Top 5 Most Overrated MLB Free Agents

5. Kris Bryant

In the beginning of 2021, Kris Bryant was one of the hottest hitters in MLB. With the Cubs mid-season downfall, the Cubs were looking to trade Bryant. Kris Bryant was traded to the San Francisco Giants for OF Alexander Canario, and RHP Caleb Killian. Bryant is going into his 8th season in which he will be turning 30. Kris Bryant will probably be seeking at least 15 million dollars a year. With his lack performance at the plate, Bryant should not be getting 15 million a year.

4. Carlos Rodon

Carlos Rodon just came off his best season throwing up a 2.37 earned run average (ERA). Rodon has also had many arm injuries in the past, including Tommy John. On his last outing of the season, facing the Astros, in the ALDS game 4, Rodon gave up 2 runs, with 3 hits in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Before that Start, Rodon hadn't pitched since September 29th. Rodon has announced that he will be represented by Scott Boras in free agency, one of, if not the best MLB agent. Rodon is seeking a multiple year deal, so a team will probably have to pay him a good amount of money for multiple years. Even with his great 2021, Rodon should not be getting 15-20 million dollars due to his arm injuries. Rodon has had surgery many times, so it is very possible he will have to sit with an arm injury again.

3. Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer has been a dominating pitcher for the last decade, and while he is still one of the best pitchers, age is starting to get to him. His velocity and pitch movement is still very good, but he's beginning to miss his spots and giving up runs. Scherzer got hit up by the Padres and the Rockies right before the postseason, but Scherzer was able to overcome that and still pitch well in the playoffs. Max is still an elite pitcher who can win a ball game for a team, but with his age getting near the 40s, and he has shown to not locate as well, Scherzer should not be getting a 30 million per year contract. Teams including the Dodgers, and Angels have money to spend and will most likely give him the contract of 30 million dollars per year, which makes him an overrated free agent.

2. Robbie Ray

Like Carlos Rodon, Robbie Ray is also coming off his best year. Ray was picked up at the 2020 trade deadline by the Blue Jays and finished the 2020 season on a good note. Surprising the league, he could win the AL Cy Young in the next week. Ray has always been a strikeout dominating pitcher, but in previous years, he would give up many walks and homeruns. 2021 however, he limited both walks and homeruns. Ray had a 2.84 era with 248 strikeouts. Many teams are interested in starting pitcher Robbie Ray, so the team who ends up getting him, will probably have to pay a lot of money. While Ray has been an elite pitcher the past year, is he worth the risk of paying him 20+ million dollars to go back to his old self ? Teams will have to answer that question for themselves. I put Ray on this list because although he was dominant in 2021, he wasn't in all of his previous years. If I am an MLB team, I would not offer ray anything over 18 million dollars a year, and Ray will probably end up 20+ million a year.

1. Nick Castellanos

Nick Castellanos just officially opted out of his contract with the Reds, which makes him a free agent. Castellanos had an amazing year with the reds hitting 34 homeruns, 309 batting average, 362 OBP, 576 SLG, 939 OPS, with a 3.2 war. He hit amazingly last year and is one of the best free agents on the market, but what makes him overrated? Castellanos was one of the worst defenders last year ranking bottom 6th percentile of Outs Above Average, and bottom 7th percentile in Outfielder Jump. He also had a -7 defensive runs saved (DRS). Even with his amazing hitting, Castellanos is an awful defender. Castellanos WILL get at least 30 million dollars per year in his next contract due to his hitting. Now Castellanos is probably worth the 30 million, but he is valued too high in the free agent class due to his horrific defense. Even if he signs with an AL team to be the DH, or the NL brings in the DH, that is way too much money to be giving a DH. A designated hitter should not be getting anything above 20+ dollars, unless his name is Mike Trout, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr, Ronald Acuna Jr, or Vladdy. All of those players is a top 10 player in the league, and some are even top 5 and 3. With that being said, Castellanos is an awful defender and is not worth the money as a top 10 player in the league.