With the Hot Stove warming up and the Winter Meetings getting underway in Dallas, let’s pull back and survey more of the free-agent field. We’ve already seen Blake Snell sign a $182 million contract with the Dodgers and Willy Adames agree to a $182 million contract of his own with the Giants, along with several other interesting deals. The biggest domino of them all, Juan Soto, is still to fall, but who else will sign in the coming days?
Here’s my ranking of the top 90 remaining MLB free agents.
bWAR is listed in parenthesis next to each player.
1. Juan Soto, RF (7.9) — Soto is expected to soon become the highest-paid player in major-league history based on average annual value and net present value, with the industry now believing his next contract will be in the $650 million to $750 million range. He’s the best player available and, at 26, in the prime of his career. The Yankees and Mets appear to have the best chance to sign him, but the Red Sox are still hovering around. I think it’s now unlikely that he will sign with the Dodgers or Blue Jays and there doesn’t appear to be a so-called mystery team lurking. Teams that lose out on Soto could quickly pivot to Anthony Santander, Pete Alonso or Alex Bregman and/or the top of the starting pitching market, which is led by Corbin Burnes, Roki Sasaki and Max Fried.
2. Corbin Burnes, RHP (3.4) — Burnes has the best track record of any free-agent starting pitcher. He went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA over 32 starts last season for the Orioles. He has finished in the top eight in Cy Young Award voting for five consecutive years, including winning the National League award in 2021. He’s made the All-Star team for four straight years. He’s pitched more than 190 innings for three years in a row. The Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Giants, Braves and Mets have been linked to him.
3. Roki Sasaki, RHP (N/A) — Sasaki will be the best value free-agent signing of the offseason because, as an international amateur free agent, he’s limited to the international bonus pool each team is allocated. (For 2025, those pools range from $5.1 million to $7.6 million.) Sasaki will be posted during the Winter Meetings but won’t sign until after Jan. 15, 2025, when bonus pools will be replenished. All 30 teams should be offering their entire pool for a chance to land Sasaki, who has ace upside.
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4. Max Fried, LHP (3.5) — Fried is the best left-handed starting pitcher remaining on the free-agent market and most teams that are pursuing Burnes are also engaged with his camp. The Braves would love to retain him but face stiff competition. Fried posted a 3.25 ERA in 174 1/3 innings last season and has a 3.07 ERA over his eight-year career.
5. Alex Bregman, 3B (4.1) — Bregman’s long track record as a leader and an elite postseason performer has increased his value. He and his wife do extensive charity work in Houston and he would prefer to finish his career there. MLB.com reported the Astros have offered Bregman a six-year deal worth around $156 million, which provides a guideline for other potential suitors like the Red Sox (if they move Rafael Devers to first base), Phillies (if they trade Alec Bohm), Tigers (which would reunite him with his former manager, A.J. Hinch) and Blue Jays. The Bregman camp is seeking $200 million, but a compromise in the $185 million range seems reasonable. I still think he ends up returning to Houston.
6. Pete Alonso, 1B (2.6) — Alonso has the most raw power of any player in this class, with 226 home runs over six seasons (162-game average: 43 homers). A return to the Mets is likely if they don’t get Soto. The Yankees, Mariners and Nationals are other possible landing spots for Alonso. Last season, he hit .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs and played all 162 games.
7. Anthony Santander, OF (2.9) — Santander led all free agents in home runs (44) last season with the Orioles, but he’s a below-average defender in right field and has a career .307 on-base percentage. Several teams are desperate for middle-of-the-order power and could use the switch-hitting slugger. The Orioles are trying to re-sign him but have strong competition from teams such as the Blue Jays. Santander would also fit nicely with the Nationals, Reds and Mariners if they’re willing to commit the necessary dollars.
8. Christian Walker, 1B (2.6) — Walker has won three consecutive Gold Glove awards and has hit 25 or more home runs in the past three seasons. He’ll be 34 next season, which will probably prevent him from getting a fourth year on this contract. The Yankees, Mets and Mariners have interest in him.
9. Teoscar Hernández, LF (4.3) — Hernández is coming off arguably the best year of his career: He had 33 home runs, a 137 OPS+, 99 RBIs and 12 stolen bases; came through in some big moments during the Dodgers’ postseason run; and won the Home Run Derby to boot. Hernández will likely return to the Dodgers, but teams such as the Red Sox, Phillies and Orioles make sense for him too.
10. Tanner Scott, LHP (4.0) — Scott is the best closer on the free-agent market. The 30-year-old lefty is coming off a marvelous season in which he logged a 1.75 ERA over 72 appearances with the Marlins and Padres. He had 22 saves in 24 opportunities. Every team that’s looking for a closer is checking in on him.
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11. Jack Flaherty, RHP (3.1) — Flaherty had a strong comeback season, going 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA over 28 starts split between the Tigers and Dodgers. He struck out 194 in 162 innings. Flaherty is only 29. As long as the medical reports on his back are clean, teams that miss out on Burnes, Sasaki and Fried will turn to him next.
12. Ha-Seong Kim, SS (2.6) — Kim underwent season-ending surgery in September after injuring his right (throwing) shoulder diving back to first base on a pick-off play. The injury impacts his ranking and free-agent value. Kim won a Gold Glove Award at second base in 2023 and is a plus defender at shortstop, where he played for the Padres last season. He hit just .233 with 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases before going on the injured list on Aug. 20, but put up better offensive numbers in 2023, when he was worth 5.8 WAR. The Padres and Braves are among the possible landing spots for Kim.
13. Nathan Eovaldi, RHP (2.3) — Eovaldi went 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA and 1.107 WHIP over 29 starts last season for the Rangers. He’s a proven postseason winner with a 9-3 career record and a 3.05 ERA over 17 appearances (12 starts). The Mets, Blue Jays, Rangers and Orioles have been linked to Eovaldi, who will turn 35 in February.
14. Sean Manaea, LHP (3.0) — Manaea made significant in-season changes that led to remarkable results. He dropped his release point to become more of a crossfire-type pitcher and adjusted his pitch mix. He finished the year 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA over 32 starts and 184 strikeouts in 181 2/3 innings. Now, after opting out of his $13.5 million option for 2025 with the Mets, Manaea stands to secure a multiyear contract for much more.
15. Walker Buehler, RHP (minus-1.3) — Buehler went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA and 1.553 WHIP in 16 regular-season starts for the Dodgers. But he delivered in the postseason, pitching 10 scoreless innings combined in the NLCS and World Series, striking out 13 and allowing just five hits in that stretch, which included his Game 5 save to close out the championship. It skyrocketed his free-agent value, but because he’s had two Tommy John surgeries, Buehler comes with high injury risk.
16. Tomoyuki Sugano, RHP (N/A) — Sugano is an interesting free agent, coming to MLB after 12 years with the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball. He has a career record of 136-75 with a 2.45 ERA. Last season, he went 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA in 156 2/3 innings. He knows how to pitch, keeping hitters off balance with elite command. I’m not sure how Sugano’s skills will translate to the major leagues, but I keep hearing teams think he’ll be a solid No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
17. Kirby Yates, RHP (3.3) — Yates returned to his dominating form in 2024, posting a 1.17 ERA and 0.827 WHIP over 61 appearances for the Rangers. He had 33 saves in 34 opportunities and averaged 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings. His arm is fresh and he’s pitching like he did in 2018-19. Yates will turn 38 in March.
18. Jurickson Profar, LF (3.7) — It’s hard to believe that Profar signed last offseason with the Padres for a $1 million base salary. He rewarded them by reaching base at a 38 percent clip, hitting 24 home runs, stealing 10 bases and making the All-Star team. The Padres would love to retain him but he’d also be a good fit for other teams such as the Twins.
19. Gleyber Torres, 2B (1.8) — Torres had a disappointing free-agent walk year. He batted .257/.330/.378 (101 OPS+) with 15 home runs, after hitting 49 homers over the two previous seasons. He posts every day and is a solid offensive second baseman, but he’s also a well-below-average defender at second and does not want to change positions.
20. Joc Pederson, DH/OF (2.9) — Pederson has found his niche as a left-handed-hitting DH versus right-handed pitching. Last season, he slashed .275/.393/.515 (151 OPS+) with 23 home runs and 64 RBIs in 367 at-bats. The Diamondbacks want him back, but several teams, such as the Reds, Mariners, and Rangers, would love to have Pederson as a platoon DH.
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21. Charlie Morton, RHP (1.1) — At 41, Morton still has the velocity and curveball to provide a team with important bulk innings. He went 8-10 last season with a 4.19 ERA over 165 1/3 innings. He’s made 30 or more starts in each of the past six full seasons. The Braves want to re-sign him but are hoping it’s for less than the $20 million a year he’s made the past three seasons.
22. Jose Quintana, LHP (2.5) — Quintana had a solid season with the Mets, going 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA over 31 starts (170 1/3 innings). He gets outs via weak contact, ranking in the 74th percentile in average exit velocity and the 70th percentile in barrel percentage. Quintana, who turns 36 in January, is a decent back-of-the-rotation starter at this point in his career.
23. Nick Pivetta, RHP (1.8) — I was surprised Boston offered him the qualifying offer (one-year, $21.05 million), and even more surprised he didn’t take it. He went 6-12 last season with a 4.14 ERA over 145 2/3 innings. He struck out 10.6 batters per nine innings and walked a career-best 2.2 batters per nine.
24. Blake Treinen, RHP (1.4) — Treinen’s free-agent value skyrocketed in the postseason, during which he struck out 18 batters in 12 1/3 innings. He posted a 1.93 ERA, a 2.99 FIP and 0.943 WHIP over 50 appearances in the regular season. It was a remarkable comeback campaign for the 36-year-old, who missed most of 2022 and all of 2023 because of a torn capsule in his right shoulder that eventually required surgery.
25. Carlos Estévez, RHP (2.1) — Estévez is a solid back-of-the-bullpen strike thrower who posted 26 saves last season between the Angels and Phillies. He logged a 2.45 ERA over 54 appearances. Batters hit .198 against his four-seamer, .196 against his slider and .143 against his changeup.
26. Tommy Kahnle, RHP (0.8) — He was magnificent for the Yankees in the regular season, with a 2.11 ERA over 50 appearances, and just as effective in the ALDS and ALCS before getting hit in the World Series.
27. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B (1.3) — Age and decline have caught up with Goldschmidt, who remains one of the game’s best quiet leaders. He still hit 22 home runs and stole 11 bases last season but saw his OPS+ (98) fall below 100 for the first time in his career.
28. Kenley Jansen, RHP (1.3) — Jansen had a 3.29 ERA over 54 2/3 innings last season and posted 27 saves for the Red Sox. He’s registered at least 25 saves for 12 straight full seasons.
29. Jeff Hoffman, RHP (2.0) — Hoffman logged a 2.17 ERA over 68 appearances and saved 10 games for the Phillies. In two seasons with Philadelphia, he had a 2.28 ERA and 0.944 WHIP over 122 appearances and averaged 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
30. Justin Verlander, RHP (minus-0.3) — The future Hall of Famer wants to keep pitching, and we want to keep watching as long as he’s healthy and still taking the ball.
31. Max Scherzer, RHP (0.4) — The future Hall of Famer made only nine starts last season due to injury, posting a 3.95 ERA. He, too, wants to keep pitching. Scherzer ranks second among active pitchers with 3,407 career strikeouts, which puts him just behind … Justin Verlander (3,416).
32. Hyeseong Kim, INF (N/A) — Kim hit .326/.383/.458 with 11 home runs, 75 RBIs and 30 stolen bases last season in the KBO. He was posted last week and will turn 26 in January.
33. Jose Iglesias, 2B (3.1) — What a comeback season — and not just because of his hit song, “OMG.” Iglesias hit .337/.381/.448 (137 OPS+), played strong defense and brought positive vibes to the Mets.
34. Jorge Polanco, 2B (1.3) — Polanco posted career lows in batting average (.213) and on-base percentage (296) last season, but did manage to hit 16 homers and 11 doubles.
35. Ryan Pressly, RHP (0.4) — After losing the Astros’ closer job to Josh Hader last offseason, Pressly posted a 3.49 ERA over 59 appearances, mostly pitching in the eighth inning. I think he can still close. He’ll turn 36 later this month.
36. Michael Lorenzen, RHP (2.6) — He can start, relieve and eat up innings. Lorenzen logged a 3.31 ERA over 22 starts and two relief appearances last season between the Rangers and Royals.
37. Trevor Williams, RHP (2.6) — Williams knows how to pitch and can provide important back-of-the-rotation innings. He missed a big chunk of the season with a right flexor muscle strain, but pitched well (2.03 ERA over 13 starts) when healthy.
38. Carlos Santana, 1B/DH (2.5) — Santana hit 23 homers and 26 doubles and won a Gold Glove at first base for the Twins. He knows how to mentor young players, both verbally and by example as he’s one of the best at working counts.
39. David Robertson, RHP (1.7) — Robertson struck out 99 in 72 innings last season for the Rangers and had a 3.00 ERA. He’ll turn 40 in April.
40. Andrew Kittredge, RHP (1.5) — At 34 years old, Kittredge can still get outs, posting a 2.80 ERA over 74 appearances last season for the Cardinals. His 38.9 percent chase rate was the best in baseball.
41. Alex Verdugo, OF (0.7) — Verdugo had a down year but was still the starting left fielder on a World Series team. He batted just .233 with 13 home runs and an 83 OPS+. He’s more of a platoon-type fourth outfielder.
42. Justin Turner, 1B/DH (1.5) — Turner hit .259/.354/.383 with 11 home runs and 24 doubles last season with the Blue Jays and Mariners. A veteran whose leadership is valued in any clubhouse.
43. Randal Grichuk, OF (2.2) — He’s a solid fourth or fifth outfielder who can also platoon if there are injuries. Grichuk hit 12 homers and 20 doubles and posted a 140 OPS+ last season over 254 at-bats.
44. Ryan Yarbrough, LHP (1.2) — Yarbrough can open, relieve and is a king at soft contact. (He ranked in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate.) He posted a 3.19 ERA in 98 2/3 innings last season with the Dodgers and Blue Jays.
45. Andrew Heaney, LHP (0.8) — Heaney went 5-14 with a 4.28 ERA in 32 appearances (31 starts) last season with the Rangers. The 33-year-old is a solid back-of-the-rotation option.
46. Kyle Finnegan, RHP (0.9) — Finnegan had 38 saves, a 3.68 ERA and 1.335 WHIP in 65 appearances last season. The Nationals non-tendered the All-Star reliever, who was projected to make $8.6 million in arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
47. Jesse Winker, DH (2.0) — Winker had 14 home runs and 14 steals over 430 at-bats last season with the Nationals and Mets. He finished with a 118 OPS+.
48. A.J. Minter, LHP (1.1) — Minter posted a 2.62 ERA over 39 relief appearances this year with Atlanta before undergoing season-ending hip surgery.
49. Kyle Gibson, RHP (0.9) — A back-of-the-rotation innings-eater who went 8-8 last season with a 4.24 ERA over 30 starts for the Cardinals. Excluding 2020, Gibson has logged at least 158 innings in each of the past seven seasons.
50. Danny Coulombe, LHP (0.9) — Coulombe put up a 2.12 ERA and 0.674 WHIP over 29 2/3 innings this year for the Orioles. He spent most of the summer on the IL due to elbow inflammation but didn’t allow a run in four September appearances after being reinstated.
51. Jakob Junis, RHP (1.8) — Junis had a 2.69 ERA and 0.851 WHIP over 30 appearances (six starts) last season, but he doesn’t miss enough bats. (He had only 1.07 walks per nine innings though.)
52. Buck Farmer, RHP (1.7) — He had a 3.04 ERA and a 4.00 FIP over 61 appearances last season for the Reds.
53. Cal Quantrill, RHP (1.6) — Quantrill logged a 4.98 ERA over 29 starts last season with the Rockies (and actually had a higher ERA, 5.04, when pitching away from Coors Field). Colorado non-tendered him.
54. Kiké Hernández, INF/OF (1.3) — Hernández remains one of the best role players in the game; he’s capable of filling in all over the diamond and can hit a fastball off the bench in big moments. His postseason resume includes 15 home runs and an .874 OPS in 259 plate appearances.
55. Michael Conforto, OF (1.3) — He hit .237/.309/.450 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs in 438 at-bats with the Giants last season.
56. Brendan Rodgers, 2B (1.1) — The former top prospect and third overall pick in the 2015 draft was non-tendered by the Rockies after batting .267/.314/.407 with 13 homers and 29 doubles last season. Maybe he’ll benefit from a change of scenery.
57. Andrew McCutchen, OF (0.8) — Playing at 37 last season, McCutchen still walloped 20 home runs for the Pirates.
58. Donovan Solano, INF (1.0) — Solano is a solid role player who can play all over the diamond. He posted a .343 on-base percentage last season with the Padres.
59. Tim Hill, LHP (0.5) — After being released by the White Sox in June, Hill was picked up by the Yankees and went on to register a 2.05 ERA over 44 innings for them.
60. Carson Kelly, C (0.5) — Kelly is a solid backup catcher who ranks in the 95th percentile in caught stealing above average, the 68th percentile in framing and the 63rd percentile in blocks above average. He just doesn’t hit enough to start.
61. Anthony Rizzo, 1B (0.2) — Rizzo dealt with injuries all season, batting just .228 with eight home runs and an 81 OPS+. He’s still a plus defender at first base and a leader in the clubhouse. Rizzo, 35, might have one more year left; perhaps a platoon with Paul Goldschmidt somewhere could make sense for him.
62. Max Kepler, OF (1.0) — He hit 24 home runs and posted a 120 OPS+ in 2023 but managed just eight homers and a 91 OPS+ this year.
63. Mark Canha (0.6) — He can still work a count, draw walks and hit some homers. But the 10-year veteran’s slash line fell to .242/.344/.346 last season with the Tigers and Giants.
64. Spencer Turnbull, RHP (1.2) — Turnbull was a valuable first-half contributor for the Phillies, pitching to a 2.65 ERA in seven starts and 10 relief appearances over 54 1/3 innings, but he suffered a lat strain and didn’t pitch after June 26.
65. Yimi García, RHP (0.5) — When he wasn’t on the IL, García put up a 3.46 ERA and 0.897 WHIP over 39 appearances with the Blue Jays and Mariners last season. He struck out 49 in 39 innings.
66. Chris Martin, RHP (0.2) — Martin, 38, had a 3.45 ERA over 45 relief appearances for Boston, with 50 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings.
67. José Leclerc, RHP (0.0) — He made 64 relief appearances last season for the Rangers, finishing with a 4.32 ERA and 3.48 FIP. He averaged 12.02 strikeouts per nine innings, but still walks too many and is too inconsistent.
68. Paul Sewald, RHP (0.2) — Sewald lost the Diamondbacks’ closer job in late July and finished with a 4.31 ERA over 42 appearances and 16 saves. The 34-year-old can still contribute in a set-up role.
69. Hunter Strickland, RHP (1.0) — He made 72 appearances last season and logged a 3.31 ERA for the Angels.
70. Lance Lynn, RHP (0.3) — Lynn went 7-4 with a 3.84 ERA over 23 starts last season with the Cardinals. He’s now a back-of-the-rotation, twice-through-the-lineup pitcher and still a good clubhouse guy.
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71. Martin Pérez, LHP (0.9) — Pérez put up a 4.53 ERA and 1.481 WHIP over 26 starts for the Pirates and Padres.
72. Yoan Moncada, 3B (0.3) — Moncada played in only 12 games last season due to an abductor strain. He averaged just 12 homers per season from 2021 to 2023.
73. Harrison Bader (0.9) — A solid defensive outfielder and aggressive base runner who slashed .236/.284/.373 with 12 homers for the Mets last season. Bader’s best role is as a fourth or fifth outfielder.
74. Paul DeJong, SS (0.9) — Last season, he hit .227 with 24 home runs and a 97 OPS+ — and that’s who he is.
75. Adam Ottavino, RHP (0.0) — He had a 4.34 ERA over 60 appearances last season for the Mets, with 70 strikeouts in 56 innings. Righties posted a .536 OPS against him, but lefties had a .943 OPS.
76. Gio Urshela, 3B (0.7) — An above-average defender at third base and a solid extra infielder who can also fill in at shortstop. Urshela batted .250/.286/.361 (82 OPS+) last season with the Tigers and Braves.
77. David Peralta, OF (0.8) — Peralta hit .267/.335/.415 with eight home runs last season for the Padres. The 37-year-old can come off the bench and contribute as an extra player.
78. Jon Berti, INF (0.6) — The 34-year-old can provide game-changing speed off the bench and fill in at second base or in the outfield.
79. Alex Cobb, RHP (0.2) — After hip surgery last offseason, Cobb made only three starts for the Guardians during the regular season, going 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA. He was hit hard in his two postseason starts, not lasting more than three innings in either one.
80. Joe Ross, RHP (0.5) — He’s had an injury-filled career but keeps going. Ross went 3-6 with a 3.77 ERA over 10 starts and 15 relief appearances last season with Milwaukee.
81. Caleb Ferguson, LHP (minus-0.5) — Ferguson posted a 4.64 ERA over 54 1/3 innings last season for the Yankees and Astros. He averaged 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings and 4.1 walks per nine. He’s still only 28 years old.
82. J.D. Martinez, DH (0.5) — Martinez hit .235/.320/.406 with 16 home runs last season for the Mets. The 37-year-old can also positively influence and mentor a club’s young hitters.
83. Josh Bell, 1B/DH (minus-0.6) — Last season with the Marlins and Diamondbacks, Bell hit .249/.319/.405 with 19 home runs while playing below-average defense at first base. His best role is as a platoon DH.
84. Jonathan Loáisiga, RHP (0.3) — Loaisiga had season-ending elbow surgery after making just three starts last season for the Yankees. He is not expected to be ready by spring training. He was limited to 17 appearances in 2023 due to injury.
85. Griffin Canning, RHP (0.3) — He was traded from the Angels to the Braves for Jorge Soler this offseason but Atlanta non-tendered him as they just wanted to dump Soler’s contract. Canning can still provide innings at the back of a rotation (5.19 ERA over 171 2/3 innings in 2024).
86. Austin Hays, OF (minus-0.1) — Hays hit between 16 and 22 home runs from 2021 to 2023 as a starting player. Last season as a platoon player for the Orioles and Phillies, he slashed .255/.303/.396 with only five homers as he dealt with a debilitating kidney infection in the second half. He was non-tendered by the Phillies.
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87. Connor Joe, OF (0.6) — Joe put up a .320 on-base percentage with nine home runs over 364 at-bats last season for the Pirates.
88. Ty France, 1B (minus-0.6) — France hit .234 with 13 home runs last season for the Mariners and Reds. He has a career slash line of .263/.337/.407.
89. Thairo Estrada, 2B/OF (minus-0.5) — Estrada hit .217 with nine home runs and two steals last season after two consecutive years of 14-plus homers and 20-plus stolen bases. He can play 2B, shortstop and the outfield, with his best role being as a bench player.
90. Dylan Carlson, OF (minus-1.2) — Carlson has never been able to replicate his 2021 season, when he posted a .348 on-base percentage with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs. He was dealt from the Cardinals to the Rays at the trade deadline and was non-tendered this offseason.
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(Photo of Juan Soto: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
