Here are the 12 best potential starting pitching free agents for the 2021-22 offseason:
12. RHP Zack Greinke
Zack Greinke can become a free agent this offseason.(Bob Levey/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 38
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? No
Greinke maybe isn't the Hall of Fame-caliber pitcher that he was at his peak, but he's still a pretty sure bet to give you 170 or more innings every season. The former American League Cy Young Award winner is one of the highest earning players in the history of free agency, and without a qualifying offer attached to him, he figures to land a nice deal for 2022.
11. RHP Jon Gray
Jon Gray is set to become a free agent this offseason.(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 30
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? Yes
The Colorado Rockies held onto Gray at the trade deadline in part because they believed that the draft compensation they'll get if he declines the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere will be as good or better than any return they were being offered. That said, Gray has expressed a desire to remain in Denver, and you wonder if he'd consider accepting the qualifying offer.
Listen to MLB talk now on Audacy and shop the latest MLB team gear
10. RHP Anthony DeSclafani
Anthony DeSclafani has had a tremendous 2021 season.(Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 32
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? Yes
Farhan Zaidi and the San Francisco Giants gave DeSclafani a one-year/$6 million deal in free agency last winter, and it turned out to be one of the best moves of the offseason. We don't know if the Giants will extend a qualifying offer this winter to DeSclafani, who has a 3.23 ERA and 3.69 FIP across 158 2/3 innings. He'd certainly prefer to secure a multi-year deal this winter, but it's hard to think the righty would make more money in 2022 than he would playing on the qualifying offer.
9. LHP Eduardo Rodríguez
Eduardo Rodriguez can become a free agent this offseason.(Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 29
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? Yes
Rodríguez has a 4.97 ERA in 29 starts this season, but his 3.45 FIP suggests that he's been unlucky to some degree. Rodríguez missed the entire 2020 season, but is just two seasons removed from throwing over 200 innings and finishing sixth in American League Cy Young Award voting. If he doesn't accept the qualifying offer, he should have a robust free agent market.
8. LHP Carlos Rodón
Carlos Rodon has had a career year in 2021.(David Berding/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 29
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? Yes
Rodón was a first-time All-Star in a contract year, which is, well, incredible timing. The lefty is on the right side of 30, and though teams will likely need to surrender draft compensation to sign him if he declines the qualifying offer, it's not hard to make a case that he's just now entering his prime and is worth a major investment.
7. RHP Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander can become a free agent this offseason.(Bob Levey/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 39
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? Yes
Verlander has made just one start since pitching in the 2019 World Series and will turn 39 next February, so he's hardly a sure thing. That said, the former American League MVP had Tommy John surgery in October of 2020, so there's no reason he shouldn't be ready for the start of the 2022 season. And considering that he won the American League Cy Young Award in his most recent full season, there's going to be teams willing to roll the dice on him. It will be interesting to see if he accepts the qualifying offer, assuming the Houston Astros extend it to him.
6. Marcus Stroman
Marcus Stroman can become a free agent this offseason.(Al Bello/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: Yes
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? No
Stroman accepted the qualifying offer from the New York Mets after opting out of the 2020 season, and a strong campaign in Queens has now set him up to cash in this winter. Stroman is probably more like a No. 3 on a contending team, but he's a tremendous fielder and you won't have to surrender draft compensation to sign him, which will appeal to contending teams.
5. LHP Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw can become a free agent this offseason.(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 34
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? Yes
It's hard to truly evaluate Kershaw as a free-agent candidate because he'll almost certainly end up back in Los Angeles, possibly even before he reaches the free agency. But in the event that the future Hall of Famer declines the qualifying offer and earnestly considers other options, he's still a front-line pitcher when he's healthy. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner probably isn't going to pitch more than 160 innings a year at this stage of his career, but if he's elite during those frames, that'll play.
4. RHP Noah Syndergaard
Noah Syndergaard can become a free agent this offseason.(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 29
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? Yes
Syndergaard hasn't made a start since the 2019 season because of Tommy John surgery, but he'll only be 29 next season. When you consider how well Zack Wheeler -- who once missed two full seasons after having Tommy John surgery -- has pitched the last few years, there's no reason to believe that Syndergaard doesn't still have his best seasons in front of him. It's entirely possible that the former All-Star could secure a multi-year deal this winter, though given that he's still relatively young, he may be best served accepting the qualifying offer if the Mets extend it to him and rebuilding his value in 2022.
3. LHP Robbie Ray
Robbie Ray has had a tremendous 2021 season.(Mark Brown/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 30
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? Yes
After acquiring him ahead of the 2020 trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays didn't allow Ray to reach free agency last winter, instead signing him to a one-year/$8 million deal. They've been rewarded with a Cy Young-caliber season from the lefty, who they'll certainly extend a qualifying offer to this offseason. If Ray declines the qualifying offer and reaches free agency, he'll be the most coveted lefty available.
2. RHP Kevin Gausman
Kevin Gausman has had a career year in 2021.(Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 31
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? No
Some were caught off guard that the Giants extended a one-year/$18.9 million offer to Gausman last winter, but his decision to accept the deal has proven to be mutually beneficial. It took him until his fourth team, but Gausman has finally tapped into his front-line potential, as he has a 3.09 ERA in 238 1/3 innings since the start of the 2020 season. Without a qualifying offer attached to him, Gausman figures to do very well if the Giants allow him to reach the open market.
1. RHP Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer has been a tremendous addition for the Dodgers.(Michael B. Thomas /Getty Images)Age in 2022 Season: 37
Eligible for Qualifying Offer? No
There's quite a few similarities between Scherzer and Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. The latest is that Scherzer is on an unreal run after being traded to the Dodgers ahead of a trip to free agency, which reminds you of what Johnson did in 1998 with the Astros. Johnson cashed in with a huge deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks before the 1999 season, and even at this advanced stage of his career, Scherzer figures to make out well this winter. Scherzer will be 37 in 2022 and seemingly would prefer to play somewhere on the West Coast, but he figures to draw interest from at least both Los Angeles teams, and probably a lot more contenders.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
