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Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger Top Remaining Free Agents In Slow Market

Jan. 14, 2024
Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger Top Remaining Free Agents In Slow Market

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not only made the biggest splash in free agency this winter. They have created a tidal wave.

The Dodgers have spent over $1 billion on three free agents, headlined by signing two-way star Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700-million deal, the largest contract in North American professional sports history. They also signed Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325-million contract, and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez for one year and $23.5 million.

Then there is Tyler Glasnow. The Dodgers acquired the right-hander from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade and signed him to a five-year, $136.5-million contract.

The thought around baseball was that once Ohtani and Yamamoto signed, many other free agents would quickly land with new teams. Yet with spring training set to start in less than a month, several high-profile free agents remain unsigned.

Here is a look at the five best players remaining on the market. The first four, likely not by coincidence, are represented by the Boras Corporation.

Snell won the National League Cy Young Award last season when he had a 14-9 record and a league-leading 2.25 ERA in 32 starts. He also struck out 234 in 180 innings but had an NL-worst 99 walks.

While it is believed that Boras is seeking a $200-million contract for Snell, there is a feeling in the industry that no team may go that high. The walks are a concern and so is the fact that has never pitched a complete game in 191 starts during his eight-year career.

The San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels have all been linked to Snell. However, no deal seems imminent, and he may not sign until after spring training begins.

The center fielder/first baseman got his career back on track after signing with the Chicago Cubs before last season. He was named NL Comeback Player of the Year after hitting .307/.356/.525 with 25 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 130 games.

Bellinger was the NL Most Valuable Player in 2019 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, his career cratered after sustaining a shoulder injury in the 2020 National League Championship and he posted a feeble .193/.256/.355 slash line combined in 2021 and 2022 before being released by the Dodgers.

Scott Boras is also reportedly seeking a $200-million deal for Bellinger, but teams are wary because of the downturn he took at the start of the decade. The Cubs would like Bellinger back at the right price and the Toronto Blue Jays and Giants are also thought to have serious interest.

Perhaps no pitcher increased his free-agent stock in 2023 more than the left-hander.

In a combined 32 regular-season starts with the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, Montgomery had a 10-11 record with a 3.20 ERA. He then shined in the postseason, helping the Rangers to the first World Series title in their history by going 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in six games.

Montgomery was so lightly regarded in 2022 that the Yankees decided he was not good enough to be part of their postseason rotation and traded him to the Cardinals for center fielder Harrison Bader. The Boston Red Sox and the Giants appear to be emerging as the favorites for Montgomery with the Phillies, Yankees and Angels also involved.

If free agency had begun on May 1 last year, the third baseman might have been the most coveted player on the market. Chapman started the season with the Blue Jays by hitting .384/.465/.687 with five home runs in 21 games through the end of April.

However, Chapman hit just .205/.298/.361 over the final 113 games while going deep 12 times. Thus, his final slash line was .240/.324/.440 in 140 games.

Chapman, though, has had four seasons with at least 24 homers while winning four Gold Gloves and two Platinum Gloves. Chapman’s market has been slow to develop but he looks likely to either reunite with the Blue Jays or sign with the Giants.

Hader reportedly wants the biggest contract ever given to a relief pitcher, surpassing the five-year, $102-million pact Edwin Diaz signed with the New York Mets following the 2022 season. However, teams haven’t paid big for relievers except for Diaz in recent years.

Hader is coming off an outstanding season with the Padres but won’t be re-signed as San Diego is cutting payroll this winter. The left-hander had 33 saves, a 1.28 ERA in 61 games and 85 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings.

Many baseball executives expect teams won’t move on Hader until Snell and Montgomery are signed. The Rangers have been linked to Hader, a CAA client, since the start of the offseason and the Yankees, Cubs and Phillies are also possibilities.

And don’t count out those big-spending Dodgers.


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