1. Max Scherzer – at 30 years old, the former Cy Young winner not only tops the class of free agents with qualifying offers, but is probably the best player available across the board. His draft-pick compensation will be nothing compared to the money teams will shell out to sign him, and he instantly bolsters any rotation. In his five years in the American League, Scherzer touts a 3.52 ERA — as low as 2.90 in his Cy Young season of 2013 — three seasons with at least 230 strikeouts, and, at a position where durability is an issue, he has started 30 games each of his last six seasons. Scherzer likely wins the offseason bidding war with a deal that takes him into his late 30’s.
