This list shows that not only can you find contributors in the free agent pool, you can find a potential Batter or Pitcher of the Year out there. I don't think we'll ever see an undrafted player become the top overall player when the season ends but then again, I don't think we'll see a young Mike Trout emerge for a while, either. What a season 2012 was in terms of dudes coming out of the woodwork to become prime time players as the top three free agents of all time are from that season. Most of these guys seemed to have a one or two year peak but for at least one season they were players that their owners will remember fondly.
If you were wondering why Jerome was able to enjoy a historic season, you can give much of the credit to the three free agent finds he unearthed in 2013. Jose Fernandez was quite possibly the best pitcher in the second half of the season and was electric for the Marlins in his rookie season. Koji Uehara was probably the 4th closer option when the season began but when it ended, he was an unhittable closer for Arch n' Rick and also was a huge factor in the Red Sox World Series run. Fuck him, by the way. Matt Carpenter touched home plate more than anyone else did last year and Josh Donaldson was only drafted in the deepest of leagues but was 100% owned and loved at season's end. Every season there will be a collection of players that offer a huge return on their investment and this list helps prove that it's wise for a fantasy owner to have one ear on the MLB news and one eye on the free agent pool all season long.
Drafting is very important for a team's success but an owner also has to find some stars off the free agent wire in order to round out a complete roster. It may or may not be a coincidence that the top three teams in the final standings are also the top three owners on this list, but I wouldn't ignore that fact. Guys like Jose Fernandez, Koji Uehara, Matt Carpenter, and Josh Donaldson were huge factors in our league and they were all picked up for free from the free agent pool. We all know that fantasy baseball requires a fair amount of hustle from a GM's perspective and this table shows that if you can strike it rich with your free agents, that will go a long way in finding success when the playoffs arrive.
The table above shows how much average value we've received from the free agents we've picked up in our league's history based on the Player Rater points. I would think it would be a good thing to be atop of this list but at the same time, there's nothing wrong with drafting well and not having to hit the FA pool to find replacements. Arch and Rickey seem to have the best eye to get the most bang for their free agent buck followed by Maydew, Castillo, and Jerome. I do like the formula used on this because it doesn't favor guys like Kevin, J. Petty, Arch, and Jerome to the extreme just because they are the most active free agent owners in the league. Whether it be taking a flyer or having a keen eye for diamonds in the rough, this shows where we stand in relation to all the other owners when it comes to a general manager's in season ability to find key contributors.
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AuthorThe Commish Archives
July 2015
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