Unlike some of the top-heavy groups we’ve seen in recent years, the free-agent class of 2021-22 is loaded. And with the GM Meetings having just wrapped up, this seemed like a good time to get a sense of how the industry views the top of the class.
Which player might be in the best position to land the biggest deal of the offseason?
We polled a dozen club executives to find out who decision-makers believe is the best available free agent, regardless of their own team’s specific needs:
Carlos Correa: 8 votes
Corey Seager: 3 votes
Max Scherzer: 1 vote
Correa was the runaway winner, receiving two-thirds of the votes. Part of the impressive group of free-agent shortstops, Correa’s age — he’ll play his age-27 season in 2022 — all-around game and postseason experience all helped him rise above the likes of Seager, Marcus Semien, Trevor Story and Javier Báez.