The marketplace for bats, however, has one big identify on the prime and various query marks beneath that. Golf equipment seeking to bolster their offenses by way of free company may have their work reduce out for them in deciding that are the savvy investments that may ship in 2024 and past. Little doubt, there may be nonetheless fairly a bit of obtainable expertise right here, however some leaps of religion will likely be required.
An identical problem confronted our MLB.com voting panel in developing this free-agent version of the Hitter Energy Rankings. As they’ve all year long, voters centered solely on offensive may when casting their ballots, so whereas some free-agent place gamers supply slick gloves, these weren’t thought-about right here.
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
Earlier than lacking a lot of the remaining month of the season, Ohtani led 5 straight Hitter Energy Rankings and positioned second in a sixth. So it’s no shock that he’s No. 1 right here, and truthfully, it was a no brainer decide for our panel. Ohtani, who nearly definitely will win his second AL MVP Award on Thursday, simply led the AL with 44 dwelling runs and 325 complete bases regardless of lacking a lot of the remaining month. He additionally topped the checklist in OBP (.412), slugging (.654), OPS (1.066) and OPS+ (184). It’s no surprise he’s essentially the most sought-after free agent of this offseason and has a shot to land a file contract although he received’t pitch till 2025.
2. Cody Bellinger, CF/1B
It’s exceptional that Bellinger is on this spot contemplating that he posted a .542 OPS simply two years in the past and wasn’t significantly better (.654) in 2022. In fact, this previous season was a triumphant rebound for Bellinger, who went from non-tendered by the Dodgers to hitting .307/.356/.525 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs and 20 steals with the Cubs. The one-year deal Bellinger signed with Chicago final offseason was a steal, however he would require a a lot bigger dedication this time round. Given his up-and-down profession, it’s an interesting free-agent case.
3. J.D. Martinez, DH
Martinez advantages significantly from the truth that these rankings are centered solely on hitting, as a result of the 36-year-old is mainly a full-time DH at this level, taking part in a complete of 12 outfield innings in 2023. With that stated, the person can nonetheless actually, actually hit. He proved that after signing a one-year cope with the Dodgers, slugging at his highest fee (.572) since 2018 and racking up 33 homers, 103 RBIs and a 134 OPS+. For a membership that doesn’t thoughts devoting its DH slot to 1 participant — and doesn’t signal Ohtani — Martinez will likely be a horny possibility.
4. Jorge Soler, DH/RF
Whereas he has performed extra outfield just lately than Martinez, Soler very a lot matches into the class of DH sorts who can mash greater than sufficient to justify the gig. Soler declined his 2024 participant possibility with Miami and as an alternative is testing free company after incomes his first All-Star nod in ‘23, when he launched 36 homers (second solely to Ohtani amongst gamers on the open market). Whereas Soler will swing and miss a lot, he crushes baseballs when he makes contact, serving to him rank within the 94th percentile amongst MLB hitters in anticipated slugging and anticipated wOBA.
5. Matt Chapman, 3B
Put aside the Gold Glove protection, and there are some causes for concern right here alongside the explanations for optimism. Chapman bought off to an MVP-caliber begin in 2023 (1.051 OPS by way of 33 video games), then struggled the remainder of the best way (.666). He ranked on the very prime of the league in hard-hit fee and barrel fee however had the bottom full-season homer complete of his profession (17). Nonetheless, Chapman has been above common with the bat on an annual foundation and will garner a substantial amount of curiosity at a skinny place.
6. Teoscar Hernández, RF
There’s not a lot thriller with Hernández. He’ll swing and miss rather a lot, strike out a lot and stroll sparingly. However when he connects, the ball will go far. That’s the tradeoff going through groups after a season during which Hernández Okay’d a whopping 211 occasions however nonetheless smacked 26 homers and drove in 93 runs. He additionally loved two big months (June and August) however didn’t attain a .700 OPS in any of the opposite 4, so Hernández will likely be trying to find extra constant manufacturing in 2024.
7. Rhys Hoskins, 1B/DH
Don’t neglect about Hoskins, who misplaced his age-30 season to a torn ACL and now has seemingly misplaced his place within the Phillies’ plans, given Bryce Harper’s everlasting transfer to first base. Whereas Hoskins has by no means fairly lived as much as his unimaginable rookie season again in 2017, he settled in as an especially dependable energy risk and run producer. Over his previous two seasons, Hoskins posted OPS+ figures of 129 and 123 — mainly proper at his profession mark of 125. He ought to be absolutely wholesome for 2024.
8. Jung Hoo Lee, CF, Kiwoom Heroes (KBO)
Right here is the largest unknown on this checklist. Lee is anticipated to be posted this offseason by the Heroes and are available over from South Korea. At simply 25 years outdated, Lee gives an attractive all-around talent set, some massive KBO numbers and even a notable baseball heritage. (He is called “Grandson of the Wind” as a result of his father, legendary Korean shortstop Jong Beom Lee, was nicknamed “Son of the Wind.”) Nonetheless, no one is aware of how Lee’s apparent expertise will translate to the Majors, so whereas his ceiling could also be increased than anybody above him right here — apart from Ohtani — he slots in towards the top of the highest 10 for now.
9. Justin Turner, 1B/DH
Turner will rejoice his thirty ninth birthday on Nov. 23, however he continues to swing a priceless bat even whereas transitioning away from third base. After switching locations with Martinez this previous season, Turner slashed a stable .276/.345/.455 with 23 homers and 96 RBIs in his Boston debut earlier than declining his 2024 participant possibility. It’s been a sleek decline section for Turner, whose 114 OPS+ was his lowest since he broke out with the Dodgers in 2014.
10. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF
Gurriel made his first All-Star workforce and almost received a World Sequence with Arizona after coming to the desert by way of an offseason commerce from Toronto. He additionally rebounded to smack a career-high 24 dwelling runs following a stunning energy outage in 2022 (5). Gurriel will not be anticipated to place up big numbers for his subsequent workforce, however he has been a reliably above-average hitter (profession 115 OPS+) since arriving within the Majors in 2018.
Additionally receiving votes: Brandon Belt, Michael Brantley, Jeimer Candelario, Adam Duvall, Mitch Garver, Joc Pederson, Hunter Renfroe
Voters: David Adler, Brett Blueweiss, Paul Casella, Doug Gausepohl, Thomas Harrigan, Sarah Langs, Travis Miller, Ricardo Montes de Oca, Brian Murphy, Sweeny Murti, Manny Randhawa, Efrain Ruiz, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, Andrew Simon, David Venn