Fansided

Top 25 MLB free agents for 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – October 9: Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals doubles in the sixth inning of game five of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – October 9: Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals doubles in the sixth inning of game five of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) /

2. Anthony Rendon

With Bryce Harper out of the picture in Washington, third baseman Anthony Rendon was finally given his chance to lead an offense. Rendon had been overshadowed by Harper despite arguably being the better player the final three years they played together. Underrated no more, Rendon gets his chance to cash in as a free agent on the heels of an epic run to the World Series.

Rendon will turn 30 early next season and has been improving continuously throughout his career. In seven years in the big leagues, he has hit .290/.369/.490 with 245 doubles, 136 home runs and 546 RBI. After the results are released for this year, Rendon will have received MVP votes in three years in a row. He has hit .310/.397/.556 with 129 doubles, 83 home runs and 318 RBI over that time period. Somehow it took until this season for Rendon to make the All-Star Game, but that’s life playing in the same league as Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant.

In this, his walk year, Rendon picked the perfect time for the best season of his career. He hit .319/.412/.598 with 44 doubles, 34 home runs and 126 RBI in 146 games. Rendon led the National League in doubles and the Major Leagues in RBI. It’s hard to find any holes in Rendon’s game, as he is also a steady defender at third base. He is also one of the best breaking-ball hitters in baseball.

The Nationals were able to absorb the loss of Harper with very little impact to their offensive performance because Rendon and Juan Soto are both MVP-caliber players. If they lose Rendon, however, there will be a major hit to the lineup. The Nationals will have to try and do whatever it takes to keep Rendon on a long-term deal.

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