(courtesy of the NY POST)
Check out The Post’s Top 40 free agents. That’s right, 40. Longtime readers of this feature will notice an uptick from the usual Top 30. This class features so many enticing names, so many players you know well and want to know where they’re going, that the folks up at corporate signed off on the 33 percent increase, no small thing. Furthermore, many clubs, heartened by the return of full ballparks, appear ready to spend.
Alas, there’s a significant catch: On Dec. 1, the collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association will expire, which will likely lead to an owners’ lockout, a de facto shutdown of the teams’ operations. Which means that we might have to wait until … the New Year? Feb. 1? Never?… for the two sides to hammer out a new deal, after which the fates of many here will be decided. Sigh.
These rankings result from statistical analysis, projected earnings and popular demand. These are not necessarily the 40 best free agents as much as the 40 most interesting to The Post’s readership. The predictions for destination and contract emanate from background conversations with team officials, agents and other people in the loop, as well as an attempt to think along with clubs and players and recognize industry trends and precedents.
1. Carlos Correa (SS, Age 27)
The best of this rich shortstop class, he deserves to break Francisco Lindor’s shortstop record ($341 million) with the Mets.
Prediction: Tigers, 10 years, $350 million
2. Corey Seager (SS, Age 27)
Yes, the lefty bat would look great in The Bronx, but do the Yankees want to block their young shortstops Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe?
Prediction: Rangers, 10 years, $305 million
3. Freddie Freeman (1B, Age 32)
It’s just too difficult to imagine him leaving in the wake of the Braves’ first championship in 26 years.
Prediction: Braves, six years, $200 million
Carlos Correa (l.) and Freddie Freeman (r.) during the World Series. (AP)
4. Max Scherzer (RHP, Age 37)
Having just finished perhaps the most successful megabucks free-agent deal in the sport’s history (seven years and $210 million with the Nationals), what can he do for an encore?
Prediction: Dodgers, three years, $110 million
5. Marcus Semien (IF, Age 31)
Arguably the most durable of the shortstops, and he showed off his versatility this past season by shining at second base for the Blue Jays.
Prediction: Yankees, five years, $140 million
6. Robbie Ray (LHP, Age 30)
The likely American League Cy Young Award winner timed his breakout well.
Prediction: Blue Jays, five years, $125 million
7. Trevor Story (SS, Age 28)
If the Rangers don’t land Seager, Story — a native of Irving, Texas — could be a good fit there.
Prediction: Astros, five years, $110 million
8. Kevin Gausman (RHP, Age 30)
He accepted the qualifying offer a year ago, betting on himself. Now comes the payoff.
Prediction: Giants, five years, $110 million
9. Javier Baez (IF, Age 28)
His brief Mets tenure was compelling, and he’s unlikely to wind up having his throat grabbed by his good friend Lindor.
Prediction: Mets, seven years, $150 million
Javier Baez could re-sign with the Mets in MLB free agency. (Corey Sipkin)
10. Starling Marte (OF, Age 33)
Easily the best center fielder in this class, though his age calls into question how much longer he can play there.
Prediction: Mets, three years, $75 million
11. Kris Bryant (IF-OF, Age 29)
One of four 2016 Cubs on this list and one of two appealing Swiss Army knives, along with the next guy.
Prediction: Mariners, six years, $140 million
12. Chris Taylor (IF-OF, Age 31)
The Dodgers produced so many stars that a stud like Taylor could play relatively under the radar.
Prediction: Giants, five years, $100 million
13. Marcus Stroman (RHP, Age 30)
Like Gausman, accepting last year’s qualifying offer (from the Mets) looks like a savvy move.
Prediction: Astros, five years, $100 million
Marcus Stroman is set to cash in during MLB free agency after a big year with the Mets. (Robert Sabo)
14. Clayton Kershaw (LHP, Age 33)
A first-time free agent, the future Hall of Famer, with so many injured-list visits on his record, is more about quality than quantity at this point.
Prediction: Dodgers, three years, $80 million
15. Nelson Cruz (DH, Age 41)
Was his slippage with the Rays upon joining them in July the beginning of the end, or will he resume his “ageless wonder” narrative next season?
Prediction: Mariners, one year, $11 million
16. Nick Castellanos (OF, Age 29)
The highest-ranking person on this list to opt out of an existing contract.
Prediction: Guardians, five years, $85 million
17. Brandon Belt (1B, Age 33)
With Buster Posey retiring, his leadership and institutional knowledge carries even more weight at Oracle Park.
Prediction: Giants, three years, $70 million
18. Kyle Schwarber (LF-1B, Age 28)
The dude just rakes, and boy did he win people over in New England.
Prediction: Red Sox, five years, $80 million
19. Justin Verlander (RHP, Age 38)
Perhaps the most fascinating person on this list, he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2019 and has pitched in just one game since thanks to Tommy John surgery.
Prediction: Yankees, one year, $20 million
Justin Verlander could be a fit for the Yankees in MLB free agency. (Getty Images)
Check out The Post’s Top 40 free agents. That’s right, 40. Longtime readers of this feature will notice an uptick from the usual Top 30. This class features so many enticing names, so many players you know well and want to know where they’re going, that the folks up at corporate signed off on the 33 percent increase, no small thing. Furthermore, many clubs, heartened by the return of full ballparks, appear ready to spend.
Alas, there’s a significant catch: On Dec. 1, the collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association will expire, which will likely lead to an owners’ lockout, a de facto shutdown of the teams’ operations. Which means that we might have to wait until … the New Year? Feb. 1? Never?… for the two sides to hammer out a new deal, after which the fates of many here will be decided. Sigh.
These rankings result from statistical analysis, projected earnings and popular demand. These are not necessarily the 40 best free agents as much as the 40 most interesting to The Post’s readership. The predictions for destination and contract emanate from background conversations with team officials, agents and other people in the loop, as well as an attempt to think along with clubs and players and recognize industry trends and precedents.
1. Carlos Correa (SS, Age 27)
The best of this rich shortstop class, he deserves to break Francisco Lindor’s shortstop record ($341 million) with the Mets.
Prediction: Tigers, 10 years, $350 million
2. Corey Seager (SS, Age 27)
Yes, the lefty bat would look great in The Bronx, but do the Yankees want to block their young shortstops Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe?
Prediction: Rangers, 10 years, $305 million
3. Freddie Freeman (1B, Age 32)
It’s just too difficult to imagine him leaving in the wake of the Braves’ first championship in 26 years.
Prediction: Braves, six years, $200 million
4. Max Scherzer (RHP, Age 37)
Having just finished perhaps the most successful megabucks free-agent deal in the sport’s history (seven years and $210 million with the Nationals), what can he do for an encore?
Prediction: Dodgers, three years, $110 million
5. Marcus Semien (IF, Age 31)
Arguably the most durable of the shortstops, and he showed off his versatility this past season by shining at second base for the Blue Jays.
Prediction: Yankees, five years, $140 million
6. Robbie Ray (LHP, Age 30)
The likely American League Cy Young Award winner timed his breakout well.
Prediction: Blue Jays, five years, $125 million
7. Trevor Story (SS, Age 28)
If the Rangers don’t land Seager, Story — a native of Irving, Texas — could be a good fit there.
Prediction: Astros, five years, $110 million
8. Kevin Gausman (RHP, Age 30)
He accepted the qualifying offer a year ago, betting on himself. Now comes the payoff.
Prediction: Giants, five years, $110 million
9. Javier Baez (IF, Age 28)
His brief Mets tenure was compelling, and he’s unlikely to wind up having his throat grabbed by his good friend Lindor.
Prediction: Mets, seven years, $150 million
10. Starling Marte (OF, Age 33)
Easily the best center fielder in this class, though his age calls into question how much longer he can play there.
Prediction: Mets, three years, $75 million
11. Kris Bryant (IF-OF, Age 29)
One of four 2016 Cubs on this list and one of two appealing Swiss Army knives, along with the next guy.
Prediction: Mariners, six years, $140 million
12. Chris Taylor (IF-OF, Age 31)
The Dodgers produced so many stars that a stud like Taylor could play relatively under the radar.
Prediction: Giants, five years, $100 million
13. Marcus Stroman (RHP, Age 30)
Like Gausman, accepting last year’s qualifying offer (from the Mets) looks like a savvy move.
Prediction: Astros, five years, $100 million
14. Clayton Kershaw (LHP, Age 33)
A first-time free agent, the future Hall of Famer, with so many injured-list visits on his record, is more about quality than quantity at this point.
Prediction: Dodgers, three years, $80 million
15. Nelson Cruz (DH, Age 41)
Was his slippage with the Rays upon joining them in July the beginning of the end, or will he resume his “ageless wonder” narrative next season?
Prediction: Mariners, one year, $11 million
16. Nick Castellanos (OF, Age 29)
The highest-ranking person on this list to opt out of an existing contract.
Prediction: Guardians, five years, $85 million
17. Brandon Belt (1B, Age 33)
With Buster Posey retiring, his leadership and institutional knowledge carries even more weight at Oracle Park.
Prediction: Giants, three years, $70 million
18. Kyle Schwarber (LF-1B, Age 28)
The dude just rakes, and boy did he win people over in New England.
Prediction: Red Sox, five years, $80 million
19. Justin Verlander (RHP, Age 38)
Perhaps the most fascinating person on this list, he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2019 and has pitched in just one game since thanks to Tommy John surgery.
Prediction: Yankees, one year, $20 million