By: Jay Miller
The 2012 No. 1 overall draft pick has not disappointed. He spent his first seven years in Houston with the Astros winning a World Series and getting caught up in a cheating scandal. Last season, Correa missed the playoffs with the Twins. His 2022 campaign was a solid one playing in 136 games and boasting his second highest batting average of his career at .291. He also added 22 HR (2nd among AL SS’s) and 64 RBIs. The Dodgers are the big name in the mix. He could also sign again with Minnesota after all of his offensive success. The wild card team here is the Guardians.
Where I want him to end up: Twins on a 3-year deal
Where I think he ends up: Dodgers on a 4-year deal
Like his positional counterpart above, Dansby Swanson was also a former No. 1 pick and although it took a little longer, has become a top tier talent at his position. The writing is on the wall here… he’s got to go back to Atlanta right… I mean…right!? He finished third among NL SS’s in hitting (.277) and HR’s (25). The most important stat… He led MLB in games played by a SS at … 162. Remember, the best ability is availability! I don’t see a scenario where he doesn’t start at SS on opening day for the Braves. Now, we all know money talks. Wanna hear a weird team that could be interested? How about the Anaheim Angels… Andrew Velazquez and Livan Soto played the most games at that position for them and totaled 85 hits. Swanson tallied 177. Talk about an upgrade!
Where I want him to end up: Braves, 4-year deal
Where I think he ends up: Braves, 2-year deal
This time around, I think Kate Upton is going to have something to say about where she wants to live alongside her husband. Houston and Detroit were fun, but neither are really desirable cities to call home. C’mon, fight me about it. The “old” righty will be entering his age 40 season and will be looking to win now and in the near future. Verlander went 18-4 in 2022 and that will net him a fat contract in the 2-3 year length. I think we all know who the front runners will be in this and it will come down to two teams inside the same city… The Mets and the Yankees. The pacific northwest might be able to swing in and have a say in it, but something tells me Miss Upton isn’t about all the rain.
Where I want him to end up: Mariners, 2-year deal, 3rd year option
Where I think he ends up: Yankees, 3-year deal
Doesn’t it seem like Josh Bell has been around for forever? He’s only 29 and just wrote a book called “The Tale of Two Seasons.” Ok, he didn’t really, but he should have. He found his swing in Washington hitting .301 through 103 games with 14 HR’s and 57 RBI’s. Then he goes to San Diego and clearly forgot to pack his swing in his luggage, struggling to hit .191 with just three HR’s in 53 games. We need to remember that Anthony Rizzo makes the 1B market very interesting. Those two are in two different pay scales. Cleveland, Oakland and Boston are all possible landing spots for the veteran. He would be a good fit for their current payrolls.
Where I want him to end up: Guardians, 3-year deal
Where I think he ends up: Athletics, 2-year deal (They’ll trade him in year one)
Folks, let me tell you about a dream I have. This young man was originally drafted in the 31st round of the 2013 draft by the Reds out of Madeira HS in Cincinnati, OH. He obviously went to school and was later selected seventh overall in 2015 by the Red Sox. It’s time to bring him home to the Queen City. The Reds are 2 years away from legitimate contention. Joey Votto will most likely have won a World Series in Toronto by then… Enter, the new face of the franchise, Andrew Benintendi. It’s one of those matches made in heaven that won’t ever happen because the Reds ownership cares nothing about winning. I say all of this, just to name a completely different team that he will sign with. He’s got contender written all over him, but the Rangers could be in play here having had only one OF reach 100+ hits in 2022. Quick, come close… I want to tell you about my secret destination for Benny… but don’t laugh… The Rays! Kevin Kiermaier is gone, and Manuel Margot is bleh at best. Pair Benny up with Randy Arozarena in the lineup with Wander, I like it.
Where I want him to end up: Reds, 5-year deal
Where I think he ends up: Rays, 4 years with an option
The fall from grace of “Top prospect” to “mediocre and oft-injured” pitcher was a steep one. He is coming off a solid 12-5 season for the Mets in 2022. In two seasons with NYM, he’s compiled a 19-16 record, averaging 158 innings. I kind of think it is a no-brainer resign for the Mets who have presumably already helped Jacob DeGrom pack his stuff. He will be 30 next year and is looking for his pay day.
Where I want him to end up: Mets, 4 years
Where I think he ends up: Mets, 4 years
This is a tough one! A rookie in 2014, Abreu entered the league at age 27 having come over from Cuba. You cannot take anyting form him though. The man shows up to work everyday! Abreu has played in 150+ games in all but 2 of his 9 years in the bigs (excluding 2020). His HR power saw a steady decline from 20 HR’s in 2021 in 15 in 2022 while setting a career low in RBI’s with 75. He could be the next one-year contract from team to team for the rest of his career candidate… see Nelson Cruz for an example. TB could swipe him on a two-year deal as their DH. We cannot forget about the Marlins and their Cuban heritage in Miami. Pinstripes could be an outlier here. That man’s strength behind Judge and Stanton, oh and will they need to replace Rizzo at 1B?
Where I want him to end up: Marlins, 2-year deal
Where I think he ends up: Yankees, 1-year deal
Let’s get something obvious out of the way… Taylor Rogers is not a sexy free agent. He’s not a game changing bat or a cornerstone fielder and he doesn’t even start games, but he could very well be the reason your team wins a World Series next year. T-Rodge (for lack of a better name) totaled 31 saves in 2022, only his second 30 save season of his career. One contender needs this man in their bullpen and that is the Cardinals! Ryan Hensley was solid in 2022, but he’s a stopper, not a closer. The tandem could do some real damage in the NL Central. The Mariners, Twins, Orioles and Brewers will all kick the tires on the 32-year-old lefty reliever. He will certainly have choices.
Where I want him to end up: Cardinals, 3-year deal
Where I think he ends up: Orioles, 3-year deal
Hot Stove Free Agent Predictions Part 1
Hot Stove Free Agent Predictions Part 2