(Audacy) As the 2022-'23 MLB offseason begins, here's a look at the top 10 free agents this winter.
1. Aaron Judge, RF
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2022 stats: .311/.425/.686 with 62 home runs, 131 RBIs, 111 walks, 1.111 OPS and an 11.4 WAR
Age in 2023: 31
What's there to say? Judge is coming off of the greatest contract year in MLB history and is going to be the American League MVP. While the seven-year, $213.5-million offer that Judge declined before the season may have looked like a fair offer at the time, the AL single-season home run King is certain to top it now.
2. Trea Turner, SS
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2022 stats: .298/.343/.466 with 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, 45 walks, .809 OPS and a 6.3 WAR
Age in 2023: 30
Turner was once one of the best-kept secrets in baseball, but he's been such an excellent all-around player since 2020 that he'll be as coveted as anyone in this class. Over the last three seasons, Turner has slashed .316/.364/.514 with 61 home runs, 218 RBIs, 71 stolen bases and an .809 OPS. Turner's 15.9 WAR since the start of 2020 is tied with José Ramírez for the second-best mark among all position players, with only Judge topping him, according to FanGraphs.
3. Carlos Correa, SS
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2022 stats: .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs, 64 RBIs, 61 walks, .834 OPS and a 4.4 WAR
Age in 2023: 28
Correa is back on the free-agent market after opting out of the final two seasons of a three-year, $105.3-million deal with the Minnesota Twins. The Detroit Tigers offered Correa a 10-year, $275-million contract early in free agency last winter, which he failed to jump at. If a similar offer presents itself this offseason, will he take it?
4. Xander Bogaerts, SS
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2022 stats: .307/.377/.456 with 15 home runs, 73 RBIs, 57 walks, .833 OPS and a 6.1 WAR
Age in 2023: 30
Bogaerts opted out of the final three seasons of a six-year, $120-million deal with the Boston Red Sox and figures to at least match the deal he signed in April 2019 this time around. Not only is Bogaerts one of the best hitters in the sport, but he's coming off of the best defensive season of his career, having posted four defensive runs saved and five outs above average.
5. Justin Verlander, RHP
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2022 stats: 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA, 2.49 FIP and 6.1 WAR across 175 innings
Age in 2023: 40
One of the greatest right-handed pitchers in MLB history, Verlander is now a two-time World Series champion and likely to win his third career American League Cy Young award after a tremendous 2022 season. There's always a risk of a player hitting a wall this late in their career, but there figures to be multiple suitors willing to guarantee the future Hall of Famer at least two years this winter.
6. Jacob deGrom, RHP
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2022 stats: 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA, 2.13 FIP and 2.2 WAR across 64 1/3 innings
Age in 2023: 35
When he's on the mound, deGrom has as good of an arsenal as any pitcher to ever play baseball. But it's fair to point out that the two-time National League Cy Young award winner has only made 26 total starts over the past two seasons. Granted, he has a minuscule 1.90 ERA in those 26 starts, but when you're talking about the type of money deGrom is going to command, availability is unquestionably part of the equation.
7. Carlos Rodón, LHP
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
2022 stats: 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA, 2.25 FIP and 6.2 WAR across 178 innings
Age in 2023: 30
Following a tremendous 2021 season with the Chicago White Sox, Rodón had a disappointing trip into free agency last winter, ultimately settling for a two-year, $44-million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Rodón opted out of that contract after one season because he was so excellent that even though he'll be saddled with a qualifying offer, he won't have any issues getting a long-term deal this time around. Over the last two seasons, the only pitchers to top Rodón's 11.1 WAR are Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes and Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler.
8. Dansby Swanson, SS
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
2022 stats: .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs, 96 RBIs, 49 walks, .776 OPS and a 6.4 WAR
Age in 2023: 29
Swanson went from being a top-half-of-the-league shortstop to a star in 2022. Not only did he have the best offensive season of his career, but he posted nine defensive runs saved and 20 outs above average en route to winning a Gold Glove Award. If Swanson isn't willing to take a hometown discount to stay with the Atlanta Braves, he'll have plenty of other interested teams.
9. Brandon Nimmo, CF
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2022 stats: .274/.367/.433 with 16 home runs, 64 RBIs, 71 walks, .800 OPS and 5.4 WAR
Age in 2023: 30
In a sport with so few quality center fielders, Nimmo should command a major contract this winter, whether it's from the New York Mets or another party. He's an on-base machine who can hit at the top of your order and is seen by most as being an above-average fielder at a crucial position.
10. Willson Contreras, C
Norm Hall/Getty Images
2022 stats: .243/.349/.466 with 22 home runs, 55 RBIs, 45 walks, .815 OPS and 3.3 WAR
Age in 2023: 31
Contreras is one of the best hitting catchers in the sport. With that said, he'll be 31 next season and already isn't a great receiver. As the three-time All-Star looks for a major payday, his market may be more limited than some are projecting.
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