2016/2017 Free Agent Class

[bravesfanforlife88]

So after this monster of a season in 2016, we will be getting ready to open up the 2017 season in a new ball park and a new era of Braves baseball. Here is the list of free agents at the end of the season....

Catchers

Alex Avila (30)
Drew Butera (34)
Jason Castro (30)
Francisco Cervelli (31)
A.J. Ellis (36)
Ryan Hanigan (36) — $3.75MM club option with an $800K buyout
Nick Hundley (33)
Chris Iannetta (34) — 2017 option
Jonathan Lucroy (31) — $5.25MM club option with a $25K buyout
Jeff Mathis (34)
Dioner Navarro (33)
A.J. Pierzynski (40)
Wilson Ramos (29)
Wilin Rosario (28)
David Ross (40)
Carlos Ruiz (38) — $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (32)
Geovany Soto (34)
Kurt Suzuki (33) — $6MM vesting option
Josh Thole (30)
Matt Wieters (31)

First Basemen

Pedro Alvarez (30)
Ike Davis (30)
Edwin Encarnacion (34)
Ryan Howard (37) — $23MM club option with a $10MM buyout
Chris Johnson (32)
Garrett Jones (36)
Adam Lind (33)
James Loney (33)
Mitch Moreland (31)
Logan Morrison (29)
Mike Morse (35)
Brandon Moss (33)
Mike Napoli (35)
Daniel Nava (34)
Steve Pearce (34)
Sean Rodriguez (32)
Wilin Rosario (28)
Carlos Santana (31) — $12MM club option with a $1.2MM buyout
Justin Smoak (30)
Mark Teixeira (37)
Mark Trumbo (31)

Second Basemen

Daniel Descalso (30)
Yunel Escobar (34) — $7MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Aaron Hill (35)
Kelly Johnson (35)
Martin Prado (33)
Sean Rodriguez (32)
Ruben Tejada (27)
Justin Turner (32)
Chase Utley (38)
Luis Valbuena (31)
Neil Walker (31)

Third Basemen

Adrian Beltre (38)
Daniel Descalso (30)
Stephen Drew (34)
David Freese (34)
Chris Johnson (32)
Kelly Johnson (35)
Casey McGehee (33)
Martin Prado (33)
Justin Turner (32)
Luis Valbuena (31)

Shortstops

Erick Aybar (33)
Daniel Descalso (30)
Ian Desmond (31)
Stephen Drew (34)
Alcides Escobar (30) – $6.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Yunel Escobar (34) — $7MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Alexei Ramirez (35) — $4MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Jimmy Rollins (38)
Ruben Tejada (27)

Left Fielders

Gregor Blanco (33)
Domonic Brown (29)
Yoenis Cespedes (31) — can opt out of remaining two years, $47.5MM on current contract
Chris Coghlan (32)
Rajai Davis (35)
Chris Denorfia (36)
Ian Desmond (31)
Sam Fuld (35)
Jonny Gomes (36)
Franklin Gutierrez (34)
Matt Holliday (37) — $17MM club/vesting option with $1MM buyout
Kelly Johnson (35)
Matt Joyce (32)
David Murphy (35)
Daniel Nava (34)
Steve Pearce (34)
Sean Rodriguez (32)
Colby Rasmus (30)
Michael Saunders (30)
Travis Snider (29)
Ichiro Suzuki (43) – $2MM club option

Center Fielders

Alejandro De Aza (33)
Gregor Blanco (33)
Peter Bourjos (30)
Michael Bourn (34) — $12MM vesting option
Coco Crisp (37) — $13MM vesting/club option with a $750K buyout
Rajai Davis (35)
Sam Fuld (35)
Craig Gentry (33)
Carlos Gomez (31)
Austin Jackson (30)
Jon Jay (32)
Cameron Maybin (30) — $9MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Angel Pagan (35)
Colby Rasmus (30)
Drew Stubbs (32)

Right Fielders

Marlon Byrd (39)
Alejandro De Aza (33)
Jose Bautista (36)
Carlos Beltran (39)
Domonic Brown (29)
Jay Bruce (30) — $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Chris Denorfia (36)
Franklin Gutierrez (34)
Matt Joyce (32)
Brandon Moss (33)
David Murphy (35)
Daniel Nava (34)
Ryan Raburn (36)
Colby Rasmus (30)
Josh Reddick (30)
Michael Saunders (30)
Seth Smith (34) — $7MM club option with a $250K buyout
Travis Snider (29)
Ichiro Suzuki (43) – $2MM club option
Nick Swisher (36) — $14MM vesting option
Will Venable (34)
Shane Victorino (36)

Designated Hitters

Pedro Alvarez (30)
Carlos Beltran (39)
Edwin Encarnacion (34)
Ryan Howard (37) — $23MM club option with a $10MM buyout
Adam Lind (33)
Kendrys Morales (34) — $11MM mutual option with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Morse (35)
Brandon Moss (33)
Carlos Santana (31) — $12MM club option with a $1.2MM buyout
Nick Swisher (36) — $14MM vesting option
Mark Teixeira (37)

Starting Pitchers

Brett Anderson (29)
Bronson Arroyo (40)
Brandon Beachy (30)
Clay Buchholz (32)
Andrew Cashner (30)
Jhoulys Chacin (29)
Jesse Chavez (33)
Josh Collmenter (31) — $2.25MM mutual option with a $150K buyout
Bartolo Colon (43)
John Danks (32)
Jorge De La Rosa (36)
R.A. Dickey (42)
Scott Feldman (34)
Doug Fister (33)
Gio Gonzalez (31) — $12MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jeremy Guthrie (38)
Jason Hammel (34) — $10MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Jeremy Hellickson (30)
Rich Hill (37)
Derek Holland (30) — $11MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Edwin Jackson (33)
Scott Kazmir (33) — can opt out of remaining two years, $32MM on current contract
Mat Latos (29)
Colby Lewis (37)
Cory Luebke (32)
Kris Medlen (31) — $10MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Matt Moore (28) — $7MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Charlie Morton (33) — $9.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Jon Niese (30) — $10MM club option with a $500K buyout
Ivan Nova (30)
Jake Peavy (36)
Yusmeiro Petit (32) — $3MM club/vesting option with a $500K buyout (vests with 80 IP)
CC Sabathia (36) — $25MM vesting option with a $5MM buyout
James Shields (35) — Can opt out of remaining two years, $44MM on current contract
Alfredo Simon (36)
Stephen Strasburg (28)
Ryan Vogelsong (39)
Edinson Volquez (33) — $10MM mutual option with a $3MM buyout
Jered Weaver (34)
C.J. Wilson (36)
Travis Wood (30)

Right-Handed Relievers (Italics denote active closers)

David Aardsma (35)
Matt Albers (34) — $3MM club option with a $250K buyout
Burke Badenhop (34)
Matt Belisle (37)
Joaquin Benoit (39)
Joe Blanton (36)
Blaine Boyer (35)
David Carpenter (31)
Santiago Casilla (36)
Joba Chamberlain (31)
Josh Collmenter (31) — $2.25MM mutual option with a $150K buyout
Wade Davis (31) — $10MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Neftali Feliz (29)
Jason Grilli (40) — $3MM club option with a $250K buyout
David Hernandez (32)
Luke Hochevar (33) — $7MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Daniel Hudson (30)
Tommy Hunter (30)
Kenley Jansen (29)
Casey Janssen (35)
Kevin Jepsen (32)
Edwin Jackson (33)
Sam LeCure (33)
Mark Melancon (32)
Juan Nicasio (30)
Pat Neshek (36) — $6.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Ross Ohlendorf (34)
Jonathan Papelbon (36)
Bobby Parnell (32)
Joel Peralta (41)
Fernando Rodney (40) — floating $2MM+ club option with a $400K buyout
Sergio Romo (34)
Fernando Salas (32)
Joe Smith (33)
Craig Stammen (33)
Drew Storen (29)
Junichi Tazawa (31)
Dale Thayer (36)
Carlos Torres (34)
Koji Uehara (42)
Jordan Walden (29) — $5.25MM club option with a $250K buyout
Ryan Webb (31)
Brad Ziegler (37)

Left-Handed Relievers (Italics denote active closers)

Craig Breslow (36)
Brett Cecil (30)
Randy Choate (41)
Neal Cotts (37)
Aroldis Chapman (29)
Brian Duensing (34)
Mike Dunn (32)
Boone Logan (32)
Javier Lopez (39)
Brian Matusz (30)
Franklin Morales (31)
Eric O’Flaherty (32)
Manny Parra (34)
Marc Rzepczynski (31)
Matt Thornton (40)

The guys highlighted in Bold are guys that I would have some level of interest in signing to come aboard. I think it leaves us where we were all thinking, to acquire any kind of good talent we would need to look into the trade market in order to get some talent

[bravesfanforlife88]

These are the free agents following the 2017 season.,

Infielders

Manny Machado
Josh Donaldson
Dee Gordon
Jose Iglesias
Outfielders
Heyward *
Bryce Harper
Andrew McCutchen
A.J. Pollock
Michael Brantley
Adam Jones

Starting pitchers

Price *
Clayton Kershaw *
Jose Fernandez
Matt Harvey
Dallas Keuchel
Shelby Miller
Garrett Richards
Jose Quintana

Closers

Craig Kimbrel
Trevor Rosenthal
Andrew Miller
* Can opt out of current contract after 2018 season

[Braves1976]

I like Francisco Cervelli best among catchers all things considered.

[nsacpi]

I think a lot will turn on the progress we see from our infielders. Albies, Swanson, Ruiz and Castro in particular. And how certain guys perform at the major league level. Olivera and Peterson in particular.

[zbhargrove]

I just can't see us on Wieters... he's a nice talent who will just never be fully healthy IMO. Big red flag that he had some more discomfort this Spring.

[Hudson2]

That 2017 list is insane. We should have alot of money to spend and few holes. If possible I'd be all in on one of Donaldson and Machado and try to sign Keuchel. That would probably be 50 million tied up in 2 of those but with all the rookies we will have we could afford it for 5 years and our payroll going up.

[CJ9]

Im pretty sure all those guys are free agents after the 2018 season.

[nsacpi]

Catcher is a pretty obvious need. I suspect we'll fill it through trade rather than free agency.

[clvclv]

Im pretty sure all those guys are free agents after the 2018 season.

Nope. Following 2017. It's referred to as the 2018 Free-Agent class since that's when they'd be playing for new teams.

[CJ9]

Nope. Following 2017. It's referred to as the 2018 Free-Agent class since that's when they'd be playing for new teams.

Then either all the contract information on this site is wrong or I'm reading it wrong.

Machado: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/baltimore...manny-machado/

Harper: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/washingto.../bryce-harper/

[Enscheff]

I like Francisco Cervelli best among catchers all things considered.

He should be the top FA priority next offseason. An addition for 3b will also be a major need, and I think Beltre should be the top target on a 2 year deal with an option.

[smootness]

Yes, it is after the 2018 season. Many of those guys will sign extensions before FA, though.

[clvclv]

Then either all the contract information on this site is wrong or I'm reading it wrong.

Machado: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/baltimore...manny-machado/

Harper: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/washingto.../bryce-harper/

Cot's Baseball Contracts:

Bryce Harper lf
2 years/$7.5M (2015-16)

2 years/$7.5M (2015-16)
signed extension with Washington 12/15/14
15:$2.5M, 16:$5M
5 years/$9.9M (2011-15)
signed Major League contract with Washington 8/16/10
$6.25M signing bonus (paid in 5 installments of $1.25M, 30 days after approval and each July 1, 2011-14)
11:$0.5M, 12:$0.5M, 13:$0.75M, 14:$0.9M, 15:$1M
roster bonuses: $0.125M each for 30, 60, 90, 120 days on active major-league roster in 2014, 2015
Nationals agreed to pay for eight semesters of college
drafted by Washington 2010 (1-1) (College of Southern Nevada)
agent: Boras Corp.
ML service: 3.159



Glanced at it wrong.

[smootness]

Bryce Harper will be a FA after the 2018 season, not 2017, assuming he doesn't sign an extension before then. That is a fact.

[Hudson2]

No way does Bryce Harper sign an extension in Washington. It's like that team is jinxed. He'll definately test FA. I'd love to go after him bc with all the young guys and cheap contracts we'll have we could easily afford him, but every single big market team will be tearing his door down.

[UNCBlue012]

No way does Bryce Harper sign an extension in Washington. It's like that team is jinxed. He'll definately test FA. I'd love to go after him bc with all the young guys and cheap contracts we'll have we could easily afford him, but every single big market team will be tearing his door down.

I'd die if he got Harper. That would just be hilarious.

[Heyward]

Next years FA class is horrible.

The year after that is insane even with some of them signing extensions with their current clubs. But even with so many teams having money to spend, surely Atl would grab at least 1 name to lure in.

Kinda depends on the progression of the infield.

Freeman, Albies, Swanson, Riley could be very interesting by then.

Maitan if they sign him would be ready a year or so from then if hes as good as they say.

[braves31win]

2017 - if Stras stays healthy this year we need to be all in, not much else to spend on moving in to new park
Trade for Lucroy still makes sense
Another play for Cespedes?

Spending big on Strasburg makes even more sense since 2018 is weak also
There are several royals that could end up in that market... Cain would be a nice fit and maybe he is trade bait next off-season
Moose-tacos could fill a hole at third but with Riley, Maitan, Swanson, Albies may not be necessary

2019 could be best FA crop ever but most will have extensions before that

[clvclv]

2017 - if Stras stays healthy this year we need to be all in, not much else to spend on moving in to new park
Trade for Lucroy still makes sense
Another play for Cespedes?

Spending big on Strasburg makes even more sense since 2018 is weak also
There are several royals that could end up in that market... Cain would be a nice fit and maybe he is trade bait next off-season
Moose-tacos could fill a hole at third but with Riley, Maitan, Swanson, Albies may not be necessary

2019 could be best FA crop ever but most will have extensions before that

I understand everyone's hesitation with Strasburg, but given the arms we're stockpiling and the dollars available, he makes all the sense on the world to me. We all see the potential upside and ceilings in the arms we've already got, but starting with Strasburg/Julio gives you the best chance of competing with what the Mutts have built over the next several years. I just can't see any downside in bumping everyone down a slot in case they don't become "the guy" - Strasburg is one of the 5 best Pitchers in the game when he's healthy.

[smootness]

Coppy has been pretty open about not wanting to spend a lot on FA pitching.