3 Under-The-Radar Free Agents Teams Shouldn't Sleep On

January 03, 2022 , , ,

 


Baseball business is still on lockdown, but that doesn't mean that the wheels aren't turning in front offices around MLB, as teams consider their options once a collective bargaining agreement is finally reached and transactions can resume. 

There's a lot of talk about the big-name free agents (Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Kris Bryant, Trevor Story, etc.), but teams shouldn't lose sight of "the others". 

Here are three under-the-radar free agents that can have an impact with the right team.

1. Joc Pederson

After a successful run as a clutch playoff performer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs signed him to a one-year deal going into 2021, still possibly expecting to be contending. When the Cubs blew things up, they dealt Pederson to the Atlanta Braves, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Pederson, was, once again, a clutch performer, and a key piece in the Braves' World Series run. 

There are plenty of teams that can use a boost from "Joctober."

2. Yusei Kikuchi

The 30-year-old pitcher's 2021 was a Tale of Two Seasons. The Seattle Mariners left-hander showed immense upside in the first half, then cratered in the 2nd half. 

  • 1st  Half:  3.48 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, .645 OPS by opponent batters
  • 2nd Half:  5.98 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, .906 OPS by opponents

It remains to be seen how his precipitous dropoff in July/Aug/Sept. affects his free agent value. The fact that there are only 3 other starting pitchers of any note still on the market could help him, with two of them (Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke) considering possible retirement. 

3. Eddie Rosario

Here's a guy who'd provided remarkably consistent production throughout his career, until a down 2021 seemingly left him forgotten. Alex Anthopolous didn't let recency bias affect him, and brought in Rosario to help the Braves to their world title. 

Still only 29, Rosario provided the Braves with a .905 OPS in his 100 regular season at-bats to help get them to the playoffs, then was merely the NLCS MVP for his monster performance to boost the Braves into the World Series. 

He just turned 30, and will no doubt be a good add for some team looking for production from their outfield. 

Photo Credit:  John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports



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