Arizona Diamondbacks — Corbin Carroll
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 2 Overall Prospect)
Most ranking services have Carroll currently slated as a top-five prospect in all of baseball. Some even have him pegged as arguably the best player toiling away in the Minor Leagues (though he’ll probably start the season with the big club in Arizona). Carroll initially signed with UCLA before turning pro after being drafted in the first round by the Diamondbacks.
He possesses elite speed — which should serve him quite well both stealing bases and patrolling an outfield spot. His hand-eye coordination is excellent, and Carroll’s swing projects to be quite capable as a doubles/gap hitter. He’s a bit on the smaller side (5-foot-10, 170 pounds). However, all of the tools are there for him to be an impact player right away. If you’re looking for a MLB comparison, look no further than former All-Star/fellow Pacific Northwest native Jacoby Ellsbury.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves — Owen Murphy
Projected ETA: 2025
Atlanta’s pipeline is running hot after producing two recent stars in Spencer Strider and Michael Harris. There is no shortage of talent remaining in the Braves organization, starting with RHP Owen Murphy. The 19-year-old was a first-round pick in 2022. He’s projects to one day be a starter in the Majors, but Murphy is a legitimate two-way prospect who has shown exceptional talent at the dish as well. That kind of versatility could be vital for the Braves moving forward.
Image Source: Atlanta Braves
Baltimore Orioles — Gunnar Henderson
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 1 Overall Prospect)
Henderson won’t be considered a prospect for very long. He had an impressive cup of coffee with the Orioles last year. As we head into 2023, many peg him as a favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award. If you’re looking for some sort of comparison, we liken Henderson to a mix of Scott Rolen and Nolan Arenado.
He can play both at shortstop and third base — namely because he’s got a huge arm and plus athleticism. Henderson’s soft hands plus lateral quickness cater to him having immense upside as a defender. As a hitter, the lefty has constantly made adjustments in seeking to lessen his strikeout totals, and ‘up’ his contact. The power is there for Henderson to mash, and he’s also fast enough to be a threat running the bases. As such, it’s not surprising to see such a well-rounded prospect check in at No 1. There’s really no weakness to his game at this given point.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Boston Red Sox — Marcelo Mayer
Projected ETA: 2024 (No. 9 Overall Prospect)
We talk about toolsy players all the time. Mayer epitomizes that considerably. Hailing from San Diego, he was the National High School Player of the Year as a senior. Boston took him No. 4 overall in the 2021 MLB Draft.
It’s been a bit of a mixed bag for him thus far. He’s been battling with some nagging injuries (though at only 20 years of age, he should be fine). As was his reputation in high school, Mayer’s transition to hitting the baseball on the Minor League level has been smooth. He has power to all fields, and his approach at the plate is truly special. We’ll see if he sticks long-term at shortstop (Mayer is 6-foot-3). At the very least, you’re looking at a professional hitter with some big-time upside. Think Corey Seager with a better glove/arm.
Image Source: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Chicago Cubs — Pete Crow-Armstrong
Projected ETA: 2024 (No. 28 Overall Prospect)
Formerly a top prospect for the New York Mets, Pete Crow-Armstrong was shipped to the Cubs in 2021 in exchange for Javier Baez. A left-handed hitter and thrower, Crow-Armstrong projects to be an everyday outfielder at the next level. Since joining Chicago, the youngster has increased his skill at the plate — and is showing signs of 20+ HR pop. However, Chicago’s top prospect truly shines in the field. Utilizing his elite speed, Crow-Armstrong is able to chase down balls gap-to-gap in centerfield. Additionally, his knack for running precise routes results in making more difficult plays than most. In 2022, Crow-Armstrong hit .312 and stole 32 bases.
Image Source: Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos/Getty Images
Chicago White Sox — Colson Montgomery
Projected ETA: 2024 (No. 38 Overall Prospect)
When Colson Montgomery eventually gets the call-up, he’ll be a rather unique player for his position. Montgomery is the rare left-handed hitting shortstop that we don’t see all too often. Much like Oneil Cruz and Corey Seager, Montgomery possesses a tall frame (6-foot-4) which allows him to generate power to all parts of the field. While some believe he could eventually be moved to another position, the White Sox are confident that Montgomery will be able to play an adequate shortstop despite his growth.
Image Source: Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos/Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds — Elly De La Cruz
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 10 Overall Prospect)
De La Cruz is the perfect example of a home run international signing. Back in 2018, De La Cruz signed for a measly $65,000. Easily the most exciting position player in Cincinnati’s organization — Hunter Greene is electric on the mound — the 21-year-old should make an impact with the Reds in 2023. Capable of playing shortstop, third base and second base, De La Cruz is a true five-tool player. Last season, the 6-foot-5 rising star slashed .304/.359/.586 with 28 HR and 47 SB. This is a name that all fans should remember.
Image Source: Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Cleveland Guardians — Daniel Espino
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 16 Overall Prospect)
Already the youngest team in baseball, you have to love how the Guardians have approached team-building. Cleveland won the AL Central last year despite having a roster littered with inexperience. And, even more reinforcements could be on the way. Cleveland’s top-6 prospects are between 22-and-23 years of age, meaning we could see at least a few of them as early as 2023. That list includes righty Daniel Espino, who boasts one of the most electric arms in the Minors. His fastball exceeds triple-digits as he compiled 152 K’s in 91.2 IP last season.
Image Source: Alex Trautwig/MLB/Getty Images
Colorado Rockies — Ezequiel Tovar
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 25 Overall Prospect)
The shortstop out of Venezuela signed with the Rockies when he was only 16 years old. He’s quickly moved through the farm system and appears primed to — at the very least — start the year in Colorado with the big league club. Tovar is known for two things: His ability to field the baseball, and his prowess in hitting it. Tovar accumulated a .319 batting average and a .927 OPS across both Double-A and Triple-A last year. At only 21 years of age, the top-30 prospect has a terrific ceiling. As everyone also knows, playing at Coors Field won’t do anything to hurt his prospects in potentially becoming an above-average hitter on the highest level.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers — Jackson Jobe
Projected ETA: 2025 (No. 63 Overall Prospect)
Jobe boasts high upside for a Tigers organization that desperately needs to hit on a few of these draft picks. Several draft pundits believe the Tigers reached a bit for Jobe, but the organization took a risk on the Oklahoma product and are hoping it pans out. Jobe’s fastball sits in the mid 90’s, but his best pitch by far is a wicked slider. Already having a strikeout pitch so refined means that Jobe should be able to find some early success when he does finally receive a Major League call-up.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros — Hunter Brown
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 43 Overall Prospect)
It is never easy to lose a pitcher of Justin Verlander’s caliber, but the Houston Astros might soon have another frontline ace atop their rotation. Hunter Brown debuted last season and was rather dominant in his short stint. In seven regular season appearances (two starts), Brown posted a 0.89 ERA and allowed two runs in 20.1 IP. In the playoffs, Brown pitched 3.2 innings and didn’t surrender a run. Brown’s four-seam fastball sits at 95-97 mph and peaks at 100. Coupled with a power curve and a cutter that evades bats, Brown has three pitches that will make him into a star in short order.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Royals — Gavin Cross
Projected ETA: 2025 (No. 62 Overall Prospect)
Gavin Cross parlayed an excellent collegiate career into being selected ninth overall by the Royals in 2022. Possessing a plus-bat and a solid arm, Cross projects as a corner outfielder in the bigs. The lefty was excellent in 2022 making appearances for two Royals affiliates. In 29 games, Cross mashed 17 XBH and has a OPS of 1.070. The Royals are not a team built to win right now. As such, the organization will need to develop players like Cross who could be available once the team is ready to compete again.
Image Source: MLB
Los Angeles Angels — Logan O’Hoppe
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 53 Overall Prospect)
Last August, the Angels traded Brandon Marsh to the Philadelphia Phillies for a prospect. That prospect turned out to be pretty damn good (so far). Upon joining the Angels’ Double-A team, Logan O’Hoppe smashed 11 HR and hit .306 in 29 games. As a result, the catcher was called up to the Angels for the final five games of the season. O’Hoppe has a reputation for working well with pitchers, has great blocking skills behind the dish, and has a quick release coupled with a strong arm. There is a chance O’Hoppe is starting at catcher for the Angels on Opening Day. If that is the case, he may be a strong bet to win the American League Rookie of the Year.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers — Diego Cartaya
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 14 Overall Prospect)
Cartaya is the most talented prospect within the deepest farm system in the Major Leagues. For years, other teams have tried prying him away from the Dodgers in trades for big league talent. Of course, the Dodgers relented — knowing that they’ve got a potential star on their hands. Cartaya is a big guy at 6-foot-3 and roughly 220 pounds. His bat-to-ball skills have been lauded dating back to when he signed as a free agent from Venezuela.
He does struggle a bit when it comes to defending behind the plate (despite possessing a high-level arm). Still, you’re looking at a guy who could perennially hit 30+ homers and hit close to .300. Most people compare him to Salvador Perez with a higher ceiling. Even with Will Smith behind the dish for the Dodgers right now, Cartaya is good enough to the point where Smith may be moved elsewhere just to get Cartaya’s bat into the lineup. He’s simply that promising as a prospect.
Image Source: Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos/Getty Images
Miami Marlins — Eury Perez
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 13 Overall Prospect)
The Marlins always seem to have a handful of gifted pitchers in their pipeline. We saw former No. 3 overall pick Max Meyer get the call-up last year. 2019 international signing Eury Perez could be the next Miami pitching prospect to make the jump. While Meyer is able to generate a ton of torque in a rather compact frame, Perez is a physical specimen who uses his size to his advantage. The 6-foot-8 righty throws a high 90’s fastball and can keep hitters off-balance with a plus changeup and curve. He struggled with control last season, but Perez has already notched 218 K’s across 155 IP.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers — Jackson Chourio
Projected ETA: 2024 (No. 8 Overall Prospect)
Jackson Chourio signed with Milwaukee in 2021. While Chourio was a shortstop at the time, he is now patrolling the outfield. Turning 19 in March, the Venezuela native was the youngest player in last year’s All-Star Futures Game. Chourio possesses 70-grade speed, has tremendous pop, and hits the ball hard to all parts of the field. Chourio hit 20 HR and stole 16 bases in the Minors last year (across three levels), and figures to spend all of 2023 in AA/AAA. As his plate discipline improves, Chourio will only become more lethal with the bat in his hands.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Minnesota Twins — Brooks Lee
Projected ETA: 2024 (No. 31 Overall Prospect)
Minnesota’s former first-round pick might have the best hit-tool of any prospect in baseball. Brooks Lee is a switch-hitting shortstop who already has elite bat-to-ball skills. This is a guy who slashed .357/.462/.664 in his final year of college ball — leading some to believe he could go first overall. Lee ended up sliding to eight overall where the Twins scooped him up. In his first taste of Minor League pitching last year, Lee hit .303 and walked nearly as often as he struck out. Lee will get the call-up very soon, and will instantly be a plus-bat for the Twins lineup.
Image Source: Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images
New York Mets — Francisco Alvarez
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 3 Overall Prospect)
Alvarez is a star-in-waiting. A gifted hitter who plays a premium defensive position, Alvarez is the type of prospect who only comes around every few years. Even if he didn’t play catcher, teams would remain enamored with his ability to handle the bat. Alvarez has registered a career .910 OPS in Minor League play, and has shown the ability to prolong at-bats and draw walks. In his most recent stay in AAA, Alvarez boasted a .382 OBP. We saw him for five games in the Majors last year — where he notched his first career HR — and he will be one of the early favorites to take home NL Rookie of the Year in 2023.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
New York Yankees — Anthony Volpe
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 5 Overall Prospect)
We’ve been hearing about this name for years. Those in the Bronx have been salivating over the prospect who many hope turns into the next Derek Jeter. While that’s some considerable (and potentially out-of-reach) hype, there’s a lot to like about Volpe’s game.
By game, we’re of course speaking about his bat. In 2021, he slugged 20+ homers and stole 50+ bases. He crushes fastballs to all parts of the park (though sometimes struggles against off-speed stuff). Manager Aaron Boone has been highly-complimentary of Volpe for his leadership qualities as well as his work ethic. While he might not be the starter at shortstop this year (Oswald Peraza is the favorite), Volpe still has a nice upside — if for nothing else his bat and his makeup as a human.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Athletics — Tyler Soderstrom
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 39 Overall Prospect)
If you are a fan of the Oakland Athletics, you don’t have too much to look forward to this season. The A’s have gone from a contender to one of the worst team’s in baseball in the blink of an eye. When looking at MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects, Oakland has just two players in the mix. A 1B/C drafted out of Turlock High School in California in 2020, Tyler Soderstrom is the club’s top prospect. The son of a former Major Leaguer, Soderstrom is an advanced hitter for his age. He makes hard contact, possesses good bat speed, and is smart in the box. Last season, Soderstrom slashed .267/.324/.501 with 29 HR and 105 RBI in the Minors. It remains to be seen where he will play in the field once he joins the A’s, but Soderstrom’s ability at the plate will likely put him in the middle of the lineup.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Philadelphia Phillies — Andrew Painter
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 6 Overall Prospect)
The 19-year-old Painter has already shown signs of being a strong draft pick for the Phillies. The defending NL champions selected Painter straight out of high school back in the 2021 draft. The powerful righty has three plus-pitchers — including a fastball which reaches 98 MPH, a deceptive slider, and a sharp curve. Last season, Painter boasted a sterling 1.56 ERA over three different leagues. If he keeps that up, the Phillies will have no choice but to call up the 6-foot-7 phenom sooner rather than later.
Image Source: NBC Sports
Pittsburgh Pirates — Termarr Johnson
Projected ETA: 2025 (No. 26 Overall Prospect)
While Pittsburgh’s Major League team isn’t brimming with talent — with the exception of Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz — it does have a potential gem developing in the Minors. Despite standing at a mere 5-foot-7, Termarr Johnson is viewed as a potential star at second base. Johnson has an elite bat. Blessed with tremendous hand-eye coordination, Johnson makes contact at a ridiculous rate. He hits for power and contact with ease, and does equally well against speed and break. It may take a few years for him to play for the Pirates, but Johnson will form one of the league’s best middle infields alongside Cruz.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
San Diego Padres — Jackson Merrill
Projected ETA: 2024 (No. 19 Overall Prospect)
Merrill is a unique prospect. Playing the shortstop position, he’s got a big frame at 6-foot-3. However, unlike others who’ve recently played the position at that height (Troy Tulowitzki, Corey Seager), he’s more prone to hitting doubles than slugging for homers. We’re curious as to whether he’ll stick there long-term. Looking at the Padres’ current roster, he’ll be blocked playing pretty much anywhere in the infield (unless Manny Machado leaves as a free agent). If you’re the Padres, Merrill can be used as a very attractive trade chip down the line. Or, you’ll be plenty pleased with a high average guy who tends to put the ball in play with some positional versatility.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco Giants — Kyle Harrison
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 18 Overall Prospect)
We like Harrison a whole lot. The left-handed hurler totally fits the mold of what has made San Francisco so successful over the last 20 years. He’s a low ERA pitcher with elite stuff — plain and simple. Even more exciting for those in the Bay, Harrison has untapped potential which could ultimately skyrocket him into being one of baseball’s most prized prospects. There’s no reason to think he won’t continue to refine his overall game. Should he continue improving his command, Harrison will take an even bigger jump up from the top-20 prospect standing he’s already enjoying as of Feb. 2023.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Seattle Mariners — Harry Ford
Projected ETA: 2025 (No. 49 Overall Prospect)
A lot of eyes will be on the Mariners in 2023, and prospects like Harry Ford give good reason to believe eyes will be on the M’s for years to come. The No. 12 pick in 2021, Ford does a great job recognizing pitches at the dish and sprays the ball all over the park. His athleticism would play at any position, but is particularly impressive for a catcher. Ford has plus speed, a strong arm, big raw power, and is agile behind the plate. Only 20 years old, Ford has time to develop his craft and likely won’t breakthrough to the Majors for another few years.
Image Source: The Seattle Times
St. Louis Cardinals — Jordan Walker
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 4 Overall Prospect)
Entering 2023, Jordan Walker is a frontrunner to win the National League Rookie of the Year award. Turning 21 in May, Walker made the switch from third base to right field last year due to Nolan Arenado occupying the hot corner for the Cardinals. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Walker possesses a ton of power. Walker still needs time to develop his skill in the outfield, but his huge arm should help make the transition a bit easier. Through his first two years in the Minors, Walker has hit .310 with 33 HR, 116 RBI and 36 SB. Walker has the look of a future superstar.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays — Taj Bradley
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 20 Overall Prospect)
Bradley is among the best pitching prospects in all of the Minor Leagues. We have to credit Tampa Bay for unearthing these gems — particularly as it pertains to pitchers. Bradley is only 21 years old, yet possesses three great pitches which include a fastball touching upwards of 97 MPH, a heavy cutter/slider hybrid, and a hard splitter. Even better for Bradley and the Rays, he rarely walks batters. Don’t be shocked to see Bradley debut for the Rays at some point this season. You’re looking at a future top of the rotation talent.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Texas Rangers — Josh Jung
Projected ETA: 2023 (No. 34 Overall Prospect)
The Rangers are a team on the rise. In addition to the front office spending big money on All-Star players and bringing in Bruce Bochy to manage the team, the franchise has six prospects included in MLB.com’s Top-100. Leading the charge is Josh Jung — a 25-year-old third baseman who made his debut last year. Jung is a good hitter — after hitting .348 in college, he hit .311 over three seasons in the Minors. His approach became more aggressive last season, and he struggled at times to adjust to Major League pitching. We expect Jung to look more comfortable this year. If he fulfills his potential, Jung can hit .300 and slug 20-30 homers.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Toronto Blue Jays — Ricky Tiedemann
Projected ETA: 2024 (No. 32 Overall Prospect)
The Blue Jays’ current pitching rotation is loaded with depth and veteran talent. Yet, there’s still the need to cultivate young up-and-coming arms in the event of an injury or poor play. One of those options is Tiedemann. The big lefty is an imposing figure on the mound. He won’t necessarily blow anyone away with plus-plus stuff. However, the natural movement Tiedemann gets on the ball is impressive. We’re talking about a darting changeup and a wicked slider.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Washington Nationals — James Wood
Projected ETA: 2025 (No. 17 Overall Prospect)
Washington boasts a trio of talented outfielders atop its prospect rankings, but the one with the most intriguing upside is 20-year-old James Wood. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Wood is a tremendous athlete who previously excelled as a high school basketball player. Teams are always in search of that next, great power-speed threat. Somebody like Wood fits the bill. His size alone allows him to generate plenty of pop, but he’s also exceptionally fast on the bases for a player his size. The Nats need Wood to breakout at some point — as he was the core piece in the deal Washington received in exchange for Juan Soto.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Arizona Diamondbacks — Madison Bumgarner
2023 Salary: $23,000,000
When Madison Bumgarner signed with the Diamondbacks ahead of the 2020 season, many experts pegged the deal as a disaster waiting to happen. The feisty lefty was sensational as a member of the San Francisco Giants — three World Series triumphs, three top-six Cy Young finishes — but he was showing some signs of regressing in his final year. In the first three years of his tenure with the D-Backs, MadBum is 15-29 with a 4.98 ERA. Bumgarner makes nearly twice as much as Arizona’s next-highest paid player (Ketel Marte), and is nowhere near as valuable. It can be argued that Bumgarner is Arizona’s fourth-best starting pitcher. $23 million is far too much for the 33-year-old.
Image Source: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
2023 MLB: The Most Overpaid Player For Each Team
Atlanta Braves — Eddie Rosario
2023 Salary: $9,000,000
Eddie Rosario is the classic example of a player getting hot in the postseason and riding that into a terribly overpaid contract. Rosario won NLCS MVP after destroying Los Angeles Dodger pitching for a week straight. After Atlanta capped off its World Series run, Rosario was rewarded by the team with a two-year/$18 million contract. Year 1 didn’t pan out how either party envisioned. The oft-injured Rosario was limited to just 80 games, and was one of the worst hitters in baseball (.587 OPS) in those at-bats.
Image Source: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Orioles — Kyle Gibson
2023 Salary: $10,000,000
35-year-old pitcher Kyle Gibson is currently making $10 million for this upcoming year. It’s the highest annual salary of any player on the Orioles’ roster. We aren’t exactly sure why Gibson was brought onto a team expected to fight for a playoff spot. Gibson is coming off a year in which he sported a 10-8 record with a 5.05 ERA. Nothing screams ‘ace’ on his resume particularly when he’s been plainly average throughout his career (89-91 career record, 4.52 career ERA).
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Boston Red Sox — Chris Sale
2023 Salary: $27,500,000
The sidewinding lefty is making a cool $27.5 million this year. Once one of the game’s best pitchers, Sale has struggled big time with injuries over the course of the last few years. His last All-Star appearance was in 2018. Since then, he’s gone a combined 5-13 over the last three years. We simply cannot take him serious as a top-shelf ace anymore considering his propensity for sitting over long stretches of the last few MLB seasons.
Image Source: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Cubs — Marcus Stroman
2023 Salary: $25,000,000
This isn’t an indictment on Marcus Stroman’s ability. The former All-Star remains a very solid starting pitcher as he approaches his 32nd birthday. With that being said, we don’t believe Stroman is quite worth the two-year/$50 million contract he signed with the Cubs ahead of last season. Across baseball, only seven starting pitchers are making more money than Stroman in 2023 — including stars such as Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole and Shohei Ohtani. Stroman is good, but not that good.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Chicago White Sox — Yasmani Grandal
2023 Salary: $18,250,000
The veteran catcher is slated to make $18.25 million this year for the White Sox. While much of Grandal’s reputation sits with pitch framing and slugging, we must question whether he’s really worth this amount of money at age 34. Grandal hit only five homers in 327 at-bats in 2022. He hit a meager .202 — and unbelievably had a WAR of -1.4. If it weren’t for his past pedigree as an All-Star, we’d question whether he’d still be employed as a Major League starter. It’s quite alarming to see Grandal’s average drop nearly 40 points from the prior year — not to mention his HR totals plummeting from 23 to five.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Reds — Joey Votto
2023 Salary: $25,000,000
Aside from Mike Moustakas — a free agent who the Reds are set to pay $22 million in 2023 — the Reds will only be paying one player north of $6 million this season. That man happens to be Joey Votto. Of course, Votto is a former MVP and true legend within the organization. However, Votto is also approaching his 40th birthday — and is coming off the worst season of his career. After a very strong ’21 season, Votto saw his numbers plummet in ’22 — hitting a career-low .205 with 11 HR in 91 games. The Reds have a team-option to bring the former superstar back in ’24.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Guardians — Mike Zunino
2023 Salary: $6,000,000
Yep…we’re a bit curious as to why Mike Zunino is still making $6 million a year, as well. Formerly a top-three overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, Zunino went from a potential power hitter as a rookie to a defensive-minded, light-hitting catcher for the vast majority of his professional career. This past year was certainly an indication of a guy who struggles at the plate. In 115 ABs, Zunino hit .148 with five HR. Zunino is known for being good behind the plate defensively. However, we’re not sure his prowess with the glove outweighs his ineptitude hitting the baseball.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Colorado Rockies — Charlie Blackmon
2023 Salary: $15,333,334
Colorado is in a tough spot. As things currently stand, the Rockies are, at best, the second-worst team in the National League West. The roster is rather weak, and doesn’t possess much star power. There are a few options for most-overpaid player on the team. Kris Bryant is due $28 million in 2023, and the former MVP appeared in just 42 games last season. Still, Bryant hit over .300 and it is too early to proclaim his contract a bust. Starters German Marquez ($15.3 million) and Kyle Freeland ($10.5) have struggled in recent years, but they are vital members of Colorado’s rotation.
Charlie Blackmon, our pick for this exercise, is the second-highest paid player on the team. A four-time All-Star and former Batting Title winner, Blackmon is clearly on the downside of his career. In ’22, Blackmon set career-lows (for a full season) in BA, OBP and OPS. While he remains a solid everyday player, Blackmon is the team’s most overpaid player.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers — Miguel Cabrera
2023 Salary: $32,000,000
This is essentially a career achievement award. Cabrera is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He signed a monstrous contract over a decade ago. At 40 years of age, Cabrera is slated to make $32 million in the 2023 season. This number seems bloated when considering that Cabrera hit .254 last year with five homers. While we get why Detroit paid Cabrera when it did, we should still consider Miggy to be vastly overpaid in correspondence to his output from last year.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros — Hector Neris
2023 Salary: $8,000,000
Eventually, teams will begin to realize that Hector Neris isn’t a terribly good reliever. While Neris throws hard, he lacks control and has seen his strikeout numbers dip in recent years. While he’s capable of providing some innings in a middle-relief role, Neris is currently being paid as a high-end set-up man or low-end closer. Neris making $8 million next year puts him in the top-20 among reliever salaries. He’s hardly even a top-5 reliever for his own team.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Royals — Jordan Lyles
2023 Salary: $8,500,000
The Royals have never been known as massive spenders. Still, you’d think they’d be a bit smarter with their acquisitions when looking at the contract Jordan Lyles received. Throughout his career, Lyles has a career record of 66-90 with a 5.10 ERA. So, naturally, the Royals decided to sign him to a contract which will pay him $8.5 million this year (making him the third-highest annual salary on the team). How and why, you ask? We aren’t sure ourselves.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Los Angeles Angels — Anthony Rendon
2023 Salary: $38,571,428
This one has to hurt Angels fans. After helping the Nationals win the World Series in 2019, Anthony Rendon signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Rendon was expected to form a new “Big 3” in Anaheim alongside Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. While Trout and Ohtani have held up their end of the bargain, Rendon simply hasn’t. That is in large part because the former National cannot stay on the field. He’s played just 157 games over three seasons for the Angels, and posted a mediocre .252 BA along the way. Rendon’s $38 million price tag in 2023 is the fourth-highest among all Major Leaguers — only Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Aaron Judge are set to make more.
Image Source: Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers — Chris Taylor
2023 Salary: $15,000,000
Compared to recent years, this past offseason was very underwhelming for fans of the Dodgers. Instead of shelling out a ton of money to keep Trea Turner in town, Los Angeles opted to make smaller commitments and saw a handful of productive players depart. However, the Dodgers still have the fifth-largest payroll entering 2023. Four of the club’s five most-paid players (Betts, Freeman, Kershaw, Urias) are bonafide stars. When determining who is the most overpaid player on this year’s team, we decided between two men: Chris Taylor ($15 mil) and Max Muncy ($13.5).
Muncy has been dreadful in both ’20 and ’22 — hitting .192 and .196, respectively. However, Muncy has mashed at least 35 HR in each of his three other seasons in Dodger blue (thus earning MVP votes). Another year removed from a torn UCL, we expect a bounce back season from Muncy. Following an All-Star season in ’21, Taylor signed a four-year/$60 million contract to remain a Dodger…and Year 1 of the deal was incredibly underwhelming. Taylor, a member of the team since ’16, had by far his worst season with the club — slashing .221/.304/.373 with 10 HR and 160 SO in 118 games. Taylor is an important member of the team, but he cannot afford to have another season like that if he wants to keep his spot.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Miami Marlins — Avisail Garcia
2023 Salary: $12,000,000
One-time All-Star Avisail Garcia is your average outfielder. He’s perfectly capable of producing decent numbers at the dish while providing adequate defense. However, he’s not great at any particular facet of the game. His .739 career OPS is middling and his defense dipped last season. While he still has a great arm, Garcia looked a step slower in 2022. That could be due to a laundry list of injuries that he’s now accumulated. In 11 years, Garcia has played over 135 games just once. He’s missed significant time in three of the last five seasons.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers — Christian Yelich
2023 Salary: $22,000,000
This is a tough one for both player and franchise. In all reality, paying Christian Yelich $22 million in 2023 isn’t backbreaking for the Brewers. However, Yelich’s current form makes that number feel worse than it is. When Yelich inked a seven-year/$188,500,000 million extension following the ’19 season, it appeared as if the Brewers saved a ton of cash relative to Yelich’s worth. Yelich was unstoppable for two seasons — winning the MVP in ’18 and finishing runner-up in ’19. Over that two-year stretch, Yelich slashed .327/.415/.631 with 80 HR, 207 RBI and 52 SB. Yelich likely lost the ’19 MVP due to breaking his kneecap late in the year — and it has all been downhill since then. Since the start of the ’20 season, Yelich has slashed .243/.358/.388 with 35 HR and 130 RBI. If he can’t turn things around this year, Yelich’s contract will begin to weigh on the franchise.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Minnesota Twins — Joey Gallo
2023 Salary: $11,000,000
Gallo does this every single year. He gives you just enough for a team to fall in love with him. You see a plus-athlete with an excellent arm, strong baserunning capabilities, and the frame to hit the ball a country mile. Then, you realize Gallo strikes out a crazy amount of the time — often struggling to even make contact with the ball. The Twins are paying him $11 million to essentially hit the occasional homer (he hit .160 last year with 19 HR). Anything else at this point is essentially gravy.
Image Source: Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images
New York Mets — Carlos Carrasco
2023 Salary: $14,000,000
Unfortunately for “Cookie” Carrasco, he’s likely considering the most “overpaid” Met currently. And, that should say a lot more about the Mets being mostly stacked than Carrasco being a bad pitcher. New York’s seven highest-paid players — Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz — are all stars at their positions. The one exception would potentially be Kodai Senga (set to make $15 million this year), though all reports indicate the Japanese-import should have no trouble adjusting to MLB. Carrasco is a solid arm, but not quite as good as New York’s other highly-paid stars.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
New York Yankees — Josh Donaldson
2023 Salary: $21,000,000
The former All-Star third baseman has certainly seen better days. We could clearly make the distinction that he’s on the back-half of what’s been a very productive career. Nevertheless, the Yankees are currently stuck paying the 37-year-old $21 million this upcoming year for some rather mediocre play (if last season was any indication). Both Donaldson’s batting average and home run totals have sharply declined from 2021 to 2022. Hitting 15 HR and batting only .222 (with an OBP of .308) doesn’t seem like a wise investment when paying said player north of $20 million a year.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Athletics — Trevor May
2023 Salary: $7,000,000
Prior to last season. Trevor May was considered a rather good bullpen arm. Up until that point, May had shown the ability to limit hits while producing strong strikeout numbers. That changed last season with May turning in his worst season to date. Injuries played a major part in his decline, as the 33-year-old landed on the 60-day IL with a stress fracture. It’s possible those injuries hampered May all season, as he posted a 5.04 ERA in 26 appearances. However, there’s no reason to believe he’ll bounce back in a year’s time. It’s a bit surprising that the notoriously frugal A’s would shell out $7 million to a reliever who simply didn’t perform well last season.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Philadelphia Phillies — Nick Castellanos
2023 Salary: $20,000,000
The Phillies made the World Series in Nick Castellanos’ first season — but it was in large part in spite of the slugger’s play. Castellanos was brought to Philadelphia to provide his strong bat in the middle of the lineup. It was a disastrous regular season and playoff run for the former Red. While he managed to log a .263 BA, Castellanos’ pop had evaporated. He had just 40 XBH all season after nearly doubling that number (72) a season ago. Excluding his 11-game debut season, Castellanos’ slugging percentage last year (.389) was the worst mark of his 10-year career. With Trea Turner now added to the lineup, we’ll see if that takes some pressure off Castellanos.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Pirates — Carlos Santana
2023 Salary: $6,725,000
Pittsburgh’s best players — Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Ke’Bryan Hayes — are all on team-friendly deals. So, it was relatively simple to pick out the club’s most overpaid player on the 2023 roster. Turning 37 in April, Carlos Santana joined the Pirates on a one-year/$6,725,000 million contract this offseason. The veteran split his time in ’22 between the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners. With the Mariners, Santa slugged 15 HR in 79 games. However, he also hit .192 with the M’s. Does that sound like a player who should be the fourth-highest paid player on an MLB roster? No.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
San Diego Padres — Drew Pomeranz
2023 Salary: $10,000,000
The Padres are spending money as if they have unlimited funds. Five players are set to make over $20 million in 2023 — Machado ($32), Bogaerts ($25.4), Darvish ($25), Soto ($23), Musgrove ($20) — and six more players are due over $10 million…including former Padre Eric Hosmer. Drew Pomeranz is set to make a cool $10 mil, and he hasn’t taken the mound since August 10, 2021. An All-Star in ’16, Pomeranz has been very good for the Padres when he’s played. Between ’20-21, the lefty reliever posted a 1.62 ERA and 1.083 WHIP in 47 games. Sparkling numbers, but the problem lies within the fact that Pomeranz has appeared in 47 games in three years. $10 million is a lot to pay for an injury-prone player.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco Giants — Anthony DeSclafani
2023 Salary: $12,000,000
In 2022, the Giants won 26 fewer games than they did in ’21 — and still finished with a .500 record. The season was a massive disappointment for the franchise, and many players underachieved in the process. One player who fell short was Anthony DeSclafani. After going 13-7 with a 3.21 ERA in ’21, DeSclafani made just five starts in ’22 before his season came to a halt. 33 in April, DeSclafani injured his ankle early on — after posting a 6.63 ERA in five starts — and eventually underwent season-ending surgery on his right ankle. If the veteran doesn’t return to form in ’23, the Giants will regret giving him a three-year deal following his strong ’21 campaign.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Seattle Mariners — Robbie Ray
2023 Salary: $21,000,000
2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray has done a fantastic job of reinventing himself over the years. Ray looked like he was on his way to a Minor League contract at one point, but bounced back in a big way with the Toronto Blue Jays. A career year led to a massive free agent deal with the Seattle Mariners — a team desperately in need of sturdy pitching in order to make a playoff run. Ray enjoyed a solid 2022, but we can’t honestly say it was worth $21 million per year. Seattle starters Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby all had better seasons — their three combined contracts adds up to just over $6 million next season.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis Cardinals — Paul DeJong
2023 Salary: $9,166,668
What has happened to Paul DeJong at the plate? In 2017, DeJong slugged 25 homers and hit .285 en route to finishing runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year. Two years later, St. Louis’ shortstop hit 30 HR and was named an All-Star. In the three years since, DeJong has hit a total of 28 HR and has hit under .200 the past two seasons — including a putrid .157 last year. DeJong has changed his approach in the box ahead of the ’23 campaign, but it remains to be seen if it will payoff. $10 million for one of the worst hitters in baseball since ’21 is not ideal.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays — Manuel Margot
2023 Salary: $7,000,000
Tampa is not known for its spending. As such, we’re splitting hairs a bit here with this one. The salary is relative* to the team and its roster. On the surface, a $7 million annual salary for Manuel Margot isn’t bad. He hit .274 last year, and has the ability to play all over the outfield. This sort of versatility is quite valuable (especially for the Rays). Where we see a bit of an issue is Margot’s salary relative to other teammates. In context, Margot is making more annually than everyone on the roster sans Zach Eflin. This means Margot’s annual haul is more than that of Randy Arozarena, Tyler Glasnow, Wander Franco, Yandy Diaz, and Brandon Lowe.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Texas Rangers — Jon Gray
2023 Salary: $15,000,000
While Texas has revamped its pitching rotation in a big way, one has to wonder if the team regrets shelling out a massive free agent contract to Jon Gray during its massive 2021 offseason. Gray has flashed talent since his time with Colorado, leading some pundits to project a big leap if he were to move to a more pitcher-friendly situation. In his first year with the Rangers, Gray surrendered a modest 3.96 ERA. While it was a slight improvement from the previous two seasons, Gray isn’t much more than a No. 4 or 5 option in a solid rotation. $15 million for a back-end starter looks like an overpay.
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
Toronto Blue Jays — Hyun-Jin Ryu
2023 Salary: $20,000,000
As currently constituted, Ryu — a highly-priced free agent acquisition a few years ago — is slated to earn $20 million this upcoming year (only second to Kevin Gausman in terms of annual salary for a Toronto pitcher). When looking at the bigger picture, the oft-injured Ryu isn’t even a lock to be in the starting rotation for the Jays this year. Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Barrios, Yusei Kikuchi, and Alek Manoah appear to be slated as the five-man group. Ryu is a pitcher with talent, though arm issues have stunted his upside with the Blue Jays.
Image Source: USA Today Sports
Washington Nationals — Patrick Corbin & Stephen Strasburg
2023 Salaries: $24,416,666 (Corbin), $23,571,429 (Strasburg)
The 2019 World Series champions have felt the effects of a World Series hangover. Unfortunately, it’s been a three-year run of mediocrity for a franchise who had just 55 wins last year and have finished last in the NL East each of the past three seasons. It doesn’t help when their two highest-paid players have been either unavailable (Strasburg) or down-right awful (Corbin). Stephen Strasburg made just one appearance last year before being shut down, and has pitched just 30.2 innings total since 2019. Corbin has essentially been the worst high-usage starter in baseball during that same time. The two-time All-Star has led the league in losses and earned runs each of the last two years. Corbin surrendered a 6.31 ERA this past season.
Image Source: USA Today Sports