Free-agent pitchers and analytics
Advanced statistics can help reveal a starting pitcher's true value. Fielding independent pitching (FIP), for instance, attempts to remove the quality of the defense behind the pitcher from the equation. Here are nine of the top free-agent starters, ranked by their 2017 FIP number, with their estimated market value from Spottrac.com and their FanGraphs wins above replacement number:
Yu Darvish
ERA:3.86
FIP: 3.83
WAR: 3.5
Est. Market Value: $22.7 million
• Darvish has been consistently good since entering MLB in 2012, but at 31, teams are hesitant to dole out a long-term deal for him.
Jake Arrieta
ERA:3.53
FIP: 4.16
WAR: 2.4
Est. Market Value: $26.6 million
• Arrieta, 31, hasn't recaptured the magic from his 2015 NL Cy Young year. His ERA was 0.63 better than his FIP in 2017, meaning he benefited from a good Cubs defense, but he's still a potential top-flight starter.
Alex Cobb
ERA: 3.66
FIP: 4.16
WAR: 2.4
Est. Market Value: $18.3 million