDICINE: Medical advancements are miraculous. Innovations as simple as cleanliness have saved countless lives. Just imagine what the state of healthc...
    Read More...
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA