Top 20 MLB free-agent pitchers

With the offseason underway, theScore's MLB editors rank the top free-agent pitchers available, choosing 15 starters and five relievers (statistics from 2021).

Top 20 MLB free-agent position players

Starters

1. Max Scherzer, Mets*

* - Signed 3-year, $130M contract with Mets

Age: 37
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $34.5M
Qualifying offer: No

He's 37 years old and still the head of his class. Scherzer's showing no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by his brilliant summer in Los Angeles that put him in contention for what would be his fourth Cy Young Award. Any contender would instantly benefit from Scherzer's dominance on the mound and championship experience.

2. Robbie Ray, Mariners*

* - Signed 5-year, $115M contract with Mariners

Age: 30
Throws: Left
2021 salary: $8M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Ray bet on himself when he re-signed in Toronto on a one-year deal, and it's about to pay off hugely. The 29-year-old returns to free agency as both the best left-hander on the market and the 2021 AL Cy Young winner.

3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers*

* - Signed 1-year, $17M contract with Dodgers

Age: 34
Throws: Left
2021 salary: $31M
Qualifying offer: No

Health is the major question for Kershaw, who missed a large portion of the regular season and all of the playoffs due to a forearm issue. However, he was still effective and, at times, excellent when healthy. So long as the elbow holds up, he's still Clayton Kershaw, and you can't argue with that resume.

4. Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays*

* - Signed 5-year, $110M contract with Blue Jays

Age: 31
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $18.9M
Qualifying offer: No

Gausman was a first-time All-Star after accepting the Giants' qualifying offer last winter. Now, he hits free agency after a career-best season without a draft pick attached to him, meaning there should be no shortage of suitors.

5. Marcus Stroman, Cubs*

* - Signed 3-year, $71M contract with Cubs

Age: 31
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $18.9M
Qualifying offer: No

Stroman is a quiet workhorse. He led the Mets in both innings (179) and starts (33) this year and was far and away their best starter not named Jacob deGrom. His ability to eat innings and limit the long ball - Stroman allowed 0.9 homers per nine innings in 2021 - will make him a very attractive option this winter.

6. Carlos Rodon, Giants*

* - Signed 2-year, $44M contract with Giants

Age: 29
Throws: Left
2021 salary: $3M
Qualifying offer: No

Rodon turned in the finest season of his career in 2021 after being non-tendered by the White Sox last December. He threw a no-hitter and was arguably Chicago's best pitcher. The only problem is injuries limited him to 24 starts, and he wasn't consistently available at the end of the year or in the postseason.

7. Justin Verlander, Astros*

* - Signed 1-year, $25M contract with Astros

Age: 39
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $33M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Verlander is nearly 39 and has pitched just six innings since the end of 2019, thanks to his ongoing recovery from Tommy John surgery. However, prior to that, the veteran right-hander was enjoying a resurgence with the Astros as he posted a 2.45 ERA over 74 starts across parts of four seasons. He even won the AL Cy Young in his last full campaign.

8. Noah Syndergaard, Angels*

* - Signed 1-year, $21M contract with Angels

Age: 29
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $9.7M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Like Verlander, Syndergaard is coming off a lengthy absence due to Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old initially aimed for a midseason return before a setback limited him to just two innings in September, which could make him a prime candidate to accept a qualifying offer with the Mets. If he does leave Queens, his new team could be adding a frontline starter with incredible upside as he has a 3.32 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 777 strikeouts over 718 career innings.

9. Eduardo Rodriguez, Tigers*

* - Signed 5-year, $77M contract with Tigers

Age: 29
Throws: Left
2021 salary: $8.3M
Qualifying offer: Yes

The 28-year-old left-hander won at least 13 games in each of the past three seasons he pitched in - Rodriguez missed all of 2020 due to myocarditis - while averaging more than nine strikeouts per nine innings. His 4.74 ERA in 2021 was the highest of his career, but some of his underlying stats improved from prior campaigns, including FIP, walks per nine, and strikeout percentage.

10. Alex Wood, Giants*

* - Signed 2-year, $25M contract with Giants

Age: 31
Throws: Left
2021 salary: $3M
Qualifying offer: No

Wood was one of the better comeback stories of 2021 after struggling to stay on the mound in the two seasons prior. The lefty shined for the Giants, striking out nearly 10 hitters every nine innings, alongside a 3.83 ERA, 3.48 FIP, and 1.18 WHIP. The southpaw also recorded his highest groundball percentage since 2017, which ranked eighth among NL starters with at least 130 innings pitched.

11. Steven Matz, Cardinals*

* - Signed 4-year, $44M contract with Cardinals

Age: 31
Throws: Left
2021 salary: $5.2M
Qualifying offer: No

Matz had a resurgent campaign for the Blue Jays, making their front office look like geniuses for acquiring him from the Mets last winter. The 30-year-old posted his lowest ERA and FIP in five years while allowing two earned runs or less in 19 of his 29 starts.

12. Zack Greinke, Royals*

* - Signed 1-year, $13M contract with Royals

Age: 38
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $35M
Qualifying offer: No

The Greinke of old may be gone, but this version still has something left in his right arm. In his age-37 season, the six-time All-Star hurled 171 innings for the Astros while recording a 1.17 WHIP. He struggled to keep the ball in the park - career-high 30 homers allowed - and doesn't strike many people out anymore (6.3 K/9), but he knows how to pitch, takes the ball every fifth day, barely issues free passes (36 walks last season), and plays outstanding defense.

13. Anthony DeSclafani, Giants*

* - Signed 3-year, $36M contract with Giants

Age: 32
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $6M
Qualifying offer: No

DeSclafani put it all together in his age-31 campaign. The right-hander posted a 3.17 ERA with an MLB-best two shutouts over 167 2/3 innings (31 starts) for the Giants. He also registered a career-high 152 strikeouts. DeSclafani isn't a household name, but he could be a nice addition to round out a contender's rotation.

14. Jon Gray, Rangers*

* - Signed 4-year, $56M contract with Rangers

Age: 30
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $6M
Qualifying offer: No

Gray has shown flashes of dominance throughout his seven-year career after being taken as the No. 3 pick in the 2013 draft. However, inconsistency and injuries have prevented the big right-hander from reaching his potential. He owns a career 3.91 FIP with 9.2 K/9.

15. Yusei Kikuchi, Blue Jays*

* - Signed 3-year, $36M contract with Blue Jays

Age: 31
Throws: Left
2021 salary: $17M
Qualifying offer: No

Kikuchi declined a $13-million option to test free agency. Time will only tell if the move was a good idea for the 2021 All-Star after posting a 4.97 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 70 starts with the Mariners over a three-year stretch. He registered a career-high 9.3 K/9 last season.

Relievers

1. Raisel Iglesias, Angels*

* - Signed 4-year, $58M contract with Angels

Age: 32
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $5.7M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Iglesias received a qualifying offer following a 103-strikeout campaign anchoring the Angels' bullpen. The 32-year-old has been a quietly consistent closer for the past few seasons and is showing no signs of slowing down. He's the best reliever available this winter.

2. Kenley Jansen, Braves*

* - Signed 1-year, $16M contract with Braves

Age: 34
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $20M
Qualifying offer: No

Not seeing Jansen wear Dodger blue for the first time in his 12-year career would be strange. Los Angeles' all-time saves leader (350) and three-time All-Star is coming off his best campaign since 2017, owning a career 13 K/9 over 701 appearances during the regular season.

3. Kendall Graveman, White Sox*

* - Signed 3-year, $24M contract with White Sox

Age: 31
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $1.25M
Qualifying offer: No

Graveman broke out last season as a reliever after struggling as a starter since entering the league in 2014. The right-hander had a 0.82 ERA with the Mariners before being dealt to the Astros. He ended up registering the best ERA, FIP, WHIP, and K/9 of his career en route to a World Series appearance.

4. Collin McHugh, Braves*

* - Signed 2-year, $10M contract with Braves

Age: 35
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $600K
Qualifying offer: No

The one-time starter was a jack-of-all-trades for the Rays in 2021. McHugh started games as an opener, worked high-leverage situations, and finished multiple contests. His versatility will make him an attractive free agent.

5. Joe Kelly, White Sox*

* - Signed 2-year, $17M contract with White Sox

Age: 34
Throws: Right
2021 salary: $8.3M
Qualifying offer: No

Kelly, a fan favorite in L.A., hit free agency after the Dodgers declined his option for next season. The 33-year-old suffered a biceps strain in the NLCS against the Braves. However, he should be ready to go for spring training and has plenty of playoff experience on his resume.