A lot of the free-agent market facilities on age: How lengthy a staff indicators a man for sometimes depends upon how younger he’s. Yearly can rely. Yearly makes an enormous distinction. However then there’s the opposite finish of the age spectrum: The gamers who’re too outdated to search for a long-term contract however nonetheless have a lot to supply as they attain, or surpass, their mid-30s. It’s the Previous Man Free Brokers. They’re actually not executed.
So let’s check out the older gamers — particularly, the ten most fascinating on this open market. (And one of many guys I might have had on right here, 36-year-old Lance Lynn, simply signed with St. Louis this week.)
As a cutoff age, we’ll go along with gamers who’re getting into their age-35 season and above. That is largely based mostly on capability, however normal “vibes” are additionally an element when discussing this sort of participant. And there are two gamers we didn’t embrace right here who in any other case meet these necessities: Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, two doubtless future Corridor of Famers whose plans are nonetheless up within the air for subsequent 12 months, the previous due to damage and the latter due to potential retirement.
We hope to see them again. We hope to see all of those guys again.
(Ages listed under are every participant’s upcoming seasonal age, which suggests his age as of July 1, 2024.)
1. J.D. Martinez, DH (Age: 36)
As many twists and turns as Martinez’s profession has taken — can it actually have been as not too long ago as 2013 that he had a middling .378 slugging share in Houston? — it’s in all probability price mentioning he’s hitting as properly proper now as he has in a half decade. He had 33 homers in solely 113 video games for the Dodgers final 12 months, placing up his highest slugging share since 2018, when he completed fourth in MVP voting. He has made the All-Star Recreation in three straight seasons. This man is on the spot offense. And what staff couldn’t use on the spot offense?
2. Justin Turner, 3B (Age: 39)
It didn’t take lengthy to get used to seeing him sporting one thing apart from a Dodgers jersey. Turner was the mannequin of consistency for a Pink Sox staff that fluctuated wildly this 12 months, enjoying 146 video games and hitting simply in addition to he all the time has: His .276/.345/.455 slash line was indistinguishable among the many remainder of the Boston lineup. The protection isn’t fairly holding up prefer it used to, however you may nonetheless play him within the discipline if it’s a must to. And the bat nonetheless works. The bat could all the time nonetheless work.
3. David Robertson, RHP (Age: 39)
Robertson deftly stuffed in because the Mets’ nearer after Edwin Díaz suffered a season-ending knee damage within the World Baseball Traditional. (It’s form of wonderful that Robertson has been round lengthy sufficient to take over for two elite New York closers; he was in fact the man who adopted Mariano Rivera in The Bronx.) It didn’t go fairly as properly when he was traded to Miami, however that is nonetheless one of many few guys everyone feels comfy with in late innings.
4. Brandon Belt, 1B (Age: 36)
Belt goes to be 94 years outdated and nonetheless be capable of work a stroll. He has missed fairly a number of video games the previous few years, however he was large for the Blue Jays final 12 months, placing up a .369 OBP. For all of the discuss of that supposed nice offense, it was Belt who had the very best OPS+ amongst Toronto’s regulars. He’s not spectacular, and he by no means has been. However he’ll get on base. And that’s the level of going to the plate within the first place.
5. Tommy Pham, OF (Age: 36)
Pham didn’t make his MLB debut till he was already 26, one of many many causes he appears so much youthful than he’s. However he has an electrical bat, as we discovered within the postseason and as Mets followers knew earlier than their staff shipped him to Arizona on the Deadline. He’s inconsistent, certain, and definitely mercurial. However he took benefit of a terrific alternative to showcase what he may do within the World Collection and NLCS, and when he’s scorching, he can carry your staff. Pham doesn’t sometimes keep in a single place for very lengthy, however he’s a capturing star: You’ll love him when you will have him.
6. Andrew McCutchen, OF/DH (Age: 37)
It’s exhausting to think about him enjoying for anybody apart from the Pirates if he comes again, largely as a result of his return to Pittsburgh was such a rousing success. His 113 OPS+ was his highest mark since 2019 with the Phillies. Extra to the purpose, it simply regarded proper seeing McCutchen again in a Pirates uniform. In the event that they don’t carry him again, somebody will.
7. Kenta Maeda, SP (Age: 36)
Maeda’s damage issues have saved him off the mound fairly a bit the previous couple of years, however when he has pitched, he has been efficient. And down the stretch in 2023, he was completely terrific, displaying indicators of the good pitcher he had been for the Dodgers prior to now. The Twins didn’t make him a qualifying provide, which suggests his market ought to be a lot strong. He may even keep inside the division, with the Tigers displaying curiosity within the right-hander.
8. Carlos Santana, 1B/DH (Age: 38)
Santana was getting MVP votes as not too long ago as 2019 for Cleveland, nonetheless the franchise he’ll be recognized greatest for enjoying for. However he stays a superbly respectable first baseman with stable on-base and slugging abilities. And down the stretch he was legitimately useful for a Brewers offense that acquired him from the Pirates to safe all of the offensive assist it may get. He seems like a man who could possibly be used like Pittsburgh simply used him; somebody to construct up some commerce worth after which get shipped to a staff needing some punch on the Deadline.
9. Joey Votto, 1B (40)
The Reds did not choose up his possibility and have already mentioned they do not “have at-bats” for him in 2024. He is decided to return again. The man will be capable of get on base when he is 80, and there aren’t many within the recreation who’re extra enjoyable to cheer for.
10. Wealthy Hill, SP (Age: 44)
It is perhaps a stretch to place him within the high 10 based mostly solely on his present capability, however come on: Baseball is so significantly better with Hill in it. Somebody’s obtained to provide him one other shot, proper? He’s Wealthy Hill! There isn’t a baseball fan of their early 40s who isn’t rooting for him: It’s all the time a reduction to know there’s nonetheless a baseball participant on the market older than you.
Honorable mentions: Yuli Gurriel, DH (40), Johnny Cueto, SP (38), Josh Donaldson, 3B (38), Brandon Crawford, SS (37), Wade Miley, SP (37), Hyun Jin Ryu, SP (37), Craig Kimbrel, RP (36), Aroldis Chapman, RP (36)