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97.3 The Fan Top 10 potential MLB free-agent outfielders in 2021-22 offseason

Top 10 potential MLB free-agent outfielders in 2021-22 offseason

75756A5E-120A-4932-810C-2FD980DB785E
By Tim Kelly, Audacy Sports

Finding needle-movers in the outfield -- especially in center field -- has become an especially tricky (and expensive) proposition if you plan to do it externally.

That trend doesn't figure to change in the 2021-22 Major League Baseball offseason.

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Ahead of the MLB offseason, here are the top 10 outfielders that can potentially become free agents:

Andrew McCutchen
Andrew McCutchen can become a free agent this offseason. Photo credit (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

10. Andrew McCutchen: LF

Age in 2022 Season: 35
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? Yes

McCutchen is nearly a decade removed from winning his National League MVP, but still figures to draw interest this offseason. After three seasons in Philadelphia, the Phillies figure to decline the five-time All-Star's $15 million club option and instead pay him a $3 million buyout. At this stage of his career, McCutchen is probably best-geared to be part of a platoon in left field, or even get a bulk of his at-bats at DH considering he had -8 defensive runs saved in 2021. But McCutchen is coming off of a season where he slashed .293/.405/.622 against left-handed pitching, so he should have no problem getting a major league deal. A chance to compete for a championship or return to Pittsburgh to finish his career would be cool.

Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham can become a free agent this offseason. Photo credit (Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

9. Tommy Pham: LF, CF

Age in 2022 Season: 34
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? Yes

Pham was briefly a superstar in his late-20s with the St. Louis Cardinals, and appears to be beyond that point of his career. Still, he posted a .340 on-base percentage in 2021 and occasionally played in center field for the San Diego Padres, so there will likely be at least a few suitors for his services.

Adam Duvall
Adam Duvall can become a free agent this offseason. Photo credit (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

8. Adam Duvall: OF

Age in 2022 Season: 33
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? No

In a season split between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves, Duvall had perhaps the finest campaign of his career, homering 38 times and driving in 113 runs. He's not going to get on base at a high clip, but his power output and the fact that he can play all three outfield positions should mean that Duvall does well this winter.

Mark Canha
Mark Canha can become a free agent this offseason. Photo credit (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

7. Mark Canha, OF

Age in 2022 Season: 33
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? Yes

Canha has played the most innings in his career in left field, but actually has graded out better defensively as a right fielder. Not to mention, he has plenty of experience at first base as well. Canha has been one of baseball's more underrated offensive players over the last three seasons, as he has posted a .377 on-base percentage. Even if you have to take some lumps with him defensively, Canha has quite a bit of value.

Avisail Garcia
Avisail Garcia can become a free agent this offseason. Photo credit (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

6. Avisaíl García: RF

Age in 2022 Season: 31
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? Yes

Because García had over 500 plate appearances in 2021, his $12 million option for 2022 is now a mutual one, which typically assures that one way or another, he'll be looking for a new deal this offseason. The Brewers may extend a qualifying offer to García, which it's possible he'll accept. If not, it's hard to imagine him becoming a free agent at a better time, as García is coming off a season where he posted an .820 OPS and eight defensive runs saved.

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Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor can become a free agent this offseason. Photo credit (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

5. Chris Taylor, OF

Age in 2022 Season: 31
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? Yes

If we're being honest, Taylor is best classified as a super-utility player, and it would make sense for whoever signs him this offseason to view him that way. Taylor posted a 3.1 fWAR in 2021, while playing 80 or more innings in left field, center field, at shortstop, second base and third base. That type of player has become a necessity on a championship-caliber team.

Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber has had a career year in 2021. Photo credit (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

4. Kyle Schwarber: LF

Age in 2022 Season: 29
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? No

What a difference a year makes. After being non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs last offseason, Schwarber caught on with the Washington Nationals and rode a historic month of June to an All-Star Game nod. In a season split with the the Nationals and Boston Red Sox, Schwarber ultimately slashed .266/.374/.554 with 32 home runs, 64 walks and 74 RBIs. Some teams may view Schwarber more as a first baseman or DH than a left fielder, but his bat is going to land him a lucrative deal regardless of where he does or doesn't play defensively.

Michael Conforto
Michael Conforto can become a free agent this winter. Photo credit (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

3. Michael Conforto: RF

Age in 2022 Season: 29
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? Yes

A former All-Star, Conforto underwhelmed in a contract year, slashing .232/.344/.384. It still sounds as though the Mets plan to extend a qualifying offer to Conforto, though early indications are he would likely decline it. Even after a down season, Conforto has a pretty strong track record and can play both corner outfield positions. It would hardly be shocking if some team bets on him this winter with a multi-year pact, one that would likely include player opt-outs.

Nick Castellanos
Nick Castellanos has had a career-year in 2021. Photo credit (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

2. Nick Castellanos, RF

Age in 2022 Season: 30
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? Yes

There are some moving parts with Castellanos becoming a free agent, as he has to opt out of the final two years and $32 million on his deal and then likely decline a qualifying offer from the Cincinnati Reds. All that, though, feels likely to happen after his first All-Star campaign. Castellanos is never going to win a Gold Glove Award, but he slashed .309/.362/.576 with 34 home runs, 100 RBIs and a .939 OPS in 2021, so teams will be willing to deal with some lumps in the field to acquire his bat.

Starling Marte
Starling Marte has had a tremendous contract year. Photo credit (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

1. Starling Marte: CF

Age in 2022 Season: 33
Eligible For Qualifying Offer? No

There are so few difference makers in center field, and Marte is one of them. You'd prefer that he wasn't going to be 33 in the first year of what figures to be a very lucrative deal, but Marte is coming off a season where he slashed .308/.381/.456 as a primary center fielder. If anything, Marte is at the height of his powers currently, and figures to easily top the three-year/$30 million deal that he reportedly rejected from the Miami Marlins before his July trade to Oakland.

Related

Top 5 potential MLB free-agent shortstops in 2021-22 offseason
Top 5 potential MLB free-agent shortstops in 2021-22 offseason

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