These Free Agent Pitchers Are Still Up For Grabs
We look at some Major League hurlers who have yet to sign with a team and predict where they might end up.
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Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
. . . Of MLB.com’s ranking of the top free agents heading into the 2023-24 offseason, five of the top 10 names have still not signed with a team — Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Jordan Montgomery, J.D. Martinez, and Matt Chapman. All five are represented by agent Scott Boras. Several other notable players still without a team include Jorge Soler, Whit Merrifield, Justin Turner, Adam Duvall, Joc Pederson, Hector Neris, and Ryne Stanek.
Leading Off
Big Names Still Available On MLB Free Agent Pitching Market
By Matthew Veasey
Believe it or not, we are just over a week away from the calendar turning to the month of February. In a little more than three weeks, pitchers and catchers are officially due to report for the start of Spring Training camps.
While much of the United States remains blanketed right now in snow and bundled up against the cold, harsh winter, the fact remains that it won’t be long before the sun and warmth of Florida and Arizona will begin playing host to Major League Baseball.
The massive contract awarded to Shohei Ohtani by the Los Angeles Dodgers, L.A. landing Japanese free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the Philadelphia Phillies retaining Aaron Nola with a long-term deal have dominated the free agent landscape for hurlers to this point. Just days ago, stud reliever Josh Hader inked a five-year, $95 million deal with the Houston Astros.
Several other arms have secured deals this offseason via free agency. Those include Sonny Gray, Eduardo Rodriguez, Seth Lugo, Jordan Hicks, Lucas Giolito, Marcus Stroman, Sean Manaea, Robert Stephenson, Kenta Maeda, and Michael Wacha.
But with just those precious few weeks remaining before camps open, some interesting and potentially difference-making free agent options remain available to late-shopping big league teams. Let’s take a look at the most interesting of the starting pitchers left on the market and give some educated guesses as to which uniform they might wear in 2024.
Blake Snell
The New York Yankees reportedly offered the 31-year-old two-time Cy Young Award-winning southpaw a five-year, $150 million contract earlier this month before pivoting and signing Stroman instead. There has been very little otherwise rumored on Snell. Guess: Angels
Jordan Montgomery
The market for Montgomery seems more robust than for Snell at the moment, with the Yanks, Red Sox, Cubs, and Rangers among those actively involved in trying to secure his services. Guess: Rangers
Mike Clevinger
At 33, the righty missed 2021 with Tommy John surgery and has gone 16-16 with a 4.03 ERA over 46 combined starts with San Diego and the White Sox over the last two years. He has been widely linked to Boston, but nothing yet. Guess: Red Sox
Hyun Jin Ryu
The Korean southpaw turns 37 at the end of Spring Training and comes with injury risk. But he pitched well over 11 starts after returning to Toronto following Tommy John surgery last summer. A one-year deal could be in the offing from the Mets, Marlins, Padres, Royals, and, of course, the Yankees. Guess: Marlins
Noah Syndergaard
Now 31, the righty has made 42 starts over the last two seasons with the Phillies, Guardians, and both L.A. clubs as a part-time starter, including two postseason starts for the Phils in 2022. Having made 30-plus starts just twice since his 2015 debut, “Thor” should be able to help some club at least as a fifth or sixth starter type. Guess: Padres
Michael Lorenzen
The 32-year-old righty held a throwing session yesterday in front of a number of interested clubs. He made the American League All-Star team last season with Detroit, helping lead the Phillies to trade for him at the deadline. After throwing a 124-pitch no-hitter in his second start for the Phils, he collapsed to a 7.96 ERA over his next five starts, causing him to be moved to the bullpen the rest of the way. Guess: Orioles
Past-prime veterans: Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner, Zack Greinke, Corey Kluber. No saying who might take a shot on these guys. If Kershaw comes back from left shoulder surgery in the second half, it will almost certainly be with either the Dodgers or Rangers.
Matt Veasey is a retired three-decade Philadelphia Police supervisor and instructor, now the voice behind @PhilliesBell on X/Twitter, the most informative and interactive Philadelphia Phillies news and history social media account. His email is matthew.veasey@verizon.net