Arizona Diamondbacks MLB free agency predictions include Yasiel Puig, Kole Calhoun

Jeremy Cluff | The Republic | azcentral.com

MLB free agency has arrived and with it, predictions for where the top free agents on the market will land.

Could the Arizona Diamondbacks land a pivotal free agent or two this offseason?

Some early predictions for free agency in the league think so.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers (and Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians) outfielder Yasiel Puig is among the more interesting names linked to Arizona in the predictions.

So is former Las Angeles Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun, who played at Arizona State and Buckeye High.

MLB free agency predictions for Arizona Diamondbacks:

Yardbarker: Diamondbacks add outfielder Yasiel Puig for two years, $21 million (No. 24 free agent)

Justin Mears writes: "Puig spent the entire 2019 season in the state of Ohio, splitting the campaign between the Reds and Indians, and he hit well in both stops. Cumulatively the veteran hit .267 with 24 homers and 84 RBI in 555 at-bats, and while he can be a bit enigmatic at times, Puig can still be a valuable member of a good team. Several teams that need a right-handed hitter, and particularly one that can play the outfield, should get Puig's agent on the phone, and it likely won't be difficult for him to find a new home."

MLB Daily Dish: Diamondbacks sign outfielder Kole Calhoun for two years, $18 million (No. 44 free agent)

Andersen Pickard writes: "Many Angels fans wanted Calhoun back in 2020, but the team declined his option and he’ll make his way to Arizona."

MLB trade rumors: Diamondbacks land reliever Steve Cishek for 2 years, $10 million (No. 36 free agent)

Tim Dierkes writes: "The sidearming Cishek has a 2.52 ERA over the past four seasons, second only to Kenley Jansen during that time. Cishek’s strikeout and walk rates have been moving in the wrong direction, but he’s a high spin rate guy whose success comes from weak contact. He ranks in the 99th percentile in terms of opponent exit velocity and hard-hit percentage, in fact; this year, Cishek’s average exit velocity of 84.5 miles per hour ranked fourth in all of MLB. All of that may sound more enticing than two years and $10MM, but Cishek will be 34 next June and posted the second-highest walk percentage of his career in 2019 (10.9 percent). Those control issues were particularly prominent against left-handed batters, whom he walked at a near-15-percent clip. Cishek is a monster against right-handed batters (career .199/.265/.288) but has long had control issues when facing hitters who hold the platoon advantage (.229/.335/.360). There’ll be plenty of overlap with the markets for relievers like Cishek, Stammen, Hudson and Martin."

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MLB Daily Dish: Diamondbacks get reliever Craig Stammen for 2 years, $12 million (No. 35 free agent)

Pickard writes: "By now, I don’t even need to remind you that the bullpen market is unpredictable. The D-backs are fringe contenders and this could be a solid add for them."

MLB trade rumors: Diamondbacks get utility man Brock Holt for 2 years, $8 million (No. 41 free agent)

Dierkes writes: "Holt, 31, has been a slightly above-average hitter over the last two seasons, but he’s best known for his defensive versatility. He’s got at least 200 career innings at all four infield positions as well as the outfield corners. Holt would like to remain in Boston, but it’s possible the team’s budget crunch will force him to sign elsewhere. Arizona GM Mike Hazen and his top lieutenants were all in the Boston front office at one point and have taken chances on former Red Sox talent in the past. If not Arizona, Holt could make sense with the Reds, Pirates, Brewers, Phillies, Nationals and Indians, among others."

MLB trade rumors: Diamondbacks sign outfielder Shogo Akiyama for two years, $6 million (No. 45 free agent)

Dierkes writes: "In an free-agent market largely devoid of center field talent, Akiyama should hold appeal to clubs seeking help in that regard. Akiyama, 32 next April, has batted at least .300 for the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball in four of the past five seasons, with the lone exception coming in 2016, when he hit .296. He’s walked at a 10.8 percent clip in that half-decade span while punching out only 14.3 percent of the time. Akiyama has topped 20 homers in each of the past three seasons and swiped 15-plus bags in each of the past five years. In all, since the 2015 season, he’s a .320/.398/.497 hitter. As with any free agent from Japan, particularly one who’ll turn 32 in his first would-be MLB season, there will be questions about whether his abilities will carry over to MLB. He’s a star in NPB, so he should be able to land a multi-year deal to remain in Japan if he doesn’t find a big league offer. But Akiyama is the best free-agent bet to give a big league team a regular center fielder. A win-now team with ample money to spend probably wouldn’t take on this level of uncertainty, but a team like the Diamondbacks, Rangers, Indians, White Sox or Mariners could view Akiyama as an upside play and take the modest risk."

MLB Daily Dish: Diamondbacks land pitcher Josh Lindblom for one year, $6 million (No. 42 free agent)

Pickard writes: "This former MLB’er has been playing overseas and is ready to return to the States."

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MLB trade rumors also listed the Diamondbacks as possible landing spots for outfielder Nicholas Castellanos (No. 8 free agent), reliever Will Smith (No. 13 free agent), reliever Daniel Hudson (No. 28 free agent) and outfielder Yasiel Puig (No. 37 free agent).

MLB.com could see the Diamondbacks adding free agents at catcher, second base, outfield, starting pitcher and relief pitcher, according to its Opening Day roster projection for Arizona.