Top 20 MLB free-agent position players

With the offseason now underway, theScore's MLB editors rank the top 20 free-agent position players. (Statistics from 2021, age at start of 2022 season).

Top 20 MLB free-agent pitchers

1. Carlos Correa, Twins*

* - Signed 3-year, $105.3M contract with Twins

Age: 27
Bats: Right
Position: SS
2021 salary: $11.7M
Qualifying offer: Yes

The only real knock against Correa has been his inability to stay healthy. He remained on the field for the bulk of 2021, appearing in his most games since 2016. He's also been a clutch postseason performer even beyond the 2017 playoffs that were tainted by the Astros' sign-stealing saga. At 27, he has the highest ceiling of the players available on the open market.

2. Corey Seager, Rangers*

* - Signed 10-year, $325M contract with Rangers

Age: 28
Bats: Left
Position: SS
2021 salary: $13.75M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Speaking of shortstops with lengthy injury histories who come up big in the postseason, Seager is one of the best pure hitters in the game and will be highly sought-after, especially by teams looking for more left-handed impact. He was a driving force behind the Dodgers' championship victory in 2020, hitting .328/.425/.746 with eight home runs over 18 games that postseason.

3. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers*

* - Signed 6-year, $162M contract with Dodgers

Age: 32
Bats: Left
Position: 1B
2021 salary: $22M
Qualifying offer: Yes

The lifelong Brave could be on his way out of town, although both sides have shown an interest in reuniting. If he doesn't stay in Atlanta, the former NL MVP will garner a ton of attention as he's only gotten better with age and doesn't look to be slowing down.

4. Marcus Semien, Rangers*

* - Signed 7-year, $175M contract with Rangers

Age: 31
Bats: Right
Position: SS/2B
2021 salary: $18M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Is Semien ranked too low? No free-agent position player was worth more WAR in 2021 as the middle infielder routinely hit the cover off the ball while playing in all 162 games in what could be his lone season with the Blue Jays. He primarily played second base in Toronto, but he's also an experienced shortstop who progressively improved on defense over the years.

5. Nick Castellanos, Phillies*

* - Signed 5-year, $100M contract with Phillies

Age: 30
Bats: Right
Position: LF/RF
2021 salary: $14M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Castellanos might be the best outfielder available after an outstanding 2021 campaign, and he saw an opportunity to cash in by opting out of the last two years of his contract with the Reds. The All-Star hit over .300 while breaking the 30-homer plateau for the first time in his nine-year career. He's also just two seasons removed from recording 58 doubles in 2019.

6. Kris Bryant, Rockies*

* - Signed 7-year, $182M contract with Rockies

Age: 30
Bats: Right
Position: 3B/LF/RF
2021 salary: $19.5M
Qualifying offer: No

Bryant hasn't quite delivered on the promise of his first few seasons, but he's proven to be a versatile asset with considerable offensive upside. The former MVP stayed healthy this summer after a disastrous 2020 season. Even if he never fully regains his early-career form, Bryant can be a cornerstone piece on a contending team.

7. Trevor Story, Red Sox*

* - Signed 6-year, $140M contract with Red Sox

Age: 29
Bats: Right
Position: SS
2021 salary: $18.5M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Story is coming off a bit of a down year, at least by his standards. However, he still produced another 20-20 campaign - as he did in each of the last two 162-game seasons - and was stellar with the glove, tallying nine defensive runs saved and a 3.6 ultimate zone rating. In a very deep class of shortstops, Story could be the most talented of them all.

8. Javier Baez, Tigers*

* - Signed 6-year, $140M contract with Tigers

Age: 29
Bats: Right
Position: SS/2B
2021 salary: $11.6M
Qualifying offer: No

For all of the criticism Baez receives for high strikeout numbers and lack of on-base skills, the 28-year-old is still one of the top middle infielders in the game. His abilities were on full display in New York after the Mets acquired him at the trade deadline. In 47 games, Baez slashed .299/.371/.515 with nine homers, 22 RBIs, 32 runs scored, and five steals. He also dazzles with the glove, and he's stolen 10 or more bags in a single season five times.

9. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies*

* - Signed 4-year, $79M contract with Phillies

Age: 29
Bats: Left
Position: 1B/LF/DH
2021 salary: $7M
Qualifying offer: No

Schwarber hits free agency as one of the best bats available almost a year after the Cubs non-tendered him. The All-Star slugger put up a career season in 2021 between the Red Sox and Nationals, posting a .928 OPS while reaching the 30-homer plateau for the third time in seven years. He also went deep three times for Boston in the playoffs en route to becoming a fan favorite.

10. Starling Marte, Mets*

* - Signed 4-year, $78M contract with Mets

Age: 33
Bats: Right
Position: CF
2021 salary: $12.5M
Qualifying offer: No

Marte may not come with the glitz and glam of some of the other guys on this list, but he's quietly been one of the best players in the majors for several years. Since 2019, Marte ranks first in steals, 20th in runs scored, and 26th in fWAR in MLB. He was terrific for the Marlins and Athletics last season, with his .381 on-base percentage and 5.4 fWAR ranking seventh and 12th in the majors, respectively.

11. Michael Conforto

Age: 29
Bats: Right
Position: OF
2021 salary: $12.25M
Qualifying offer: Yes

It was a year to forget for Conforto, who had his worst season since 2016. The 28-year-old finished with only five more home runs in 2021 than he had during the shortened campaign a year ago while slugging a meager .384. He showed signs of life in the last two months of the season, belting eight homers and driving in 30 runs over his final 56 games. But even those numbers failed to emulate his terrific 2020 season when he posted a .927 OPS.

12. Chris Taylor, Dodgers*

* - Signed 4-year, $60M contract with Dodgers

Age: 31
Bats: Right
Position: OF/2B/SS/3B
2021 salary: $7.8M
Qualifying offer: Yes

CT3 should cash in this winter after a memorable 2021 campaign that included his first All-Star Game appearance and historic three-homer performance in Game 5 of the NLCS. The veteran has been a stalwart on the Dodgers for the past five seasons thanks to his solid on-base skills (.341 career OBP in L.A.), gritty play, and defensive versatility - six different positions played in 2021.

13. Anthony Rizzo, Yankees*

* - Signed 2-year, $32M contract with Yankees

Age: 32
Bats: Left
Position: 1B
2021 salary: $16.5M
Qualifying offer: No

Teams in need of a first baseman that strike out on Freeman should turn their attention to Rizzo. The 32-year-old may not have produced one of his typical 100-plus RBI campaigns last season like he did with the Cubs from 2015-18, but he's still got pop in his bat. He recorded eight homers and 21 RBIs over 49 games after being traded to the Yankees. Rizzo also has a knack for getting on base - career .369 OBP - and is a four-time Gold Glove and one-time Platinum Glove winner at first base.

14. Brandon Belt, Giants*

* - Signed 1-year, $18.4M qualifying offer with Giants

Age: 34
Bats: Left
Position: 1B
2021 salary: $17.2M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Belt is one of the best first basemen available following a career season in 2021. Only five players at his position accrued a higher fWAR over the last two years than the longtime Giants slugger. He also owns 38 homers with a .988 OPS in his last 148 games since the start of 2020.

15. Avisail Garcia, Marlins*

* - Signed 4-year, $53M contract with Marlins

Age: 31
Bats: Right
Position: OF
2021 salary: $10.75M
Qualifying offer: No

Garcia opted out of his deal with the Brewers to test free agency. The former All-Star went deep 29 times for Milwaukee with 86 RBIs and a .820 OPS over 135 games during a career season. He also put up the second-best defensive rating among NL outfielders in 2021, according to FanGraphs.

16. Kyle Seager, Retired

Age: 34
Bats: Left
Position: 3B
2021 salary: $18.5M
Qualifying offer: No

The longtime Mariners star will look for a new home after spending 11 years in Seattle. The third baseman blasted a career-high 35 long balls in 2021 during his age-33 campaign. He's hit 20-plus homers in nine different seasons while playing at least 154 games in every year but three over his major-league tenure.

17. Jorge Soler, Marlins*

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

Age: 30
Bats: Right
Position: OF
2021 salary: $8.05M
Qualifying offer: No

The struggling 2019 AL home run champion found new life with the Braves. Soler posted a .882 OPS with 14 round-trippers and 33 RBIs in 55 games following a deadline trade from the Royals. He also came up with some big hits in the playoffs en route to being named World Series MVP.

18. Mark Canha, Mets*

* - Signed 2-year, $26.5M contract with Mets

Age: 33
Bats: Right
Position: OF/1B
2021 salary: $6.92M
Qualifying offer: No

A solid major leaguer who gets on base and can play all three outfield positions, Canha has spent his entire career with the Athletics. The seven-year veteran is just two seasons removed from going deep 26 times with a .913 OPS over 126 games in 2019.

19. Nelson Cruz, Nationals*

* - Signed 1-year, $15M contract with Nationals

Age: 41
Bats: Right
Position: DH
2021 salary: $13M
Qualifying offer: No

The ageless wonder might be finally hitting a wall. Cruz slashed .226/.283/.442 in 55 games with the Rays after posting a .907 OPS for the Twins before a July trade. The power numbers are still good, but the 17-year veteran doesn't offer much value if he isn't producing with his bat.

20. Andrew McCutchen, Brewers*

* - Signed 1-year, $8.5M contract with Brewers

Age: 35
Bats: Right
Position: OF
2021 salary: $20M
Qualifying offer: No

McCutchen became a free agent after the Phillies declined his $15-million option for next season. The 2013 NL MVP still has something left in the tank, hitting 27 round-trippers with 80 RBIs and a .778 OPS over 144 contests in 2021.