Top Remaining Free Agent To Showcase Himself During World Baseball Classic

Most of the time, players who don't have a contract are loathe to put themselves at risk by playing in offseason games and risk getting injured and costing themselves a payday for the coming season. But in the case of the dragged-out free agency of outfielder Jurickson Profar, he must be figuring that a showcase on a world stage will do him a world of good on the open market.

News: Jurickson Profar, still a free agent, will play for Team Netherlands at the @WBCBaseball.@MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 28, 2023

The nine-year veteran has agreed to play for Team Netherlands at the World Baseball Classic. 

His career began as a shortstop and a versatile infielder, but he has since transitioned into strictly an outfielder, which is where he'll reside in the Netherlands lineup at the WBC. MLB Insider Jon Morosi reports that Profar is expected to start in left field during the tournament.

The 30-year-old batted .243 with a .331 on-base and a 111 OPS+ (making him 11% better than the average hitter), with 15 home runs and five stolen bases over 152 regular-season games for the San Diego Padres in 2022. 

Profar opted out of his deal with the Friars after last season, which would have paid him $7.5M this year, so he's certainly still looking to recoup at least that much on the free agent market, and hopes that a big performance at the WBC will grease the wheels for a new deal... somewhere. 

 Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports