February Free Agent Watch: Helpful Function Gamers Accessible to a Good Residence

In case you had been seeking to reunite the 2019 Yankees for some purpose, you may get a leap on rounding them up utilizing our Free Agent Tracker. Primarily based on our Depth Charts projected WAR for the upcoming season, 4 of the highest 10 unsigned place gamers logged taking part in time with that 2019 squad, which in that season of the juiced ball hit extra homers (306) than all however two groups in main league historical past. That tally of free brokers doesn’t even embody DJ LeMahieu, whom they launched final summer time and nonetheless owe $15 million for 2026. A number of different Yankees of more moderen classic dot the listing as nicely. Does all people else know one thing that Brian Cashman doesn’t?

Maybe, however that’s exterior the scope of this text, and also you’re going to have to attend a number of paragraphs for these names. With the calendar having flipped to February, and pitchers, catchers, and World Baseball Traditional-participating place gamers all as a consequence of report back to spring coaching subsequent week, it’s value looking on the most notable free brokers nonetheless trying to find touchdown spots. Simply one of many place gamers nonetheless accessible cracked our Prime 50 Free Brokers listing, however a number of of the others are succesful position gamers. I’ll check out the very best of them right here, and spherical up the pitchers — a gaggle that features three starters from our Prime 50, together with fourth-ranked Framber Valdez — in my subsequent installment.

I’ll typically be working so as from highest projected WAR to lowest, although I’ve grouped a few of these gamers — typically those coming off a mix of accidents and subpar performances — on the finish. And sure, I’ll get to these 2019 Yankees alongside the best way.

Marcell Ozuna, DH (1.5 projected WAR)

The 35-year-old Ozuna positioned thirty first on our listing after a season wherein his efficiency took a drastic nosedive. After totaling 7.9 WAR with 79 house runs and hitting for a 148 wRC+ in 2023–24 for the Braves, he slipped to 1.2 WAR, 21 homers, and a 114 wRC+ (.232/.355/.400). It’s not exhausting to seek out indicators of his collapse, from declining bat pace (averages of 74.0 mph in 2024, 72.9 in ’25), exit velocity (from 92.2 mph to 89.9), and high quality of contact (from a .402 xwOBA to .351) to a spike in stroll fee (from 10.8% to fifteen.9%, third within the majors behind Aaron Choose and Juan Soto) as he drastically in the reduction of his swing fee (from 46.8% to 39.4%).

All of these adjustments are interconnected, and all however the bat pace dip ranked among the many 4 largest within the majors. It’s no thriller as to why, as a result of in June the Braves revealed that Ozuna was taking part in by a tear in his proper hip labrum. “I’ve been form of sluggish as a result of I don’t need to rotate, as a result of my hip is form of shut down slightly bit. I had a tear (within the) proper hip, so I simply… maintain battling. I’m making an attempt to assist my workforce,” Ozuna stated on the time. He nonetheless performed in 145 video games, although for the second yr in a row didn’t log a single inning within the area. He didn’t endure offseason surgical procedure, so it’s not exhausting to surmise that groups are in search of a sign that he’s able to roll. This weekend’s signing of Eugenio Suárez shook free a report that the Pirates are curious about including Ozuna to their lineup, which is far improved however may nonetheless use extra thump. Different contenders who may gain advantage from an improve at DH embody the Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Padres, however even when he indicators with a non-contender, he may very well be flipped on the deadline.

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B (0.9 projected WAR)

After shoring up his Corridor of Fame credentials throughout a six-year run with the Cardinals, Goldschmidt spent final yr with the Yankees on a one-year, $12.5 million pillow contract. Whereas buying and selling energy for contact, he began the season sizzling, batting a scorching .338/.394/.495 (148 wRC+) with six house runs and a 15.1% strikeout fee by the tip of Could, however thereafter he hit simply .226/.277/.333 (69 wRC+) with 4 homers and a 21.5% strikeout fee.

Throughout that skid, Goldschmidt misplaced taking part in time to Ben Rice, beginning simply 5 of the Yankees’ remaining 20 common season video games in opposition to righties. That’s comprehensible, provided that he hit simply .247/.289/.329 (74 wRC+) in opposition to them, in comparison with .336/.411/.570 (169 wRC+) in opposition to lefties. As he heads into his age-38 season, a decreased position as a platoon bat with stable protection might be the best way ahead. The Cubs’ Michael Busch, the Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz, the Guardians’ Kyle Manzardo, and the Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino all stand out as lefty-swinging first basemen whose groups would profit by pairing them with a dependable lefty-masher.

Ramón Urías, 3B/2B (0.9 projected WAR)

From 2021–24, Urías was a dependable part-time contributor within the Orioles infield, racking up about 350 plate appearances per season and hitting for a 107 wRC+ (.260/.327/.405) with out dipping under 98 throughout that span. He fell off final yr, setting across-the-board profession worsts whereas batting .241/.292/.384 (87 wRC+) for the Orioles and Astros, dropping seven factors of wRC+ in September alone as he slumped and misplaced taking part in time. He nonetheless performed robust sufficient protection at second and third base that his 1.1 WAR really exceeded his 2024 mark (0.9), which he accrued whereas posting a 114 wRC+ — although to be truthful, he did take a further 90 plate appearances in ’25. He’s not someone you’d need taking part in day-after-day, however he’s acquired some pop (11 house runs in every of the previous two seasons), versatility, and platoon worth as nicely, as he’s hit for a 121 wRC+ in opposition to lefties over the previous two seasons.

Nathaniel Lowe, 1B (0.8 projected WAR)

In case you want a lefty-swinging first baseman at this juncture, Lowe is your greatest guess. From 2021–24 with the Rangers, he was a dependable common, averaging 2.7 WAR per yr whereas batting a mixed .274/.359/.432 (124 wRC+). Traded to the Nationals in December 2024, his manufacturing cratered; he hit simply .216/.292/.373 (86 wRC+) by 119 video games earlier than being launched in mid-August. He shortly caught on with the Crimson Sox, who had cycled by a number of first baseman within the wake of Triston Casas’ season-ending knee damage, and after making some changes to his setup — transferring a number of inches nearer to the plate, closing up his stance barely, shortening his stride a bit — Lowe hit a way more consultant .280/.370/.420 (114 wRC+) in 34 video games. Although he nonetheless had one yet one more yr of arbitration eligibility, the Crimson Sox DFA’d after which launched him in November so as to add a number of gamers to the 40-man roster forward of the Rule 5 draft.

Traditionally, the 30-year-old Lowe has held his personal in opposition to lefties and performed fairly stable protection — he even received a Gold Glove in 2023, although he was simply three runs above common by each DRS and FRV — however he did neither final yr. After placing up a 121 wRC+ in opposition to lefties from 2021–24 (in comparison with 125 in opposition to righties), he slipped to .168/.240/.265 (41 wRC+) with a 29.8% strikeout fee in 171 plate appearances in opposition to them; the Crimson Sox gave him solely 18 plate appearances in that context. He additionally slipped to 4 runs under common by each DRS and FRV. He may nonetheless be a match for a workforce just like the Marlins, whose projected platoon of righty Christopher Morel and lefty Graham Pauley ranks twenty ninth in our Depth Charts projections, and there are a number of different notable groups inside the backside 5 of these rankings — particularly the Diamondbacks, Brewers, and Padres — whose lefties are weighing them down as nicely.

Gary Sánchez, C (0.8 projected WAR)

Lastly, we get to the primary of these 2019 Yankees! Sánchez logged simply 30 video games final yr with the Orioles as a consequence of irritation in his proper wrist and a sprain of the posterior collateral ligament in his proper knee; when accessible, he hit .231/.297/.418 (100 wRC+) with 5 house runs in 101 plate appearances, proper in keeping with his .220/.307/.392 (97 wRC+) with 11 homers in 280 plate appearances for the Brewers in 2024. He’s acquired pop — his projected .426 slugging share is the second highest amongst this group of unsigned gamers, whereas his .201 ISO is first — however his protection has fallen off, although I’d be cautious of studying an excessive amount of into final yr’s metrics from 175 1/3 innings behind the plate. As backup catchers who can sometimes DH go, he’s acquired his makes use of.

Miguel Andujar, OF/3B (0.8 projected WAR)

One other 2019 Yankee! Andujar completed second within the 2018 AL Rookie of the Yr voting after bopping 27 homers and placing up 3.9 WAR, however a torn labrum in his proper shoulder value him all however 12 video games of his sophomore marketing campaign, and between accidents and inconsistency, he by no means regained a foothold of their lineup. He’s bounced round of the previous few seasons, and whereas splitting final yr — his age-30 season — between the A’s and Reds, he hit .318/.352/.470 (125 wRC+) with 10 homers in 341 plate appearances. Admittedly, these numbers had been up to now forward of his .261 xBA and .373 xSLG that he topped the leaderboards by way of his overperformance relative to each metrics. Whereas his numbers are propped up by a number of low cost house runs down the left area line, he’s not precisely a poor man’s Isaac Paredes; his 15.3% pulled air fee was under each the foremost league common (16.7%) and his personal fee from his rookie marketing campaign (22.7%). If he may get again to elevating the ball with better consistency, he would possibly maintain this rebound to some extent. His small-sample defensive metrics at third base and left area are brutal, however as a DH who can pretend it at a nook spot sometimes, he’s value a glance.

Mike Tauchman, OF (0.7 projected WAR)

Tauchman established himself on the main league stage with a robust displaying for the 2019 Yankees, then flopped the next two years. He then spent 2022 within the KBO, the place he posted .289/.366/.430 line and rebuilt his worth sufficient to return to the majors after a yr overseas. He signed on with the Cubs in January 2023, and after a pair of stable seasons on the North Aspect — throughout which he hit a mixed .250/.360/.372 (109 wRC+) with 15 homers, 13 steals, and a couple of.7 WAR in 751 plate appearances — he moved throughout city to the White Sox final yr, and carried out equally (.263/.356/.400, 115 wRC+). His 9 homers (in 385 PA) was his highest complete since 2019, whereas his 1.4 WAR is the best mark of any place participant nonetheless unsigned at this writing. Sadly, his season ended on a down notice, as a torn meniscus in his proper knee — probably sustained in late July — shut him down in late September and led to surgical procedure.

The lefty-swinging Tauchman, who turned 35 in December, doesn’t hit the ball all that onerous, however he’s acquired wonderful plate self-discipline, performs stable protection, and is just about platoon-neutral. He may assist many groups as a fourth outfielder; late final yr, he stated he needed to return to the White Sox, nevertheless it’s OK to hope that higher choices come up.

The Relaxation

A small handful of free brokers projected for 0.7 or 0.8 WAR additionally caught my eye, however every underperformed throughout the 2025 season whereas additionally lacking substantial time as a consequence of accidents, which helps to clarify why they’re nonetheless in the marketplace. Think about this the lightning spherical.

Second baseman Thairo Estrada — sure, one other 2019 Yankee, I wasn’t kidding — totaled 6.3 WAR with a 103 wRC+ and good protection for the Giants in 2022–23. Accidents to each wrists and different physique components have restricted him to 135 video games and a 65 wRC+ since then, together with simply 36 video games for the Rockies final yr. He’s nonetheless simply 30 years outdated and may match someplace.

First baseman Rhys Hoskins was a real thumper for the Phillies, hitting .242/.353/.492 (126 wRC+) from 2017–22 earlier than lacking all of ’23 as a consequence of a torn left ACL. He’s spent the previous two seasons getting the majority of the taking part in time at first base for the Brewers, however was restricted to 90 video games and a .237/.332/.416 (109 wRC+) line with 12 homers final yr, lacking two months with a sprained left thumb. Throughout his absence, he was nosed out of a job by midseason acquisition Andrew Vaughn, and the Brewers declined their finish of an $18 million mutual possibility in November.

Infielder Luis Rengifo, who turns 29 on February 26, was having fun with a breakout age-27 season season in 2024 (.300/.347/.417, 118 wRC+, 1.5 WAR in 78 video games) when a proper wrist damage derailed him in early July, prompting him to endure season-ending surgical procedure for the second straight yr; his 2023 season was lower brief by a ruptured left biceps tendon in early September. Although he performed 147 video games final yr, he hit a dismal .238/.287/.335 (73 wRC+) with zero WAR. He’s a stable defender at second, shakier at third base, and capable of spot within the outfield as nicely, so I’d count on him to catch on someplace. If coming back from wrist surgical procedure was a minimum of partly liable for his putrid efficiency on the plate, he may very well be a superb buy-low possibility now that he’s a yr faraway from the process.

Regardless of meager performances for the Mets since being acquired from the Nationals forward of the 2024 commerce deadline, 32-year-old lefty-swinging outfielder/DH Jesse Winker turned one thing of a fan favourite for his high-energy model. An indirect pressure and decrease again irritation restricted him to 26 video games and a .229/.309/.400 (95 wRC+) efficiency final yr earlier than he was shut down in early September, however he owns a 120 wRC+ for his profession. Winker may very well be a stable possibility for groups in search of a strong-side platoon bat. He’s a profession .274/.376/.460 (128 wRC+) hitter vs. righties, in comparison with his .210/.323/.340 (88 wRC+) line in opposition to southpaws.

I’ll be again with the pitches in my subsequent roundup.