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More Free Agency Rankings and Salary Predictions

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If you’ve missed the previous free agent rankings and predictions, check out these articles:

**Keith Law Releases His Top 50 Free Agents

**MLBTR Projects Burnett and Byrd Will Return to the Pirates

Today there are three more lists that came out, with some predictions on where players will go, and some salary predictions. Below are the newest lists.

Jeff Passan, Yahoo Sports

Passan’s list is a basic ranking, but it includes 200 players, rather than stopping at 50 like most lists. Here is a rundown of where the Pirates free agents rank.

16. A.J. Burnett

19. Marlon Byrd

24. Justin Morneau

93. John Buck

118. Kyle Farnsworth

119. Clint Barmes

164. James McDonald (became a FA before the season ended)

165. Jeff Karstens

R.J. Anderson, Baseball Prospectus

The rankings from BP include predictions, although just like the MLBTR predictions, they’re more for fun and probably not accurate. The one that probably is accurate is the prediction that Burnett will stay in Pittsburgh. Here are the notable rankings, along with the prediction of where the player will go.

6. A.J. Burnett – Pittsburgh

10. Kendrys Morales – Seattle

12. Carlos Beltran – St. Louis

18. Curtis Granderson – Pittsburgh

19. Stephen Drew – Boston

25. Tim Hudson – Atlanta

26. Josh Johnson – Houston

28. Jhonny Peralta – Miami

31. Corey Hart – Milwaukee

33. James Loney – Pittsburgh

36. Marlon Byrd – San Francisco

Again, the predictions are just for fun, so don’t read too much into them. I really don’t see Granderson being signed by the Pirates, since he will cost a draft pick, is coming off a down year where he missed time due to injuries. So he’s either going to cost a lot for uncertain future production, or he’s going to sign a short deal to re-establish value.

A.J. Burnett Pirates
A.J. Burnett is projected to get $12-13 M on a one-year deal. (Photo Credit: David Hague)

Jon Heyman, CBS Sports

I like Heyman’s list because it includes predictions on what the players could earn. There are three predictions per player: Heyman, an unbiased GM, and an unbiased agent. Here are the notable players and their predictions.

12. Carlos Beltran – Agent: 2 years, $26M. GM: 2 years, $37.5M. Heyman: 2 years, $40M

14. Kendrys Morales – Agent: 3 years, $36M.GM: 1 year, $14.1M (takes qualifying offer). Heyman: 3 years, $39M

15. Stephen Drew – Agent: 3 years, $37M. GM: 2 years, $25M. Heyman: 3 years, $38M

24. James Loney – Agent: 2 years, $14M. GM: 2 years, $15M. Heyman: 2 years, $20M

27. Marlon Byrd – Agent: 2 years, $17M. GM: 2 years, $15M. Heyman: 2 years, $18M

29. Jhonny Peralta – Agent: 2 years, $21M. GM: 2 years, $16M. Heyman: 2 years, $18M

37. Corey Hart – Agent: 1 year, $6M. GM: 1 year, $8M. Heyman:2 years, $14M

38. A.J. Burnett – Agent: 1 year, $13M. GM: 1 year, $12M. Heyman: 1 year, $12M

40. Josh Johnson – Agent: 1 year, $11M. GM: 1 year, $10M Heyman: 1 year, $12M

48. Tim Hudson – Agent: 1 year, $10M. GM: 1 year, $7M. Heyman: 1 year, $9M

The Burnett predictions are interesting. Right now a lot of people are worrying that the Pirates will lose Burnett and get no compensation because they didn’t offer him $14.1 M through a qualifying offer. However, all three predictions have Burnett costing $12-13 M on a one year deal, which is lower than the qualifying offer. MLBTR also predicted a one year, $12 M deal. The only person who has predicted higher than the qualifying offer was Keith Law, although his was less of a prediction and more of an assessment of what Burnett is worth.

Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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