On Monday, we printed this yr’s installment of our annual Prime 50 Free Agent rankings. These rankings have been compiled by Ben Clemens, with the gamers listed within the order by which he prefers them, however he’d be the primary to inform you that there isn’t a variety of daylight separating most of the guys towards the again of the listing. Notably in a category like this, with a variety of good-but-not-great free brokers, there are in all probability numerous gamers who fell simply exterior the Prime 50 who you possibly can argue advantage inclusion. With that in thoughts, I requested the writers who offered the player-specific commentary for this yr’s rankings a query: Which participant who didn’t make the listing would you’ve got included in your private Prime 50?
These are their solutions, with the gamers listed in alphabetical order. Take pleasure in!
Scott Barlow, Reduction Pitcher
Reliable relievers are particularly worthwhile in at the moment’s recreation, and that ought to make Scott Barlow a lovely, comparatively low-cost choice on the free agent market. During the last 4 seasons, the 31-year-old right-hander has averaged 66 appearances with a 3.21 ERA, a 3.38 FIP, and a 27.7% strikeout price. Sliders and curveballs have been his major weapons. Once I talked to Tim Herrin earlier this summer season, Barlow’s then teammate known as him “Scotty Spin,” saying that he had “one of the best breaking stuff” within the Cleveland Guardians bullpen.
Which brings us to a caveat. Whereas Barlow’s general observe report is one in all dependability, his 2024 season ended prematurely attributable to a scarcity of effectiveness in August and early September. After logging a 3.12 ERA, a 3.49 FIP, and a 31.4% strikeout price over 50 appearances by means of July, he noticed these numbers plummet to eight.49, 6.00, and 17.% over his subsequent 13 outings, prompting the Guardians to chop him unfastened on September 11. That he wasn’t subsequently picked up by one other crew is additional indication that the standard of his stuff wasn’t seen as being as much as snuff.
As for what the current previous means for the foreseeable future, that’s one thing potential employers might want to determine. Barlow has certainly seen his velocity drop and his stroll price improve, however are these correctable hiccups or indicators that his greatest days are behind him? No matter what in the end proves true, groups might be kicking the tires as free company unfolds.
Matthew Boyd, Beginning Pitcher
Matthew Boyd hasn’t thrown greater than 78.2 innings in a season since his 2019 with the Tigers, a breakout marketing campaign throughout which he struck out 30.2% of the batters he confronted whereas commerce rumors swirled. He ended up staying in Detroit for the remainder of that season and one other two years after, however since then, he’s bounced round, going from the Mariners again to the Tigers, earlier than lastly touchdown with the Guardians in 2024.
His eight begins with Cleveland have been his greatest exhibiting since that 2019 breakout, with a 2.72 ERA and 27.7% strikeout price previous a postseason by which he gave up only one run in 11.2 innings whereas putting out 14. Persevering with a development from the common season, October Boyd relied much less on his fastball and extra on a strong changeup/slider/curveball combine. That ought to assist allay any issues a crew might need about an growing older pitcher shedding velocity, although Boyd’s common fastball velo has remained pretty fixed in recent times.
Boyd began 2024 rehabbing from elbow surgical procedure and thus didn’t signal with the Guardians till halfway by means of the season, although he nonetheless made $1.75 million for his half-season’s price of labor. The final time he was wholesome coming into an offseason was previous to the 2023 season, when he parlayed 13.2 nice aid innings with the Mariners right into a $10 million contract to return to Detroit. Logically it follows that Boyd ought to have the ability to beat that Tigers deal, particularly with the additional benefit of three dominant begins on the postseason stage. One thing like $14 million-$16 million for one yr, or $20 million-$25 million for 2, feels about proper.
Yimi García, Reduction Pitcher
For many of the 2024 season, Yimi García appeared like one in all baseball’s greatest relievers. His fastball dismantled hitters, topping out at 99 mph from a vicious strategy angle. However as quickly as he landed in Seattle on the deadline, his stuff didn’t look proper. After just a few rocky August outings, he landed on the injured listing with what proved to be season-ending proper elbow irritation.
If García had stayed wholesome, he seemingly would’ve ended up ranked on the Prime 50, possibly someplace above the cluster of previous relievers like Aroldis Chapman and David Robertson. Via July, his Okay% – BB% ranked seventh amongst all bullpen arms, as he struck out 36.5% of the hitters he confronted whereas limiting harm on contact. His strategy is unorthodox for a reliever. There’s the four-seam fastball, which had the most effective velocity/vertical strategy angle mixtures within the majors — however he solely threw it 38% of the time. His different 5 pitches — three breaking balls, a sinker, and a changeup — permit for a number of assault plans in opposition to each right-handed and left-handed hitters.
A kitchen sink arsenal, moderately correct command, and a top-end fastball — give García a wholesome proper elbow, and he would slot into the again of any contender’s bullpen.
Enrique Hernández, Utilityman
At first look, it might sound simple to dismiss Enrique Hernández, who hit for simply an 83 wRC+, the fifth time previously six years that he’s been at 86 or decrease. Nevertheless, simply earlier than the All-Star break, a radical eye examination revealed that the 33-year-old suffers from astigmatism in his proper eye. It prevented him from selecting up the spin of the baseball till he began carrying glasses, whereupon his efficiency improved markedly. After hitting an anemic .191/.258/.299 (59 wRC+) by means of the primary half, he improved to .274/.307/.458 (112 wRC+) within the second, trimming his strikeout price by over three factors. He carried his enchancment into the postseason, the place he got here up with some big hits whereas batting .294/.357/.451 (129 wRC+) in 57 PA, persevering with his long term of October excellence.
Sure, there was in all probability some regression and/or luck concerned in Hernández’s turnaround, as he fell effectively wanting his Statcast anticipated numbers within the first half however outdid them considerably within the second, and really chased extra pitches exterior the zone (and walked much less incessantly) after getting glasses. Nonetheless, he’s a sure-handed defender who can do all the things besides catch (he even pitched 4.1 innings in 2024, and made a number of begins at second, third, and middle subject in October), doesn’t get overwhelmed on the most important stage, and has an incredible status as a teammate and clubhouse presence. Any crew may use his good vibes.
Kyle Higashioka, Catcher
Position gamers don’t seize huge headlines in the course of the winter, however wanting on the free brokers who didn’t make our Prime 50, Kyle Higashioka is the one who fascinates me essentially the most. Higgy’s by no means been a full-time starter within the majors, however at a time when groups more and more take a look at the catcher place as a tandem state of affairs, a part-time backstop who can hit the occasional homer whereas additionally dealing with the defensive facet of issues is a tantalizing addition. During the last three seasons, Higashioka has been price 4.5 WAR over 771 plate appearances (2.6 WAR per 450 PA). And after beginning 2024 as Luis Campusano’s backup, he seized the lion’s share of the taking part in time by late summer season and began all seven of San Diego’s postseason video games.
Sure, he turns 35 early subsequent season, however many of the different part-time-ish catchers accessible in free company are additionally up there in age, and Higashioka has fewer innings in his knees (in some instances, significantly fewer) than actually all of the catchers however Danny Jansen. The low on-base share hurts, however the general bundle makes Higashioka a high quality plug-and-play choice, and his glove is nice sufficient that he can tackle a bigger position in a pinch.
Jose Iglesias, Shortstop
Thesis: Jose Iglesias simply hit .337/.381/.448 as a very good defensive center infielder, produced 2.5 WAR in about half a season, and ended the yr hitting in the midst of the order for a crew that made the NLCS. How on earth is that this man not one of many prime 50 free brokers?
Antithesis: Iglesias put up these numbers thanks to not some revolution in strategy or contact high quality, however a comically fluky .382 BABIP. He’s nonetheless a Punch-and-Judy hitter with a GB/FB ratio near 2.00 and a stroll price that solely peeks over 4.0% in good years. He’ll be 35 in January, and he hasn’t posted a wRC+ over 100 in a full season since 2013. Why is he something greater than a non-roster invitee?
Synthesis: Any sane particular person would take the below on Iglesias repeating his 137 wRC+ from 2024, however the reality is he hasn’t been a horrible hitter for a while. Leaving apart short-season outliers in 2020 and 2024, Iglesias has posted high-80s wRC+ marks fairly routinely since 2018. Add in solid-to-plus protection – in a market the place you guys suppose Gleyber Torres, the Man with the Iron Mitt, goes to get $18 million a yr – and Iglesias has been at the very least a 1.0 WAR participant in each season by which he’s taken half, relationship again to 2013. That seems like damning with faint reward, however what number of guys on the again finish of our Prime 50 listing are platoon nook outfielders or no. 5 starters who’ve that type of manufacturing as a ceiling? Give the person an opportunity.
Jonathan Loáisiga, Reduction Pitcher
There’s principally no time between after we watch the gamers who’re thrust into significant postseason spots and after we take a look at the listing of impending free brokers, and when digesting that listing of names, it’s pure to think about who has the expertise to thrive in these harrowing October moments. Although he has suffered a litany of accidents all through his profession, most lately needing Tommy John surgical procedure in April of 2024, the wholesome model of Jonathan Loáisiga fairly clearly has the stuff to be a contender’s high-leverage bullpen weapon.
Loáisiga’s harm historical past is terrifying, and his subsequent deal ought to look just like the one-year, $10 million contract the Dodgers gave Blake Treinen manner again in 2019 when he was additionally a talented-but-injured enigma. Loáisiga has had 14 IL stints since his 2013 professional debut with San Francisco, the membership that launched him earlier than he left the DSL partially as a result of he couldn’t keep wholesome. The Yankees signed him after he was seen pitching for Nicaragua in a world match, and regardless of a number of extra accidents (typically to his shoulder) throughout his growth, Loáisiga ultimately grew to become an vital a part of New York’s huge league bullpen.
For a short time, anyway. He has solely exceeded 48 innings in a season as soon as (70.2 IP in 2021) as a result of accidents have wreaked such havoc on his profession. Earlier than he blew out in April, Loáisiga was sitting 97-99 mph with nasty sink, whereas additionally that includes his normally vicious upper-80s slider and a low-90s energy changeup. He has principally appeared this manner whereas he’s been wholesome for his complete profession, together with all through 2023 when he additionally handled elbow points (2022 was the final time he had a shoulder harm). The timing of Loáisiga’s surgical procedure means he’ll be again early sufficient in 2025 to make an influence on a giant portion of the season and, in the correct state of affairs, the postseason. His ceiling as a high-leverage reliever is sufficiently big to advantage inclusion close to the again of our Prime 50.
Chris Martin, Reduction Pitcher
Chris Martin is 38 years previous. Nervousness and elbow irritation restricted him to 45 appearances in 2024. As purple flags go, that’s about it. Someday, Martin will cease being efficient, however there’s no cause particularly to imagine that day will are available in 2025. His fastball velocity was nonetheless a bit above the league common in 2024, and as for his efficiency, effectively, he was the identical man as ever. He leans closely on a wonderful cutter and a very good four-seamer, together with the occasional splitter or sinker to maintain hitters off steadiness. He ran a 3.45 ERA and a 2.78 FIP, and the anticipated variations of these stats have been even higher. Martin’s 35.2% chase price was among the many greatest in baseball. Amongst pitchers with at the very least 40 innings pitched, his 1.7% stroll price was the best possible. None of that is new.
From 2019 to 2024, Martin’s 6.0 WAR ranks ninth amongst all relievers, just under Kenley Jansen and Edwin Díaz. He has a 2.81 ERA and a 2.77 FIP over that span, and he’s equally efficient in opposition to lefties and righties. He’s a World Collection champion with a 1.88 ERA over 15 postseason appearances. The final time he ran an FIP above 3.50 was 2018, when he was at 3.52. What contender wouldn’t need a man like that popping out of the bullpen?
J.D. Martinez, Designated Hitter
When you get right down to the gamers who didn’t make our Prime 50, there aren’t many high-upside guys left. J.D. Martinez is an exception. It’s not exhausting to see why Ben left him off: He’s already 37, and his 108 wRC+ this previous season was unimpressive for a DH. But, there nonetheless is perhaps middle-of-the-order manufacturing inside this growing older slugger’s bat.
In 2023, Martinez put up a 135 wRC+ throughout 113 video games. He hit at a comparable tempo by means of the primary half of 2024, posting a 130 wRC+ over 66 contests. A second-half hunch diminished his full-season stat line, however take into account that his .258 BABIP after the All-Star break was one of many lowest figures he’s produced in any equally lengthy stretch of his profession. In the meantime, his .334 xwOBA in that point was nonetheless effectively above common. Certainly, Martinez completed the season with an 88th-percentile xwOBA. For comparability, he ranked within the 91st percentile in 2023, the 83rd in 2022, and the 88th in 2021. He was an All-Star all three years. What’s extra, Martinez confirmed higher plate self-discipline in 2024 than he did the yr earlier than. He lowered his chase, whiff, and strikeout charges whereas strolling at his highest clip since 2019.
Time comes for everybody ultimately, and Martinez could possibly be nearing the top of the highway. Then once more, I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s a greater hitter subsequent yr than anybody under Joc Pederson on our Prime 50. He ought to have the ability to discover somebody to wager on that upside.