Free Agency Check-In — How MLB.com’s Top 10 2023-2024 Free Agents are Performing this Year
Today, we’re going to look at MLB.com’s top 2023-2024 free agents and see how they are performing after the first two weeks of the season.
Let’s get right into it!
#1: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers, DH
2024 Stats: 11 games — .304/.353/.522/.875, 2 home runs, 6 runs batted in, 1 stolen base
134 OPS + (on-base + slugging plus)
0.2 WAR
135 wRC+ (weighted runs created plus)
Now a Dodger, and 700 million dollars richer (after his contract is up), Shohei Ohtani has slotted into one of the most dangerous 1-2-3 lineup punches the game has ever seen.
After a few slow games, Shohei Ohtani has found his rhythm on his new team. With his two home runs coming in the last four games, Ohtani’s normal self and bat will be a welcome sight to a Dodgers team with multiple championships in their aspirations.
Although he isn’t pitching until 2025 — another MVP-caliber offensive season would not be unexpected for a player of his caliber.
#2: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los angeles dodgers, SP
2024 Stats: 3 starts — 4.09 ERA, 11.0 innings, 9 hits, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, 15 strikeouts
1.59 FIP (fielding independent pitching)
1.09 WHIP
0 home runs allowed
Curveball: 47.6 percent whiff rate, .077 batting average against
After a rough, yet unlucky spring where he posted an eye-watering 8.38 ERA, and an oddly-timed, rocky first MLB start in Korea where he pitched just 1 inning (4 hits, 5 earned runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts), the Dodgers’ prized pitching acquisition has settled in nicely over his last two starts.
Pitching against two NL Central teams — The Cardinals and Cubs, he went 5 innings in both, allowing zero runs and striking out 5 against St. Louis, and 8 against Chicago.
His fastball and splitter have been slightly inconsistent to start the year, however his splitter is already trending upwards in terms of both usage and effectiveness. His curveball his been his dominant pitch, with the ridiculous 47.6 percent whiff rate and elite command of the corners with it.
His future looks extremely promising.
#3: Blake Snell, San Francisco Giants, SP
2024 Stats: N/A
Blake Snell was signed by the Giants on March 18th, just before the Opening Week of the 2024 MLB Season. For that reason, Snell hasn’t been able to make his Giants debut as he gets up to game speed but will make his Giants debut on 4/8 against the Nationals.
#4: Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs, 1b/OF
2024 Stats: 9 games — .229/.341/.429/.770, 2 home runs, 7 runs batted in
95 wRC+
6/7 walk/strikeout ratio
.231 batting average balls in play (BABIP) — unlucky
2 home runs during 2 “Cody” chants at Wrigley
After the well-documented strange offseason for the Boras four of Bellinger, Snell, Montgomery, and Chapman, Bellinger was the first domino to fall. He returned to the Cubs on a 3-year, $80 million deal with two opt-outs on February 27.
It’s been a relatively quiet start for the 2017 Rookie of the Year, 2019 NL MVP, and 2-time all-star, but he has continued to show a revised and improved plate approach.
His walk-to-strikeout ratio is fantastic, his strikeout rates remain above average, and he is continuing to put that ball in play. His BABIP has indicated some unluckiness, so some positive regression should be in his future.
#5: Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies, SP
2024 Stats: 2 starts — 5.40 ERA, 10 innings, 13 hits, 6 earned runs, 2 home runs, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
5.90 FIP
1.80 WHIP
-1.1 mph decrease in sinker velocity
-1.2 mph decrease in fastball velocity
.400 batting average against fastball and changeup
.300 batting average against knucklecurve
It’s been a tough start for the longtime Phillie, who was one of the first free agents to reach a deal in the offseason, signing a 7-year, $172 million pact with the Phillies on November 11, 2023.
The hits, walks, and strikeouts are a bit concerning. It’s a tiny sample size, and not nearly big enough to justify being truly worried yet, but the increased hits and walks allowed, decreased strikeout rate, and drop in velocity on both of his fastball looks are a bit concerning. Along with that, his offspeed pitches haven’t been particularly sharp to start the year as well.
Nola is a good pitcher though, and has a good offense behind him. He’ll likely begin to round into form soon and put the slow start behind him
#6: Josh Hader, Houston Astros, RP
2024 Stats: 5 games — 0-2, 7.20 ERA, 5 innings, 5 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
4.45 FIP
1.50 WHIP
-0.2 WAR
33.6 percent chase rate
43.8 percent slider whiff rate
The numbers aren’t super pretty for Josh Hader at the moment, who signed a 5-year, $95 million deal with the Astros on January 24, but the three-time Hoffman Reliever of the Year will be just fine.
He did blow a save and give up a go-ahead home run to Toronto’s Davis Schneider, but otherwise, he’s been fine. His advanced metrics look good, and is still getting good life on his fastball, even if it’s not triple-digits like it was earlier in his career.
He is still dominating hitters with his slider, evidenced by the whiff rate, and striking out hitters at an above-average rate. He should settle in as the season goes on.
#7: Sonny Gray, St. Louis Cardinals, SP
2024: N/A (injured)
The Cardinals’ prized free agent acquisition, Gray signed a 3-year $75 million contract with the Cardinals on November 27, 2023, coming off a season where he finished second in AL Cy Young voting.
Gray had a brief, but strong Spring Training showing, allowing no runs in his 3.2 innings, while striking out 3, but unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury and started the season on the 10-day injured list.
Per manager Oli Marmol, Gray will make his Cardinals debut on April 9th, with a pitch count of 65 pitches.
#8: Jordan Montgomery, Arizona Diamondbacks, SP
2024 Stats: N/A
Like Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery was signed deep into March, and thus, was not game-ready by the start of the season.
He has been making starts in the Diamondbacks’ AAA affiliate to get up to game speed, and after signing a 1-year, $25 million deal with the Diamondbacks at the end of March, and is targeting an April 19 return date.
#9: J.D. Martinez, New York Mets, DH
2024 Stats: N/A
Martinez has yet to make his Mets debut after signing a 1-year, $12 million deal with the Mets on March 24. A Career .287/.350/.524 hitter with 315 career home runs, Martinez should be a welcome middle of the order presence for the Mets, who have gotten off to a very slow start to the season.
The most recent update about his status came on April 4, when Manager Carlos Mendoza said he would be joining a minor league affiliate soon.
#10: Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants, 3B
2024 Stats: 10 games — .195/.250/.390/.640, 2 home runs, 9 RBI, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
.275 xBA (expected batting average) — unlucky
96.4 average exit velocity
59.3 hard hit percentage
Matt Chapman has been hitting the ball very, very well so far. After signing a 3-year, $54 contract with two opt-outs, Chapman has slid into the hot corner and the middle of the order for the Giants and provided some clutch moments in the first 10 games of the season.
Although his average and his strikeout numbers are not great, he has been making quality contact with the ball and driving in runs. He will surely see some positive regression at some point.
Other Notable Offseason Acquisitions that were not top 10 or free agency signings:
Corbin Burnes, BAL — 1-0, 2.31 ERA, 11.2 IP, 14 K, 0.86 WHIP
Jung-Hoo Lee, SFG — .205/.267/.282, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K
Tyler Glasnow, LAD — 2-0, 3.18 ERA, 17 IP, 15 K, 0.88 WHIP
Juan Soto, NYY — .333/.438/.436, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 8 BB, 7 K
Dylan Cease, SDP — 0-1, 3.38 ERA, 10.2 IP, 13 K, 0.94 WHIP
Shota Imanaga, CHC — 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 IP, 12 K, 0.40 WHIP
Jorge Soler, SFG — .243/.326/.486, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 8 K
