25 under-the-radar MLB free agents to keep an eye on

It's pretty rare to find a position player on the open market after a season in which they didn't play at all, but that's what we have here in outfielder Michael Conforto. The Oregon State product spent the first seven seasons of his career in Queens with the Mets, and while his tenure in New York was somewhat up and down, he did enjoy periods of a lot of success. In 757 big league games Conforto owns a lifetime .255/.356/.468 slash line. He's hit over 27 homers on three separate occasions, and in 2019 drove in 92 runs. The veteran has been both a leadoff hitter and a run producer, and was an all-star in '17. He was a free agent last season but injured his shoulder in the winter and wasn't recovered in time to join a team prior to the beginning of the season and then ended up sitting out the entire year. Conforto will almost certainly need to accept a one-year prove-it contract to reestablish his value, and the prospect of adding a potential difference-making offensive piece at a bargain should entice a whole bunch of clubs.

The Padres have been the most active team in player transactions for a while now and are always looking to acquire impact players regardless of position. They have no issue moving people around to field their best team, and it led them all the way to an NLCS appearance in 2022. But after some of their most recent moves during the '22 campaign, it's looking like one of their longest-tenured players, right-handed slugger Wil Myers, could be the odd man out. The veteran missed roughly half of this past season due to injury but he's hit 134 homers for San Diego since 2015 and would bring power and the versatility to play in the outfield and at first base to his new team. 

Not long ago, Miguel Sano was considered an integral part of Minnesota's core, but things have changed in a hurry. After playing in only 20 games in 2022 due to a knee injury--and hitting only .083 with one extra-base hit, the Twins chose to decline the club option they held on Sano, making him a free agent. The big right-handed slugger is still only 29 years old and has four 25+ home run seasons on his resume, so there will undoubtedly be teams interested in trying to buy low with a short-term contract on him. 

When he first broke into the Major Leagues with the Yankees catcher, Gary Sanchez looked like he was on the fast track to superstardom. The Dominican Republic native possessed elite power and a cannon for an arm and seemed poised to become the best backstop in the game in short order. Until all of the sudden, even putting the ball in play consistently became an issue. Over the past five seasons, Sanchez has finished with batting averages of .186, .232, .147, .204, and .205. Analytics-driven people will tell you batting average isn't as important as it once was, but still, these numbers are alarming. Sanchez can still hit the ball out of the ballpark when he makes contact, but he strikes out a lot and defensively has had issues with passed balls. It's unclear if teams will look at him as a starter or a backup this winter, but either way, as a buy-low option, he could provide a huge return on investment if he could make even a minuscule improvement on his bat-to-ball skills. 

Second baseman Adam Frazier had been a useful role player in Pittsburgh before a breakout 2021 season made him a hot commodity at the trade deadline. He ended up in San Diego that summer and then was traded to the Mariners last November. His one season in the Pacific Northwest left a lot to be desired as the veteran slashed just .238/.301/.311 with only 29 extra-base hits. The down year came at an inopportune time for Frazier as he hits free agency this winter. The 30-year-old is a reliable defender at an important position and has a lot of experience hitting towards the top of a line-up, but the question he needs to answer in the coming weeks is whether he'll accept a long-term deal at diminished value, or sign for one year in hopes of reestablishing his market. 

While the aforementioned Adam Frazier struggled in his walk year, the same cannot be said for veteran right-handed hitter Brandon Drury. Splitting the season between the Reds and Padres, Drury was terrific, hitting .263 and setting new career highs with 28 homers and 87 RBI. Versatility is a big selling point for Drury as well, with his ability to play both corner infield spots, second base, and even some outfield. There are bigger names available this winter, but Drury's production a year ago was as good or better than almost all of them, and someone will gamble on his ability to deliver the same kind of offense moving forward. 

When he's healthy and right, Michael Brantley is as good a pure hitter as there is in the game today. A lingering shoulder injury in 2022 limited the sweet-swinging lefty to only 64 games, but every member of the Astros will tell you his value goes beyond just the diamond. At 35 years old Brantley has almost 1500 big league games on his resume and he's an astute student of the game. At his age and coming off an injury, teams may understandably be skeptical about giving him the kind of contract he may be looking for this winter, but this is a five-time all-star and a player I would not underestimate. 

Chris Bassitt had been one of the best pitchers in the American League for quite some time while in an Oakland Athletics uniform, and he didn't disappoint after heading to the Mets in a trade last winter. In 30 starts the veteran went 15-9 with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, while throwing a career-high 181.2 innings. His contract came with a $19 million player option for 2023 that he declined in search of a lucrative long-term deal, and his market will be robust. Other pitchers like Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodon will get more national attention, but Bassitt is an innings eater and a bulldog, and he would be a welcome addition to any pitching staff. 

Right-handed swingman Trevor Williams might be the most under-the-radar free agent on this list, and while wherever he signs won't be heralded as a sexy addition, he was quietly one of the most important players on a very good Mets team in 2022. The veteran pitched mostly out of the bullpen as New York's long reliever, going multiple innings countless times in an effort to save the bullpen. He would often go over a week between outings and never let any rust show. He also made nine starts for the Amazins' when injuries hit the rotation. When all was said and done Williams finished with a 3.21 ERA in 89.2 innings. It's unclear how other teams will look at him this winter and if someone steps up and offers him a legitimate rotation spot, they'll almost certainly secure his services. New York would undoubtedly love to retain him in the same role though. 

Tampa Bay held a $13 million option on longtime center fielder Kevin Kiermaier for the 2023 season but chose to decline it, making the veteran a first-time free agent. The 32-year-old has never been a standout offensive player, but he's unquestionably been one of the best defenders in the game for his entire career. He's a three-time gold glove winner and even earned a platinum glove back in 2015. Kiermaier won't be a headline-grabbing addition wherever he goes and won't be a difference maker in his new line-up, but he'll instantly become his pitching staff's best friend as center field will become a place extra-base hits go to die. 

Second baseman Cesar Hernandez has been a solid and perpetually underrated big leaguer for almost a decade, and he certainly has plenty to offer interested teams. The veteran switch-hitter is coming off his fourth straight season with 20 or more doubles, and he owns a career .267/.341/.375 slash line in just short of 1200 big league games. Hernandez could potentially return to the Nationals with the opportunity to start, but it's also conceivable to think of several contenders that would be interested in adding him to their bench as a valuable utilityman. 

At the trade deadline last July, virtually every team in need of a catcher was interested in Chicago's Willson Contreras and Boston's Christian Vazquez. In that order. The Cubs ultimately chose to hold onto Contreras while Vazquez went to the Astros and won his second World Series ring. Now that free agency is underway, those two catchers are once again on top of the heap of available backstops. Contreras is certainly the superior player, but Vazquez is a proven defender behind the plate and owns a lifetime slash line of .274/.315/.399 with some power. Whoever ends up with him will not be disappointed. 

In 2021 veteran outfielder Adam Duvall was a key piece in the Braves run to a World Series championship, but a wrist injury last summer caused him to be nothing more than an afterthought during Atlanta's late-season surge. The Braves don't appear to have a spot for the fan favorite in '23, and thus he'll likely be one of the underrated free agents who could make the biggest difference for a prospective new team. Just a year ago, Duvall crushed 38 homers and drove in 113 runs, and somebody will give him a chance to be a run producer in the middle of their line-up.

Lefty Tyler Anderson was, at best, a league-average starter in Colorado, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Seattle but something clicked for him in a major way when he landed in Los Angeles a year ago. In 30 outings (28 starts), the veteran delivered a 2.57 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP, while tossing a career-high 178.2 innings and limiting opposing hitters to a .221 batting average. He's not overpowering, as evidenced by his relatively low in today's game 6.95 K/9 ratio, and interested teams will have to determine if he can be the all-star caliber pitcher he was in 2022 moving forward or not. 

Longtime Yankee Chad Green has been one of the most consistent right-handed relievers in baseball for a half dozen years now, but an elbow injury that ended his 2022 season in May has him getting minimal attention at the moment. In his career, though the veteran has a lifetime 3.17 ERA in 383.2 big league innings, and has experience both as a long man and a high-leverage guy. This is not someone the Yankees want to lose, but they'll have a competition to retain his services. 

Veteran righty Adam Ottavino is about to turn 37 years old and has already pitched for five big league teams, making him one of the more experienced bullpen arms available on the open market. Ottavino has had some great years in his career and some not-so-good ones, but as a Met in '22 he was about as good as he's ever been. In 66 games, he worked to the tune of a 2.06 ERA, and a splendid 0.97 WHIP. He struck out 79 hitters in 65.2 innings and quickly emerged as New York's bridge to superstar closer Edwin Diaz. His most recent team is in need of multiple bullpen arms as so many of their guys are free agents, and while they're certain to be interested in bringing Ottavino back, he may be able to find a lucrative multi-year deal elsewhere. 

Aledmys Diaz began his career as the starting shortstop in both St. Louis and Toronto, but for the past four years, he's been an incredibly important utility player for the Astros. Last season Diaz played six different positions for Houston while hitting .243 with 12 homers and 13 doubles in 305 at-bats. His career slash line of .266/.320/.443 is proof that he's always hit more with more consistent at-bats, so his free agency will be a curious one. The Astros surely don't want to see him leave Space City, but another club may come calling to offer him a job as an everyday player. In either case, Diaz's most valuable attribute is his ability to play several different positions well, and he should find himself in high demand. 

Eleven-year Major League veteran Didi Gregorius has been available on the open market since the Phillies released him in August and handled their starting shortstop gig to young Bryson Stott. The move did not come as much of a surprise considering to that point, Gregorius had slashed just .210/.263/.304 with only one home run in 214 at-bats. This year's free-agent class is loaded with shortstops, with Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, and Carlos Correa all available, but look for some team to take a low-risk, low-cost flyer on Gregorius in hopes he has something left in the tank. 

Cuban sensation Yuli Gurriel has been a key piece of the Astros' offense since debuting in Major League Baseball in 2016. In 801 career games, the 38-year-old has an impressive .284/.328/.448 lifetime slash line, and he's been a doubles machine, racking up three seasons with 40 or more. Gurriel has helped Houston reach four World Series and owns two championship rings, and frankly, it would be surprising to see him leave Space City. But other teams will call, and after putting in the time to reach free agency he's earned the opportunity to listen. 

Agent Scott Boras painted his client Taijuan Walker as a bit of a unicorn in that he's under 30 years old, has thrown multiple 150+ inning seasons, and is available on the open market. And while Boras could understandably spin just about any argument to look favorable for his guys, the fact is Walker is in line for a substantial raise. Last season the big righty went 12-5 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP for the Mets, and while health had been a question mark for him, he made 58 starts for New York over the past two seasons. Just about every team could use a steady middle-of-the-rotation presence, and Boras's phone will be busy fielding calls about Walker. 

Left-handed relievers and backup catchers that play great defense can seemingly play forever, and while Curt Casali isn't going to be taking the mound anytime soon, he sure knows what he's doing behind the plate. Splitting last season between San Francisco and Seattle, the veteran hit just .203 with five home runs, but his best work is not done in the batter's box. The 34-year-old is a catcher pitchers love to throw to, and he's always had a strong arm behind the dish. This won't be a sexy addition or one that will put a team over the top, but quality catching depth is always important, and Casali could ultimately be a helpful under-the-radar pick-up. 

Right-hander Miguel Castro was traded to the Yankees from the crosstown Mets just before the start of the 2022 season, and unfortunately, his first year in the Bronx did not go as planned. A shoulder injury limited the veteran to just 34 mediocre appearances, and his numbers regressed across the board from where they were the season before. Despite that, Castro is 27 years old with an electric arm, and clubs will be interested in adding him to their relief corps as a potential low-cost option. 

The Mets are going to have their hands full rounding out their relief corps this winter, as several of their set-up men are free agents, including longtime New York righty Seth Lugo. The curveball specialist had a couple of dominant seasons for the Mets early in his career, but has been a bit more pedestrian lately, as evidenced by the 3.60 ERA he finished 2022 with. Lugo, though, has struck out over a batter/inning for five years running, and while it may ultimately come from somewhere outside of Queens, look for him to find a deserved multi-year free-agent pact. 

When Robbie Grossman went to the Braves just minutes before the trading deadline, last July, it flew completely under the radar amongst all the other higher-profile transactions happening all at once. And while the veteran switch-hitter was not having a good year in Detroit, he was able to provide Atlanta with a needed spark. When Grossman signs with a team later this winter, it will not be a headline-grabbing move, but this is a proven Major Leaguer who would be an asset on pretty much every club's bench. 

Similar to what we just said about Curt Casali a few slides back, Mike Zunino is going to generate a significant amount of interest as a low-risk, low-cost option to be someone's backup catcher. And while Zunino owns just a .200 lifetime batting average in 850 big league games, he does something not many catchers can do consistently. Hit the ball over the fence. The towering right-handed hitter has four seasons of 20 or more long balls on his resume and even blasted 33 in 2021. Injuries limited him to only 36 games a year ago, but catchers that can play good defense and hit home runs will always be in high demand, and he should have no issue landing a new job.