We are now three months into the MLB offseason, and high-end free agents have been coming thick and fast. Over the past few days, players like Masahiro Tanaka, George Springer, and Andrelton Simmons have signed deals. The most prominent of these deals was of J. T. Realmuto, who went to Philadelphia Phillies.
There are still many names on the market that have not been signed by any team. However, we can expect those players to join aside before the start of the regular season. Here are some of those MLB free agents and their probable trades.
1. Trevor Bauer (Right-handed pitcher)
Bauer, the holder of National League Cy Young Award has not been signed by any team yet as spring training advances. However, the possibility of him not ending up with a team come the start of the season is very unlikely.
Both the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to sign him. We will have to wait and see which side eventually gets to acquire Bauer’s services.
2. Marcell Ozuna (Designated hitter)
The signing of Ozuna will be a dodgy one because the MLB still has not confirmed whether the position of designated hitter will return or not. He spent most of last season with the Atlanta Braves and was a premier hitter for them.
Ozuna has many suitors. Some prominent ones would be Dodgers, Red Sox, and the New York Yankees.
3. Jake Odorizzi (Third baseman)
Odorizzi went through a tumultuous year owing to all of his injuries. However, the talk of Minnesota Twins being interested in signing him is doing the rounds.
Many other teams are also interested in signing him due to the lack of third basemen in their rosters. So Jake Odorizzi can expect to be signed by a team in the coming weeks.
4. Justin Turner (Third baseman)
Justin Turner has been a colossal contributor for the LA Dodgers since his 2014 debut. Hence, the Dodgers can think about re-signing him.
Turner is 36 years old, so the age factor will definitely play a big role in any team’s argument about signing him. No team will be willing to give a contract of more than two years to a player who is undoubtedly on the lower side of his career graph.
5. Jackie Bradley Jr. (Center fielder)
Since George Springer has already secured a team, there is a significant dearth of center fielders in the MLB free agents. Jackie Bradley Jr. definitely fit the bill for this one. He has been a longtime member of the Boston Red Sox, so they will have an option of re-signing him.
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 17: Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 17, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Bradley Jr. has reportedly garnered interest from several sides, including the Mets and the Giants over the course of this week. He will try to secure a contract of over four years.
6. James Paxton (Left-handed pitcher)
Paxton had an injury-prone 2020 season with the New York Yankees, so he is not a free agent at the best time. His performances over the past season are not that good either. But two seasons ago he was in the form of his life, and that might play a part in all the team’s decisions about signing the Canadian.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Mets, Phillies, and the Cardinals have all shown interest in him. Moreover, he held a showcase at the end of December, which might sway the tide in his favor.
7. Taijuan Walker (Right-handed pitcher)
After being traded from the Seattle Mariners, Walker finished the year on a high with the Toronto Blue Jays. Though it is still not clear whether the Blue Jays are interested in signing him or not.
The 28-year-old can expect to be picked up by some team in the nick of time. But his below-average strikeout and swinging-strike rates leave much to be desired.
8. Trevor Rosenthal (Relief pitcher)
Rosenthal was brilliant last season with the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was also very popular as a closer for the St. Louis Cardinals. A couple of years of injury did not do him any good but Rosenthal has come back stronger than ever.
He is the top reliever left in the MLB free agents so many teams would be circling around his name. So far, the San Diego Padres and the Blue Jays have reportedly considered him.
9. Yadier Molina (Catcher)
Molina has garnered interested from many teams this offseason. However, a reunion with the St. Louis Cardinals seems the best option for him and the team. H has been with them since his debut season in 2000 and there have been no indications that the Cardinals are willing to let him go.
10. Rick Porcello (Right-handed pitcher)
Porcello is at the bottom of our list for a reason. He has never been able to tap into that vein of form which he had when he won the National League Cy Young award back in 2016. Still, he might be a good option for some teams because he is more than capable of filling the back end of a team’s rotation.
