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3 Most Underrated Free Agent Signings Ahead of 2020 MLB Season

By Mike Esposito

Tampa Bay's Avisail Garcia celebrates a big hit vs. the Oakland Athletics in the AL Wild Card Game
Tampa Bay's Avisail Garcia celebrates a big hit vs. the Oakland Athletics in the AL Wild Card Game / Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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There's never a lack of headline-making free agent signings or landscape-changing trades when it comes to the MLB offseason, and 2020 has been no exception. Several big names found new homes and have drastically altered the league's power balance. Outside of the game's elite talent, however, there are other players that have changed teams that could have just as big of an impact in 2020 as the high-profile free agents who have stolen the media spotlight.

With that in mind, here are three of this offseason's most underrated free agent signings.

3. Rich Hill, SP, Minnesota Twins

Rich Hill prepares to throw a pitch for the Dodgers.
Rich Hill prepares to throw a pitch for the Dodgers. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

Injuries have been the norm for him in recent years, but the Minnesota Twins got their hands on one of the league's better pitchers when they signed Rich Hill to a one-year, $3 million contract this offseason. Despite his struggles to stay on the field, the 40-year-old southpaw has been on the game's best starters over the last five years, sporting a 41-20 record with 2.91 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and a 10.9 strikeouts-per-nine-innings average since 2015 (86 starts). Again, health will be key here, but the Twins should have a much more dominant starting staff with Hill toeing the rubber every fifth day in 2020.

2. Drew Pomeranz, RP, San Diego Padres

Drew Pomeranz throws a pitch for the Brewers.
Drew Pomeranz throws a pitch for the Brewers. / Jeff Curry/Getty Images

Drew Pomeranz had a rough go of it as a starter in 2019 and his numbers on the year weren't very flattering (2-10, 4.85 ERA). Yet, his contract with the Padres shouldn't go unnoticed. Relegated to a relief role after the All-Star break, the 31-year-old southpaw was arguably Milwaukee's most dominant bullpen arm, recording a 1.88 ERA, a 0.837 WHIP, 50 strikeouts, and 12 holds in 28 appearances (28 2/3 innings) down the stretch. If Pomeranz and carry over his second-half success from last season, the Padres may have signed a relief ace for a bargain price (four years, $34 million).

1. Avisail Garcia, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

Avisail Garcia records a hit for the Rays.
Avisail Garcia records a hit for the Rays. / Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Avisail Garcia's deal with the Milwaukee Brewers (two years, $20 million) largely flew under the radar this offseason — which makes sense considering the rumor mill was fixated on Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon. However, the Venezuelan outfielder could be one of the biggest steals of free agency. He's yet to play more than 136 games in a season, but Garcia has been one of the league's most under-appreciated hitters in recent years. Over the past three seasons, the 28-year-old owns a respectable .288/.337/.473 slash line while averaging 27 homers and 93 RBI per 162 games. As long as he can stay healthy throughout the duration of his contract, Garcia should provide the Brew Crew with a respectable middle-of-the-order bat.

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Mike Esposito is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Mike Esposito also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username espo6891. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.