For some upcoming free agents, the MLB postseason is a golden opportunity to boost their stock on a national stage.
Regular-season standouts like Aaron Judge, Justin Verlander, Trea Turner, Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Anderson are going to get paid regardless of how they perform this postseason, but the stock of role players is far more volatile.
Just ask Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler, who both parlayed a stellar 2021 postseason with the Atlanta Braves into lucrative multiyear deals despite lackluster numbers during the regular season.
Ahead we've highlighted nine players headed for the open market this offseason who have the most to gain or lose in free agency based on how they perform this October.
Let's start with a few honorable mentions to watch.
Pitchers
- LHP Matthew Boyd, SEA
- RHP Miguel Castro, NYY
- RHP Kyle Gibson, PHI
- LHP Brad Hand, PHI
- RHP Tommy Kahnle, LAD
- LHP Sean Manaea, SD
- RHP Chris Martin, LAD
- RHP Nick Martinez, SD ($6.5M player option)
Hitters
- IF Brandon Drury, SD
- OF Joey Gallo, LAD
- IF/OF Marwin Gonzalez, NYY
- OF Robbie Grossman, ATL
- C Austin Hedges, CLE
- 1B/OF Wil Myers, SD ($20M club option)
- LF Jurickson Profar, SD ($7.5M player option)
- 1B Carlos Santana, SEA
- 2B Jean Segura, PHI ($17M club option)
1B Josh Bell, San Diego Padres
First baseman Josh Bell enjoyed a great start to the season with the Washington Nationals, hitting .301/.384/.493 for a 153 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 14 home runs and 57 RBI in 103 games before he was traded to the San Diego Padres.
The 30-year-old went on to hit just .192/.316/.271 in 210 plate appearances following the trade, but he went 3-for-13 with a home run in the National League Wild Card Series against the New York Mets, taking Max Scherzer deep in the first inning of Game 1.
His downturn in production during his two months in San Diego could easily be forgotten with a strong postseason run, and the switch-hitter has a chance to rebuild his stock as one of the top power bats on the market this offseason.