South Side Hit Men Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/2023-24-top-50-free-agents-with-predictions.html Rank (QO = Received a Qualifying Offer; Y = Estimated Years) Estimated Term (Predicted Team Signing by the three authors) Shohei Ohtani QO $528M / 12Y (3) Dodgers Cody Bellinger QO $264M / 12Y (2) Giants, Yankees Yoshinobu Yamamoto $225M / 9Y (2) Yankees, Giants Blake Snell QO $200M / 7Y Dodgers, Phillies, Red Sox Aaron Nola QO $150M / 6Y (3) Cardinals Jordan Montgomery $150M / 6Y Giants, Mets, Rangers Matt Chapman QO $150M / 6Y Cubs, Giants, Phillies Josh Hader QO $110M / 6Y (3) Rangers Sonny Gray QO $90M / 4Y Atlanta, Dodgers, Tigers Shota Imanaga $85M / 5Y (2) Cubs, Angels Eduardo Rodriguez $82M / 4Y Red Sox, Reds, White Sox Teoscar Hernandez $80M / 4Y (2) Angels, White Sox Jeimer Candelario $70M / 4Y Blue Jays, Cubs, Royals Lourdes Gurriel Junior $54M / 4Y Mariners, Royals, Yankees Jung Hoo Lee $50M/ 5Y (2) Padres, Blue Jays Jorge Soler $45M / 3Y Astros, Blue Jays, Mets Lucas Giolito $44M / 2Y (2) Mets, Orioles Marcus Stroman $44M / 2Y Dodgers, Phillies, Twins Seth Lugo $42M / 3Y Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Reds J. D. Martinez $40M / 2Y Angels, Mariners, Mets Jordan Hicks $40M / 4Y Orioles, Tigers, Yankees Jack Flaherty $40M / 3Y Pirates, Royals, Tigers Mitch Garver $39M / 3Y (2) Rangers, Red Sox Michael Wacha $36M / 3Y (2) Reds, Atlanta Kenta Maeda $36M / 2Y Mets, Orioles, Twins Rhys Hoskins $36M / 2Y Angles, Phillies, Twins Robert Stephenson $36M / 4Y Cardinals, Mets, Orioles Yariel Rodriguez $32M / 4Y (2) White Sox, Padres Reynaldo Lopez $30M / 3Y Mets, Reds, Twins Mike Clevinger $26M / 2Y (2) Angels, Red Sox Kevin Kiermaier $26M / 2Y (2) Blue Jays, Yankees Nick Martinez $25M / 2Y Blue Jays, Cardinals, Padres Aroldis Chapman $24M / 2Y Angles, Astros, White Sox Michael Lorenzen $22M / 2Y Diamondbacks, Marlins, Rockies Sean Manaea $22M / 2Y Dodgers, Pirates, Rays Harrison Bader $20M / 2Y (2) Twins, Giants Tyler Mahle $20M / 2Y Blue Jays, Nationals, Tigers Gio Urshela $20M / 2Y (2) Blue Jays, Tigers Amed Rosario $18M / 2Y (2) Marlins, Tigers Whit Merrifield $18M / 2Y (3) White Sox Justin Turner $16M / 1Y (2) Diamondbacks, Marlins Jason Heyward $16M / 2Y Dodgers, Pirates, Royals Yuki Matsui $16M / 2Y Cardinals, Cubs, Giants Frankie Montas $15M / 1Y Cardinals, Nationals, Orioles Brandon Belt $15M / 1Y Brewers, Pirates, Red Sox Hector Neris $15M / 2Y Cardinals, Reds, Twins Jakob Junis $15M / 2Y (2) Padres, Diamondbacks Luis Severino $14M / 1Y Brewers, Tigers, White Sox Liam Hendriks $12M / 2Y Diamondbacks, Phillies, Red Sox Tim Anderson $12M / 1Y Athletics, Mariners, Marlins Honorable Mention Victor Caratini Adam Duvall Erick Fedde Kyle Gibson Clayton Kershaw Lance Lynn Craig Kimbrel Phil Maton Wade Miley Matt Moore Tom Murphy Emilio Pagan James Paxton Joc Pederson Tommy Pham Hunter Renfroe David Robertson Hyun Jin Ryu Gary Sanchez Ryne Stanek Michael A. Taylor Joey Votto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Side Hit Men Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 Assuming the players were interested, these prices above were final (or Spotrac if not listed above). Rules: No trades for this exercise - though would likely have to couple Cease or Robert with Benintendi and or Moncada to get under $100M. Going with my projected Jerry 2024 Budget of $136M + $13M Dead $, which may be overly optimistic. Flip Severino and perhaps a Cease in July. No rush of call ups for Top AA 2023 Prospects until 2025. Try to fill in gaps, short term FAs to see what is salvageable into a possible 2026 contention team. Perhaps get a couple Shaw or Touki inning eater guys between $1.5M - $3.0M. Sox Salaries: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C4dU46AiC_pt1GtzakmASUg9UD_UnpG32kdRZ3clOnk/edit#gid=1520401900 Salary / Position(s) / Player (Batting) 7/1/24 Age / Projected fWAR (Depth Charts) Starting Lineup $85.4M $17.1M LF Andrew Benintendi 29 (L) 1.4 $12.5M CF Luis Robert Jr. 26 (R) 3.3 $13.8M DH Eloy Jimenez 27 (R) 2.1 $24.8M 3B Yoan Moncada 29 (S) 2.2 $3.5M 1B Andrew Vaughn 26 (R) 1.8 $9.0M SS Amed Rosario 28 (R) 2.2 (2 Year FA) $3.1M C Victor Caratini 30 (S) 1.6 (2 Year FA) $0.8M 2B Lenyn Sosa 24 (R) 0.9 $0.8M RF Oscar Colas 25 (L) 0.3 Bench $3.2M $0.8M C Carlos Perez 27 (R) 0.3 $0.8M INF Jose Rodriguez 23 (R) 0.2 $0.8M INF/OF Romy Gonzelez 27 (R) 0.3 $0.8M OF Yoelquis Cespedes 26 (R) No Projection Rotation $36.9M $8.7M SP Dylan Cease 28 (R) 2.7 $14.0M SP Luis Severino 30 (R) 1.5 (1 Year FA) $8.0M SP Yariel Rodriguez 27 (R) No Projection (4 Year FA) $3.1M SP Michael Kopech 28 (R) 0.6 $1.5M SP Touki Toussaint 28 (R) 0.7 $0.8M SP Jesse Scholtens 30 (R) 0.6 $0.8M SP Nick Nastrini 24 (R) 0.4 Bullpen $11.2M $0.8M CL Gregory Santos 24 (R) 0.7 $1.0M SU Garrett Crochet 25 (L) 0.6 $1.5M SU Bryan Shaw 36 (R) 0.0 (1 Year FA) $5.5M M Aaron Bummer 30 (L) 1.1 $0.8M M Tanner Banks 32 (L) 0.3 $0.8M L Jimmy Lambert 29 (R) -0.1 $0.8M L Luis Patino 24 (R) 0.1 Dead Money $13.0M $5.5M Leury Garcia - Final Year Buyout $4.0M Mike Clevinger - Option Buyout $1.5M Liam Hendriks - Year One of Ten $1.0M Tim Anderson - Option Buyout $1.0M Jose Abreu - Deferred $1M / year payouts through 2026 per Spotrac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 Let's start the rebuild with a quality manager from a winning organization.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, Tomas said: Let's start the rebuild with a quality manager from a winning organization.. Too much to ask/expect apparently. Too expensive as well...which is totally weird for a team wasting so much money on big league roster year after year. Why not try something different? Edited November 7, 2023 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenSox Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 13 hours ago, South Side Hit Men said: Whit Merrifield $18M / 2Y (3) White Sox I'm warming up to this. Whit can provide the essential Royals leadership at less than 1/2 of the salary and none of the prospect cost that Salvador Perez would require. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 33 minutes ago, GreenSox said: I'm warming up to this. Whit can provide the essential Royals leadership at less than 1/2 of the salary and none of the prospect cost that Salvador Perez would require. Ha I would wager highly that they add both Whit and Salvy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 oh I was seeing way higher numbers for Jung Hoo Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 4 hours ago, caulfield12 said: Too much to ask/expect apparently. Too expensive as well...which is totally weird for a team wasting so much money on big league roster year after year. Why not try something different? Because JR feels his way is the correct way regardless of what happens on the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Side Hit Men Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, GreenSox said: I'm warming up to this. Whit can provide the essential Royals leadership at less than 1/2 of the salary and none of the prospect cost that Salvador Perez would require. I’m almost at the reverse, since I rather give 2024 opportunities to Sosa, Popeye and Gonzalez. I “signed” Amed Rosario primarily help the staff get 27 outs, and the fact that Rosario is young enough to possibly contribute in a future window. The Sox need a veteran defensive / smart catcher to catch 90 + games, hopefully help the young catchers develop and work with pitchers to develop game plans like McCann. I see Merrifield as the fourth incarnation of Cesar / Big Energy / Tiny Elvis. If it only costs money, then Perez can soak up games caught and has a reputation to help pitchers. Since they need a full time catcher, he would be cromulent for two seasons and zero extensions. I’d also be fine with two catcher duo Caratini and a scrub veteran, to get them through until Quero is ready in 2025 or 2026. Edited November 7, 2023 by South Side Hit Men Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenSox Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 4 minutes ago, South Side Hit Men said: I see Merrifield as the fourth incarnation of Cesar / Big Energy / Tiny Elvis. If it only costs money, then Perez can soak up games caught and has a reputation to help pitchers. Since they need a full time catcher, he would be cromulent for two seasons and zero extensions. I’d also be fine with two catcher duo Caratini and a scrub veteran, to get them through until Quero is ready in 2025 or 2026. I have little interest in Merrifield being a member of the Sox, unless it prevents them from trading for Perez. Don't care about the money: it's the prospect cost for an aging negative WAR player. And there will be prospect cost with a rookie GM, and with a likely preference for KC to eat as much $$ as possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 So Gio and ReyLo are going to the Mets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wegner Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 Jack Flaherty is going to get a 3 year deal??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 of this too 50 list, i hope they land at least 4 of these players. it’s time for this organization to start being accountable to their fans. in my 55 + years of watching this team only twice did they shock me with a off season signing. one was Carlton Fisk the other was Albert Belle. We deserve better!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 1 hour ago, wegner said: Jack Flaherty is going to get a 3 year deal??? I could see some of these guys being more likely to do what Rodon did with San Fran - a 2 year deal with an opt out after 1, so they get 2 years of money if they continue to suck, but where everyone is happy and they get a qualifying offer if they're back to normal in Y1. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Balta1701 said: I could see some of these guys being more likely to do what Rodon did with San Fran - a 2 year deal with an opt out after 1, so they get 2 years of money if they continue to suck, but where everyone is happy and they get a qualifying offer if they're back to normal in Y1. I feel Giolito is definitely signing a deal like that. 1 year deal with a player option for 2025. Edited November 8, 2023 by Bob Sacamano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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