Now that Tommy Pham has a job (bruh, why?), we can all stop holding our breaths.
In all seriousness, we would like to congratulate /u/bizzyfand for winning the 2023-2024 r/baseball Free Agent Prediction Contest! They won a tightly contested race and edged out /u/EdHart8891 for the title. Both finished with 9 correct predictions but /u/bizzyfand comes out on top after the 4th tiebreaker of Matt Chapman's signing. Congratulations to both of these predictors and the many other submissions that made this game fun. Below is the leaderboard with 7+ submissions and some other fun predictions:
LEADERBOARD
| RANK | USERNAME | SCORE | CORRECT/TOTAL | % CORRECT | CORRECT PREDICTIONS | FAV TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | /u/bizzyfand | 9 | 9/50 | 18.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (04) Nola, (07) Chapman, (14) Lee, (15) Gurriel Jr., (18) Kiermaier, (27) Martinez, (37) Lopez | New York Mets |
| 1 | /u/EdHart8891 | 9 | 9/50 | 18.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (04) Nola, (14) Lee, (18) Kiermaier, (21) Hernandez, (24) Wacha, (36) Brantley, (39) Miley | No Preference |
| 3 | /u/NakedGoose | 8 | 8/50 | 16.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (08) Gray, (12) Imanaga, (21) Hernandez, (30) Duvall, (35) Sanchez, (48) Pederson | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 3 | /u/papa_pussy | 8 | 8/50 | 16.00% | (01) Ohtani, (04) Nola, (14) Lee, (16) Giolito, (18) Kiermaier, (25) Gibson, (39) Miley, (49) Anderson | Boston Red Sox |
| 3 | /u/FejSkaz | 8 | 8/50 | 16.00% | (01) Ohtani, (05) Snell, (07) Chapman, (15) Gurriel Jr., (20) Hoskins, (25) Gibson, (41) Severino, (50) N. Martinez | Philadelphia Phillies |
| 3 | /u/Notalan47 | 8 | 8/50 | 16.00% | (01) Ohtani, (07) Chapman, (12) Imanaga, (15) Gurriel Jr., (27) Martinez, (33) Y Rodriguez, (39) Miley, (45) Stephenson | Boston Red Sox |
| 7 | /u/thecursedlexus | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (04) Nola, (06) Montgomery, (18) Kiermaier, (24) Wacha, (36) Brantley | Boston Red Sox |
| 7 | /u/gcwyodave | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (05) Snell, (06) Montgomery, (07) Chapman, (29) Belt, (36) Brantley | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 7 | /u/Waddilyp | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (05) Snell, (08) Gray, (39) Miley, (41) Severino, (46) Rosario | New York Mets |
| 7 | /u/RusticTurkey | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (05) Snell, (19) Soler, (28) Matsui, (33) Y Rodriguez, (49) Anderson | New York Mets |
| 7 | /u/tallg8tor | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (08) Gray, (14) Lee, (18) Kiermaier, (30) Duvall, (41) Severino | Atlanta Braves |
| 7 | /u/metsy | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (03) Bellinger, (14) Lee, (16) Giolito, (30) Duvall, (42) Paxton, (49) Anderson | New York Mets |
| 7 | /u/MLBOfficial | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (04) Nola, (07) Chapman, (10) Hader, (12) Imanaga, (27) Martinez, (44) Manaea | New York Yankees |
| 7 | /u/Hansomejake | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (05) Snell, (07) Chapman, (08) Gray, (14) Lee, (37) Lopez, (49) Anderson | Chicago Cubs |
| 7 | /u/Jfowl56 | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (07) Chapman, (11) Stroman, (12) Imanaga, (26) Flaherty, (27) Martinez, (28) Matsui | Cleveland Guardians |
| 7 | /u/ZCampbell15 | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (07) Chapman, (12) Imanaga, (15) Gurriel Jr., (30) Duvall, (39) Miley, (41) Severino | Atlanta Braves |
| 7 | /u/Fredbear_ | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (07) Chapman, (16) Giolito, (29) Belt, (39) Miley, (47) Wood, (49) Anderson | Tampa Bay Rays |
| 7 | /u/Distance_Motor | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (07) Chapman, (20) Hoskins, (29) Belt, (36) Brantley, (37) Lopez, (38) Maeda | Boston Red Sox |
| 7 | /u/lOaN671 | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (08) Gray, (12) Imanaga, (14) Lee, (36) Brantley, (49) Anderson, (50) N. Martinez | Baltimore Orioles |
| 7 | /u/LAbaseballteam | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (12) Imanaga, (15) Gurriel Jr., (18) Kiermaier, (21) Hernandez, (37) Lopez, (47) Wood | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 7 | /u/thefuckinwolves | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (01) Ohtani, (15) Gurriel Jr., (29) Belt, (35) Sanchez, (36) Brantley, (43) Suter, (47) Wood | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 7 | /u/jmb-412 | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (02) Yamamoto, (04) Nola, (08) Gray, (18) Kiermaier, (29) Belt, (39) Miley, (49) Anderson | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 7 | /u/A55f | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (02) Yamamoto, (05) Snell, (07) Chapman, (14) Lee, (18) Kiermaier, (28) Matsui, (41) Severino | San Francisco Giants |
| 7 | /u/jeessel95 | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (03) Bellinger, (04) Nola, (12) Imanaga, (14) Lee, (29) Belt, (39) Miley, (41) Severino | Chicago Cubs |
| 7 | /u/Mobzila07 | 7 | 7/50 | 14.00% | (06) Montgomery, (07) Chapman, (15) Gurriel Jr., (18) Kiermaier, (25) Gibson, (30) Duvall, (36) Brantley | Chicago Cubs |
LONG SHOT PICKS
| PLAYER | TEAM | CORRECT | Correct Predictors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. Jordan Montgomery, SP, Age 31 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 5 / 292 | /u/imatthewhitecastle, /u/thecursedlexus, /u/Steelo70, /u/Mobzila07, /u/gcwyodave |
| 23. Harrison Bader, OF, Age 30 | New York Mets | 3 / 287 | /u/helioptil3z, /u/Maverick1717, /u/BlueJayzrule |
| 24. Michael Wacha, SP, Age 32 | Kansas City Royals | 5 / 287 | /u/Nonameghost, /u/thecursedlexus, /u/EdHart8891, /u/solgareon, /u/Macandme |
| 31. Justin Turner, 1B, Age 39 | Toronto Blue Jays | 5 / 284 | /u/Majorgee, /u/EngineerUpper2031, /u/Maverick1717, /u/Ok_Lawfulness, /u/commonidiot |
| 33. Yariel Rodriguez, RP, Age 27 | Toronto Blue Jays | 3 / 281 | no_username_just_a_lurker, /u/RusticTurkey, /u/Notalan47 |
| 34. Michael A. Taylor, OF, Age 33 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 4 / 281 | /u/jrdnm, /u/Simsbad, /u/MrBrightcide, /u/Eclipseking |
| 35. Gary Sanchez, C Age 31 | Milwaukee Brewers | 4 / 283 | /u/NakedGoose, /u/JustAShibe99, /u/thefuckinwolves, /u/hellomidnight- |
| 40. Tommy Pham, OF, Age 36 | MLB Unsigned on Opening Day | 2 / 283 | /u/Here4TheBottleOpener, /u/SpacePug6 |
SIGNINGS
| PLAYER | TEAM | CORRECT | ACCURACY | BIG MISS TEAM | BIG MISS % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP, Age 29* | Los Angeles Dodgers | 153 / 296 | 51.69% | Chicago Cubs | 17% |
| 2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Age 25 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 19 / 295 | 6.44% | New York Mets | 32% |
| 3. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Age 28* | Chicago Cubs | 66 / 295 | 22.37% | New York Yankees | 32% |
| 4. Aaron Nola, SP, Age 31* | Philadelphia Phillies | 68 / 295 | 23.05% | St. Louis Cardinals | 21% |
| 5. Blake Snell, SP, Age 31* | San Francisco Giants | 31 / 295 | 10.51% | Philadelphia Phillies | 14% |
| 6. Jordan Montgomery, SP, Age 31 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 5 / 292 | 1.71% | Texas Rangers | 43% |
| 7. Matt Chapman, 3B, Age 31* | San Francisco Giants | 63 / 290 | 21.72% | Toronto Blue Jays | 14% |
| 8. Sonny Gray, SP, Age 34* | St. Louis Cardinals | 32 / 290 | 11.03% | Minnesota Twins | 17% |
| 9. Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Age 31 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 6 / 294 | 2.04% | Los Angeles Dodgers | 12% |
| 10. Josh Hader, RP, Age 30* | Houston Astros | 8 / 294 | 2.72% | Texas Rangers | 35% |
| 11. Marcus Stroman, SP, Age 33 | New York Yankees | 8 / 292 | 2.74% | Chicago Cubs | 15% |
| 12. Shota Imanaga, SP, Age 30 | Chicago Cubs | 37 / 290 | 12.76% | Boston Red Sox | 9% |
| 13. Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Age 30 | Cincinnati Reds | 6 / 290 | 2.07% | Toronto Blue Jays | 17% |
| 14. Jung-Hoo Lee, OF, Age 25 | San Francisco Giants | 53 / 288 | 18.40% | New York Yankees | 12% |
| 15. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF, Age 30 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 62 / 291 | 21.31% | Seattle Mariners | 13% |
| 16. Lucas Giolito, SP, Age 29 | Boston Red Sox | 10 / 289 | 3.46% | Los Angeles Dodgers | 8% |
| 17. Mitch Garver, C, Age 33 | Seattle Mariners | 7 / 287 | 2.44% | Texas Rangers | 15% |
| 18. Kevin Kiermaier, OF, Age 34 | Toronto Blue Jays | 43 / 289 | 14.88% | New York Yankees | 21% |
| 19. Jorge Soler, OF, Age 32 | San Francisco Giants | 14 / 289 | 4.84% | Miami Marlins | 12% |
| 20. Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Age 31 | Milwaukee Brewers | 18 / 291 | 6.19% | Chicago Cubs | 11% |
| 21. Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Age 31 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 24 / 288 | 8.33% | Seattle Mariners | 9% |
| 22. Seth Lugo, SP, Age 34 | Kansas City Royals | 7 / 286 | 2.45% | Baltimore Orioles | 9% |
| 23. Harrison Bader, OF, Age 30 | New York Mets | 3 / 287 | 1.05% | Colorado Rockies | 6% |
| 24. Michael Wacha, SP, Age 32 | Kansas City Royals | 5 / 287 | 1.74% | Baltimore Orioles | 9% |
| 25. Kyle Gibson, SP, Age 36 | St. Louis Cardinals | 18 / 284 | 6.34% | Baltimore Orioles | 16% |
| 26. Jack Flaherty, SP, Age 28 | Detroit Tigers | 11 / 285 | 3.86% | Los Angeles Angels | 11% |
| 27. J.D. Martinez, DH, Age 36 | New York Mets | 10 / 285 | 3.51% | Los Angeles Dodgers | 25% |
| 28. Yuki Matsui, RP, Age 28 | San Diego Padres | 12 / 282 | 4.26% | New York Mets | 12% |
| 29. Brandon Belt, 1B, Age 36 | MLB Unsigned on Opening Day | 45 / 282 | 15.96% | Toronto Blue Jays | 8% |
| 30. Adam Duvall, OF, Age 35 | Atlanta Braves | 20 / 286 | 6.99% | Boston Red Sox | 9% |
| 31. Justin Turner, 1B, Age 39 | Toronto Blue Jays | 5 / 284 | 1.76% | Boston Red Sox | 17% |
| 32. Jordan Hicks, RP, Age 27 | San Francisco Giants | 6 / 283 | 2.12% | Houston Astros | 10% |
| 33. Yariel Rodriguez, RP, Age 27 | Toronto Blue Jays | 3 / 281 | 1.07% | Chicago White Sox | 7% |
| 34. Michael A. Taylor, OF, Age 33 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 4 / 281 | 1.42% | Minnesota Twins | 12% |
| 35. Gary Sanchez, C Age 31 | Milwaukee Brewers | 4 / 283 | 1.41% | San Diego Padres | 16% |
| 36. Michael Brantley, OF, Age 37 | MLB Unsigned on Opening Day | 42 / 283 | 14.84% | Houston Astros | 34% |
| 37. Reynaldo Lopez, RP, Age 30 | Atlanta Braves | 14 / 278 | 5.04% | Chicago Cubs | 8% |
| 38. Kenta Maeda, SP, Age 36 | Detroit Tigers | 12 / 283 | 4.24% | Minnesota Twins | 11% |
| 39. Wade Miley, SP, Age 37 | Milwaukee Brewers | 30 / 282 | 10.64% | Cincinnati Reds | 7% |
| 40. Tommy Pham, OF, Age 36 | MLB Unsigned on Opening Day | 2 / 283 | 0.71% | Arizona Diamondbacks | 25% |
| 41. Luis Severino, SP, Age 30 | New York Mets | 17 / 284 | 5.99% | New York Yankees | 9% |
| 42. James Paxton, SP, Age 35 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 12 / 284 | 4.23% | Boston Red Sox | 11% |
| 43. Brent Suter, RP, Age 34 | Cincinnati Reds | 9 / 281 | 3.20% | Milwaukee Brewers | 6% |
| 44. Sean Manaea, SP, Age 32 | New York Mets | 7 / 282 | 2.48% | St. Louis Cardinals | 7% |
| 45. Robert Stephenson, RP, Age 31 | Los Angeles Angels | 12 / 280 | 4.29% | Cincinnati Reds | 9% |
| 46. Amed Rosario, SS, Age 28 | Tampa Bay Rays | 13 / 279 | 4.66% | Chicago White Sox | 12% |
| 47. Alex Wood, SP, Age 33 | Oakland Athletics | 9 / 280 | 3.21% | San Francisco Giants | 12% |
| 48. Joc Pederson, OF, Age 32 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 6 / 279 | 2.15% | San Francisco Giants | 11% |
| 49. Tim Anderson, SS, Age 31 | Miami Marlins | 32 / 283 | 11.31% | Los Angeles Angels | 13% |
| 50. Nick Martinez, SP/RP, Age 33 | Cincinnati Reds | 9 / 283 | 3.18% | San Diego Padres | 6% |
As always, here's a link to the post-submission observations and here is a link to all submissions.
1 comment
What about Brandon Belt? He’s still a free agent.