Top 3 Under-The-Radar Free Agent Pitchers For Cheap

Everyone's talking about Aaron Nola, Blake Snell and Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the sexiest free agent pitchers on the market this winter. But for teams that look a little harder, they'll find some pitching bargains that can be had for vastly less, with a possible big-time upside. 

Here now, are top 3 "under-the-radar" pitchers on the free agent market.

Luis Severino

After eight years with the New York Yankees, Severino will probably be hanging up the Pinstripes this winter, and looking for a fresh start somewhere. He heads into the open market coming off a dreadful 6.65 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP, not to mention a rich history of serious injury problems. 

But he's also shown – when healthy – that he can be dominant. Expect a reasonable "prove it" short-term contract that could pay off large for some team. 

Frankie Montas

Another ex-Yankee hitting free agency off a troubling season. Montas underwent shoulder surgery in February and pitched only an inning and a third of the 2023 season. But before coming to New York at the trade deadline in 2022, he was a thriving starting pitcher with the Oakland A's, with an ERA in the low 3.00s over a period of a season and a half. And again, a short-term deal to prove he's healthy won't cost a lot, with potential upside benefits.

Reynaldo Lopez

The reliever features some exciting highs mixed with some brutal lows, but he brings the heat, and through the full season in 2023, López had a 3.27 ERA with strikeouts and fastball velocity to burn. He finished the year whiffing 11.3 batters per nine innings. That can help any bullpen over the long haul. For the Guardians, Lopez finished the season with 11 scoreless innings.

After Josh Hader, the relief market isn't stacked by any means this offseason, and Lopez still fits into the Top 4 or 5 bullpen arms out there, yet won't cost a lot.

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