In the last half-decade the MLB "hot stove" has often been luke-warm, at best. Coming off a year in which 40 percent of a standard season was played in front of no fans, things weren't any different this winter. To be clear, there was still big money handed out - JT Realmuto got $115 million from the Phillies, Trevor Bauer received $102 million over just three years to join the Dodgers and George Springer inked a $126 million deal with the Blue Jays.
But for the mid-to-lower tiered free agents, it's been tough sledding. And as spring training begins, plenty of notable names are still without homes. That will likely change in the coming weeks, but it's still not great for the game when obviously talented players are unemployed into mid-February.
So is your team looking for another piece or two? Look no further than these players, who are the best remaining available free agents:
5) Edwin Encarnacion: Yes, he's 38 and can only be a designated hitter at this stage in his career. That limits his market, especially since the National League isn't bringing back the universal DH (yet...). Still, Encarnacion still has plenty of pop in his bat. He had 10 home runs in 44 games last year (though his batting average was just .197) and he hit at least 32 homers in each of the previous eight seasons. He's a .240 hitter at this point - all good or bad outlier 2020 stats can't be taken too seriously, given the small sample size - that will hit a bunch of home runs. In 2021 there's a spot in a lineup for that. Prediction: Indians
4) Roberto Osuna: Another player with a lost 2020 season, Osuna pitched just 4.1 innings last year before it was recommended he undergo Tommy John surgery. Well, he's thus far opted against it, with the intention to pitch in 2021. That makes for a risky contract -- not to mention all of his controversy off the field with domestic violence in 2018.
But it's professional sports. And a 26-year-old with a career 2.74 ERA who strikes out over a batter per inning will eventually sign somewhere. Prediction: Tigers
3) Jackie Bradley, Jr.: The top centerfield free agent available, Bradley's wizardry with the glove is well-documented. Where the former Gold Glove winner draws some hesitation is at the plate. A career .238 hitter, Bradley is as streaky a hitter as it gets. When he's hot, he's red-hot (see his 29-game hit streak in 2016). And when he's cold, he's ice cold (since 2016 he has batted .210 or worse in a month nine times). Where does that put him? It's uncertain, and with Scott Boras as an agent, the price might be too high for some teams. Prediction: Boston
2) Trevor Rosenthal: No one's stock rose more in 2020 than that of Rosenthal. The veteran pitcher turned a minor-league deal with the Royals into a year in which he pitched to a 1.90 ERA, struck out 38 batters in 23.1 innings, consistently hit 100mph with the fastball and was flipped at the deadline to San Diego, where he didn't allow an earned run in nine appearances.
The latest rumors have the Mets heavily interested in him, which makes sense especially after the injury to Seth Lugo. Prediction: Mets
1) Jake Odorizzi: The 31-year-old was coming off a career year in 2019 (15-7, 3.51 ERA, first All-Star Game appearance) when he signed a one-year qualifying offer with Minnesota last winter. It turned into a lost 2020, where he pitched only 13.2 innings over four starts because of injuries, thus costing him millions in free agency this year.
Last year excepted, Odorizzi isn't a top-end starter, but he's as solid a 2-4 starter the game has to offer. Prior to 2020 he had started at least 28 games in six straight seasons, his strikeout numbers had steadily increased to a career best 10.1-per-nine-innings in 2019. Assuming he's back to full health, he'll be a valuable, if not sexy, addition to a rotation. Prediction: Mets
