MLB Free Agency Outlook

The 2023 MLB season has wrapped up and now it’s time for some free agents to find a place to call home. There’s a good amount of talent available on the market right now, so let’s take a look at some of the top arms and bats.

Shohei Ohtani (SP/DH)

The big fish on the market that everyone wants looks like a unicorn with a generational talent ready for suitors. Ohtani had elbow surgery on his throwing arm back in September that will restrict him from throwing for the next year.

There’s a chance that he returns to the plate sooner than the mound. Ohtani will find himself in the DH spot until his arm is completely healthy.

Last season he posted a .304 batting average with 44 home runs and a 3.14 ERA on the bump.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP)

Let’s go overseas to Japan where the 25-year-old pitcher carved up the league. In 23 starts. Yamamoto won 16 games while striking out 169 hitters.

His youth and 1.21 ERA in 164 innings make him one of the best arms on the market.

Blake Snell (SP)

Blake Snell saw that it was a contract year and dominated the league this season. In 32 games, he accumulated 234 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA.

The lefty has reached the final three in Cy Young voting, and with the numbers he had this season, he looks like the favorite.

Cody Bellinger (OF/IF)

What a bounce-back year it was for Cody Bellinger. For the last few seasons, he was struggling to reach numbers even remotely close to his early years in the league. With 26 home runs, 97 RBIs, a .307 batting average and a .881 OPS, Bellinger looks like one of the best bats on the market.

Those stats were good enough to get him the NL’s Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Josh Hader (CP)

For the first time in his year, Josh Hader will hit the open market. His resume puts him up for discussion for the best reliever the past few seasons. In 56.1 games, Hader struck out 85 hitters.

His 1.28 ERA and 33 saves put him in line for a nice contract. Bullpen arms are a valuable asset and someone of Hader’s caliber is a premium.

Jorge Soler (OF)

The 2021 World Series MVP is coming off of a strong season where the power numbers jumped off the page. The Miami Marlins were looking for some pop and Soler delivered.

Soler crushed 36 baseballs over the wall and collected 75 RBIs along the way. In an offensive-driven league, a lot of teams are going to be lining up for his service.

Anthony Desher is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.