Jon Heyman took a stab at ranking free-agents-to-be last week… let’s see what the Braves might be looking at from the list.
The Atlanta Braves should have some cash available for at least one significant free agent ‘purchase’ this Winter, but whether they opt to open that wallet is a big question. We do know one thing right now, though: things just are not working right now.
This is inspired from Jon Heyman’s list of 60 “top” free agents, a list he compiled and published on Thursday… but a couple of general thoughts on this list:
- It is not complete. For example, Brandon Phillips is missing. If Heyman argues that he’s not a Top 60 guy, then that should get a raised eyebrow response, since Jose Reyes is his #60 name at this point.
- It doesn’t account for opt-outs (there are not many candidates) or non-tenders (which we will not know about until 5 days after the World Series ends).
- It admittedly doesn’t account for the elephant in the room: Japanese star Shohei Otani.
With that mention, I need to interrupt myself to chase a rabbit trail.
The 2-Way Player Influx
Otani is a talent that could change baseball as we know it… and could be up for bid this off-season. He is the modern day Babe Ruth who is both an elite hitter and starting pitcher.
We had multiple players this Spring – led by Reds’ draftee Hunter Greene – who were hard to classify in the draft because they are two-way players at an elite level.
Greene might end up becoming an exception, but teams have traditionally made a choice with such uber-talented draftees: pitch or play the field… pick one.
Otani has both the talent and the power to change the landscape. Here’s how:
- He will be able to demand the right to hit whenever he’s not pitching – as a condition of signing.
- Teams will respond by suggesting that playing the outfield might not be a great idea in between starts on the mound… and thus offering him a designated hitter role. That’s not an unfamiliar role, and he’s excelled at it, in fact. Ah, but…
- National League clubs don’t have this positional luxury, and would have to offer only either a bench role or a risky outfield spot… which would force them to carry an extra outfielder to cover Otani on pitching – or injury – days.
- This would have the effect to limit serious Otani bidders to American League clubs, a fact that may make NL clubs cry foul.
- The only remedy – and the best option for future 2-way players – would be to unify the rules and bring the DH to the National League.
Could this happen? Not right away, but you bet it could: NL teams have already been experiencing difficulty at times in competing for certain free agents, and Otani represents a big prize. They aren’t happy with that (neither am I, but it’s not like I get a vote).
On top of that, recognize that the pending sale of the Marlins – headed by ex-Yankee Derek Jeter – represents a possible vote toward an NL DH rule change.
That’s as far off topic as I’ll go today, but keep it in mind for the future.