2020 Hot Stove Preview

An unprecedented season like the one we just witnessed is destined to be followed by an equally odd offseason. We have the AL CY Young winner, gold glovers and silver sluggers all up for grabs to go along with a strong sense of uncertainty of the future. We still don’t know if the 2021 season will start on time, how many games we will get to see or even if the DH rule will remain universal. And with the large number of declined qualifying offers, there is a belief that teams will take a much more frugal approach based on the revenue loss caused by the pandemic.

In any case, there has never been an occurrence proven to stop baseball, and most likely never will. So, instead of just sitting around during this pandemic, focusing on this years free agent class is a much better use of your time. 

SP Trevor Bauer

Coming off a CY Young award winning season, Bauer is set to hit the market after rejecting the Cincinnati Reds qualifying offer. The enigmatic starter is coming off his best season after posting a 1.73 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP 11 starts. His command, spin rate, insane arsenal of pitches and personality were unavoidable storylines throughout the season that have placed him atop the market. 

Every team could use Bauer’s talents, but the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets and San Diego Padres make the most sense as landing spots for the righty. The Mets certainly have the money, the White Sox are chalked full of exciting players and the Angels are probably desperate to bring an ace to their side of LA. But the Padres and Bauer just seem like the perfect fit. He would walk through the door as their ace and have an offense that’s actually capable of scoring runs. I expect him to probably surpass Gerrit Cole’s $36 million a year and sign for at least three years, regardless of what he says. However, due to the pandemic, team may be hesitant to shed out that much with some financial uncertainty.

SS Francisco Lindor

Lindor isn’t a free agent, and won’t be until the end of the 2021 season, but the situation surrounding the shortstop is at least worth discussing. At this point, it seems pretty certain that the Cleveland Indians will move him this offseason — a trade some of their fans have likened to the Boston Red Sox trading away OF Mookie Betts. While Lindor hasn’t won a World Series, he has two gold gloves, two silver sluggers and three 30-plus home run seasons since debuting in 2015. Tt will cost teams a pretty penny to take him off Cleveland’s hands, despite potentially only controlling him for a year.

The Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have of course been linked to Lindor, as have the Angels who again are starved for some sort of spark. The Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants should surely be added to the list of teams interested. However, don’t be surprised if it’s the Toronto Blue Jays who end up with the smiling shortstop. They would most likely have to part with RHP prospect Alek Manoah, but Toronto has already proved to be aggressive this offseason as they signed SP Robbie Ray to a one-year deal. Lindor could be that next move that helps them take the next step and advance past the Wild Card Series.

C J.T. Realmuto

Realmuto is probably the most coveted position player in this free agency class because he plays a premium position. Coming into this offseason, Realmuto, 30, is arguably the best catcher in baseball. He was great this year, but his talent was highlighted in 2019 when he hit 25 home runs, won a gold glove, and a silver slugger.

All eyes are on Realmuto after rejecting the Philadelphia Phillies qualifying offer. Philadelphia should still be considered very much in the running to keep him, but they should expect competition from the likes of the Mets, Yankees, Angels (yes them again), Nationals and the Detroit Tigers. As great a signing as this would be to kick off the A.J. Hinch era in Detroit, the Mets can give him the money he wants and ensure that they will still have more to put pieces around him.

OF George Springer

Springer, like Realmuto, is a position player who rejected his qualifying offer but may still sign with their former club. Springer, even without trash cans, has proven to be a dynamic hitter throughout his career. But he’s even more valuable in the postseason, as he is tied for fourth with 1B/DH Alber Pujoles with 19 career postseason home runs.

The Houston Astros may have a shot to keep him, but they’re sure to have a strong list of clubs lined up behind them. No one knows exactly what a player’s priorities are, but it’s hard to imagine a guy like Springer who is so accustomed to the postseason, settling for a team that may not be competitive. Teams like the Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks make sense, but don’t project to be very competitive in their respective divisions. If the Phillies lose Realmuto, they could look to Springer to supplement the offense, and the Mets will of course make their offer. The Washington Nationals shouldn’t be counted out to try and fill the void that RF Bryce Harper and 3B Anthony Rendon left. However, the St. Louis Cardinals are an interesting destination as well. Sure, they declined 2B Kolton Wong and may lose some of the old guard, but the NL Central was wide open this past season and Springer could be part of a push to get back to the top. 

OF Marcell Ozuna

Ozuna is a talented offensive player who is facing a very interesting dilema. His issue isn’t his ability or whether he will be able to replicate it, it’s who his market is. Ozuna shined with the implementation of the universal DH rule. He spent 65% of the season at DH en route to a sixth place finish in the NL MVP voting and an NL leading 18 home runs. 

Ozuna shouldn’t be terribly worried as he will still garner plenty of interest, but the uncertainty of the rule no doubt affects his market. The Braves will make an attempt to keep him, but expect the Nationals to be a team taking a look at him, especially if they don’t land Springer. The Reds are a potential fit as well, but if he does leave the Braves it would make a lot of sense for the White Sox to pick him up. The interest they showed last season should carry over and the prospect of adding him to their lineup might be too much to pass up. 

2B D.J. LeMahieu

At 32, LeMahieu has proven that on any given day, in any given stadium, he is probably the best pure hitter in the game. He finished third in the AL MVP race this season, owned an MLB best .364 average, and led the Yankees in WAR (2.8), OBP (.421) and OPS (1.011).

It would make sense for the Yankees to just hand him a blank check and pretty much just give him whatever he wants to stay. They certainly have the money, but they won’t be without competition. The Angels, Mets, Nationals and Blue Jays have all shown some interest in LeMahieu, and rightfully so. If Toronto is unable, or unwilling, to trade for Lindor, LeMahieu would be more than just a consolation prize. The Nationals and Angels make a ton of sense as well, but you still have to think it would be a huge shock if the Yankees don’t hold onto him after what he’s done for New York the past two years. 

RHP Liam Hendriks

Hendriks is the reigning AL Reliever of The Year and has maybe been the best closer the past two seasons. As the closer for the best bullpen in baseball, Hendriks posted a 1.78 ERA and 14 saves in 25.1 IP. The soon to be 32-year-old is the best closer on the market without question.

There will be no shortage of teams who will be interested in Hendriks’ services. The Angels, Dodgers, Phillies, Mets, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Nationals, Giants and White Sox are just a few of the clubs that would love to add his arm to their bullpen. With all the teams who are going to show interest in Hendriks, it’s difficult to pinpoint who will end up signing him. But the Dodgers, Twins and Phillies are the teams that will probably make the hardest push to bring the Australian to their city.

The Shortstop Situation

We all know the 2021 shortstop class could be insane, but that doesn’t mean that the guys available this year should be overlooked. SS Marcus Semien, SS Didi Gregorious and SS Andrelton Simmons are all proven players available this offseason. The teams who would most likely be in the market for a shortstop include the A’s, Angels, Reds, Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies and Indians only if they trade Lindor.

Gregorious had the best season of the three and will most likely be looking for a multi-year contract, so the Phillies, Reds and Angels will probably be the most likely destinations.

Simmons may be the best defender of the bunch, but isn’t particularly well known for his bat. The Yankees or A’s may show interest, but if the Angels are unable to sign Gregarious or Semien, they will most likely look to bring Simmons back on a short-term deal. 

Semien is interesting because he went from a third place finish in the 2019 AL MVP vote to lackluster offensive production. Despite that, the talent is there for Semien and if the Athletics don’t keep him the Reds would be a great fit in the short or long-term.  

The Reliever Situation

Any team in the market for a RHP should be jumping for joy this offseason. There are so many players available this offseason that there is something for everybody. Players like RHP Ken Giles, RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Wade Davis, and the aforementioned Hendriks aren’t even half of what’s available. It would take way too long to find homes for all these players, but just know there is something here for everybody.

It’s also worth mentioning that those were only the right handers. There is a small class of LHPs headlined by LHP Sean Doolittle and LHP Brad Hand, the latter of which owned an MLB best 16 SV. Hand’s offer was declined by the Indians, a decision that has led everyone to talk about the fiscal ramifications of this shortened season and point to the possibilities of teams taking a much more conservative approach to this offseason. We’re still waiting to confirm or deny those predictions, but nonetheless, Hand will be a coveted reliever in this class that will have no shortage of suitors from LA to New York and everywhere in between.