1.) Brad Hand
Let’s start with the 30-year-old reliever out of Cleveland because well, who doesn’t love a reliable lefty? The Minneapolis native is coming off a stellar year in Cleveland, where he notched 16 saves in 16 opportunities, while finishing with a 2.05 ERA, and a 2-1 record. The 3-time all-star also racked up 29 strikeouts in just 22 innings of work, which likely would have given him a strong chance at a trip to LA for his 4th all-star appearance last season if the game wasn’t cancelled due to Covid. Hand is far and away the best left-handed arm left on the free agent market, so it is no surprise there has been plenty of interest. The top candidates to date appear to be the Mets and the Blue Jays, along with strong interest from the Dodgers, Angels and Astros, as well as many fans hoping for a homecoming with the Twins who did notably lose Trevor May this offseason to the Mets. Regardless of who ends up landing the former all-star, Hand would immediately become a go to guy for late game situations.
2.) Marcus Semien
After spending the last 6 years with Billy Beane in Oakland, Semien has emerged as one of the better shortstops in today’s game, even finishing as a finalist in the 2019 AL MVP race. The ’19 season was far and away his best, finishing with an average of .285, 33 HR’s, and 92 RBI’s, all career highs. Despite entering last season as MLB Network’s 4th ranked SS, most of the free agent buzz surrounding Semien this off season has him being signed to fill some big needs at 3rd base. The leading suitor would for now appear to be last year’s World Series champion Dodgers, who are still weighing their options on whether they’ll be bringing back veteran 3rd baseman Justin Turner. While many suspect Turner will return to the boys in blue, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a market for Semien. As fate would have it the 2019 World Series champions have a need for third baseman of their own. Yes, it has been a wild few years for the Nat’s, who went from losing the face of the franchise in Bryce Harper, to winning a World Series the very next year, then again losing arguably their best player in Anthony Rendon, and now finishing dead last in the NL East this past season. However, last year was not a full season, and the Nationals certainly still have the talent on the roster to compete at a high level, so wherever Semien ends up, it appears he’ll have a chance to make an immediate impact on a team poised to contend for a deep playoff run next season.
3.) Marcel Ozuna
Ozuna bet on himself last season, signing a one-year deal with the Braves and boy did he deliver in a big way. Despite playing a shortened season, Ozuna still finished with 18 HR’s (led the NL), 56 RBI’s (most on his team), and did so while batting an eye popping .338, which was second on the team only to Freddie Freeman, who along with Ozuna and Dansby Swanson were the only three on the roster to play in all 60 games for the Braves last year. Ozuna was primarily a DH for the Braves last year, and with no word on whether that will remain universal for NL teams now or if it’ll remain an AL only rule, the market for Ozuna is still strong. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Yankees have made a strong push for Ozuna, and if the Yankees want him, you know the Red Sox are also interested, if anything just to keep him out of NY. Those two aside, there are a few familiar names on the list of remaining candidates as the Dodgers, Mets, and Twins have all shown interest, but one that stands out is the Brewers, who would love to pair Ozuna with Yelich in that outfield now that Ryan Braun has taken to Free Agency.
4.) Didi Gregorius
Another player who bet on himself last season, Didi signed a one-year deal with the Phillies for the 2020 season after his tenure with the Yankees ended. While last year was not a full season, Didi was the only player to play in all 60 games for Philly, which bodes well for him coming off a Tommy John surgery during his stint with the Yankees. Gregorius also led the team in RBI’s with 40 and added in 10 HR’s which was the third highest on the team, with the second highest batting average on the team at .284. While the Reds showed early interest of a reunion in Cincinnati for Didi, the most likely candidate currently is still Philadelphia despite the team’s main focus currently being on re-signing JT Realmuto.
5.) Yasiel Puig
Perhaps one of the most interesting free agents left on the market, Puig is coming off a tumultuous couple of years. The Dodgers cut ties with Puig after they shipped him off to Cincinnati in a trade that many considered a move to try and make space for the team to sign Bryce Harper that off season. In theory it was great, the Dodgers were positioned to make a splash in free agency, and Puig would get a fresh start after a bumpy tenure in LA. However, the Dodgers didn’t land Harper, and Puig continued making headlines as only he could. Puig was average for the Reds, batting .252 with 22 HR’s and 61 RBI’s through 100 games heading into a matchup with the division Rival Pirates in late July. Tensions were already high as Puig had been one of the main instigators in a bench clearing brawl earlier in April of the ’19 season after Chris Archer threw behind fellow Red Derek Dietrich. Fast forward to the July matchup and not only did we get a round two of a Pirates and Reds Brawl, but in the same inning, the news broke that Puig had been traded to Cleveland for a deal centered around last seasons Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. Puig played 49 games for Cleveland to close out 2019 and put up some modest numbers hitting .297 with 2 HR’s and 23 RBI’s bringing his season totals to .267 avg, with 24 HR’s and 84 RBI’s. A free agent heading into 2020, Puig looked ready to sign a deal with the Braves, but a positive Covid test shut that down in a hurry. Now, heading into 2021, the 30-year-old’s future is uncertain, but he’s still managed to draw some interest from teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, Marlins, and the Orioles, but it still remains to be seen whether or not any of them will be willing to take a chance on one of the MLB’s most polarizing characters.
By: Jonathan Abbott
January 23, 2021