We are squeezing in the final positional overview, wrapping 2023 pre-Draft coverage with Starting Pitchers. Three of the top four projected arms for this season are Free Agents, led by Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole and Corbin Burnes which should lead to a flurry of high priced bids at this time next week.
While the countdown is on for Monday's 9pm PST deadline for Keepers, Lunatic Fringe GM Tony Guglielmi remains the main storyline with a deep crop of rotation options that could lead to some last minute deals.
Top RDBL Free Agents | Top Trade Candidates |
1. *Gerrit Cole, Yankees 2. Corbin Burnes, Brewers 3. Jacob deGrom, Rangers 4. Max Scherzer, Mets 5. Yu Darvish, Padres | 1. Lucas Giolito (3R/$5), Fringe 2. Lance McCullers (2/$1), Fringe 3. Chris Bassitt (2/$27), Goutfish 4. Taijuan Walker (2D/$5), Fringe 5. Michael Wacha (2FA/$5), Fringe |
Top Available Prospects | Top RDBL Prospects |
1. Roki Sasaki, Japan 2. Tanner Bibee, Guardians 3. Owen White, Rangers 4. Chase Dollander, U. Tennessee 5. Cade Horton, Cubs | 1. Triston McKenzie, Fringe 2. Nick Lodolo, Devils 3. Kyle Wright, Jokers 4. Grayson Rodriguez, Fringe 5. Reid Detmers, Fringe |
2022 Rankings | 2023 Projections |
1. Sandy Alcantara (Fringe), 733.0 2. Justin Verlander (Fish), 647.0 3. Alek Manoah (Ducks), 630.0 4. Corbin Burnes (FA), 596.0 5. Zac Gallen (Hops), 595.0 | 1. Sandy Alcantara (Fringe), 630.0 2. Jacob deGrom (FA), 530.0 3. Max Scherzer (FA), 529.0 4. *Gerrit Cole (Fish), 522.0 5. Shohei Ohtani (Hops), 517.0 |
Team Needs:
The Spokane Fightin' Fish, Mission Viejo Maulers and Honolulu Hammerheads project to have four openings each in the rotation, making them Front Offices to watch at the top of the market.
Top Free Agent
Take your pick between Gerrit Cole, Jacob deGrom and Corbin Burnes, but for this exercise we will give the nod to Cole who is expected to be released from him 3/$73 contract with the Spokane Fightin' Fish today, the highest pitching contract in RDBL History (excluding Shohei Ohtani). Since escaping Pittsburgh, Cole has posted five straight seasons of ace-caliber production. The most impressive part of this run is that he has spent exactly zero days on the IL during all of it. He has been an iron man. In 2022, he posted his worst ERA outside of a Pirate uniform, a pretty pedestrian number of 3.50. The good news is that it came with another sparkling WHIP (1.02) and K%-BB% (27.9%). All of the underlying numbers point to Cole having been his normal dominant self, and there is no reason to think he will slow up in 2023. While he might not reach $73 in Auction, don't expect the number to be far below.
Under the Radar Free Agent
Zach Eflin signed a three-year deal worth $40 million with the Tampa Bay Rays in December, the largest free-agent contract given out by Tampa in franchise history which surprised many but came with optimism given the Rays track record. Eflin missed most of the 2022 season with a knee injury, but he was able to return in time for Philadelphia's postseason run out of the bullpen. With the Rays, though, Eflin will slot back into the rotation and join a robust set of arms in Shane McClanahan and Tyler Glasnow. Now entering his age-29 season, the right-hander hopes to build off of a year where he tossed just 75 2/3 innings in the regular season, pitching to a 4.04 ERA and 3.56 FIP. CBS Sports is a big fan with a 429.0 point projection, slotting between Joe Musgrove and Carlos Rodon.
Top Trade Candidate
It's been radio silence from the Lunatic Fringe Front Office who continues to shuffle through their options in a crowded starting rotation. Lucas Giolito (3R/$5) remains a name to watch with at least three clubs reportedly reaching out over the weekend. The right-hander fall flat on his face in 2022, posting a 4.90 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 177/61 K/BB ratio across 161 2/3 frames. His strikeout rate was still solid at 25.4%, but down from the 30.7% rate he had over the previous three years. Giolito’s velocity was also down a tick across the board and so were his spin rates, particularly on his fastball. He showed up to White Sox camp 25 pounds lighter and with a revamped delivery, seemingly intent on bouncing back in 2023 in what will be a walk year and has looked the part thus far in Spring Training.
Top Prospect Available
RDBL Front Offices will have an up close and personal look at Roki Sasaki on Monday as he takes the ball for Japan in the WBC Semifinals against Mexico. Sasaki, 21, has posted a 1.95 ERA in 212⅔ career innings for Nippon Professional Baseball, striking out 260 batters and walking 42 while overwhelming hitters with a 100-plus-mph fastball and a devastating splitter. While he's clearly the best talent, his future in the MLB is hardly easy to predict with the potential of him not reaching the States until 2027.
Top RDBL Prospect
The RDBL is set to see a wave of activations at the plate and on the mound, but few can claim the track record of Fringe right-hander Triston McKenzie who already has a 571.0 point season under his belt and the 2022 RDBL Pitching Prospect of the Year Award. He'll enter 2023 with lofty expectations as he looks to build on his breakout season.
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