MLB Free Agents: Top of the 2018 Class

Rankings based on projected future performance and perceived market value:
(Age as of April 1, 2019; 2018 team)

Major League Baseball’s free agent 2000 class has finally arrived, a group led by a pair of franchise players should provide significant conspiracy from the winter into the spring.

1. Bryce Harper (26, OF, Nationals): There is clearly a 1 and 1A in this class, and we’ll give Harper the edge over Manny Machado by the slimmest of margins, largely due to intangibles. The lifetime deals these men can expect – a decade or longer in the term, more than a quarter-billion dollars in value – are almost as much about branding and marketability as production and he’s also hit 184 home runs with a lifetime .900 OPS through his age-25 season.

2. Manny Machado (26, SS/3B, Dodgers): Three months younger than Harper, Machado benefits from playing on the left side of the infield and near-robotic production: He’s hit between 33 and 37 home runs while playing at least 156 games the past four seasons. Unlike Harper, however, Machado likely won’t have his old team deeply involved in the bidding, reducing his suitors by one and denting his leverage just a bit.

3.Patrick Corbin (29, LHP, Diamondbacks): He misses bats – 246 strikeouts in 200 innings – posted a reputable 3.15 ERA in a hitters’ park and has already professed his love for the Yankees. Yes, Corbin is going to get paid. He’s almost two years younger than Dallas Keuchel, the more-renowned free agent lefty on this market and gave up two fewer hits per nine innings (7.3 to 9.3) as well.

4. Dallas Keuchel (31, LHP, Astros): Four years removed from his Cy Young Award season, Keuchel remains that man. While he gave up an American League-high 211 hits, Keuchel stayed healthy, clocked 204 2/3 innings pitched and could enjoy a nice bump should he land in the National League. While his ERA rose from 2.90 to 3.74, his Fielding Independent Pitching dipped from 3.75 to 3.69. Still a safe bet.

5. Craig Kimbrel (30, RHP, Red Sox): Kimbrel remains on a Hall of Fame path as a closer and struck out 96 batters in 62 1/3 innings last season, with his 89% save percentage (42 of 47) in line with Mariano Rivera’s career mark. He may not be as versatile as other arms, but there remains plenty of value in locking down the ninth inning.

6. A.J. Pollock (31, OF, Diamondbacks): Health has been an enemy and now age is no longer his ally, a tough spot for a player for which speed is important. Still, Pollock won’t hurt you in center field and at least one team will dare to dream on his 2015 season (20 homers, 39 steals, .315 average. .367 OBP) while realizing last season’s 113-game campaign (21, 13, .257, .316) may be closer to his new normal.

7. Nathan Eovaldi (29, RHP, Red Sox): He started games, finished games, was deployed to get the highest-leverage outs – oh, and maintained his 100-mph velocity north of 90 pitches. While Eovaldi has undergone two Tommy John surgeries, he’s barely two years removed from his most recent procedure. Name a staff that couldn’t use this guy.

8. Michael Brantley (31, LF, Indians): Two years after shoulder surgery limited him to 11 games, Brantley enters free agency off consecutive All-Star appearances and myriad signs he’s aging well. “Dr. Smooth” produced a .364 OBP and a 123 OPS-plus, while striking out just 60 times in 631 plate appearances.

9. Marwin Gonzalez (30, INF/OF, Astros):With only so many Harpers and Machados available, clubs that value a Dodgers-style platoon system will swoon for Gonzalez, a switch-hitter who saw time last season at first base (24 games), second base (32) shortstop (39) and all three outfield spots (73 games in left, most notably).

10. Adam Ottavino (33, RHP, Rockies): Ottavino boosted his strikeouts per nine innings to 13 and his ERA-plus to 193. Freed from Coors Field, Ottavino’s versatility as a bullpen weapon will be cherished.