The Top MLB Free Agents This Upcoming Winter

Courtesy+of+Flickr

Courtesy of Flickr

Anthony Cardone, Staff Writer

The 2019 MLB season has come to an end with the Washington Nationals clinching their first World Series title in franchise history. However, that doesn’t mean baseball’s excitement has come to an end.

This free agent class of the 2019-2020 winter should be one to remember with some of the talent hitting the open market. Some of the top pitchers and sluggers will be looking for long term deals and hopefully help their old or new teammates to a championship run.

These are the top 10 MLB free agents going into next year. Starting with Gerrit Cole. Some seem to believe Cole is the favorite for the AL Cy Young award. He posted a 20-5 record with a 2.50 ERA and led the MLB in strikeouts along with an unbelievable postseason in 2019. He could be the highest paid pitcher in MLB history by the start of next year.

Number two is Anthony Rendon. Rendon is a finalist for the NL MVP and was a huge part of the Nationals postseason run. He had a breakout year with a .319 AVG, 34 home runs and a MLB leading 126 RBI. 

Number three is Rendon’s teammate Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg, a long time National, opted out of his contract after winning the World Series MVP. He led the NL in wins with 18 and had a 3.32 ERA and 251 strikeouts. 

Number four is former MVP Josh Donaldson. Donaldson signed a one-year deal with the Braves last year and broke out with a 37 HR and 94 RBI year. Many teams should be interested in the gold glove third baseman.

Number five is Cy Young finalist Hyun-Jin Ryu. Ryu led all of baseball with a 2.32 ERA with the Dodgers in 2019 to along with a 14-5 record. For teams unwilling to spend top dollars, Ryu could be their solution.

Number six is Zack Wheeler. Wheeler finished the season with the Mets as one of the best pitchers in all of baseball and could be between an ace or a backend of a rotation for teams in need.

Number seven is Yasmani Grandal. Not a big catcher market this year so Grandal is easily the best one available, coming off a 28 HR season.

Number eight is Marcell Ozuna. Marcell had a huge 2019 despite some injuries posting a 29 HR and 89 RBI for the Cardinals.

Number nine is 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner. Not a great 2019 but Bumgarner could be the difference maker for a contender come October. 

And to finish the list for number 10 is Mike Moustakas. It’s his third year in a row for free agency after the all-star clubbed 35 HR for the Brewers in 2019.

These aren’t the biggest names in baseball but we could see a lot of big money spent this offseason in Major League Baseball.