These 7 free agents ones to watch after injury-marred seasons

While players such as Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Cody Bellinger were front and center throughout 2023, putting together huge platform years ahead of free agency, there’s another group of free agents we didn’t see much (or any) of this past season.

The seven players below all missed significant time due to injuries in 2023, and as a result they might be flying under the radar in this year's free-agent class. However, each has the potential to make a positive impact if they can get back to full strength next season.

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Michael Brantley, OF
Shoulder issues limited Brantley to 64 games in 2022 and just 15 this past season, but his performance in that span looked an awful lot like what we’ve come to expect from the superb contact hitter. He hit .286 with seven homers, a 121 OPS+ and more walks (33) than strikeouts (32) over 334 plate appearances. Although he’s now 36 years old, the outfielder still has the plate discipline and bat skills to make a difference for a club that needs a left-handed hitter.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B
Hoskins missed all of 2023 after tearing his ACL during Spring Training, and the Phillies are not expected to bring him back after naming Bryce Harper their full-time starter at first base moving forward. The 30-year-old is one of the best power bats on the market, having hit 148 homers with an .845 OPS (125 OPS+) over 667 career games. The last time we saw him on the field, Hoskins hit 30 homers in the 2022 regular season and popped another six round-trippers in the playoffs as the Phils won the NL pennant.

Frankie Montas, SP
Traded from the A’s to the Yankees at the 2022 Trade Deadline, Montas posted a 6.35 ERA over eight starts for the Bronx Bombers down the stretch that year before missing all but one appearance while recovering from right shoulder surgery in 2023. But let’s not forget what Montas did in an A’s uniform across 2021-22. The righty performed like a borderline ace in that span, notching a 3.30 ERA, a 3.37 FIP, a 9.75 K/9 and a 2.62 BB/9 over 291 2/3 innings from Opening Day 2021 through the end of his A’s tenure.

Tom Murphy, C
Murphy has dealt with injuries throughout his career, and 2023 was no different. The backstop suffered a left thumb sprain in August and finished with just 159 plate appearances on the year. Murphy, though, continued to produce at the plate when he had the opportunity to take the field, hitting eight homers and recording a 142 OPS+. While Murphy has played just 233 games dating back to the beginning of 2019, he has registered 38 homers and a 116 OPS+ in that span. Though his subpar defensive metrics and persistent injury woes mean he’s unlikely to earn a starting job coming out of free agency, his bat could make him a strong complementary piece for a team that has a defensive-minded regular behind the plate.

Hyun Jin Ryu, SP
Ryu’s return from his second Tommy John surgery can only be considered a success, with the left-hander posting a 3.46 ERA in 52 innings over 11 starts in 2023 -- the final year of his four-year, $80 million contract with Toronto. The southpaw’s trademark command was back in full force, as he tied for fourth in MLB (min. 750 pitches) with a 47.6% edge rate -- the percentage of pitches thrown within one baseball’s width of the strike-zone borders. Given he’s never had to rely on overpowering stuff to be effective, Ryu has a good chance to remain successful as he moves into his age-37 season.

Gio Urshela, INF
Coming off a 3.1-WAR season (per Baseball-Reference) for the Twins in 2022, Urshela was on pace for another solid year with the Angels in 2023 before a fractured left pelvis abruptly ended his season in June. Over his first 62 games, Urshela posted a .299/.329/.374 slash while playing all over the infield for the Angels. With a .291 average, 56 homers, a 115 OPS+ and 10.4 WAR in 497 games for the Yankees, Twins and Halos since the beginning of 2019, the veteran is an intriguing option in a free-agent class that isn’t exactly brimming with quality infielders.

Joey Votto, 1B
Votto underwent left shoulder surgery in August 2022 to repair a torn rotator cuff and a torn biceps, and his recovery extended into 2023. The first baseman missed the Reds’ first 72 games and made another trip to the injured list in August with left shoulder inflammation, finishing with only 65 games played. After the season, the Reds declined his $20 million club option for 2024, likely ending his legendary tenure with the team. But that shouldn’t obscure what was an encouraging performance from Votto at the plate. While he hit just .202, Votto added 63 points to his slugging percentage (.433) and 58 points to his OPS (.747) from the previous year. With a healthier shoulder, it’s not hard to imagine the Canadian slugger having one last hurrah in 2024.