As teams trim their rosters for the off-season, 2023 Projected Keeper Rosters are becoming more clear as well as the needs of RDBL Franchises for next season. After releasing out 2023 Free Agent Power Rankings, 1.0, we are covering the best fits for the Top 10 Free Agents led by right-hander Jacob deGrom who is rolling off a $66 contract.
As currently projected, RDBL clubs will have $2,232 to spend on 152 open roster spots in the 2023 Auction at an average price per opening of $14.68.
1. RHP Jacob deGrom
Projected Top Bid/Team: $68, Honolulu Hammerheads
The Hammerheads reportedly "won't be outbid" on Jacob deGrom in the 2023 Auction, setting the right-hander up for one of the largest contracts in RDBL History. While we don't see deGrom beating Gerrit Cole's record deal of $73, he should approach it based on his strong return at the end of 2022.
2. RHP Corbin Burnes
Projected Top Bid/Team: $65, Lunatic Fringe
The Fringe struggled to pair Sandy Alcantara with formidable rotation mates but seem determined to solve that issue in 2023. With the activation of Triston McKenzie and potentially Reid Detmers as well as the deadline addition of Lance McCullers, GM Tony Guglielmi has taken significant steps towards fixing that issue. The addition of a top flight starter like Corbin Burnes would turn the Fringe from a solid group to a potentially spectacular one for 2023.
3. OF Mike Trout
Projected Top Bid/Team: $62, Idaho Taters
The Taters posted a .234 average and .307 on base percentage in 2022, the worst marks in RDBL History. GM Mike Friedrich is determined to change that and the addition of Mike Trout would go a long way in solidifying a young but potentially dangerous offense.
4. 1B Freddie Freeman
Projected Top Bid/Team: $60, Cloverdale Clovers
The Clovers are likely to spend a good chunk of their cap space to round out their starting staff with likely one spot available, but the remainder of their money will be poured into an offense that looks to rebound following a 2022 season that saw them post a .390 slugging percentage, the worst in RDBL History. Freddie Freeman likely should hold the mantle of the top available hitter following another dominant season for the 2020 National League MVP and would fill a glaring hole at first for GM Chris Shelley.
5. OF Mookie Betts
Projected Top Bid/Team: $59, Spokane Fightin' Fish
The Fish have fourteen projected Keepers, including the activations of Vinny Pasquantino and Julio Rodriguez, with only Shane Bieber owed more than $5 in 2023. That leaves GM Mike Tirabassi with significant cap flexibility and only three spots on offense making Mookie Betts a logical fit to return to the team he helped lead to two titles in three seasons from 2016-2018. His 2018 campaign of 478.0 RDBL Regular Season points still ranks as the best in Fish Franchise History.
6. OF Juan Soto
Projected Top Bid/Team: $58, Asti Grape Stompers
The emergence of Hunter Greene and Brady Singer have given GM Terry Shelley some unexpected depth in the rotation and while they are still likely to add a big name there, the majority of their cap space is likely to be poured in an offense that hit just .245 last season. The addition of Soto would stabilize an outfield that is currently projected to only carry over Oscar Gonzalez.
7. OF Ronald Acuña
Projected Top Bid/Team: $57, Lake Merced Goutfish
Due to a knee injury in 2021, the Lake Merced Goutfish traded away their homegrown star Ronald Acuña as they chased down and ultimately won the RDBL Title. A return to GM Ryan Atkinson looks like it could be in the cards, giving the Goutfish a ridiculous front-line on offense of Fernando Tatis, Jr., Yordan Alvarez, Tim Anderson and Acuña.
8. RHP Gerrit Cole
Projected Top Bid/Team: $56, St. Joseph Jokers
The Jokers have finished 14th or 15th in pitching in four of the last six seasons with GM Rick Steen's only cash finish coming in 2018 when they led the league in pitching points. That points to Steen investing heavily in their starting rotation making Gerrit Cole a logical starting point if he's cut loose from his $73 option currently held by the Spokane Fightin' Fish.
9. RHP Max Scherzer
Projected Top Bid/Team: $56, Mission Viejo Maulers
Injuries are starting to catch up with Scherzer who missed time on multiple occasions in 2022 but still posted a 2.62 ERA in 141 1/3 innings. Entering his age 38 season, he's likely to take a paycut from his $68 contract he just wrapped up and would make sense to pair with Justin Verlander to give the Mission Viejo Maulers a vaunted 1-2 punch to join Aaron Judge and Nolan Arenado on offense.
10. 3B Rafael Devers
Projected Top Bid/Team: $55, Lunatic Fringe
The Fringe hold a projected RDBL-high $197 in cap space with Corbin Burnes, the second best available Free Agent, already slotted as a fit for GM Tony Guglielmi. Expect a pair of big splashes from the Fringe with Rafael Devers potentially filling a big infield hold for Guglielmi.
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