It’s supposed to be one of the happier days of the year for baseball fans, with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp to signify the start of spring training. Yet for the second year in a row, a new baseball season is rapidly approaching, yet there are still dozens of notable names that remain unsigned as free agents. The contract bubble has finally popped, and players who believe they are deserving of big-money deals just aren’t getting them from teams.
With the start of the regular season just six weeks away, here are the best players available that could essentially make up a pretty good All-Star team:
Bryce Harper:
The former MVP turned down a reported 10-year, $300 million contract from the Nationals last fall, and he’s still waiting. In fact, what had been considered for years a slam dunk – Harper would become the highest-paid player of all-time – is now highly unlikely to happen. He’s met with six teams, and it’s believed he will stay in the National League, with either San Francisco, San Diego or Philadelphia.
Manny Machado:
Just like Harper, a 26-year-old superstar in his prime can’t seem to find a whole lot of suitors. The White Sox reportedly offered seven years for $175 million and are holding steady. That would be at least $100 million less than what Machado likely would have received even two years ago. A power hitter who can play either position on the left side of the infield, the White Sox, Phillies and Yankees are still believed to be in the running.
Dallas Keuchel:
A former Cy Young winner, Keuchel didn’t have an electric 2018, but a lefty who will throw 200 innings with a sub-3.50 earned run average (at worst) and doesn’t give up home runs should command a market. Alas, the 31-year-old hasn’t seemingly hasn’t been strongly connected to anyone. A return to Houston and that formidable rotation could happen, while the Braves, Phillies, Reds and Angels have all loosely been linked to the two-time All-Star.
Craig Kimbrel:
Sure his 2018 postseason was a disaster for the World Series champion Red Sox, but he’s still on a Hall of Fame track. At 30 years old he won’t get the six-year, $100-million deal he reportedly wanted at the start of free agency, but a short deal (2-3 years) for a lot of money could have made sense. Back in November it looked like his career in Boston was over, but with each passing day, as the number of elite relievers goes down and the Sox need a closer, a return could happen.
Marwin Gonzalez:
A Swiss Army knife of a player who has an above-average OPS and plays 140 games should be able to find a home with literally any of the 30 Major League teams. After all, the soon-to-be 30-year-old Gonzalez made at least 24 starts at first, second, shortstop and the outfield in 2018. There hasn’t been a strong connection to any one team, but Gonzalez should be able to provide value for anything up to about $13-15 million a year.
Mike Moustakas:
A middle-of-the-order bat hit free agency last year, and wound up signing a one-year deal to stay with the Royals. Traded mid-season to the Brewers, Moustakas in total his 28 home runs and doesn’t strike out a lot, especially compared to other boppers. He can play either corner infield position, is only 30 years old, and it looks likely that he returns to Milwaukee for another run at a World Series.
Carlos Gonzalez:
Okay, Gonzalez isn’t the MVP candidate of his mid-20s. But a three-time All-Star who’s good for at least 50 extra base hits a year, even with his home run power down, would be good for someone who needs a part-time outfielder, part-time DH. It’s gotten to the point where both he and Adam Jones may have to settle for a minor-league deal with a team, like Curtis Granderson recently did with the Marlins.
