Top 25 MLB 2023 FREE AGENT Predictions

#25 Joc Pederson, OF/DH

Joc Pederson

Let’s get this list started with a 2022 San Francisco Giant. He signed a one year $6 million deal to prove himself and for the most part, he did just that with 23 home runs, a 1.3 WAR and an All Star selection despite a rough patch around July. Some cryptic posts tell me that Joc is very frustrated at missing out on the playoffs this year, something he is not used to. Also, he’ll be look for a bigger contract going forward and I have a feeling he’ll be heading to a team that looks like a sure-bet to make the playoffs in 2023. The Cleveland Guardians may be interested although he basically talked trash about them in this tweet. If he’s looking to go to a team on the rise in 2023 though, one fit might be the Seattle Mariners with Carlos Santana entering free agency. Pederson is quite a bit younger and seems like he’d be a nice fit so I got Joc staying on the west coast but signing with the Seattle Mariners to be their DH and 4th outfielder.

Prediction: Seattle Mariners

#24 Kenley Jansen, RP

Kenley Jansen

The 35-year old Kenley Jansen may be a future Hall of Famer with 391 career saves and a 2.46 ERA. In 2022, his first year with a team other than the Dodgers, he saved 41 games and had a strong 3.31 ERA, which was a bit inflated after a few horrible appearances down the stretch. He struck out 85 in 64 innings, proving he’s still got it and several teams should show interest in the veteran reliever. Teams that should show interest include the Yankees, Mariners, Padres and Tigers. However, I will say that Jansen reunites with his old teammate Corey Seager, in Arlington, Texas as the Rangers, who need to improve the back end of their bullpen, will continue to try to build a championship team. Kenley Jansen signs with the Texas Rangers.

Prediction: Texas Rangers

#23 Aroldis Chapman, RP

Aroldis Chapman

Next up is Aroldis Chapman, the once dominant closer who will be 35 next year and ever since the crackdown on foreign substances, hasn’t been too effective. He had a 4.46 ERA this year with 9 saves and the lowest strikeout rate of his career. He was even left off the ALDS roster. I would assume he is not going to be coming back to the Yankees in 2023. He’s only in the top 25 because he’s Aroldis Champman, but there is a chance he doesn’t even play in 2023. I believe some team that needs bullpen help will at least give him a shot in Spring Training, however, and I’ll go with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have signed veteran arms before such as Ian Kennedy, who had a solid first half for the D-Backs. They’ve also shown interest in Chapman in the past so I’ve got Chapman signing with Arizona.

Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks

#22 Trey Mancini, 1B

Mancini, as I write this article, is having big problems hitting during the 2022 postseason, which won’t help his value during the off-season. He also struggled down the stretch with the Astros, hitting just .176. Nevertheless, he has been a consistent above average bat with power throughout his career and plays excellent defense at first base and can also play the outfield. I don’t think the Astros will bring him back, but he will garner plenty of interest from teams who need a first baseman. This could mean the San Francisco Giants could show interested, but I’ve got Mancini staying the American League and signing with a team who will be looking at first basemen this offseason and that team is the Cleveland Guardians.

Prediction: Cleveland Guardians

#21 Andrew Benintendi, OF

Next up is Andrew Benintendi, who didn’t make a huge impression with the Yankees, but is still a solid better-than-average big leaguer. He knows how to get on base, an asset that front offices appreciate more than ever right now, and he can also play solid defense. His power has never come around like teams had hoped, but he has 20 home run potential and is still just 28 years old. The Yankees should show some interest in bringing him back and he will also find potential suitors in the Rangers and Tigers. However, I’ll say he signs with a team hoping he can unlock his offensive potential in the thin air of Denver. Andrew Benintendi signs with the Rockies.

Prediction: Colorado Rockies

#20 J.D. Martinez, DH/OF

Despite some back issues, Martinez was able to play in 139 games in 2022 and had a solid on-base percentage of .341, but his power seems to have fallen off, with only 16 homers in 533 at bats. Still, he continues to demonstrate a beautiful swing, finding the gaps with 43 doubles and made the All Star Team. J.D. is probably the best available DH this off-season and with the DH now in the National League, several teams will be interested. He will likely sign a 2-year deal approaching $20 million per season. With the Red Sox trying to get younger and more athletic, I see him signing elsewhere. One team that is needing a more consistent DH is the New York Mets, who showed interested in Martinez as the trade deadline approached, but ended up getting Darin Ruf. Obviously, J.D. is the bigger star and probably has at least one or two more solid seasons left in his bat. I see this as a strong possibility and will predict that the New York Mets sign J.D. Martinez.

Prediction: New York Mets

#19 Mitch Haniger, OF

Next is up is a man who drove in 100 runs and crushed 39 home runs in 2021. Unfortunately, Mitch Haniger was unable to repeat that in 2022 due to ankle and back injuries and played in just 57 games. Still, he showed the power hasn’t gone anywhere and if he’s healthy in 2023, at 32 years old, there’s no reason he can’t have another big season. Several teams will be interested including the Brewers and Rangers. However, he has been a long time Mariner and provided plenty of leadership for the young up and coming team. Because of this, the Mariners should be interested in bringing back and there is a chance they offer him a qualifying offer and, if they do, he may accept. However, even if this doesn’t happen, I think there’s a strong chance the M’s bring back Haniger for 2023 and, I’ll predict he stays in Seattle.

Prediction: Seattle Mariners

#18 Josh Bell, 1B

Josh Bell

Bell was having a fantastic season for the Nationals, hitting .301 with 14 homers when the Padres traded for him. Unfortunately, he struggled a bit with the Friars, hitting just .192, but Bell will still be one of the best available first baseman this off-season. He is a switch hitter with big power who plays below average but acceptable defense at first and has had some experience in the outfield as well. Of course, he would also DH from time to time. The Red Sox, Yankees and White Sox should be interested. However, given that Brandon Belt is likely retiring or heading elsewhere, I think the Giants will be heavily interested in a switch hitter with big power who has some versatility in the field. Without any obvious first basemen on the rise in the Giants farm system, I think this move would make sense and I’ve got the Giants signing Josh Bell.

Prediction: San Francisco Giants

#17 Tyler Anderson, SP

I never thought Tyler Anderson would make my Top 25 Free Agents List but here we are. Anderson was stellar for the 2022 Dodgers and went 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA, making the All Star Team. He was also dominant in his one postseason appearance, throwing 5 shutout innings against the Padres in the NLDS. Lots of teams will be interested, but if the Dodgers really want him back, I don’t see any other team outbidding them. The Padres will try as will the Cardinals and maybe even the Giants, who gave Anderson a shot in 2020. However, I think he’ll be back in blue for 23, either on a qualifying offer or on a fresh contract. I’ve got Tyler Anderson staying in Los Angeles.

Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers

#16 Koudai Senga, SP

Koudai Senga

The top international free agent entering the 2023 season is Japanese pitcher Koudai Senga. He brings serious heat and finished the 2022 season with a 11-6 record and 1.89 ERA. In his 11 year career in the NPB, he has 104-51 record with a 2.42 ERA and 1,486 strikeouts in 1,340 innings of work. There should be plenty of teams interested in Senga, who should fall into the #2 or #3 slot for most rotations. Teams interested could include the Cubs, Yankees and Red Sox. However, there’s one team that is still dedicated to winning a World Series and will be very active in free agency. They also have a veteran Japanese pitcher in their rotation to help Senga adapt to MLB and the United States quicker. His name is Yu Darvish and, of course, the team I’ve got signing Senga is the San Diego Padres.

Prediction: San Diego Padres

#15 Anthony Rizzo, 1B

Another available first baseman this off-season is Anthony Rizzo. Since I have the Giants landing Bell and the Guardians landing Mancini, I’ll take another team to sign Rizzo. He does have the option to opt-in for the 2023, but this seems highly unlikely. Nevertheless, the Yankees will still be interested in bringing the veteran back, who showed great leadership and amazing power with 32 home runs while playing elite defense. The four-time Gold Glove award winner will be testing the free agent market, however, and looking for perhaps his last big payday. It could be a 3-4 year deal around $18 million per season. The Astros, Brewers and Padres will likely show some interest, but at the end of the day, I don’t see him going anywhere else but back to the New York. Rizzo will remain a Yankee.

Prediction: New York Yankees

#14 Jose Abreu, 1B/DH

Next up, we have the always solid if not amazing Jose Abreu. The 2020 MVP and 2014 Rookie of the Year has spent his entire career with the White Sox and, if he hadn’t made his debut at the relatively late age of 27, he would probably already be considered a no-doubt Future Hall of Famer. Abreu almost never misses a game and can be relied on to hit close to if not over .300 with power. This last season, however, he only managed 15 home runs and 75 RBIs. He still hit over .300 with a .378 on-base-percentage, which makes him extremely valuable despite the drop in power. The White Sox do not seem interested in bringing him back, which means many teams will be in on Abreu. I’ve already got the Giants signing Bell, which would leave a hole at first base in San Diego. As a team dedicated to winning and signing whoever they have to, I see the Padres trying to do even better than Bell by signing an absolute stud in Jose Abreu. I’ve got Abreu going to San Diego.

Prediction: San Diego Padres

#13 Brandon Nimmo, OF

The former first round pick Brandon Nimmo has proven in 2022 that, when he can stay healthy, he is an above-average MLB player. He hit .274 in 2022 with a .367 on-base and 16 bombs while leading the league with 7 triples. He stayed relatively healthy, playing in 151 games and when you add in his amazing defensive ability, Nimmo is one of the most well-rounded players in the free agent market. One team that has shown some interest is the Colorado Rockies, but I’ve got the Rockies signing Benintendi instead after they realize the New York Mets are going to make Nimmo and offer he can’t refuse. I think he’s just too good of an overall player to let go elsewhere and I’ve got the Mets bringing him back on a 4-5 year deal.

Prediction: New York Mets

#12 Chris Bassitt, SP

Bassitt followed up his All Star 2021 campaign with the A’s by winning a career high 15 games in 2022 for the Mets. He had a 3.42 ERA and was the healthiest pitcher in the Mets rotation, becoming their only starter to qualify for the ERA title. He doesn’t have big strikeout stuff but gets the job done and is extremely consistent. Bassitt is expected to decline his option and explore free agency. The Mets will try hard to bring him back, but several teams will push hard for his services including the Rangers and Cardinals. I am going to say that a team from outside the USA will make a big push for him and end up getting him and that team, of course, is the Toronto Blue Jays who need some more depth in that rotation to try to go deeper in the playoffs in 2023. Chris Bassitt will sign with the Jays.

Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays

#11 Willson Contreras, C/DH

The best available catcher in the free agent market his long-time Chicago Cub Willson Contreras. He was a 2022 All Star, ending the season with 22 home runs and a .349 on-base percentage. He should be able to sign for around four years and $75 million, similar to the 2019 Yasmani Grandal deal with the White Sox. There have been reports that, despite not trading him at the deadline, the Cubs have no interest in bringing him back. Therefore, he’ll likely head to a team short on catchers for 2023. Such teams include the St. Louis Cardinals with the retirement of Yadier Molina and the Boston Red Sox, who don’t really have a clear option for 2023. The Mets, Padres and Twins may also show some interest. Ultimately, I’ll say he signs with the Cardinals, who will offer him the biggest contract, needing big offensive production and a solid name to replace the legend Molina. Contreras signs with the Cards.

Prediction: St. Louis Cardinals

#10 Clayton Kershaw, SP

The future Hall of Famer will likely hit 200 career wins in 2023, and every time I’ve predicted him to go elsewhere, he always ends up back in Los Angeles. So, without even getting into his stats and accomplishments, I’ll just say it – Clayton Kershaw is back with the Dodgers in 2023, perhaps on another one-year deal. He went 12-3 in 2022 with a 2.28 ERA, showing that, when he is healthy, he still elite. He struck out 9.8 batters per 9 and was selected to his 9th All Star Team. If he were to leave, there are many teams that would love to have him including his hometown Rangers among many other teams short on starting pitching, but at this point, I see him retiring as a Dodger.

Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers

#9 Edwin Diaz, RP

Edwin Diaz

One of the premiere relief pitchers in the game is Edwin Diaz and in 2022, he earned himself a huge contract. Diaz had the lowest ERA of his career at an insane 1.31 with an even more insane 17.1 per 9 strikeout ratio. He had 118 strikeouts in just 62 innings of work, basically striking out 2 batters per inning. The Mets will undoubtedly prioritize bringing back Diaz, but he is also likely to not sign too quickly and explore his options. He could become the first reliever in history to sign a contract in the $100 million range, surpassing Aroldis Chapman’s record of $86 million. One team who will also be heavily interested is the Blue Jays, whose failing bullpen is the primary reason they couldn’t get past the Wild Card round. As a Giants fan, I’d be ecstatic to land Diaz to become the primary closer while Camilo Doval could be the setup man. The Mariners, Cubs and Rangers could also be dark horses to sign Diaz. Obviously, the big spenders like the Yankees and Dodgers are also serious threats to snag him. However, at the end of the day, I think the most likely suitor is the Mets, who will likely match any offer. If he does leave, I’ll say it’s do the Dodgers. But as for my official prediction, Diaz stays with the Mets.

Prediction: New York Mets

#8 Dansby Swanson, SS

Swanson came back to Atlanta in 2022 and played in all 162 games, smashing 25 home runs with a .277 batting average while securing his first Gold Glove. Where he goes will largely depend on the destinations of the other big 3 free agent shortstops – Correa, Turner and Bogaerts. Teams that will be looking to secure a shortstop for the 2023 season include the Twins, Red Sox, Mariners and, of course, the Braves. Recent reports say the Braves offered an extension of around $100 million, which of course was declined. As the longest tenured Brave, there is a chance the Braves bring him back. However, Swanson has proven that he is one of the best shortstops in the game and will demand a massive salary of well over $100 million – something similar to the 6-year $140 million Javy Baez deal. It could be as high as 7-years and $170 million. The Braves GM isn’t known for these types of massive free agent deals. If the Braves were willing to let Freddie Freeman get away, I can’t be surprised if the same thing happens to Swanson. Other teams that could show interest include the Angels, Dodgers, Cubs, Phillies and Cardinals. I’ll say that the St. Louis Cardinals, who are ready to move on from Paul DeJong, make a huge offer and end up landing Swanson.

Prediction: St. Louis Cardinals

#7 Xander Bogaerts, SS

In 2022, Xander made his 4th All Star Team while hitting .307 with 15 bombs. He will be another hot free agent shortstop several teams will be interested in after he exercises his opt-out, which he is expected to do. He will demand perhaps an even bigger contract than Swanson and, based on the 4-year $90 million extension reportedly already offered, the Red Sox may not be willing to pay enough to bring him back. The Red Sox still have some infield depth with Trevor Story able to move back to his natural shortstop position if need be in 2023. All the teams I mentioned that would be in on Swanson will likely also show interst in Xander Bogaerts. However, one team that may be particularly interested is the 2022 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies, who are as of this recording down 2 games to 3 in the World Series. They are looking for an upgrade at shortstop after rookie Bryson Stott struggled somewhat with a .234 average and on-base percentage under .300. Their current President of Baseball Ops is former Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski, who has a relationship with Bogaerts. I’ll say the Phils, looking to win it all in 2023, end up signing Bogaerts on a massive 6-7 year deal.

Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies

#6 Carlos Correa, SS

One of the most outside the box free agent predictions I ever made was Carlos Correa signing with Twins – and it actually happened. He played great for Minnesota, hitting .291 with a .366 on-base and 22 big flies. Correa will opt out and look for a huge deal around 10 years, similar to the Texas Rangers contract with Corey Seager. With this in mind, even the Giants could show interest with Brandon Crawford toward the end of his extension. The Twins, of course, will try to bring him back and so will all the teams I’ve talked about who are needing a shortstop going forward including the Red Sox if they don’t re-sign Bogaerts. The Mariners will make a big push for Correa, but I’m going to make a prediction even crazier than having the Twins sign Correa. This time, it’s the Los Angeles Angels who make the shocking 9-10 year deal and bring Correa to the West Coast to try to win a World Series in 2023. I got Correa signing with the Halos in ‘23.

Prediction: Los Angeles Angels

#5 Carlos Rodon, SP

The San Francisco Giants struck gold with the signing of Rodon, who struck out 33.4% of the batters he faced in 2022 with a 2.88 ERA. He only needed to prove he could stay healthy while putting up his normal impressive numbers. He did just that and will likely opt out of his deal and seek a massive contract. Every team looking to add an elite starter, which really should be all 30 teams, will be interested. Primary teams that have had some reported interest include the Giants, Angels, Cubs Cardinals and Yankees. He will sign a deal around 5 years and $145 million. The Giants could have traded him at the deadline but held on to him, with an obvious hope that they could bring him back in the off-season. The Rangers could make a surprise run at Rodon, but another team that desperately needs pitching is the St. Louis Cardinals, who showed big interest in Rodon during the season. Whether the Giants will outbid them or not may come down to how much money they plan to spend on other free agents who I’m about to talk about. Ultimately, I think the Giants will spend the money needed to bring him back and I’ll say he stays in the bay area, but if he leaves, I’d say he goes to St. Louis. Official prediction, however: Rodon stays in San Francsico.

Prediction: San Francisco Giants

#4 Justin Verlander, SP

One of the best pitchers in the last twenty years, Justin Verlander won a Cy Young in 2019, then had to have Tommy John surgery, missing nearly all of 2020 and 2021. Coming back in 2022 to the Astros in his late thirties, Verlander proved he is still one of the best, going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA, setting himself up to win his third career Cy Young and creating a massive market for him in the off-season assuming he exercises his opt-out which is expected. The Yankees, Dodgers, Braves, Mets, Orioles and maybe even the Giants will make a run at Verlander. The Astros would love to have him back as well, but with several young pitchers in their system, they may not be willing to pay the huge asking price for a 2023 Justin Verlander. So, I will say he signs elsewhere. I believe it will be one of the big-market teams snagging up Verlander for his age 40 season and that team will be the New York Yankees, who will create an unstoppable 1-2 punch with Cole and Verlander at the top, followed by Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino.

Prediction: New York Yankees

#3 Trea Turner, SS

The final big shortstop on the list is Trea Turner, one of the most reliable shortstops in the game. He is a true 5-tool talent with blazing speed, amazing defense and power. He drove in 100 runs and crushed 21 bombs in 2022. He also stays healthy, playing in 160 games for the Dodgers and stepping up to the plate over 700 times. He will still only be 29 years old on Opening Day 2023 and will be heavily desired by many teams including the Phillies, Cardinals, Angels and Cubs. However, if the Dodgers want to keep some one, they keep some one. I’ve got them hanging onto Kershaw and Tyler Anderson and they’ll also pay to keep Trea Turner. He stays in LA.

Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers

#2 Jacob DeGrom, SP

There is only one issue with DeGrom and that is his injury history. When he’s healthy, however, DeGrom is simply the best. His strikeout per nine ratio was 14.3 in 2022, repeating the same ratio he had in ‘21. The 4-time All Star and 2-time Cy Young Award winner averaged nearly 100 MPH on his fastball even after coming off the injured list. One team that may show interest is the Braves, who Degrom rooted for growing up. Several teams will show interest since, due to his age and injuries, may get to sign him on a short term deal of 2 years or even 1 year with an opt in option for a second year. I’m going to say that a team that spent over half a billion dollars last offseason makes an insane offer to add some much needed pitching to their rotation and succeed – they will sign bullpen help and rotation help to make a serious run in ‘23 and that’s the Texas Rangers. I’ve got Degrom going there on a one-year deal with an opt-out for the 2nd year. Jacob Degrom is heading to the Rangers.

Prediction: Texas Rangers

#1 Aaron Judge, OF

Aaron Judge

The best player available this offseason will be one Aaron Judge. He set a single season American League home run record and made a serious run at the Triple Crown. Despite a history of injury issues, he’s been able to stay healthy for the past two years and the free agent frenzy is going to be absolutely insane. The San Francisco Giants have been identified multiple times as serious contenders for Judge. “Judge is at the top of the Giants list and they won’t be underbid,” one source told Randy Miller of NJ.com. “If they miss out, it won’t be because of money.” However, they won’t get him without a fight from the Yankees themselves along with teams like the Mets, Rangers and maybe even the Dodgers. Even if the Giants stick to what they’ve been reported as having said and do “whatever it takes” to get Judge, at the end of the day no team can force a player to sign with them. There is a possibility that Aaron Judge, who has never won a World Series, wants to sign with a team that at least made the playoffs in 2022. I’ve said before and it is still true that I won’t be shocked at all if the Dodgers swoop in and sign Judge. They can always move Mookie Betts to another outfield spot to make room for him. The Giants have been reported “favorites” many times before – going back to Bryce Harper and Giancarlo Stanton. I’ll be thrilled if it happens, but as a Giants fan, I’m not holding my breath. If he does leave the Yankees, I’ll say he signs with the Dodgers, but as for my official prediction – Aaron Judge stays put in the pinstripes.

Prediction: New York Yankees

Top 15 FREE AGENT Predictions - Predicting Landing Spots Now That BASEBALL IS BACK...

Mercifully, the MLB vs MLBPA Lockout of 2021-2022 has ENDED. During this lockout, there was little point to predicting free agents and speculating about potential trades. Now, however, with Spring Training about to ramp up and the free agent market about to explode, it’s time to speculate!

This blog will cover the top 15 remaining Free Agents on the market according to Draft Kings and it’s quite a list, including former Giant Kris Bryant and, of course, the likes of Trevor Story and Carlos Correa. Where will these guys sign? The excitement for free agency has returned with a vengeance and things are about to go absolutely insane so let’s get into it…

15. Zack Greinke, RHP

Starting with one of my favorite non-Giant players in the league, Zack Greinke, is one of the biggest name starting pitchers available. An article just came out on the McCovey Chronicles explaining why the San Francisco Giants should sign Greinke . He’s obviously a much different pitcher than Kevin Gausman, who has already signed with the Mariners. Greinke is 38 years old, doesn’t strike out a ton of guys, but he’s still very effective, or at least he was in 2021, going 11-6 with a 4.16 ERA. However, he struggled in the second half and dealt with a neck injury - and again, he’s 38 years old. There are rumors the Dodgers could be interested in bringing him back.

I don’t see the Giants signing a big name like Greinke given the strong possibility he’s just too far past his prime and won’t be able to be effective. The Giants can’t really afford to take that chance, but a team that can afford to gamble on Greinke could be the Yankees, who are very much known for signing veterans with big names who may be a bit past their prime. However, back in 2018 there was a list of teams that Greinke had on his no-trade list as part of his contract. The Yankees were on that list and so were the Dodgers and Giants. Does that mean he won’t sign with them? Not necessarily. I still think the Yankees are possible, but what about the World Champion Atlanta Braves, who were not on his list and could use some depth behind the big 3 of Friend, Anderson and Morton. They do have Kyle Wright and some other good young arms like Tucker Davidson, but a veteran guy like Greinke could be a solid addition. He knows how to pitch and lives in Orlando, Florida - not too far from Atlanta. I’ll say Greinke signs with the Atlanta Braves.

Prediction: Atlanta Braves

14. Kenley Jansen, RHP

Kenley Jansen has been extremely reliable for the Dodgers over the course of his career but there were definitely some concerning moments in 2021, especially when the Dodgers played the Giants. As a Giants fan, Jansen looked horrible at times. However, the stats don’t lie - Jansen had a 2.22 ERA, 38 Saves and an 11.2 strikeout per nine ratio in 2021. I have a hard time seeing him in another uniform but am curious if he’s getting sick of being the scapegoat in L.A., maybe he decides to get out, but if I had to guess, I think Jansen stays put on a 3 or 4 years deal. Kenley Jansen re-signs with the Dodgers.

Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers

13. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

Next up is Anthony Rizzo. In my original free agent predictions, I had him staying with the Yankees. He’s a four-time Gold Glover who knows how to work the count and also brings consistency with power and contact.  He may not be a 30+ home run hitter anymore, but he came through in the biggest game of the year with a home run in the Wild Card Game.  He plays solid defense. This is an obvious guy to bring back for the Yankees, but they did tender a contract to Luke Voit, a really good hitter with power but his defense is questionable and he gets hurt a lot. With the Universal DH in place now, I think Voit could get traded - I’m not convinced he’s the future staring first baseman for the Yankees. I think they will re-sign Anthony Rizzo.

Prediction: New York Yankees

12. Jorge Soler, OF/DH

The 2021 World Series MVP left every one impressed and wondering where the hell this guy would end up in 2022. It’s not like he just came out of nowhere - this is a dude who hit 48 home runs for the Royals in 2019. His exit velocity is next-level and now, again, with the Universal DH, Soler could sign almost anywhere. The Braves will, I assume, try very hard to re-sign him. The Cardinals could be a decent fit and even the Giants, who haven’t had a power-hitter like that since Barry Bonds, could definitely use him. The Chicago Cubs, the team he started with, are also a possibility. However, I’m going to say the Braves do whatever they can to re-sign him and bring that magic back for 2022. The Braves have to try to repeat and an important step in doing so is bringing back your World Series MVP. I say Soler stays with Atlanta.

Prediction: Atlanta Braves

11. Seiya Suzuki, OF

Seiya Suzuki is my #1 free agent for the San Francisco Giants. He was an absolute beast in Japan, hitting 38 bombs last year with an average over .300. He’ll probably project closer to hitting around .285 with 25 home runs in the States, but I still want this guy in San Francisco as do most Giants fans. He’s only 27 years old and I see big things for his future although you never know how that transition will go. I’ve heard the Cubs, Padres, Mariners and Red Sox are also in on Suzuki and other teams likely are as well. The thing about Suzuki is, unlike other free agents of the past that Giants fans like myself have wanted, I’m hearing the Giants brought up by more than just Giants fans and local Giants media. They seem to be the consensus favorite in general to land Suzuki. After so many disappointments, I’m beginning to feel some optimism that the Giants finally land the big name they’re after. I’ve got Seiya Suzuki signing with the San Francisco Gigantes.

Predictions: San Francisco Giants

10. Nelson Cruz, DH

Next up is the ageless wonder, Nelson Cruz, who had I originally had going to the Oakland A’s, but I’m going to alter that in today’s update. The DH is officially in the National League now and there are 15 teams that didn’t have a DH in 2021 who will need one in 2022. Some of the teams may already have a nice option lined up but not all. The San Diego Padres should be interested as will the Brewers, who lost Avisail Garcia to the Marlins in free agency. Is it possible he returns to Minnesota where he seemed pretty comfortable before getting traded to Tampa Bay. Another former team he could return to is the Mariners. I think all of these are possibilities, but I’m going to say the Brewers make him an offer he can’t refuse. They didn’t tender a contract to Daniel Vogelbach so there’s room for a DH and this a team that has been trying to win for the last few years - Yelich has been struggling and they need more power to go along with that great pitching staff. I’ve got Cruz going to the BrewCrew.

Prediction: Milwaukee Brewers

9. Michael Conforto, OF

At #9 on this list is Michael Conforto, who struggled last year. His power numbers were down and his average went down although he still got on base with a decent .344 on base percentage. He may be looking to re-establish himself with a one-year deal. I don’t see him staying with the Mets after such a tough season both for himself and the team, although who knows what he’s actually thinking. Teams that seem like a possible fit could be the Phillies, Nationals, Rockies, the Reds, the Marlins, potentially the Giants as well. I originally had him going to Seattle and I’m going to stick with that - he is from Seattle and the Mariners are obviously going for it and trying to add some quality veterans to go with the amazing young roster they have. I say Conforto decides to go home and sign with the Seattle Mariners.

Prediction: Seattle Mariners

8. Clayton Kershaw, LHP

Next up is the future Hall-of-Fame career Dodger Clayton Kershaw. He had solid numbers last season and is still a quality starter any team would love to have. He’s one of the better pitchers in baseball and with the Rangers obviously going insane this offseason signing Seager and Semien, they are going for it big-time. They are all-in. However, if they really expect to compete for a World Series championship, they need better pitching. Their rotation is okay with Jon Gray, Taylor Hearn, Dane Dunning but you need one more big name in that rotation - an Ace - a Hall of Fame arm still not completely over the hill although yes, a little past his prime, but Clayton Kershaw, who is from the Dallas area and Arlington is bascially right there in that Dallas-Fort Worth area, will sign with the Rangers.

Prediction: Texas Rangers

7. Carlos Rodon, LHP

Everything came together for Carlos Rodon in 2021 - he was 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA and ridiculous 12.7 Strikeout per Nine Ratio. The White Sox certainly would love to bring him back, but his agent is Mr. Scott Boras and he will be looking for a substantial raise after a fantastic All Star season.  The Red Sox and Cardinals have been rumored as potential landing spots. The Angels, Twins, Astros, Nationals and Giants all need starting pitching help.  The Tigers are making big moves and could be interested. However, I’m going to predict the Angels finally sign a top starting pitcher to join Shohei Ohtani in that rotation – I don’t know who it will be but I’ll go ahead and predict Carlos Rodon ends up with the Los Angeles Angels.

Prediction: Los Angeles Angels

6. Kyle Schwarber, DH/OF

At #6 is Kyle Schwarber, who slashed .266/.374/.554 with 32 big flies for both the Nationals and Red Sox in 2021.  The Rockies could be one team interested, just dreaming of what he could do at Coors Field throughout an entire season, especially if the DH comes to the National League. I’ve heard rumors that the Tigers could be a possibility. Originally, I thought he could stay in Boston with J.D. Martinez going elsewhere but J.D. opted in and will stay in Boston. I think Schwarber will be signing elsewhere. As a potential DH, there are ton of teams that could be interested. The Phillies come to mind, who could use another big bat, I can see him in San Francisco, putting baseballs into McCovey Cove on the regular. However, unfortunately, I’ll say he signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lost Seager and right now could use another big bat to DH. You’ve got the decline of Cody Bellinger and although their lineup is still absolutely amazing, it’s not quite the All Star unstoppable ridiculous lineup it was a year ago and I think the Dodgers want to make it that way again. Schwarber signs with Los Angeles.

Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Kris Bryant, 3B/OF

Moving into the Top 5, we have Kris Bryant, who finished out the 2021 season as a San Francisco Giant. Unfortunately, it’s not likely he returns to the City By the Bay and instead, Bryant his going to sign with the Seattle Mariners. This was my earlier prediction and I’ll stick to it. Bryant played very well for the Giants this year, especially in the NLDS, going 8 for 17 with a homer. The Mets are possible as well, but I think the Seattle Mariners are going to continue to have a huge offseason and make a big offer – 6 years at around 160 million dollars – the Mariners sign Kris Bryant to play alongside J.P. Crawford.  Kris Bryant to the M’s.

Prediction: Seattle Mariners

4. Nick Castellanos, OF/DH

Coming in at #4 is Nick Castellanos, the former Tiger, former Red and former Cub. Castellanos had a huge 2021, setting new highs in home runs (34) while posting the lowest strikeout rate (20.7%) of his career. He’s going to go somewhere where he can DH and now, that could be absolutely anywhere. The Reds, Marlins, Cubs and Nationals were the top 4 teams I had as potential suitors in my original free agent video. I eventually settled on him signing with Washington, which is still possible. However, at that time, I also had J.D. Martinez signing with the Padres and he is back in Boston. So, I do think the Padres will sign a big time player to DH for them and will be willing to outbid the other teams. Therefore, I am updating my prediction - not happy about it because the Padres are in the west with my Giants - but I’m saying Castellanos signs with the San Diego Padres.

Prediction: San Diego Padres

3. Freddie Freeman, 1B

Moving into the top 3 - the best of the best - we have Freddie Freeman. I originally had him staying in Atlanta but the more time that passes and the more reports that come out on Freeman, the more it seems that he might sign elsewhere. This is stunning to me and I can’t believe the Braves didn’t lock him up before the lockout. The Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees are teams that will be in on Freeman but at the end of the day, I can’t see it happening. I believe Freeman will play the rest of the career - or at least the rest of his productive career - with the Braves. I’m sticking with my prediction. It will happen. It has to happen. Freeman signs with the Atlanta Braves.

Prediction: Atlanta Braves

2. Trevor Story, SS

Next up is Trevor Story. The Rangers and Tigers were original teams I thought could show interested but they’ve already locked up their shortstops with Seager and Baez respectively. If the Astros don’t re-sign Correa, Story would be nearly a perfect replacement, so they may be interested. I’m still going to stick with the New York Yankees. They do have some room to maneuver the infield around a bit, moving Gleyber Torres to 2nd base with DJ LeMahieu being a super utility player, playing all around the infield like he did this year.  I can really see this happening – I’ve got Trevor Story signing with the Bronx Bombers.

Prediction: New York Yankees

1. Carlos Correa, SS

That brings us to the #1 free agent in the 2021-2022 offseason.  It is Mr. Carlos Correa.  The only downside is you probably won’t get 162 games out of him but he did play in 148 in 2021, which is the most he’s played in since 2016.  The 2021 All Star  hit a career high 26 bombs while playing elite defense at shortstop and had an OPS of .850.  He has said he wants to stay in Houston but he was also apparently insulted at their extension offer that I thought was pretty decent.  I’m just speculating but I would also assume all the booing and cheating talk has taken a toll and he may want to get a fresh start elsewhere; again he hasn’t said that; I’m just talking out loud. Could a reunion with A.J. Hinch in Detroit be possible?  I predicted it but then the Tigers signed Javy Baez. However, infields can be moved around, Baez can play second base as well. It is still possible, but I’m going to update this prediction and say that Correa signs with a surprise team. I really think the Dodgers are also possibilities since they just sign whoever they want. That said, I’m going to predict officially that the Minnesota Twins swoop in and sign Correa in order to remain relevant; this is a team that has been awesome that last few years and they want to continue to compete with the White Sox and Indians - sorry Guardians - in the A.L. Central. I’ve got the TWINS signing Carlos Correa.

Prediction: Minnesota Twins

My 2021 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot

The time has come to fill out my unofficial (obviously, I don’t have a vote) Hall of Fame Ballot.  Each entry is allowed to have up to ten names and mine will be completely full.  Looking at the possible names, I’ll start with the no-brainers to me and that includes 5 names:

Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds

The case for Barry Bonds has been made a million times – he was the best player in the game over an extended period of time and was a first ballot, no doubt Hall-of-Famer before he ever touched steroids.  If you’re one who will never vote for any one connected to PEDs then obviously Bonds won’t get your vote.  For me, while it is a serious mark against a player, it is still just another consideration.  When considering all of the reasons to vote for Bonds – especially going back to his career before the year 2000 when he started juicing – he still gets in easily.  Pre-steroids, Bonds had over 400 home runs and 400 steals, three MVP’s, 8 All Star Selections, 8 Gold Gloves and was an absolute shoe-in for the Hall of Fame.

Roger Clemens

As for Clemens, it’s the same story – he was one of the best pitchers in the history of the game before he ended up with Toronto where by most accounts he started using PEDs.  He was already a 3-time Cy Young Award Winner and won an MVP as a pitcher.  He led the league multiple times in a variety of categories including strikeouts, wins, ERA, innings pitched and complete games.  Clemens, like Bonds, was one of the best players of his generation even without steroids.  For that reason, he is an absolute Hall-of-Famer and is on my ballot.

Billy Wagner

The next no-brainer may be a bit of a surprise in Billy Wagner.  However, if you take a moment to look at his career numbers – he is clearly in.  Billy Wagner absolutely dominated throughout his career all the way up until the end.  He has a career 2.31 ERA (CAREER!).  In 903 career innings, Wagner gave up a mere 601 hits yet struck out 1,196 batters.  He is a seven-time all star and accumulated 422 career saves.  His regular season numbers stack up well with any of the relievers in the Hall of Fame today including Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera.  In fact, Wagner has more strikeouts than Rivera and an ERA just 0.1 higher – Wagner’s again is 2.31 and Rivera’s is 2.21.  The only question mark for Wagner is his struggles in the postseason, but he only pitched 11.2 career postseason innings compared to Rivera’s 141.  I don’t believe he should be kept out of the Hall of Fame over a bad postseason career when his opportunities where limited and he had a clear Hall of Fame regular season career.  The regular season is the bulk of any player’s career and Wagner’s was more than great – he deserves to be a Hall of Famer.

Omar Vizquel

I’ve been on the Omar Vizquel Hall of Fame train since he retired.  Vizquel had a stellar defensive career and won 11 Gold Gloves.  Simply put, if Ozzie Smith is a first-ballot no-brainer Hall of Famer then Vizquel should at least certainly be in at some point.  In fact, statistics show that Vizquel was better than Smith in many categories.  Starting with his bat, Vizquel had a higher batting average, more home runs, more RBI’s, more runs scored, and more hits than Ozzie.  Defensively, he had a .985 fielding percentage compared to Smith’s .978.  Vizquel committed 183 errors in his 24 year career compared to 281 errors in Smith’s 19 year career.  Admittedly, some advanced stats like WAR still indicate Ozzie Smith helped his team more than Vizquel, but again – when we compare the stats, it makes no sense that Ozzie Smith is a first time shoe-in candidate for the Hall of Fame and Vizquel can’t even sniff it.  Omar Vizquel is an absolute Hall-of-Famer.

Andruw Jones

My final no-brainer is Andruw Jones.  How Jones is not getting more Hall of Fame support is beyond me.  He was 10 time gold glover and the premiere defensive outfielder in the league for a decade.  That alone should get him consideration from the defensive end of the spectrum.  However, when you consider that he hit 434 career home runs including 51 in 2005 when he was 2nd in the MVP voting, only losing to Albert Pujols in his prime and he was a five-time All Star, decision becomes obvious.  Jones was a beast offensively and defensively in the league for a decade and is only being held out because he struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness during the final 5 years of his career.  If he retired in 2007, Jones would probably get in.  Jones also hit 10 postseason home runs, hitting .273.  The bottom line is Jones was the best defender in the game for a long period of time and nearly hit 500 home runs – that is all that needs to be said.

Those are five names I write in immediately.  After that, I have to decide who gets the remaining five spots.  Some of the bigger names to consider are Curt Schilling, Scott Rolen, Gary Sheffield, Todd Helton, Jeff Kent, Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu and Andy Pettite.  I also looked into all the new candidates but unfortunately I don’t think any of them are Hall of Fame worthy although Tim Hudson is closer than I thought he would be and if there wasn’t a 10 player limit, I would consider him more heavily.  Sosa, Ramirez and Sheffield all have PED connections like Bonds and Clemens and like Bonds and Clements, they have Hall of Fame career numbers.   The problem is that it’s harder to determine whether they would have been Hall of Famers or not without the extra help.   Additionally, I hesitate to vote for some one like Manny Ramirez because his character and integrity during his playing career – a big point I’ll get into shortly - come into question.  So, since there’s only five slots left, I’ll start with 3 non-controversial guys who I feel deserve induction.

Todd Helton

Todd Helton played for the same franchise his entire 17 year big league career and ended up with .316 batting average and over 2,500 hits.  He led the league in hitting in 2000 with a ridiculous .372 batting average to go along with a 147 RBI, 42 home runs and 59 doubles.  Helton was a five time All Star, 4 time Silver Slugger and also brought elite defense to the field, winning 3 Gold Gloves.  Injuries slowed him down his final 6 seasons, but Helton was clearly one of the best players in the game over an entire decade and consistently hit over .320 with power and great defense year after year.  Not voting for Helton because he played in Denver means basically if you play your entire career with the Rockies and you’re an offensive player, you basically have no chance to get in the Hall unless you’re the next Babe Ruth.  Also, if that’s’ the case that hitters are held out because they hit in Denver, then pitchers who’s career was just okay should get in. Ubaldo Jimenez should be a Hall of Famer since he pitched in Denver – so that’s why he has an ERA over 4 and a losing career record.  David Nied?  Sure, he had a 5.06 ERA and a career losing record but he mostly pitched in Colorado – that has to go into account.  Hall of Famer all day.  But seriously – Todd Helton should be in.

Jeff Kent

Jeff Kent is another interesting case, but for me, in addition to all the accolades I am about to discuss – it’s his 2000 MVP that puts it over the top for me.  Kent was one of the best hitting second basemen of all time, ending up with 377 career home runs and a .290 average to go along with 5 All Star Selections and 4 Silver Sluggers.  He not only has more home runs than Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, he has more than any second baseman of all time.  He has the 4th most career doubles in the history of baseball with 560 doubles – more than Babe Ruth himself.  He also has 9 career postseason home runs including 3 during the 2002 World Series.  If not judging based on position, it’s borderline, but when comparing him to his fellow second basemen, it’s a no-brainer – Jeff Kent is an absolute Hall of Famer, especially when you consider that MVP in 2000 that he won over his teammate Barry Bonds.

Scott Rolen

Scott Rolen

My final non-controversial selection unless you just think he simply wasn’t good enough to be a Hall of Famer will be Scott Rolen.  During his 17 year career with the Phillies, Cardianls, Reds and Blue Jays, Rolen hit .281 with 2,077 hits, 316 home runs and a 70.1 WAR.  These numbers are impressive but for Hall of Fame induction, he’ll need more – and he has it.  Rolen was the 1997 Rookie of the Year and one of the best defensive third basemen in the game, winning seven Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and being selected to the All Star Game seven times.  He hit .421 with three doubles and a big fly during the 2006 World Series where he won a ring with St. Louis.  Rolen was also great offensively but was, like Fred McGriff and many others who stayed clean, overshadowed by so many juicers who were hitting home runs and driving in runs at a video-game level pace.  Rolen should be awarded for staying clean and being an all around great player.  Advanced stats show he stacks up well all around with most third basemen already in the Hall of Fame.  For these reasons, Scott Rolen gets my vote.

So, now that I’ve filled my ballot with all my no-brainers and then three non-controversial selections that I feel are absolutely worthy, it’s time to evaluate the remaining names for the final two spots.  After more research, I’ve narrowed it down to three possibilities – and of course, I don’t have to fill up the ballot, but I think I probably will.  The three are Curt Schilling, Bobby Abreu and Andy Pettite.  I am not voting for Sammy Sosa because a study of his career shows that before 1998 ,he was an average hitter with good pop who did not make consistent contact and didn’t walk enough.  And even though he became an absolute beast for several years once he got a little help, his career WAR is still lower than many of the players I’ve talked about here such as Todd Helton and Andruw Jones.  Believe it or not, on Baseball Reference, newcomer to the ballot Mark Buehrle has a higher career WAR than Sosa.  At the end of the day, I think without Steroids Sosa would not be anywhere near the Hall of Fame and therefore, he won’t make it onto my ballot. 

Curt Schilling

Of my remaining names, Curt Schilling is the most obvious Hall of Famer and is currently trending close to that magic 75% requirement.  The problem with Schilling, however, is not steroids, rather his controversial tweets and political views.  Now, to not vote for a candidate because he supports a political candidate that you don’t is absolutely absurd.  Supporting a political candidate, regardless of how polarizing or controversial that candidate might be, should have no bearing on whether a player is voted on.  The hall of fame does mention character and integrity in its explanation of how voters should consider each player.  However, political views are always going to differ from person to person and that should have absolutely no impact on his Hall of Fame standing.  As far as controversial tweets, including this most recent one that seems to support those who invaded the capitol building, I personally still would not not vote for him over tweets.  Having said that, I need to make clear I am totally against violence, rioting, illegal invasions and that entire incident was absolutely horrific.  Any one who was involved in violence or taking over that building should be locked up.  I’ll also call out any one who has been involved in looting, rioting, burning down buildings or anything of that nature ever, regardless of who or what they support politically.  All that said, Curt Schilling was always an interesting case because most of his greatest moments were in the postseason.  Still, he had 216 career wins, over 3,000 strikeouts, 6 All Star selections, and 3 times was 2nd in the Cy Young voting.  That alone makes him at least a borderline candidate.  When you take into account his postseason career which include 3 World Series Championships, and 11-2 record with a 2.23 ERA, and a World Series and NLCS MVP, the decision becomes a lot easier.  Curt Schilling should be in the Hall of Fame.  While I don’t support all of his tweets and opinions, those are his tweets and his opinions.  It is my opinion that the character and integrity clauses apply mostly to the a player’s playing career, not their tweets long after retirement.  Therefore, Schilling goes on my list.

The final two guys I have not eliminated are Bobby Abreu and Andy Pettite.  Believe it or not, Bobby Abreu was sneaky-good during his career and is a serious consideration.  Despite only two All Star selections and one Gold Glove, he was still excellent over a long period time and played during the height of the Steroid Era.  He was second to only Barry Bonds in walks from 1998-2004 and ended his playing career with 1,476 walks and 2,470 hits.  He also had decent pop, hitting 288 career bombs.  It should be noted that every player who got on base more times than Abreu is either in the Hall of Fame or connected to steroids with the exception of Rusty Staub.  All that said, he still has time on the ballot so for now, I am leaving him off due to the fact that he only made two All Star Teams, was never a serious MVP candidate and was never an impact player in the playoffs. 

Andy Pettite

Andy Pettite

That leaves Andy Pettite, who does have a PED connection, only made three All Star Teams and never won a Cy Young Award.  On the other hand, he was straightforward about his use of HGH to help heal from an injury during 2002 and was not, in my opinion, some one who was constantly juicing throughout his career.  He seemed honest and sincerely apologetic for doing what he did, even though at the time HGH wasn’t even banned in MLB.  Therefore, since he wasn’t a big juicer, I can believe the majority of his stats, including 256 wins and a great postseason career that includes 5 World Championships and an ALCS MVP.  Furthermore, he’s the game’s all-time leader in playoff wins and innings pitched and is fourth in strikeouts behind Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and John Smoltz.  He was always considered a great teammate and person, meaning as far I’m concerned, he meets the character requirement.  Lastly, only Whitey Ford and Red Ruffing have more wins in a Yankee uniform and they’re both in the Hall of Fame.  My final spot goes to Andy Pettite.

MLB Free Agent SIGNINGS & RUMORS - Springer, Bauer, McMann, SUGANO

The MLB Hot Stove is starting to warm up as we enter December. So far the two teams that have been most active in actually signing players has been the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals. The Royals inked their former starter Mike Minor to a 2-year deal worth at least 18 million dollars including a club option for a 3rd year. He is coming off of a tough 2020 where he showed signs of brilliance with the Rangers and A’s but ended up with an ERA over 5. Some of his advanced stats indicate that perhaps he wasn’t as bad as the simple stats say.

Meanwhile, the Royals also picked up former Nationals speedster Michael A. Taylor who had some key home runs during the Royals 2019 playoff push that ultimately ended up in a World Series Championship. Taylor will receive a $1.75MM base salary and another $1MM worth of available incentives, reports Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. Taylor brings speed, strong defense and some pop to Kansas City where he will try to find the stroke from 2017 that helped him hit .271 with 19 home runs. More stable playing time and a revamped swing could help him do so.

Michael A. Taylor

The New York Mets have also been active early in the Free Agent Market by signing former Twins reliever Trevor May to a one year 15.5 million dollar deal. May has strike out stuff and is one of the better relievers in all of baseball despite an ERA that is usually around the 3.5 range. The 31 year old had a 3.86 earned run average in 24 games for the Twins last season, with 38 strikeouts in 23 ⅓ innings. This is a key signing for a Mets bullpen that, despite some nice names, has struggled to find consistency.

The Mets also signed 11 players to Minor League Deals earlier this week including former Mariner outfielder Mallex Smith, right-handed major-league veteran closer Arodys Vizcaino, and infielder Jose Peraza, who spent the 2020 season with the Red Sox. The rest of the names include Oscar De La Cruz, Johneshwy Fargas, Jake Hager, Harol Gonzalez, Bruce Maxwell, David Rodríguez, Luis Carpio, and Mitchell Tolman.

As far as the rumors go, the Yankees are showing interest in former Astros and Indians slugger Michael Brantley. However, this move may be contingent on whether or not the Yanks can resign DJ Lemahieu. Another 2020 Astro, George Springer, has been connected mainly to the Toronto Blue Jays, who have been in touch with Springer’s agency at least once per week according to their General Manager.

Top Free Agent Pitcher Trevor Bauer was early connected to the San Francisco Giants, but recently the Los Angeles Angels have also shown interest. This makes sense as the Angels have struggled with their rotation for several years. Despite having two superstar offensive players in Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, the Angels will never compete for a World Championship until they can sign some better starters for that rotation.

Trevor Bauer

James McCann has been heavily connected to the New York Mets, who are more interested in McCann than J.T. Realmuto according to most reports. According to some reports, it is increasingly likely that McCann gets a four year deal with the New York Mets. Also, the Twins non-tendered Eddie Rosario and the Red Sox are showing interest according to Jon Morosi.

2020 Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna is drawing interest from the San Francisco Giants but without knowing if there will be a Designated Hitter in the National League in 2021, they are hesitant to make a signing. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays, who know they will have the DH, are also interested and have an advantage over the Giants as long as Rob Manfred drags his feet on the DH decision.

One of the best closers in the game, Liam Hendricks, is also a free agent and both the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants are showing interest. Finally, one of the best pitchers in Japanese baseball has been posted and the Padres, Yankees and Giants are all very interested in Tokyo Giants legend Tomoyuki Sugano. The Yankees may be the favorites but if Sugano is interested in staying in the orange and black in the USA, he will have an opportunity as the Giants are heavily interested. This is a pitcher who has a 101-50 career record in Japan with an ERA of 2.34 over an 8-year career. He also has over 1200 career strikeouts.

Most Important Series To Watch As 2020 MLB Season Winds Down

In what has been by far the most wild, unpredictable and bizarre season in the history of baseball, teams that most insiders gave zero chance to play in October are still chasing a playoff berth as well begin the final week of the season. The Miami Marlins are in second place and could be a playoff team in 2020. The Chicago White Sox lead their division (although I predicted this one preseason -and I was called a variety of interesting names when I did so). The Red Sox sit in last place in the A.L East and the San Francisco Giants are in a battle for the final playoff spot in the National League West with the Reds and the Brewers.

What of the many downsides to having these expanded playoffs is the fact that it is not so easy to just glance at the standing and know what has to happen and who has to win what games in order for your team to play in October. So, today, we will try to make sense of the playoff rules 2020 and understand what teams and games need to be focused on as we wind down the 2020 Major League Baseball Season. Let’s start with a basic refresher of exactly how you get into the playoffs if you’re not one of the top two teams in the division.

Obviously, the two teams not in first or second place with the best records would be in as the 7th and 8th seed. However, there is a strong chance there will be teams tied, and in this shortened season, there is not going to be time to have extra playin games, which would have been quite awesome. Unfortunately, ties will be determined by the following method:

1. Head-To-Head Record (Due to the fact that teams are only playing within their division, this may not be applicable)

2. Intravision Record

3. Record in the final 20 division games (plus one until the tie is broken)

In the American League, the 7th and 8th seeds are already starting to become clear - the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians have both created some space between themselves and other playoff hopefuls such as the Baltimore Orioles and the Seattle Mariners. Unless something insane happens, it’ll the Blue Jays and Indians in the playoffs as the 7th and 8th seeds. Here is what the playoffs would look like in the American League if the season ended today:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Toronto Blue Jays (8) at Tampa Bay Rays (1)

Cleveland Indians (7) at Chicago White Sox (2)

Houston Astros (6) at Oakland Athletics (3)

New York Yankees (5) at Minnesota Twins (4)

However, in the National League, things aren’t so clear. There are several teams very close to a .500 record that are all bunched together and some are going to get in and others will be left out. Some of these teams, like the Marlins and Cardinals, are in second place right now but could go into a losing streak and fall out all together. For the purposes of this analysis, we’ll concentrate on the teams not in first or second place that have a chance to get in and those teams include the Philadelphia Phillies, The Cincinnati Reds, The Milwaukee Brewers, and of course, the San Francisco Giants.

As of right now, The Reds are one game above .500, the Phillies are at .500, and the Brewers and Giants one game below .500. Of these teams, only the Brewers and Reds have played each other and the Reds own the better head-to-head record against Milwaukee having won 4 and lost only 3. Here’s how the current intradivisional records look:

1. Phillies 20-17

2. Marlins 20-17*

3. Cardinals 19-16*

4. Reds 19-18

5. Brewers 16-16

6. Giants 15-17

   *Currently in 2nd place, guaranteeing a playoff berth

As it stands, the Giants have the short stick as far as intradivisional record. The good news is with 3 more games remaining against the Rockies and 4 against the Padres, the Giants have every chance to significantly improve that record. The Reds play the Brewers and tomorrow night, which are huge games that could absolutely flip the script on who we expect to see in October. After that, the Reds finish their season with three against the Twins.

An even more important series may be the five game series between the Cardinals and the Brewers, which will definitely seal the fate of those teams and will have massive effects on the others as well. This will be a series to keep a close eye on. It seems obvious to root for the Cardinals, unless you’re a Brewers fan of course, since the Cardinals are already in as one of the top two teams. And obviously, unless you’re a Reds fan, it will be Go Twins when the Reds go to Minnesota.

The Phillies are also a team to keep an eye as the play 3 against the Nationals then 3 in Tampa Bay. There is really no reason to root for the Phillies unless you’re a Phillies fan. The Nationals are not getting in the Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League and definitely getting in. However, the Phillies are going to get 2 starts from Aaron Nola and 2 starts from Zack Wheeler who have been fantastic and can definitely help the Phils reach that October goal. The last team to keep an eye on is the Marlins, as they could go on a losing streak and fall out completely or they could still try to take the division as they have a four game series against the first place Braves. So, more than likely, you’ll probably want to root for the Braves unless of course, you’re one of the 12 Marlins fans. (It’s a joke, guys.) After the Braves series, Miami goes on the play the Yankees which will be a tough series, so definitely keep an eye on Miami as well.

So, that is pretty much where we currently stand in the National League. There are a lot of teams with their eyes on October and this is going to be some of the most exciting baseball we’ve had in a long time, for us Giants fans, it’s been since 2016 that we had a legit shot at the playoffs this late in the year. Unfortunately, the Giants lost yesterday to the Rockies but we’re looking to bounce back today. I want to give a sincere Good Luck to all the fans of the teams currently in the battle. This is going to be wild.

Possible MLB Impact CALL-UPS For The 2020 Season

This year we have seen such an infusion of top prospects in a short period of time because of the truncated season.  It’s like loading up an 8 oz glass of milk with enough chocolate for a 16 oz glass and it tastes GREAT!  We’ve seen Joey Bart, Dylan Carlson, Brady Singer, Jo Adell, Dylan Carlson, Casey Mize, Alec Bohm, Nick Madrigal, Triston McKenzie, Deivi Garcia, Sixto Sanchez, Jazz Chisholm, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bobby Dalbec to name a few.  Not to mention, Luis Robert, Nate Pearson, Jesus Luzardo, Nico Hoerner, Dustin May and others who either we knew were staring the year with their big league club or we saw some last year, but were still classified as prospects.  2020 Topps Update and 2021 Topps will have more rookie cards than an Eskimo has ice.

There are a few factors to consider when predicting who we’re going to see over the next couple of weeks.  Is the team in contention?  Therefore the call-up would improve the club and their positioning for the playoffs.  Does the current team makeup benefit the prospect?  Meaning is there a position for them/would they receive regular playing time?

Lets take a look at some of the prospects I see getting a call and some of the team situations impacting the chances for a call up.

The Yankees have called up #2 prospect Clarke Schmidt, he appeared in relief of a doubleheader vs the Orioles, but the question is, will he get a start or will be a doubleheader arm/taxi squad guy the rest of the way, meaning no impactful innings.  That we’ll have to see.

Yusniel Diaz, Orioles, OF, 55/80 – He was the highest profile piece that the O’s got back in the Machado deal.  He played at AA LY and slashed .262/.335/.472 with 11 HR over 76 games.

Bryan Mata, Red Sox, RHP, 55/80 – He is the team’s #2 prospect now that Dalbec is playing with the big league club.  The Red Sox are out of it and will most likely try to avoid exposing any of their top minor league talent but seeing that Mata pitched at AA last year, he could get the call if the Red Sox run into the injury bug or need additional pitching for doubleheaders. 

Brailyn Marquez, Cubs, LHP, 60/80 – He is the #1 prospect in the Cubs system.  If he gets the call it will probably be for a bullpen role.  He’s 21, only reached High A last year, but he has an electric fastball (80/80 grade).  They wouldn’t insert him into a starting role having only reached High A, but that fastball could be a game changer out of the pen.

I think it’s a long shot, but I could see the Reds calling Lodolo (LHP) or India (3B)

Nolan Jones, Indians, 3B, 60/80 – He’s the #1 prospect in the system.  He reached AA last year and slashed .253/.370/.466 with 8 home runs over 49 games.  The Indians are in a 3 team battle for the division and if they think he can help them, now that they can’t trade for anyone, he’ll be up.  With Ramirez at 3rd, Jones would have to play the outfield.  Mercado and Luplow are hitting under .200 and they just acquired Naylor at the deadline, so the Indians will want to see what they have in him for a little while longer.

If the Rockies stay in it, they could make the call for #2 prospect, RHP Ryan Rolison

Right now the Tigers have a full rotation, but if they stay close to .500 for a few more weeks and someone goes down they could call on Alex Faedo, now the #3 prospect in the system after Mize, Paredes and Skubal’s call up.

The only way the Twins call top prospects Royce Lewis (SS/3B) or Alex Kirilloff (1B/OF) up is if they get hit with a serious injury bug or a COVID outbreak and need bodies.  Though, maybe one or both get the call during the last week or so to be around the club during a clinching situation.

MacKenzie Gore, Padres, LHP 70/80 – I really think that the Padres could call up Gore to bolster their pen down the stretch and into the playoffs.  They were extremely aggressive at the deadline and I don’t think that’ll stop, so where can they be aggressive now?...With their prospects.

Taylor Trammell, Mariners, OF, 55/80 – I think the Mariners will bring up one of their 3 other top outfield prospects before the end of the season to pair with Kyle Lewis.  Of the 3 I think Trammell is the closest based on age and experience.  10 homers and 20 steals at AA LY over 126 games…guy makes me think of Carl Crawford.

Logan Gilbert, Mariners, RHP, 55/80 – Having nothing to lose, Gilbert gets a call soon and makes a handful of starts before the year is over.  He’s already 23, pitched well at AA last year 4-2 2.88/0.98 ERA/WHIP and 10.1 K-rate over 9 starts, so he’s a logical choice if there is an injury or struggles by any of the current starters.  Plus, it’d be good to give him some competitive innings this year.

The Rays are so deep and healthy that Wander Franco (SS) is blocked right now.  They’d rather him get regular at-bats over at the training site than only catching some BP with the big league club.  Unless there is a rash of bad injury luck, Franco is going to be spectating. IF they do call him up, he’ll hardly play, see what the DBacks did with their top prospect Varsho for the first few weeks after he got the call.  The Rays may call on Vidal Brujan (SS) before Franco but that would be because of the speed.  Vidal grades 80/80 in the running category and has 151 steals in 399 minor league games.  He could pinch run in key spots but his plate appearances would be limited.

If you’re into prospects like I am, this has been an excellent season and it’s not going to stop.  Strap in and get ready for more.  Visit the BALLCAP Sports YouTube Channel for Player Lock videos of some of the top call ups this season. 

Updated MLB POWER RANKINGS Mid-Season 2020

30. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are the only team in baseball still in single digits with wins - and they only have 7! The Pirates just got no-hit yesterday by Lucas Giolito, who did pitch amazing, but the Pirates haven’t hit all season – Josh Bell, Adam Frazier and Jarod Dyson are all hitting under the Mendoza Line and one of their normally better hitters Bryan Reynolds is just over it at .212.  Their pitching hasn’t been a ton better although Trevor Williams has impressed and could be dangled at the trade deadline.  All in all, the Pirates have a lot of work to do and come in at #30.

29. Texas Rangers

I hate to put them this low and didn’t expect to, but they have found themselves in a major tailspin losing 9 of their last 10 including an 8-game losing streak.  Lance Lynn has been the bright spot for this team and he has been a big name in trade rumors as we get closer to the deadline.  The rest of the rotation – one of that I was high on coming into the season – has disappointed.  Offensively, the Rangers are dead last in the American League in On-Base-Percentage (.289), batting average (.211), runs scored (107),  and home runs (24). 

28. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers started the season fairly hot, but have since cooled down drastically.  So far this season, this team has only managed a .297 on base percentage and have the second worst ERA in baseball at 5.92.  They’ve lost 7 of their last 10 and are starting to look more like the team most fans expected to see in 2020.  Some bright spots include Spencer Turnbull and Jacoby Jones but all in all it hasn’t been great.  The Tigers did recently promote several of their big prospects including #1 pick Casey Mize, so there is some excitement there for sure.

27. Kansas City Royals

Coming in at #27 is the 2015 Champions, the Kansas City Royals.  Despite a 5-4 win yesterday against the Cardinals, the Royals have been struggling.  They lost 4 of 5 before that including a 5-0 loss the the Reds in which Trevor Bauer threw a 7-inning 1-hitter.  Earlier in the season, they lost 6 in a row.  Their starting pitching and offense have struggled mightily.  Admittedly, the Royals haven’t had the easiest schedule with 22 of their first 30 games coming against teams with a winning record.  Their bullpen has impressed and, as I said in my first Trade Deadline Video, they could dangle out a couple bullpen arms for prospects.  One of the best stories so far of 2020 has to be Trevor Rosenthal, who has 7 saves with a 1.46 ERA. 

26. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels got a little bump after beating the Astros 11-4 on Monday, but everything considered, this team has been a monumental disappointment. Despite the superstar power of Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon along with the surprisingly dominant season Dylan Bundy is having on the mound, the Angels are 10-22.  The Angels have a team batting average of .233, Shohei Ohtanti hasn’t pitched or hit effectively, Jo Addell is just getting his career started and hasn’t produced yet, and besides Bundy, the Angels didn’t do much to improve their rotation and it is showing. 

25. Boston Red Sox

I got a lot of hate for putting the Red Sox in 4th place and down around #21 in my preseason power rankings, but here we are.  The Red Sox are 10-20 and sitting in last place in the American League East.  For the past 15 years, they have seemed like a team that either wins the World Series or completely falls apart and finishes in the basement.  This year – it’s looking like the basement.  They’ve already been active in the trade market and look for that to continue – Kevin Pillar, J.D. Martinez and Mitch Moreland, among others, could all be on the move. 

24. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles are ahead of Boston after winning 2 of 3 in their recent series.  Nevertheless, after a hot start, they have cooled down significantly.  They were swept by the Blue Jays and lost 2 of 3 to the Nationals before the Red Sox series.  One bright spot for the Orioles this season has been outfielder Anthony Santander, who 10 bombs on the season in just 119 at bats along with a solid .277 batting average.  Meanwhile, 2015 first round pick Ryan Mountcastle finally made his big league debut and has looked solid so far, going 4 for his first 12.  The next few days will determine what the O’s will do at the deadline – they’ll have to get hot quickly to avoid being sellers.

23. Arizona Diamondbacks

Next up is the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team I was high on coming into 2020.  They have not been good.  Madison Bumgarner lost his velocity and got hit hard before going on the Injured List.  Robbie Ray’s control has been horrendous with 25 walks in 27 innings.  He’s also given up an incredible 25 runs in the same span.  Ketel Marte has hit well but has just one bomb after hitting 32 last season.  They have fallen to last in the NL West and have lost 7 straight games.  It has been a rough season thusfar for the D-Backs.  

22. Seattle Mariners

All the way up at 22 is the Mariners, who are on a 4-game winning streak after crushing the Padres 8-3 yesterday.  They lost 3 out of 4 before that to the Dodgers, but honestly, most fans likely expected the Dodgers to sweep that series.  Kyle Lewis has been great for Seattle hitting .360 in 111 at bats, definitely making himself a serious contender for Rookie of the Year.  Evan White hasn’t been great but does have 5 home runs and is hitting .375 with runners in scoring position.  The Mariners are 12-19 on the season but sit in 3rd in the American League West.

21. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have won 2 straight against the Reds but have largely disappointed this season.  They were even swept by none other than the #30 Pittsburgh Pirates.  It is safe to say that my prediction that Christian Yelich would the MVP this season was completely wrong.  He is hitting .200 after 100 at bats although he’s hit 7 home runs and managed a .322 on base percentage.  The Brew Crew have a .213 batting average and .297 on base percentage, both second to last in the National League.  It has been disappointing to say the least for the Milwaukee Brewers.

20. New York Mets

The New York Mets come in at #20 after a disappointed first half of 2020. They’ve returned to playing again after a couple positive covid tests and proceeded to get shutout twice by the Marlins.  The Mets are 12-16 on the season and would have been much worse if it wasn’t for some solid offense by guys like Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith.  Pete Alonso, despite a .232 batting average, is also heating up and starting to tear the cover off the ball like he did last season.  The pitching staff has struggled, however, with a 4.89 ERA, good for 10th in the National League.

19. Washington Nationals

The World Champions have not looked great for most of 2020 and things are even worse now that Steven Strasburg has been lost for the season due to surgery on his hand. They’re 4-6 in their last 10 and sit at the bottom of the NL East standings with a pathetic 6-12 home record.  They are second in the NL with a .263 batting average but their starting pitching has not been up to standard.  Corbin, Sherzer and Sanchez have been okay, but not quite as dominant as you’d hope as Nationals fan.  All in all, it has been a rough campaign thus far for the Champions.

18. Cincinnati Reds

Coming in at #18 is the Cincinnati Reds, who are on a 4-game losing streak and have really disappointed this season so far.  The starting pitching has been good as expected, especially Trevor Bauer and Sonny Gray, but the Reds are dead last in baseball with a .203 batting average.  Their entire team is hitting near the Mendoza Line.  Their on base percentage is barely over .300 and the Reds currently sit in 4th place with a record of 11-17.  Shogo Akiyama is hitting .214 with nary a home run.  Eugenio Suarez is hitting .158.  The advanced stats show the Reds have had some bad luck this year, but they better figure something out quick or not only will they not with the World Series like I predicted, but they won’t even be a part of October baseball at all.

17. Miami Marlins

One of the biggest surprises of the season has been the Miami Marlins, who I have all the way up at #17.  They have definitely cooled off after a hot start and also haven’t played as many games as most teams due to their Covid adventures.  However, they’ve just shut out the Mets in back to back games and sit in second place right now in the National League East with a 14-11 record.  The Marlins may actually be buyers at the deadline, which is absolutely insane.  Some of their key contributors this season have been Jesus Aguilar, Corey Dickerson, Jonathan Villar and pitcher Pablo Lopez, who has 1.98 ERA through 5 starts with a 3-1 record and 27 strikeouts in 27 innings. 

16. Philadelphia Phillies

Coming in at #16 is the Philadelphia Phillies, who just eek out the Marlins after beating the Nationals yesterday 8-3 and the Braves on Sunday 5-4.  Despite superstar performances by superstar players like Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto and a very good rotation, the bullpen has been atrocious.  They have tried to address these issues by trading for Brandon Workman but then he blew a save in his first opportunity, so… yeah.   The Phillies are 11-14 and sit in third place right now, still hoping for a chance to slip in the playoffs but that bullpen will have to step it up if they expect to get anywhere in October.

15. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies would have been much higher on this list only a few days ago, but they have fallen apart after a blazing start and are now at .500.  The true test for this team came with a series against the Astros and Dodgers – they lost every game.  They are 3-7 in their last 10 and are barely hanging on to 3rd place as the San Francisco Giants are hot on their heels.  Nolan Arenado, who was wanting to get traded during the offseason, is hitting .231 and Jon Gray is 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA.  However, Kyle Freeland has been a nice surprise after a terrible 2019 and Charlie Blackmon is still hitting close to .400. 

14. San Francisco Giants

Next up, and don’t worry folks, they’re moving up this ladder quickly, but after losing 4 straight, including 3 9th inning blown saves, the San Francisco Giants have done nothing but dominate with 7 straight wins including a walk off yesterday in extras against the rival Dodgers. With this latest streak, the Giants have leaped back into playoff contention.  So far this year, the bullpen has been reliable more often than not and the offense has absolutely exploded as the Giants are 4th in the National League in home runs and 6th in batting average.  The starting pitching has been good enough with Kevin Gausman and Logan Webb stepping it up as mainstays in the rotation along with the guy who came out of nowhere, Tyler Anderson, who just threw a complete game 3-hitter.  Offensively, Mike Yastrzemski is for real, Donovan Solano has been incredible and veterans like Brandon Belt, Wilmer Flores and Evan Longoria among others have been vital it helping the Giants stay in playoff contention as the trade deadline approaches.

13. Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays are .500 on the season and sit in 3rd place in the American League East in a prime spot to play in October.  They have unfortunately had a lot of injury issues this season, especially with their rotation, but have continued to fight and maintain a spot in the playoffs.  Hyun Jin Ryu has been good with a 3.19 ERA and 33 strikeouts in his first 31 innings white both Chase Anderson and Tanner Roark have provided some solid outings.  The team is 5th in the American League with a .249 batting average and 2nd with 48 home runs, 11 coming from Teoscar Hernandez who is hitting .292 with 19 RBI in just 106 at bats.

12. St. Louis Cardinals

Next up is the casino lovers themselves – just kidding – St. Louis Cardinals.  They’ve won 4 of their last 6 including a 9-3 pounding of the Royals and currently sit in second place in the NL Central trailing only the Chicago Cubs.  This is a team that will be tested with several double headers after having so many games postponed.  However, the talent has been there with Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson and even Adam Wainright – still in 2020 – pitching great out of the rotation.  Although their offense has underperformed overall, Paul Goldschmidt has quietly hit .344 with nearly a .500 on base percentage.  The Cardinals are still a legit contender this season and are currently #12 in my power rankings.

11. Houston Astros

Coming in at #11, just missing out on the top 10, is the beloved Houston Astros.  I maintained coming into this season that this is still an excellent baseball team and so far this year, they’ve done well sitting in second place in the AL West with a 17-14 record.  However, they just got beat by the Angels 12-5 after walking 10 batters and have struggled with command all season as Astros pitchers lead the Major Leagues with 135 walks.  Still, Jose Alutve is starting to heat up, Correa and Reddick have been good and despite losing Verlander for the season, guys like Zack Greinke and Framber Valdez have been fantastic and I still have the Astros at #11.

10. Atlanta Braves

Kicking off the top 10 for the current MLB Power Rankings we have the Atlanta Braves.  Despite a ton of injuries, the Braves have continued to play good baseball.  Max Fried has sparkled this season with a 4-0 record and 1.32 ERA while Mark Melancon has proved that as long as he’s not wearing a Giant uniform, he’s an elite closer.  Freddie Freeman continues to be Freddie Freeman, Marzell Ozuna has 7 bombs on the year and even old friend Adam Duvall has contributed some key hits this season as the Atlanta Braves lead the NL East with a 16-12 record. 

9. Chicago Cubs

Coming in at #9 and dropping a few spots is the Chicago Cubs, who are 5-5 in their last 10 after starting the season on fire.  They’re still 18-11 and lead the National League Central even after getting clobbered by the Tigers yesterday 7-1.  Yu Darvish has shown that he’s still got it after 6 starts and a 1.7 ERA while offensive players like Jason Heyward and Ian Happ have stepped it up while other key guys have struggled like Javy Baez and Kris Bryant.  Overall, however, they’ve gotten the wins and that’s what counts – the Cubs are in first place and are going to be a prime position to buy at the deadline.

8. San Diego Padres

Zooming up the power rankings are the red hot San Diego Padres although they just lost the Mariners, they have proved to be a super exciting team with a ton of talent.  The Padres swept the Astros including a 13-2 pounding on Saturday and Fernado Tatis Jr. is a straight up superstar.  The Padres are 7-3 in their last 10 and recently had a 7-game winning streak.  They are only 4 games behind the Dodgers and still sitting in 2nd in the National League West thanks to timely hitting and outstanding pitching by guys like Dinelson Lamet and Garrett Richard.  This team is really exciting and if the Giants stay hot, it will be a massive clash when they meet with the Padres in San Diego in a couple weeks.

7. New York Yankees

Next up is the famous Bronx Bombers, who got swept by the Rays when they last played which is why they’ve dropped down to #7, but they are still a legit threat to go all the way this season.  They’re 16-9 on the season and are about to welcome back Aaron Judge from the Injured List.  As always, they have struggled with injuries, but also as always, others have stepped it up and performed anyway including Luke Voit and Clint Frazier.  Meawhile, Gerrit Cole has pitched well with 44 strikeouts in 36 innings and a 4-0 record while Aroldis Chapman is just returning from his bout with Covid-19 to add some much needed dominance to that bullpen.

6. Cleveland Indians

At #6 is the Cleveland Indians, whose 2.85 ERA is second only to the Dodgers in all of baseball.  This team is 18-12 on the season tied for 2nd in the Central and in a position to definitely make the playoffs and possibly fight for a division championship.  As expected, it has been their pitching that has done it for Cleveland while the offense has been underwhelming.  Shane Beiber is 6-0 with a 1.35 ERA and leads this fantastic staff that includes guys like Mike Clevinger and Zach Pleasac, who had to sit in the corner after violating Covid-19 rules.  Nevertheless, look for the Indians to be playing in October.

5. Chicago White Sox

When I did my preseason power ranking and put the Chicago White Sox at #6, I was called every name in the book except smart.  However, here we are, halfway into the 2020 season, and I have the White Sox even higher at #5.  They lead all of baseball in batting average and are 3rd in home runs with 55 bombs already.  All they do is crush the ball every day, which is exactly what I said would happen – this team can straight up rake.  They are in second place right now, tied with Cleveland and trail the Twins by just a game and a half.  Meanwhile, their pitchers are doing okay as well… for instance, Lucas Giolito just pitched a no-hitter.

4. Minnesota Twins

Despite my hype for the Sox and Indians, I have to give full credit to the Minnesota Twins, who are 20-11 on the season and 12-3 at home this year.  Despite some struggles offensively, the pitching has stepped up, led by Randy Dobnak who wasn’t even on my radar during the off-season.  He is 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA.  Kenta Maeda has also been phenomenal, flirting with a no-hitter earlier in the year and pitching to the tune of a 4-0 record with a 2.21 ERA.  The Twins come in at #5 easily and have proven that their 101 wins last year was no fluke.

3. Tampa Bay Rays

What’s amazing about the Tampa Bay Rays is they are so deep with their pitching staff that despite injuries to Yonny Chirinos, Charlie Morton and a variety of solid bullpen arms, they still continue to pitch well and win games.  Tyler Glasnow has 48 strikeouts in 28 innings and just pitched 7 innings giving up one run against the Orioles for a win yesterday and Blake Snell has been fantastic with a 2-0 record and ERA just over 3.  Some offensive players like Ji-Man Choi, Hunter Renfroe and Yoshi Tsutsugo have disappointed but led by this pitching staff, the Rays are 20-11 and in first place in the east.  I do believe their hitting needs to be better to make a World Series run, but with that record and the fact that this team is 8-2 in their last 10, I couldn’t put them any lower than #3.

2. Oakland A’s

I was high on the A’s coming into this season, but obviously not high enough.  The Oakland A’s are 21-10, sitting comfortably in first place in the AL West and just crushed the Rangers 10-3 thanks to a strong outing by Sean Manaea, who has been solid along with Mike Fiers and rookie Jesus Luzardo. But their offense has also been solid hitting as many home runs as the Yankees with 45 on the year, tied for 4th in the American League and have shown great patience in the fashion of those old 2002 Moneyball A’s by working 132 walks, second in the league only to the Rays, who have 134.  Their bullpen came into 2020 smoking hot, allowing just 1 run in 20 innings and this team is just overall solid, without any glaring weaknesses.  That said, they will definitely be buying at the deadline as they try to bring the first Championship to Oakland since the Bay Bridge Series in ’89.

1.Los Angeles Dodgers

Sad but true for Giants fans, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still #1.  Despite a slow start for Cody Bellinger, this team is just too stacked to allow the struggles of one or two (or three or four) of their superstars to effect their record.  They are 22-9 on the season, consistently winning at home and on the road with 11 wins each, and are 8-2 in their last 10.  Despite an extra inning loss to the Giants, who always play the Dodgers hard, this is easily the best team in baseball both on paper and on the field.  Clayton Kershaw has pitched very well, proving that he is still elite, and Mookie Betts has 11 bombs – 3 of which came in one game.  With names like Bellinger, Seager, Turner, Muncy, and upcoming star Will Smith behind the plate, there are just no holes in their offense and the pitching has been more than sufficient for this team.  Also, long time prospect Edwin Rios has finally gotten his chance and hit 3 bombs in 29 at bats with a .279 average before getting injured.  The Dodgers are for real – but can they get over the hump and win it all?  That remains to be seen.

10 Players That Could be TRADED At MLB Deadline including FIVE SF GIANTS

It’s hard to believe but the MLB Trade Deadline is less than TWO WEEKS AWAY!  There are a variety of reasons to believe this year’s trade deadline will be very active including the fact that with expanded playoffs, more teams will be in the hunt for October.  A team like the Cubs, who are historically very active in the trade market, have gotten off to a scorching start and would love to add some offense and bullpen help to give them an extra boost during the playoffs.  However, due to the uncertainty regarding Covid-19, there are also plenty of reasons to think there won’t be too much activity. 

With the way Covid-19 has effected the economics of baseball, not to mention the fact that a trade means movement of a human from one clubhouse to another (which would likely involve a quarantine delay), this year’s trade deadline will more than likely be a bit slower than your average year.  That being said, there are plenty of players who could be on the move, and in today’s video we look at ten players who could be changing uniforms in the next couple of weeks.

So, in no particular order, here we go…

Kevin PIllar

We have Kevin Pillar – former San Francisco Giant who was not tendered a contract in the off-season and ended up signing with Boston.  He was one of the brightest spots on the 2019 Giants both offensively and defensively and has gotten off to a great start in 2020 with the Red Sox hitting .313 with 9 RBI and 2 bombs in 67 at bats.  He’s already got a .5 WAR through just 18 games. With his sparkling plays in the outfield and recently a very clutch bat, he’s hitting .455 with runners in scoring position, Pillar could be a valuable corner outfielder for a team during September and October, either coming off the bench or possibly in the lineup every day.

Jacoby Jones

Next up, we have Jacoby Jones of the Tigers.  Detroit was off to a great start, but they have started to struggle, especially at home.  The Tigers have fallen to 4th in the AL Central, but Jacoby Jones is hitting .315 with 5 bombs in just 54 at bats.  He’s a guy with a .217 career batting average and most teams will probably realize he’s more than likely overperforming right now.  Typically, he is a decent player who strikes out a ton and has good speed.  He had great defense, especially in 2018, but the advanced stats have been trending downwards defensively.  Still, if the Tigers want to take advantage of the hot start, they may be able to grab a nice prospect or two at the trade deadline for a team that would like Jones’ services for the playoff push.

Greg Holland

Greg Holland is back with the Royals this season after a decent season with the Diamondbacks in 2019.  Holland has been up and down and up and down since his heyday with the Royals back when they won back to back AL Championships in 2014 and 2015 (Along with a ring in 2015).  However, he has shown some promise this year with 10 strikeouts in 11 innings and a 3.09 ERA.  He slider has looked great and he could be a nice veteran arm for a team that needs some bullpen help. 

Lance Lynn

The first of two Texas Rangers on this list is Lance Lynn, who has dealt thus far in 2020.  In Lynn’s first five starts, he is 3-0 with a league leading 1.11 ERA.  In 32 innings pitched, Lynn has given up a mere 12 hits with 36 strikeouts.  If Texas falls out of the playoff race, which may be unlikely since 16 of 30 teams are getting in, look for Lynn to be on the trading block.  He’s 33 years old and owed $8 million in 2021.  If the Rangers are interested in bringing some very valuable prospects over for their future, this could be a move they may pull the trigger on.

Mike Minor

Another Ranger is going to be 33 soon as well and if the Rangers don’t want to give up a guy who is pitching well like Lynn, they could try to move a guy who’s not pitching so well but who has shown the ability to eat up innings and provide depth in a rotation and that’s Mike Minor.  He’s 0-3 with a 5.49 ERA on the season but had a great 2019 and with a FIP of 3.75 and some decent advanced stats this year, some teams could consider him as a much-needed arm in their rotation during the playoff push.  His contract expires after the season, meaning the Rangers may try to get what they can for Minor assuming they themselves fall out of the race.  At the moment, the Rangers are 10-10 so they still have more than a shot this season.

Robbie Ray

The Arizona Diamondbacks have started to heat up lately and are .500 on the season, meaning that they are in a position to slip into those expanded playoffs.  If they should falter, however, one guy who could be on trading block is starting pitcher Robbie Ray.  Ray was 12-8 with a 4.34 ERA in 2019, striking out an insane 235 batters in just 174 innings.  This year he has struggled with his command, walking 20 batters in just 22 innings and his ERA has ballooned to 8.59.  He is set to become a Free Agent after the season, however, and with his ability to strikeout batters and limit hard contact, there are definitely some teams that would love to have him in their rotation.  If the D-Backs fall out of contention, look for Robbie Ray to be on the move.

George Springer

At some point, the Houston Astros have to think about their future.  After losing their first and second round draft picks this year, their farm system is looking increasingly frail.  George Springer is set to become a free agent at the end of the year and, if not traded, he will most likely be on the move.  For one, the Astros probably won’t be able to afford him.  Additionally, I would imagine that Springer is ready to move on to another team where he can start to escape the reputation connected with the 2017 Championship team and the cheating scandal.  The Astros will more than likely be able to get more by trading him this year rather than letting him leave and receiving a compensatory pick.

Trevor Rosenthal

Trevor Rosenthal has had a resurgence to start the 2020 season with the Royals with 13 strikeouts in his first 10 innings of work and an ERA under 1.  The former Cardinal’s career looked to be on fumes when post-Tommy John Surgery he got lit up with the Nationals and Tigers last year, both of whom let him go.  He had no idea where the ball was going and it was a bit of a surprise when the Royals signed him to a minor league deal for 2020.  Now, as we stand two weeks from the deadline, the Royals may have a trade chip on their hands.  If some team is looking for bullpen help and the Royals are looking for prospects, look for Rosenthal to be heading out of KC.

We’ll finish this list with two San Francisco Giants.   There are actually more than two who could be on the move.  I’ve heard Johnny Cueto’s name mentioned – but because of his contract I don’t think he’ll be traded.   Mike Yastrzemski could be someone who the Giants could move for some super prospects, but Yaz has shown that he’s not only an every day big-leaguer but an All Star-caliber player if not a flat out superstar and the Giants have him under team control through at least 2025.  I’d be surprised if they move Yaz, because he could be an amazing compliment to guys like Joey Bart and Hunter Bishop over the next couple of years once they become big league regulars.  Alex Dickerson is also a possibility, but because he’s not great defensively and a bit injury prone, I’m not sure they could get enough to warrant a trade of Dick.

Dovonan Solano

One man, however, who could legitimately be on the move is the man, the myth, the legend – Donovan Solano AKA Donnie Barrels.  He is still hitting over .400 on the year and had an 18 game hitting streak going before going hitless yesterday.  Donovan will be 33 next season and if the Giants are able to obtain a couple of top prospects, it is a move that makes baseball sense.  Solano may not be a .400 hitter and the next Ted Williams, but he is a .300 hitter who hit .330 in 2019 in 215 at bats and could be a huge piece for a team trying to win it all in 2020.  This is a move I hope doesn’t happen as a fan of Donnie Barrels, but if the prospects are right, I see this move as a very strong possibility.

Kevin Gausman

An even stronger possibility, however, is Kevin Gausman.  His velocity is up this year, he’s hitting his spots and fooling batters consistently with a nasty splitter and occasional slider.  In over 25 innings, he’s walked just 5 and struck out 34.  He has a 3.1 FIP and with a lineup that actually gives him some run support, he would definitely have a better record than 0-1.  Teams should be lining up to offer prospects for Gasuman this year and I fully expect that he’ll be wearing a different uniform come next month.