MLB Free Agent Reminder
Jul 13 | Written By Justin Levine on The Bant House
With the long layoff in between the end of last season and the start of this season, it would not be uncommon to forget who is playing for what team. As the MLB season is right around the corner, it is time for a reminder. Here are some of the best old faces in new places for 2020.
Gerritt Cole, Yankees (9 yrs/$324 million)
The Cole train rolls right along into the Big Apple for 2020. The Yankees secured one of the best frontline starters in the majors with an absolute monster contract. The last time the Bombers sold out for a starter like this was in ‘09 when they signed CC, and we all know what else happened that season. Last season, Cole led the majors in strikeouts and proved to be a dominant force in the postseason as well. In his two seasons with Houston, Cole had a sparkling ERA under 3.00 and a combined record of 35-10. The guy wins ball games. It’s that simple.
Anthony Rendon, Angels (7 yrs/$245 million)
The Angels might finally be able to get Mike Trout his first playoff victory following the addition of Rendon. The champs from DC knew they had to pick either Strasburg or Rendon to resign and chose the former. The Angels are not complaining with that decision either, as it ultimately sent the NL’s leader in RBIs to Anaheim. Rendon is coming off of the best season of his career where he hit .319 with 34 home runs and 126 RBIs on his way to finishing 3rd in MVP voting. Him, Trout, and Ohtani provide a potent core in the heart of the Halos lineup.
Madison Bumgarner, Diamondbacks (5 yrs/$85 million)
One of the best October pitchers in history has decided to leave the Bay for the Desert. Mad Bum opted for a new path after 11 seasons in San Francisco. He is coming off of his worst season, although it really was not that bad. Not a lot of managers would have a strife if their starter threw over 200 innings and kept an ERA below 4.00. Yes, Mad Bum has had tremendous regular season success, but his postseason prowess is the separator. His numbers don’t even do it justice, 8-3 with a 2.11 ERA. I remember watching him shut out the Pirates in the ‘14 wild card game and then seemingly pitch every game in that seven game set against KC in the world series.
Josh Donaldson, Twins (4 yrs/$92 million)
After just one season with the Braves, the former MVP is on his way to Minnesota. Donaldson will fit right into the lineup that hit more home runs than any team in history last season. After a 2018 season decimated by injury, Donaldson found his groove again in 2019, hitting 37 home runs for Atlanta. He provided the only highlight of the worst game I have ever been to when he homered in the 4th to cut the deficit in NLDS Game 5 to 13-1. Nevertheless, Donaldson has hit over 30 home runs four times in his career and provides more offensive firepower to one of baseball’s best lineups.
Nicholas Castellanos and Mike Moustakas, Reds (4 yrs/$64 million)
I grouped Castellanos and Moustakas together because they signed for the same amount of money to the same team. Adding them here is really just an excuse to talk about one of my favorite dark horse candidates in the National League, the Cincinnati Reds. They add these two sluggers to a lineup that already features home run runner-up Eugenio Suarez, and 6-time all-star Joey Votto. Pair the offense with one of the best pitching staffs in the NL and +1500 to win the pennant looks too good to pass up. Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and Trevor Bauer form a trio that is hard to beat. The additions of Castellanos and Moustakas allow Cincinnati to grow from a sleeper team to a true contender in 2020.