2023 Free Agency Preview

[Ken Rosenthal]

Free Agency begins January 2!  For this exercise, mostly the teams looking to compete are listed as teams in need of a certain position.  Typically, rebuilding teams have numerous needs and spend to trade rather than fill the gap. Consequently, they weren't as consistently included, though they will likely steal away top players from teams that need them.  Dollar figure listed after team amount is their current cap space as of Friday, December 16.  Number next to each player is their Fantrax point projection from the beginning of December.

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Shohei Ohtani
Teams in the Running:
1. Chicago White Sox ($75.1m)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers ($54.5m)
3. Atlanta Braves ($76.6m)
4. Minnesota Twins ($67.9m)
5. New York Yankees ($68.4m)
6. Oakland Athletics ($60.7m)
7. Chicago Cubs ($49.6m)
8. New York Mets ($85.2m)
9. Pittsburgh Pirates ($80.8m)
10. Boston Red Sox ($102.6m)




Catcher

Teams in Need:
1. St. Louis Cardinals ($20.4m)
2. Miami Marlins ($23.3m)
3. San Diego Padres ($9.9m)
4. Colorado Rockies ($19.5m)
5. Detroit Tigers ($28.5m cap space)

Best Available:
1. Travis d'Arnaud (311.5)
2. Christian Vasquez (279.5) - Restricted KCR
3. Austin Nola (259.5)




First Base

Teams in Need:
1. Los Angeles Angels ($0.4m)
2. Kansas City Royals ($14.2m)
3. Arizona D'backs ($17.0m)
4. Chicago Cubs (49.6m)
5. Boston Red Sox ($102.6m)

Best Available:
1. Anthony Rizzo (477.5) - Restricted MIN
2. Yuli Gurriel (427)
3. Carlos Santana (378.5) - Restricted SDP
4. Joey Meneses (374.5)
5. Joey Votto (353.5)




Second Base

Teams in Need:
1. Minnesota Twins ($67.9m)
2. Tampa Bay Rays ($31.3m)
3. New York Yankees ($68.4m)
4. Oakland Athletics ($60.7m)
5. New York Mets ($85.2m)

Best Available:
1. Ketel Marte (494.5)
2. Cesar Hernandez (385) - Restricted PHI
3. Jean Segura (384.5) - Restricted ATL
4. Jon Berti (359.5) - Restricted CLE




Shortstop

Teams in Need:
1. Milwaukee Brewers ($46.0m)
2. Colorado Rockies ($19.5m)
3. Kansas City Royals ($14.2m)
4. Atlanta Braves ($76.6m)
5. Minnesota Twins ($67.9m)

Best Available:
1. Brandon Crawford (393.5) - Restricted COL
2. Miguel Rojas (351.0) - Restricted TOR
3. Elvis Andrus (343.0) - Restricted LAD
4. Didi Gregorius (253.0) - Restricted ATL




Third Base

Teams in Need:
1. Los Angeles Angels ($0.4m)
2. San Diego Padres ($9.9m)
3. Cleveland Guardians ($5.7m)
4. Milwaukee Brewers ($46.0m)
5. Tampa Bay Rays ($31.3m)

Best Available:
1. Nolan Arenado (557.5) - Restricted SDP
2. Eugenio Suarez (457.5)
3. Justin Turner (383.5)
4. Jon Berti (359.5) - Restricted CLE




Outfield

Teams in Need:
1. Colorado Rockies ($19.5m)
2. Chicago Cubs ($49.6m)
3. New York Mets ($85.2m)

Best Available:
1. Joc Pederson (402.5)
2. Kike Hernandez (379.5)
3. Masataka Yoshida (379.0)
4. A.J. Pollock (372.5)
5. Robbie Grossman (339.0)




Rotation

Teams in Need:
1. Texas Rangers ($0.0m)
2. Cincinnati Reds ($34.8m)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers ($54.5m)
4. Colorado Rockies ($19.5m)
5. Kansas City Royals ($14.2m)
6. Detroit Tigers ($28.3m)
7. Arizona D'backs ($17.0m)

Best Available:
1. Carlos Rodon (479.0)
2. Zack Wheeler (477.0) - Restricted COL
3. Kevin Gausman (472.0) - Restricted LAD
4. Charlie Morton (415.0) - Restricted WAS
5. Adam Wainwright (414.0)
6. Martin Perez (410.0) - Restricted CLE
7. Frankie Montas (373.0)
8. Jordan Lyles (362.0) - Restricted WAS
9. Johnny Cueto (358.0)
10. Marcus Stroman (353.0)




Bullpen

Teams in Need:
1. Texas Rangers ($0.0m)
2. Cincinnati Reds ($34.8m)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers ($54.5m)
4. Colorado Rockies ($19.5m)
5. Kansas City Royals ($14.2m)
6. Detroit Tigers ($28.3m)
7. Arizona D'backs ($17.0m)

Best Available:
1. Raisel Iglesias (374.0)
2. Ryan Pressly (359.0) - Restricted SFG
3. Kenley Jansen (328.1)
4. Daniel Bard (314.0) - Restricted SEA
5. Paul Sewald (313.0)