This means that free agency will pick up Week 1 of December is here! What does that mean for free agency? majorly. Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, and more may be expected to sign in December. However, what are some headlines and stories coming into December with starting pitching?
MLB Free Agency: Starting Pitching Headlines
Some Pieces Fall Off, Price Tags Up
Last week, Yusei Kikuchi signed a 3-year, 63-million-dollar deal in the first big free-agent signing of the offseason. Blake Snell, a couple of days later, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a massive 5-year, 182-million-dollar deal. On the first day of December, Frankie Montas and Matthew Boyd both signed. Now, the biggest starting pitchers remain to be Burnes and Max Fried. These signings mean a few simple things: First, the Dodgers’ need for Fried has disappeared.
However, Fried’s price tag may be massive thanks to Snell’s deal. Second, the Los Angeles Angels‘ singing of Kikuchi raises the price tag of mid-major pitchers, as does the New York Mets‘ 2-year, 34-million-dollar deal with Montas. Third and last: the coming weeks may be hectic and we may see major signings.
Who Remains To Be the Best Left?
The Snell signing does not take off the best starting pitcher on the market. There still remains to be a great list. This list includes where each player might sign:
Corbin Burnes (Mets)
Max Fried (Giants)
Jack Flaherty (Tigers)
Sean Manea (Mets)
Shane Bieber (Rangers)
Luis Severino (Twins)
Nathan Eovaldi (Braves)
Walker Buehler (Guardians)
Jose Quintana (Angels)
Max Scherzer (Cardinals)
For now, the Mets look like the clear favorite for Burnes; I also have them bringing back Manea. The San Francisco Giants will want another lefty, and Fried fits the bill after the loss of Snell. The Angels will look to add more depth, while the Braves will replace Fried with the aged but still-good Eovaldi. The Tigers will spend money and acquire Flaherty, meanwhile, the Rangers will acquire Bieber. Severino will arrive in Minnesota after a disappointing season and Scherzer will sign with the Cardinals. Lastly, Buehler will sign with the Guardians after a good and surprising season.
Here’s an intriguing list of formers aces that are free agents. Many of these pitchers may never find a place to stay.
Justin Verlander (42)
Max Scherzer (40)
Dallas Keuchel (37)
Carlos Carrasco (38)
Wade Miley (38)
Julio Teheran (34)
Patrick Corbin (35)
Clayton Kershaw (37)
Kyle Gibson (37)
Alex Cobb (37)
Lance Lynn (38)
Many of these pitchers are former aces who will be signed to small deals and might help any team’s rotation. Many of these pitchers might actually never be signed again. This list includes Scherzer, Verlander, and Kershaw, some of the best pitchers in the last 15 years. These pitchers may still be trying to make a difference in the MLB. Verlander proved that he could at age 39 (he won the Cy Young) in 2022, so perhaps these pitchers still can.
In conclusion, week 1 of December can see some major free agents find teams to sign with. Starting pitching may have a major price tag, but still, many pitchers may still sign with many teams. Overall, pitching is a major priority for many teams looking to contend.
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