By: Kelly Byrnes
The Hot Stove season is upon us again and this may be unlike any offseason we have seen before. With the 2020 season being such as small sample size, one of the big questions will be if the owners are going to pay up to make their team better. The top free agents such Bauer and Realmuto will get paid top dollar but after that no one really knows what can happen. I can see a lot more trades happening this Hot Stove season. They have already cancelled the Winter Meetings that happen early in December.
J.T. Realmuto (Mets)
The Mets have a new billionaire owner and he will aim to make a big splash this offseason and that first splurge will be on a brand new starting catcher. Realmuto has been the best all around catcher in baseball the last couple of seasons and catcher is most definitely a position of need for the Mets. I think the big question for the Mets this offseason is, how many big free agents do they land this offseason?
Marcell Ozuna (Rangers)
I had Ozuna on my list last year and I had him going to the White Sox. He ended up signing a 1-year deal with the Braves to re-establish his worth and it paid off big time for him. He’ll definitely get a multi year deal this offseason. They haven’t announced yet if the DH will be in both leagues for the 2021 season. This is important because if the DH is in the American League only again he will have to sign with an AL team.The Rangers could be looking to spend some money and add a new shiny player. I believe that player could be Ozuna.
Didi Gregorius (Reds)
Didi made his MLB debut with the Reds way back in 2012 before being traded a couple times early in his career. I could see him returning to Cincinnati. The Reds have a real need at SS as Freddy Galvis is now a free agent. Didi would give the Reds that much needed experience in the postseason which is where the Reds see themselves for the next several seasons.
Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees)
I can’t imagine seeing Tanaka in a different uniform in the 2021 season. Tanaka is comfortable in New York and the Yankees are in need of starting pitching like most teams in baseball. The Yankees were more than likely going to add a starting pitcher this offseason and if they lose Tanaka then they will need to add at least 2 whether through a free agent signing or a trade.
Michael Brantley (Dodgers)
The Dodgers will need to replace Joc Pederson’s left handed bat and I believe Brantley would be a great fit in LA. He is what you call a professional hitter and is always putting together great at-bats. He has been healthy the last few years and seems to be getting better as he ages. He had two good years in Houston that came after the cheating scandal so I wouldn’t worry about that too much. He’ll be find whatever he plays next year but he would look good in that Dodger blue.
Andrelton Simmons (Phillies)
The Phillies will need to replace Didi at SS and they could look at the glove first Simmons. He has been bit with the injury bug the last couple of seasons so that will hurt his chance at a multi year deal but he’ll be looking for a team with a chance to win so that he can re-established his worth. I believe the Phillies are that team, they have a good offense and are looking for a SS that can pick it at a Gold Glove level.
Taijuan Walker (Blue Jays)
A lot of teams will be looking for starting pitching and Walker is probably in that second or third tier of starting pitchers available this offseason. I know Mariners fans would love to see Walker return to Seattle for a 3rd time in his career but I don’t see that happening. The Blue Jays traded for him and at the trade deadline last season and he made 6 great starts for them, pitching to a 1.37 ERA in 26.1 innings. Way not bring him back to Toronto or Buffalo or wherever they play next season.
Brad Hand (A’s)
Hand was a surprise free agent this offseason as the Indians didn’t exercise his $10MM club option for next season. I guess one teams loss is another teams gain and that team will be the Oakland A’s. I know it is a bit of a stretch because Hand will be a hot ticket item this offseason and the A’s don’t normally spend a lot of money especially on a reliever. They need to replace Hendriks and Hand would slide into that role nicely.
Hot Stove Free Agents Predictions Part 2
Hot Stove Free Agents Predictions Part 3