MLB Free-Agency Big Board: Top 25 Players Remaining After Winter Meetings Frenzy

It's been a wild week across Major League Baseball.

Prior to the annual MLB winter meetings, we put together our updated big board of the top 25 available free agents.

When the dust settled on the four-day event, 15 of those 25 players had signed a new contract, leaving the free-agent market unrecognizable.

With that in mind, now is the perfect time for an update to that big board with 15 new players in the rankings and some shuffling of the incumbents based on the remaining market depth at each position.

Players are ranked based on their expected earning power and projected production.

These players didn't crack the top 25, but they still have a chance to make an impact in 2023:

C: Austin Hedges, Omar Narváez, Gary Sánchez, Mike Zunino

1B: Jesús Aguilar, Brandon Belt, Yuli Gurriel, Luke Voit

2B: Adam Frazier, Josh Harrison, César Hernández

SS: Elvis Andrus, José Iglesias

3B: Brian Anderson, Evan Longoria

OF: Corey Dickerson, Adam Duvall, Joey Gallo, Robbie Grossman, Wil Myers, David Peralta, Tommy Pham, AJ Pollock

DH: Matt Carpenter, Nelson Cruz, Andrew McCutchen, Dominic Smith

SP: Dylan Bundy, Johnny Cueto, Zach Davies, Shintaro Fujinami (Japan), Rich Hill, Michael Lorenzen, Jordan Lyles, Wade Miley, Mike Minor, Drew Smyly, Ryan Yarbrough

RP: Brad Boxberger, Andrew Chafin, Michael Fulmer, Craig Kimbrel, Corey Knebel, Matt Moore, Taylor Rogers

25. OF Kevin Kiermaier (Age: 32)

A three-time Gold Glove winner and one of the best defensive center fielders of his era, Kiermaier is a free agent for the first time after 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has played more than 100 games just twice in the last six years, and he has a 98 OPS+ for his career, but capable defensive center fielders are always in short supply.

24. 1B/OF Trey Mancini (Age: 30)

Despite middling numbers with the Houston Astros after Baltimore traded him Aug. 1, Mancini finished with a 101 OPS+ in 2022, tallying 23 doubles, 18 home runs and 63 RBI in 143 games. He can play some corner outfield in a pinch but fits best as a first baseman and designated hitter.

23. RHP Drew Rucinski (Age: 33)

After a forgettable four seasons in the big leagues where he posted a 5.33 ERA in 41 appearances, Rucinski has spent the past four years pitching for the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization. The 6'2" right-hander has made at least 30 starts every season overseas, pitching to a 3.06 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 732.2 innings in the notoriously hitter-friendly league.

22. 2B Jean Segura (Age: 32)

A steady contributor throughout his 11-year career, Segura hit .277/.336/.387 for a 104 OPS+ with 10 home runs and 13 steals in 98 games in 2022. The two-time All-Star is one of the only capable everyday second basemen on the market, slotting in ahead of veterans like Adam Frazier and Josh Harrison.

21. RHP Michael Wacha (Age: 31)

Wacha enjoyed his best season in years pitching on a one-year, $7 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, going 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 127.1 innings. The former St. Louis Cardinals standout can't be counted on for 30-plus starts, but his 2022 renaissance makes him an appealing back-end depth option.

20. RHP Corey Kluber (Age: 36)

While no longer the ace-caliber starter he was in his prime, Kluber proved he can still be a valuable innings-eater when he went 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 139 strikeouts in 164 innings on a one-year, $8 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. The two-time Cy Young winner also has a wealth of postseason experience from his time in Cleveland.

19. DH J.D. Martinez (Age: 35)

No longer the elite power hitter he was in his prime, Martinez can still make an impact in the batter's box. An All-Star each of the past two seasons, he hit .274/.341/.448 for a 117 OPS+ with 43 doubles, 16 home runs and 62 RBI in 139 games in 2022. He is a risky target for anything beyond a one-year deal, but he can still help an offense in 2023.

18. 3B/DH Justin Turner (Age: 38)

After a slow start, Turner hit .319/.386/.503 with 20 extra-base hits and 30 RBI In 44 games following the All-Star break. The Los Angeles Dodgers declined his $16 million club option, and he'll likely have to take a good-sized pay cut, but he is a proven middle-of-the-order run producer with a ton of postseason experience.

17. RHP Seth Lugo (Age: 33)

Lugo is drawing significant interest as he looks to make the transition back to starting after several seasons in the New York Mets bullpen. He has 38 career starts among his 275 appearances, but he has pitched exclusively in relief the past two years, posting a 3.56 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings with 31 holds in 108 appearances.

16. OF/DH Michael Brantley (Age: 35)

Still one of the best pure hitters in baseball, Brantley batted .288/.370/.416 with 20 extra-base hits in 277 plate appearances during an injury-plagued 2022 season. A shoulder injury limited him to 64 games, and he watched from the sidelines during the Houston Astros' run to a World Series title, but he can provide a high-average, high-OBP bat and a veteran presence.

15. LHP Sean Manaea (Age: 30)

A solid middle-of-the-rotation starter throughout his career, Manaea struggled to a 4.96 ERA in 158 innings with the San Diego Padres in 2022. However, his 4.53 FIP paints a more promising picture of his work, and he ended the regular season on a high note with six innings of one-hit ball against the San Francisco Giants. One of the more intriguing buy-low arms on the market.

14. RHP Adam Ottavino (Age: 37)

Armed with one of the best sliders in baseball, Ottavino enjoyed a stellar 2022 season with the New York Mets, posting a 2.06 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 with 19 holds in 66 appearances serving as one of the team's primary setup relievers. He has been inconsistent in recent years, but the fast-moving reliever market has made him an in-demand option for teams looking to add to the bullpen.

13. C Christian Vázquez (Age: 32)

With Willson Contreras off the market, Vázquez is far and away the best available catcher in a class that includes Omar Narváez, Mike Zunino, Gary Sánchez and Austin Hedges. He hit .274/.315/.399 for a 99 OPS+ and threw out 27 percent of base-stealers in 2022, and he has a strong track record of being a solid two-way contributor.

12. OF Michael Conforto (Age: 29)

Conforto rejected a qualifying offer from the New York Mets last offseason, failed to find a long-term contract and then underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in April. He has a 124 OPS+ in seven MLB seasons, including a 33-homer, 92-RBI performance in 2019 and an All-Star selection in 2017. A one-year deal to rebuild his stock makes the most sense for all involved, and he could be one of the steals of the winter if he returns to form.

11. RHP Noah Syndergaard (Age: 30)

After missing all of 2020 and pitching just two innings in 2021 following Tommy John surgery, Syndergaard signed a one-year, $21 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He showed diminished stuff in his return to action, logging a 94.1 mph average fastball velocity compared to 97.8 mph pre-injury, but he finished with a solid 3.94 ERA in 134.2 innings. Will his stuff bounce back? If not, can he learn to make the most of his present stuff?

Ross Stripling sits ahead of bigger names on this list, but it's hard to argue with his results for the Toronto Blue Jays as he filled a vital role on an injury-plagued staff in 2022.

Originally slotted in a long-relief role out of the bullpen, he made a few spot starts in April before sliding into the starting rotation full-time in June after Hyun Jin Ryu was lost for the season.

All told, he finished 10-4 with a 3.01 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 111 strikeouts in 134.1 innings spanning 24 starts and eight relief appearances. The 33-year-old has shown he can move seamlessly between a multi-inning relief role and the starting rotation, and that flexibility is extremely valuable in today's game.

The No. 1 prospect in baseball in 2013, Jurickson Profar never lived up to expectations during his time with the Texas Rangers, but he has developed into a solid everyday corner outfielder.

Serving as the San Diego Padres' primary leadoff hitter in 2022, he hit .243/.331/.391 for a 111 OPS+ with 36 doubles, 15 home runs, 58 RBI and 82 runs scored in a 3.1-WAR season as the team's starting left fielder.

The 29-year-old has a pair of 20-homer seasons, but his on-base ability might be his most valuable offensive tool. His 73 walks tied for ninth in the National League, and his 11.1 percent walk rate marked the second straight year he was north of 11 percent.

The last time Nathan Eovaldi hit the free-agent market, he was coming off a stellar postseason run where he played a vital role as the Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series, and Boston rewarded him with a four-year, $68 million deal.

After a rocky first season of that contract, he posted a 3.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 350 strikeouts in 340 innings over the final three years, including finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2021.

He missed time with shoulder and lower back inflammation last year, which could give teams reason for pause, but he is still only 32 years old and a season removed from making 32 starts and tossing 182.1 innings.

The Cincinnati Reds cast a wide net with minor league contracts last offseason hoping to find a diamond in the rough, and they did just that with Brandon Drury, who made the MLB roster on a one-year, $900,000 contract.

The journeyman played his way into a starting role and posted a 128 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 20 home runs and 59 RBI in 92 games before the Reds traded him to the San Diego Padres at the Aug. 2 deadline. He finished the year with a 122 OPS+ and 61 extra-base hits in a career-high 568 plate appearances.

The 30-year-old saw regular time at first base (30 games), second base (27 games) and third base (67 games). That defensive versatility coupled with his offensive outburst makes him a fit on almost any roster.

Koudai Senga could easily make a bigger impact than any pitcher outside of Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom and Carlos Rodón from the 2022-23 free-agent class, but the unknown of a pitcher who's making the jump from Japan to the majors advises caution with his ranking.

The 29-year-old has a 2.42 ERA in 1,340.2 innings over 11 seasons with the SoftBank Hawks, and he enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2022, finishing 11-6 with a 1.89 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 159 strikeouts in 148 innings.

He pitched well in the 2017 World Baseball Classic (11.0 IP, 0.82 ERA, 16 K) and 2020 Olympics (3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 6 K), so MLB fans may have seen him play without realizing it. He has the pieces to be a solid No. 2/3 starter if he makes a smooth transition stateside.

Andrew Benintendi didn't live up to the expectations that came with being the No. 1 prospect in baseball in 2017 with the Boston Red Sox, and the team sold low when it traded him to the Kansas City Royals prior to the 2021 season for Franchy Cordero and prospects in a three-team deal.

The change of scenery proved fruitful as he posted a 106 OPS+ with 17 home runs and 73 RBI while winning Gold Glove honors in a 2.4-WAR season in 2021. He was even better in 2022 prior to being traded to the New York Yankees at the deadline.

Overall last season, he hit .304/.373/.399 for a 120 OPS+ with 31 extra-base hits and 3.2 WAR in 126 games. The 28-year-old's combination of contact skills, on-base ability, strong defense and age relative to the rest of the market makes him a prime candidate for a four-year deal or longer.

A late bloomer who didn't become a full-time member of an MLB rotation until his age-30 season in 2019, Chris Bassitt has fewer innings on his arm than most pitchers his age, which should help him secure the long-term deal he seeks.

The 33-year-old turned down a $19 million mutual option with the New York Mets in November. Even if he doesn't top that in AAV on his next contract, securing a long-term commitment and the most guaranteed money possible figures to be his top priority.

After finishing in the top 10 in AL Cy Young voting with the Oakland Athletics in 2020 and 2021, he went 15-9 with a 3.42 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 167 strikeouts in 181.2 innings with the Mets in 2022.

That level of production slots perfectly in the No. 3 starter role on a contending team. The four-year, $68 million deal that Jameson Taillon signed with the Chicago Cubs likely helped set his market.

Will teams be paying Dansby Swanson for a career year or getting in at the ground floor on a talented player who took a significant step forward with his all-around game in 2022?

The 28-year-old hit .277/.329/.447 for a 115 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 25 home runs, 96 RBI, 99 runs scored and 18 steals while playing in all 162 games. He earned his first All-Star selection and won Gold Glove honors en route to a 12th-place finish in NL MVP voting.

However, he had a middling 90 OPS+ in 2,691 plate appearances entering the 2022 season, and his 5.7 WAR this year was more than double his previous single-season high. If he regresses to his 2021 production, he would still be a solid everyday shortstop, but he stands to be paid well beyond being a 2-WAR player and average offensive player.

With Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom off the market, Carlos Rodón is the last ace-caliber pitcher for teams looking to upgrade the top of their rotation via free agency, and that helped him jump to No. 2 in these rankings.

A long injury track record forced him to settle for a two-year deal last offseason, but a second straight healthy season has helped erase some of those concerns. After declining his player option, he appears poised for a long-term deal and a nine-figure payday.

The 29-year-old went 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 237 strikeouts in 178 innings to finish sixth in NL Cy Young voting. His 2.25 FIP led qualified starters and is a great indication that his front-line production is sustainable.

His market could take time to unfold now that he's essentially in a tier by himself. For teams in need of one more impact starter, he could be viewed as the missing piece.

Carlos Correa will be just 28 years, six months and nine days old on Opening Day, making him a far better candidate for the lengthy 11-year deals signed by Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts this offseason.

However, with those two shortstops off the board, Correa finds himself in a situation similar to last winter when he was one of the last big-name free agents and went with a high AAV over a long-term deal.

He hit .291/.366/.467 to lead qualified shortstops with a 140 OPS+ while tallying 24 doubles, 22 home runs and 64 RBI in 136 games, doing nothing to hurt his stock relative to last year when he signed a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Minnesota Twins, only to opt out after the first year.

Whether he signs a similar short-term deal with opt-out flexibility or finally inks a long-term contract, he could significantly boost the World Series odds of the team he suits up for in 2023.

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.