5 best MLB free agents

Major League Baseball's roster freeze ended Friday at noon ET. Every team now has an opportunity to add players to its major-league roster, and there are still a number of free agents who didn't sign before the coronavirus pandemic halted the season. Here are the top five unsigned players:

Russell Martin, C

The veteran catcher is the best backstop available, and his winning pedigree could be a boon to any team during a shortened season. Martin spent 2019 as a backup with the Los Angeles Dodgers, for whom he posted solid numbers, showed a bit of versatility with some appearances at third base, and even turned in a great playoff performance in the National League Division Series. He was connected to the Oakland Athletics during the winter, and he could have plenty of suitors if he's still interested in playing.

Yasiel Puig, OF

Teams have shied away from Puig this offseason after he took a step back in 2019. Though he hit 24 homers, Puig's overall production dipped to the tune of a .785 OPS (100 OPS+), and just two of his long balls came after the Cincinnati Reds dealt him to the Cleveland Indians in late July. Puig revealed in April that he turned down the Miami Marlins' offer because he felt it was too low. KBO club Kiwoom Heroes made a bid for Puig this month, but he declined in hopes of landing an MLB deal, according to Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News.

Scooter Gennett, 2B

The former All-Star managed to play in only 42 combined contests with the Reds and San Francisco Giants in 2019. He suffered a groin strain in spring training, which kept him out of Cincinnati's lineup until the end of June. Gennett was shipped to San Francisco at the trade deadline in July and released in August after a lackluster spell. The 30-year-old is still an intriguing option after hitting 20-plus home runs with 90-plus RBIs in back-to-back campaigns in 2017 and 2018.

Tim Beckham, IF

Beckham was having a decent season at the plate in 2019 before he was hit with an 80-game suspension in August for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The 2008 first overall pick has never lived up to the hype that comes with that billing. However, he can still provide a team with a solid bat off the bench and play multiple positions across the infield. The 30-year-old owns a career .733 OPS in 472 games with the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Seattle Mariners.

Danny Salazar, P

*Career numbers

Salazar's upside may be too high for a team to pass up on him despite serious health concerns. The former All-Star returned to the mound in 2019 after a shoulder issue kept him out of action for almost two years, but he threw just four innings before leaving with another injury. He didn't pitch again for the rest of the season due to a groin strain. The 30-year-old was considered one of the best young hurlers in the game before his health troubles and could present a perfect buy-low opportunity for a team looking for cheap pitching help.

Honorable mention

• 2B Devon Travis
• OF Melky Cabrera
• P Clay Buchholz
• P Andrew Cashner
• P Marco Estrada
• P Matt Harvey
• P Aaron Sanchez
• P Ervin Santana
• P Jason Vargas