Effectively Wild Episode 2084: The Sexiest Free Agents Alive
Nov 10, 2023
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Ben Clemens, FanGraphs writer, joins hosts Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley to discuss the free-agent market. They also talk about baseball players deemed sexiest by People magazine, the effectiveness of small ball in baseball, assessing foreign professional hitters and potential landing spots, and Cody Bellinger's performance and projection.
This year's free agent class has a strong group of starting pitchers, while the position player pool is notably weaker.
Compared to last year's strong hitting class, this year's hitting class is considerably weaker.
Relievers are ranked lower in free agency, with a preference for signing multiple relievers to smaller deals instead of allocating resources to one.
Shohei Otani's ability to excel as a two-way player sets him apart and makes him a captivating presence in the game.
Deep dives
The Free Agent Pitching Class is Stronger Than the Hitting Class
While the perception may be that this year's free agent class is weak overall, there is actually a strong group of pitchers available. The depth of quality starting pitchers is notable, with many solid number two starters on the market.
The Disparity Between Pitchers and Position Players
While the pitching class is strong, the position player pool is notably weaker, with Cody Bellinger as the top ranked position player. The difference in quality between the pitchers and position players is evident, with a lack of impact hitters available.
The Underwhelming Hitting Class
Compared to last year's free agent class, which was seen as strong and resulted in record spending, this year's hitting class is considerably weaker. The projected war and value of the top 50 free agents is significantly lower compared to last year.
Relievers Rank Lower on the List
Relievers are ranked lower on the list, with a general preference for spending at the top end of the market or signing multiple relievers to smaller deals instead of allocating a significant amount of resources to one reliever. The view is that there are similar skills available during the season without having to spend heavily on relievers in free agency.
The Difficulty in Projecting an Otani Contract
It is challenging to project an Otani contract as he has the power to choose what he wants. He can dictate the length of the contract and the average annual value. He may also opt for unique contract structures such as incentive-laden or undisclosed terms. Ultimately, Otani will likely end up where he wants to be, and the contract value may not be the sole determining factor.
The Value of Shohei Otani as a Two-Way Player
While Otani's pitching ability is noteworthy, the podcast discusses the potential impact on his overall value if he were to focus solely on hitting or playing in the outfield. It is suggested that while he could potentially be a better hitter or fielder, it would potentially make him less interesting as a player. Otani's unique ability to excel as a two-way player is what sets him apart and makes him a captivating presence in the game.
Teams and Players to Watch in the Free Agent Market
The podcast highlights teams that may be overlooked in the Shohei Otani sweepstakes, such as the Mariners and Giants. These teams have a history of being competitive and could present attractive options for Otani. Additionally, the podcast emphasizes the undervalued contributions of defensive-minded center fielders in the free agent market, listing players like Michael A. Taylor, Harrison Bader, and Kevin Kiermaier as potential hidden gems for teams in need of outfield defense.
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about norovirus derailing the GM meetings, leftover Boras quotes, and the baseball players deemed sexiest by People magazine, Stat Blast (18:47) about a possible bunting comeback and whether age is correlated with pitch-clock violations, and then (43:39) talk to FanGraphs writer Ben Clemens about the free-agent market and his […]
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