Which free agent makes the most sense for each NL team?
This is second installment in a two-part series. Click here to see which free agent makes the most sense for each American League team.
Back for more, eh?
Just like we did with the 15 teams in the American League, with virtually every free agent still on the board as Thanksgiving looms, we're going to pick the one (1) player that makes the most sense for each National League team.
Arizona Diamondbacks
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 93-69 (2nd in NL West) | 99-66 | 11 |
Who should they sign? J.D. Martinez
If it ain't broke, right? Martinez was a monster down the stretch in Arizona, blasting 29 homers in 62 games to propel the Diamondbacks to a wild-card berth. They'll need his big bat in their lineup again next year to keep up with the Dodgers.
Atlanta Braves
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 72-90 (3rd in NL East) | 73-89 | 25 |
Who should they sign? Shohei Ohtani
No player fits the rebuilding Braves' timeline better than Ohtani, the two-way Japanese phenom who offers six years of team control at a below-market rate and should be entering his prime - be it as a pitcher, slugger, or both - as Atlanta's long-awaited competitive window is opening again.
Chicago Cubs
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 92-70 (1st in NL Central) | 93-69 | - |
Who should they sign? CC Sabathia
Theo Epstein could fill the Jake Arrieta-sized hole in his rotation with Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn, but he's too shrewd not to sign Sabathia, who will come cheaper - and isn't attached to draft-pick compensation - and was quietly one of the better starters in the American League over the last two seasons.
Cincinnati Reds
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 68-94 (5th in NL Central) | 70-92 | 24 |
Who should they sign? Anthony Swarzak
He's a potential trade chip. Nothing more. (The bidding war with the White Sox will be legendary, though.)
Colorado Rockies
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 87-75 (3rd in NL West) | 87-75 | 17 |
Who should they sign? Lance Lynn
The Rockies got burned by their lack of pitching depth last season, and though their rotation looks better now than it has in years, they could use an established workhorse like Lynn to take some pressure off Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, and Jeff Hoffman, none of whom were alive when Nirvana's "Nevermind" came out.
Los Angeles Dodgers
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 104-58 (1st in NL West) | 102-60 | - |
Who should they sign? Shohei Ohtani
I mean, why not?
Miami Marlins
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 77-85 (2nd in NL East) | 77-85 | 20 |
Who should they sign? Francisco Liriano
Derek Jeter seems resolved to slash payroll this winter, but you still gotta put a team on the field. That team requires starters. Francisco Liriano is a starter, kind of, who won't require a significant financial commitment.
Milwaukee Brewers
Who should they sign? Jake Arrieta
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 86-76 (2nd in NL Central) | 85-77 | 6 |
On the precipice of contention with very little money on the books, the Brewers should play against type this winter and sign a marquee free agent in Arrieta, the veteran right-hander who can immediately transform a good rotation into a great one.
New York Mets
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 70-92 (4th in NL East) | 69-93 | 27 |
Who should they sign? Todd Frazier
Notwithstanding the horror-show that was 2017, the Mets' roster heading into the offseason actually looks pretty decent - their rotation, when healthy, is outstanding, after all, and their lineup is rife with high-ceiling youngsters. With youth comes risk, though. Frazier, the veteran third baseman worth at least 2.5 WAR in each of the last six seasons, would help mitigate that risk, allowing the Mets to more strategically deploy Amed Rosario and Dom Smith.
Philadelphia Phillies
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 66-96 (5th in NL East) | 72-90 | 31 |
Who should they sign? Shohei Ohtani
Not unlike the Braves, the Phillies are approaching the end of a long rebuild, and Ohtani would be the cherry on top of the prospect sundae that Matt Klentak has been building the last several years.
Pittsburgh Pirates
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 75-87 (4th in NL Central) | 74-88 | 17 |
Who should they sign? Welington Castillo
If the Pirates are going to make some noise in Andrew McCutchen's presumed final season in Pittsburgh, they need to score more runs. As such, with all due respect to Ellis Diaz and Chris Stewart, they need to stop starting offensive sinkholes behind the plate. Instead, they should make Castillo, who managed 2.7 WAR with a career-best 113 wRC+ in 2017, their primary catcher, with Francisco Cervelli backing him up.
San Diego Padres
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 71-91 (4th in NL West) | 59-103 | 33 |
Who should they sign? Pat Neshek
Imagine how many Neshek jerseys they'll sell!
San Francisco Giants
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 64-98 (5th in NL West) | 67-95 | 40 |
Who should they sign? Yusmeiro Petit
Not only would the veteran swingman give San Francisco a potential trade piece, but Petit would also be able to regale his teammates with tales of the the Giants' glory days of 2014.
St. Louis Cardinals
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 83-79 (3rd in NL Central) | 87-75 | 9 |
Who should they sign? Jake Arrieta
As if John Mozeliak could pass up the opportunity to add another stud to his rotation while also spiting the Cubs.
Washington Nationals
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 97-65 (1st in NL East) | 96-66 | - |
Who should they sign? Pat Neshek
Mike Rizzo finally realized in 2017 that having a good bullpen is, like, kind of important, so he traded for Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson at the deadline. Both will be back in Washington next year, but Rizzo should nevertheless continue to fortify his relief corps this offseason with Neshek, who finished ninth in the majors in shutdowns last year.
This is the second installment in a two-part series. Click here to see which free agent makes the most sense for each American League team.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)