Three Atlanta Braves writers free agency predictions for all of MLB
The Atlanta Braves have a lot of decisions to make over the next few weeks/months.
Without a doubt it all starts with what will the Atlanta Braves do with Freddie Freeman and if you are anything like me, you wake up everyday and hope to see some good news on your phone.
Obviously though it goes without saying that there are some other big fish in the sea when it comes to free agency in MLB this Winter. Big names are out there for the taking and depending on what a few teams do over the next few weeks, it could shake up the course of the game over the next few years.
If you are anything like me, you love this time of the year despite the fact that no real life baseball is being played. Of course, it makes it even sweeter when your favorite team is still on the high of winning the World Series which I’m going to try and remind everyone every chance I get.
I reached out to a couple of the writers here at Tomahawk Take and I asked them to send me their top 50 free agency predictions (List courtesy of MLBtraderumors.com).
A couple of tidbits of information I feel is needed before we dive off into the predictions where any of us will be lucky to get 6 or 7 right at least.
First, no explanations of any pick were given so any words to follow below are all mine.
Second, this list was being wrote up when the news of Eduardo Rodriguez being signed by the Detroit Tigers come across so I will act like we all correctly predicted that one. Actually, I will also include our original predictions below as well.
I want to take this time to also thank both Trent and Sam for sending me their picks and providing me with some good content to create here.
1. Carlos Correa
Sam- Los Angeles Angels
Trent- Detroit Tigers
James- San Francisco Giants
All three of us have the biggest free agent (according to some) leaving the Houston Astros
2. Corey Seager
Sam- New York Yankees
Trent- New York Yankees
James- New York Yankees
A clean sweep here for the evil empire
3. Freddie Freeman
Sam- Atlanta Braves
Trent- Atlanta Braves
James- Atlanta Braves
None of us see the hero leaving the defending champs
4. Kris Bryant
Sam- San Francisco Giants
Trent- Seattle Mariners
James- New York Mets
For this one, I personally hope one of them are right
5. Kevin Gausman
Sam- San Francisco Giants
Trent- San Francisco Giants
James- Los Angeles Angels
6. Marcus Semien
Sam- Seattle Mariners
Trent- Los Angeles Angels
James- Texas Rangers
If any of us are right, he is headed to the AL West.
7. Robbie Ray
Sam- Toronto Blue Jays
Trent- Toronto Blue Jays
James- Toronto Blue Jays
None of us see the possible AL Cy Young winner leaving Canada
8. Trevor Story
Sam- Cleveland Indians (Guardians)
Trent- Philadelphia Phillies
James- Philadelphia Phillies
9. Max Scherzer
Sam- Los Angeles Dodgers
Trent- Los Angeles Dodgers
James- Los Angeles Dodgers
10. Nick Castellanos
Sam- Philadelphia Phillies
Trent- San Diego Padres
James- San Diego Padres
For me personally, I see him being the new DH for the Pads
11. Marcus Stroman
Sam- New York Mets
Trent- Los Angeles Angels
James- Los Angeles Angels
It is no secret that the Angels need pitching help, but then again, so do the Mets
12. Javier Baez
Sam- Seattle Mariners
Trent- New York Mets
James- Detroit Tigers
13. Starling Marte
Sam- Washington Nationals
Trent- San Francisco Giants
James- Philadelphia Phillies
I could very easily see Marte being a possible target for the Atlanta Braves, depending on how the incumbents work out.
14. Eduardo Rodriguez
As we were made aware of writing, Rodrigues has already signed with the Detroit Tigers so the following was our original predictions
Sam- Boston Red Sox
Trent- Minnesota Twins
James- Boston Red Sox
15. Kyle Schwarber
Sam- Washington Nationals
Trent- Colorado Rockies
James- Colorado Rockies
16. Chris Taylor
Sam- Seattle Mariners
Trent- Chicago White Sox
James- Seattle Mariners
17. Raisel Iglesias
Sam- Los Angeles Angels
Trent- Houston Astros
James- Boston Red Sox
18. Carlos Rodon
Sam- Texas Rangers
Trent- New York Yankees
James- San Francisco Giants
The talent has always been there but the question is will he be healthy?
19. Jon Gray
Sam- Texas Rangers
Trent- Boston Red Sox
James- Texas Rangers
It will be interesting to see what kind of numbers Gray can put up outside of most his starts being in Denver
20. Seiya Suzuki
Sam- Seattle Mariners
Trent- Texas Rangers
James- Chicago Cubs
21. Anthony Rizzo
Sam- Los Angeles Angels
Trent- Miami Marlins
James- Detroit Tigers
Heaven forbid, but if the Atlanta Braves somehow let Freddie walk, this might be the best short-term stopgap for the team?
22. Anthony DeScalfani
Sam- New York Mets
Trent- Washington Nationals
James- New York Mets
Again, we all see this guy becoming a familiar foe for the Atlanta Braves soon
23. Justin Verlander
Sam- Texas Rangers
Trent- Detroit Tigers
James- New York Yankees
I would absolutely love to see the Atlanta Braves take a shot on this veteran.
24. Avisail Garcia
Sam- Milwaukee Brewers
Trent- Kansas City Royals
James- Colorado Rockies
25. Jorge Soler
Sam- Texas Rangers
Trent- Atlanta Braves
James- Cleveland Indians (Guardians)
I want Soler back on the Atlanta Braves but I think it might be tough.
26. Alex Wood
Sam- Washington Nationals
Trent- Washington Nationals
James- Houston Astros
27. Steven Matz
Sam- St. Louis Cardinals
Trent- Chicago Cubs
James- Minnesota Twins
28. Kendall Graveman
Sam- St. Louis Cardinals
Trent- Los Angeles Dodgers
James- Houston Astros
I was a little surprised to see Graveman this low on the list as he has been very efficient the past couple of seasons.
29. Kenley Jansen
Sam- Toronto Blue Jays
Trent- Toronto Blue Jays
James- Philadelphia Phillies
This signing will all depend on which version of the closer you are getting and how will he hold up with age?
30. Mark Canha
Sam- Cleveland Indians (Guardians)
Trent- Cleveland Indians (Guardians)
James- San Francisco Giants
31. Kyle Seager
Sam- New York Mets
Trent- New York Mets
James- Washington Nationals
It will be interesting to see if perhaps both the Seager brothers could wind up on the same team?
32. Michael Conforto
Sam- Atlanta Braves
Trent- Milwaukee Brewers
James- Texas Rangers
33. Clayton Kershaw
Sam- Los Angeles Dodgers
Trent- Texas Rangers
James- Los Angeles Dodgers
I am a little surprised to see all the people who think Kershaw will be leaving the West coast. Maybe he will, but I think ultimately he returns and chases another ring or two.
34. Yusei Kikuchi
Sam- Detroit Tigers
Trent- Chicago Cubs
James- Chicago Cubs
35. Eduardo Escobar
Sam- Baltimore Orioles
Trent- Washington Nationals
James- Seattle Mariners
36. Brandon Belt
Sam- Boston Red Sox
Trent- San Francisco Giants
James- San Francisco Giants
Trent and myself both have Belt accepting the qualifying offer he was given by the Giants
37. Noah Syndergaard
Sam- San Francisco Giants
Trent- New York Mets
James- New York Mets
Again, myself and Trent both have “Thor” accepting the qualifying offer and staying with the Mets one more season.
38. Corey Knebel
Sam- Atlanta Braves
Trent- New York Yankees
James- Philadelphia Phillies
39. Alex Cobb
Sam- Houston Astros
Trent- Kansas City Royals
James- Minnesota Twins
40. Zack Grienke
Sam- New York Mets
Trent- St. Louis Cardinals
James- St. Louis Cardinals
If any player on this list was gonna retire, I could easily see it being Greinke
41. Eddie Rosario
Sam- Atlanta Braves
Trent- Atlanta Braves
James- Atlanta Braves
We all have the NLCS hero returning to the Atlanta Braves and hopefully igniting some more magic in 2022.
42. Hector Neris
Sam- Philadelphia Phillies
Trent- Tampa Bay Rays
James- Tampa Bay Rays
43. Jonathan Villar
Sam- Milwaukee Brewers
Trent- Colorado Rockies
James- Colorado Rockies
I have never understood why Villar does not get a little more love? If he were willing to accept a backup role, I think he would be perfect for the Atlanta Braves to have play any infield position.
44. Mark Melancon
Sam- St. Louis Cardinals
Trent- Philadelphia Phillies
James- Minnesota Twins
45. Ryan Tepera
Sam- San Francisco Giants
Trent- Los Angeles Angels
James- Milwaukee Brewers
46. Corey Kluber
Sam- Texas Rangers
Trent- Minnesota Twins
James- Toronto Blue Jays
Just like some pitchers mentioned earlier, if he is healthy, this could be a great bargain for teams needing pitching.
47. Nelson Cruz
Sam- Minnesota Twins
Trent- Milwaukee brewers
James- Detroit Tigers
Perhaps no other player on this list is hoping the DH becomes universal than Cruz.
48. Danny Duffy
Sam- Kansas City Royals
Trent- Kansas City Royals
James- San Francisco Giants
49. Yan Gomes
Sam- Toronto Blue Jays
Trent- Chicago Cubs
James- Miami Marlins
Gomes, being the only catcher on this list shows you how weak this years free agency class is at Catcher.
50. Andrew Heaney
Seemingly signed the moment free agency opened, therefore was a freebie with the Dodgers pick.
So that’s how we see the free agency class going over the next few months. I think I speak for us all when I say we would love to just get a few correct, but most importantly the Freeman pick.
Next. Extend Dansby!. dark
Interesting to note that none of us has the following four teams signing any big ticket free agents
- Oakland Athletics
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Cincinnati Reds