2020 MLB Free Agency Predictions: Most Fun Possible Destinations for Top Free Agents

With free agency season mercifully upon us, the MLB landscape is about to change...a very small amount. While there are a few big names on the open market, including stars who boosted their portfolios just last week with elite October performances, a single Mookie Betts trade will likely send more seismic shockwaves than any free agent deals. Why? Well, because some are staying home, and those who don't are simply headed to the highest bidder.

But, what if we could change that? What if we could look at the varied list of realistic destinations and maximize the fun quotient? Based on making the 2020 season spicier, here are the ideal destinations for the top available names.

8. Marcell Ozuna

Destination: Chicago White Sox

We're sending the Big Bear to one of the AL's most intriguing young teams, teetering on the edge of potential contention as their core gels. The White Sox are going to be a monster "What if?" team entering 2020, with Yoan Moncada finally boasting a standout season at 24 (not old!), Tim Anderson winning a batting title and Nick Madrigal nipping at management's heels. A slugging outfielder, a stable arm to supplement Lucas Giolito (Jake Odorizzi?), and the potential return of Jose Abreu would make this team verrrrry interesting.

7. Hyun-Jin Ryu

Destination: Milwaukee Brewers

Come on! Don't you want to see the National League's hottest team at season's end acquire pitching for the first time in forever? We know what a Yelich-led offense can do. Heck, we know what the offense can do without Yelich; they proved down the stretch that they can get on a roll downhill as well as anyone. Milwaukee just shed Chase Anderson, so they're entering 2020 with more question marks than ever (Jimmy Nelson? You OK, bud?). This would be the most fun move possible for the man who held the presumptive Cy Young crown for much of 2019.

6. Yasmani Grandal

Destination: New York Mets

What if the 2019 Mets had Wilson Ramos, but...better? Yasmani Grandal got dinged by one of the worst postseasons you'll ever see in '18 right on the heels of one of the worst free agency cycles you'll see. He settled for a one-year deal in Milwaukee, properly blowing the doors off, hitting 28 bombs with a remarkable average/OBP disparity (.246/.380). If the Mets want to supplement their impressive core, they need a leader behind the plate. There's been strange magic at Citi for several months now. Come on, Brodie. Complete the picture.

5. Madison Bumgarner

Destination: Atlanta Braves

For fun purposes, we can't take Bumgarner out of the National League. The man has to bat every fifth day. This is non-negotiable. So, with apologies to the Indians and Yankees, we're going to send MadBum to a place that actually...feels like his most likely destination. The North Carolina native drawls like a Brave, brings the postseason pedigree Atlanta was trying to capture with Dallas Keuchel, without the aborted Spring Training, and will be a flawless poster boy for the youthful squad. There's also the non-zero chance he gets in a nose-to-nose screaming match with Ronald Acuña Jr., which is...pretty fun, if you're rooting for chaos.

4. Zack Wheeler

Destination: New York Yankees

The Mets won't deal cross-town, eh? Well, sorry, Brodie. This isn't your call anymore. Buried below the fold in New York for a while now, Wheeler had to overcome a series of injuries and spent several years away from the game before quietly posting back-to-back ace-lite seasons. If Houston's able to get their spin rate hands all over him, he'll lead the Astros back to dominance; that is decidedly the least fun option. So why not send him to their chief AL rival, all while creating feelings of resentment in the Bronx's backyard?

3. Stephen Strasburg

Destination: Cleveland Indians

Let's be clear: the most fun spot for Strasburg is not the Padres. It's never the Padres. Homecoming, Tony Gwynn's legacy, etc...it would be super interesting if it didn't involve the moribund Pads. They need to show me a solid year of drawing a crowd before I ticket any more high-dollar free agents their way.

I'm sending the emergent ace to Cleveland. In this world in which the Tribe spends money (remember, this fun is purely a fantasy), they'd continue their experimental rotation shuffling by dealing Corey Kluber (perhaps back to these very same Pads from whence he came?) and adding Strasburg on an eight-year deal to get back to their rightful place atop the central. If Lindor goes in the Kluber mega-trade, they'll be right back to second place, hoisting the cost-cutting trophy. We'll keep Frankie in place and give them a new ace.

2. Anthony Rendon

Destination: Philadelphia Phillies

We considered sending Rendon back home to grab the Gerrit Cole money for maximum chaos, but there's literally no place to put him (how did the Astros do this?). Instead, the Phillies finally let Maikel Franco wander off somewhere and replace him with the best third baseman they've watched 20 times annually for the past half-decade. It's a hole on a potential contender with a new attitude under Joe Girardi, plus a built-in strange vengeance factor. Washington will forget about that World Series awful quick if he pulls a reverse Werth.

1. Gerrit Cole

Destination: Los Angeles Angels

Let's be clear: in the interest of maximizing fun, our first priority should be getting Mike Trout to the playoffs. According to WAR and contextualization, Trout is the greatest player we've ever seen. He's Mickey Mantle after 60 years of advancements in conditioning. But, in order for him to ever really grab the torch that's passing by him, we need to see him take over an October. By metrics, he's our greatest ever. By narrative, he's Charles Barkley.

Give him Joe Maddon to tinker with the clubhouse's vibes. Give him a horse to ride in Cole. See if we can get him a chance to prove his spot among the eternals. If the Angels have the highest offer on the table, this is where Cole's going. And it's certainly for the good of the sport.