Fantasy: 3 pending free agents to target in your draft
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Players are always looking for that big season the year before free agency hits, and finding those pending free agents can provide a big boost on draft day.
Here are three pending free agents in 2016 you should consider drafting this season:
Justin Upton, OF, San Diego Padres
Petco Park shouldn't stop Upton from putting up some monster numbers in 2015. Upton, who posted a .270/.342/.491 slash line in 2014 with 29 home runs and 102 RBI, is arguably the top pending-free-agent hitter. He will likely hit cleanup behind Wil Myers and Matt Kemp and, barring injury, should be able to post a 30+ home run, 100+ RBI campaign in his sleep. The former Braves outfielder ranked 11th in home runs last season among right-handed hitters and 16th with a 132 OPS+. In his career, Upton has managed a .291/.359/.541 slash line at Petco Park with 10 home runs - his third highest total at any park. Hitters combined to knock 101 home runs out of Petco in 2014, but you can expect a higher number this season with Upton there.
Jason Heyward, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Could Heyward be the next $200-million player? It's been a topic of discussion lately, but regardless of whether he is or not, the former Braves outfielder will be a top free agent in 2016 and should rebound from a sub-par 2014 season in St. Louis. Unbelievably, Heyward has posted a 21.4 lifetime fWAR. That's better than Pablo Sandoval (20.9), Ryan Howard (19.9) and Giancarlo Stanton (19.5), who have all surpassed the $100-million mark in lifetime earnings - and Heyward is just 25. Although he slashed just a .271/.351/.384 line with 11 homers in 2014, he appears poised to break out in St. Louis and should return to the numbers seen in his 2012 campaign, when he slugged 27 long balls. Manager Mike Matheny - who will bat him second in the lineup - thinks "there is still a max that he hasn't achieved yet." If that's true, arguably the best defensive right fielder will have that breakout season and get paid in 2016.
Mat Latos, SP, Miami Marlins
An injury-free season from Latos could mean big money this offseason for the right-hander. The former Padres draft pick is still looking for his first 15-win season despite having four seasons of 184+ innings and at least 31 starts, plus an ERA no higher than 3.48 over the last five seasons. Latos is coming off an injury-riddled season - dealing with knee and elbow issues in 2014 - but has the potential to shine for the Marlins as the No. 1 or No. 2 starter with Jose Fernandez out until mid-season. Latos is only 27 and has the potential to put up numbers similar to 2010, when he posted a 14-10 record with a 2.92 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 184 2/3 innings. He's a fiery competitor, and little things like losing his arbitration case with his new team in February, along with his desire to get paid as a pending free agent, should make him one pitcher worth having on your squad this year.