Top 10 MLB free agents this off-season (2024-25)

The World Series has ended, and the Dodgers and Yankees, like the rest of MLB, are now focusing on the offseason.

The previous Hot Stove season was mostly focused on two players who ended up in Los Angeles – Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This year, some notable free agents will be sought after by many teams.

Here are the top 10 free agents expected to make a significant impact during the Hot Stove season :

1. Juan Soto

It is highly uncommon for a player as talented as Soto to become a free agent before turning 26, which makes the four-time All-Star a unique find in the free agency market. After the 2018 season, both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado found themselves in comparable positions and both signed lucrative free-agent contracts valued at $300 million or more.

Industry insiders expect Soto’s price tag to increase significantly, particularly following a standout postseason that contributed to the Yankees reaching the World Series, with many predicting a contract worth at least $500 million over 10 years.

Potential matches: Giants, Mets, Yankees

2. Corbin Burnes

Burnes exceeded all of the Orioles’ expectations in 2024, providing Baltimore with the reliable top pitcher they had been looking for. Burnes delivered an outstanding performance in his only playoff game for the Orioles, and they are expected to make every effort to retain the four-time All-Star and winner of the 2021 NL Cy Young Award.

The pitcher is expected to achieve his fifth consecutive top 10 Cy Young placement this year, making him the most in-demand starting pitcher next winter.

Possible matches: Mets, Orioles, Red Sox

3. Blake Snell

Snell has decided to not renew his contract with the Giants and is exploring free agency for the second consecutive year. After winning his second Cy Young Award, he found it difficult to locate the deal he desired. After signing a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants, the left-handed pitcher had a rough first half of 2024, going 0-3 with a 9.51 ERA in six starts due to injuries.

Following his return on July 9, Snell had a record of 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 14 starts, which will probably increase his value compared to the previous offseason, when his compensation was linked to his free agency.

Possible matches: Giants, Padres, Rangers

4. Alex Bregman

Bregman had an impressive performance in 2018-19, averaging 36 home runs, 108 RBIs, and a .970 OPS, leading to him being a top five finisher in AL MVP voting both years. Since then, he has not achieved those levels, but he continues to be one of the most productive third basemen in baseball.

Bregman had a slow start to his platform year, batting .206 with four home runs and a .589 OPS in his first 51 games. However, he finished strong by hitting .288 with 22 home runs and an .862 OPS in his final 94 games. The Astros have discussed retaining Bregman in Houston, but there will likely be several teams vying for his signature.

Potential matches: Astros, D-backs, Mariners

5. Max Fried

Fried, a Braves player developed from within, is one of the rare ones who never agreed to a long-lasting contract. This decision will lead him to become a free agent after his second successful season in the All-Star game within three years.

The southpaw’s 3.25 ERA in 29 starts was his highest since 2019, yet Fried, a three-time NL Gold Glove recipient, remains one of the best starting pitchers on the market this offseason.

Possible matches: Cubs, Padres, Rangers

6. Anthony Santander

Santander has been a consistent performer for many years, but he chose the perfect moment to have his best season yet. In his inaugural All-Star appearance this season, Santander achieved personal bests with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs, with a .814 OPS marking his highest in a full 162-game campaign.

Santander, despite his importance to the Orioles, is expected to leave since Baltimore has many promising young outfielders and other teams are looking for a power-hitting outfielder.

Possible matches: Cardinals, Guardians, Phillies

7. Pete Alonso

Alonso has proven to be a consistent power hitter since joining the league in 2019, hitting an average of 44 home runs each year over his first four 162-game seasons (he also hit 16 in 57 games during the shortened 2020 season due to COVID).

In ’24, Alonso hit 34 home runs in all 162 games he played and 15 of them were in 67 games post-All Star break. He created memorable moments this postseason, with his series-clinching home run against the Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series being the most significant.

Possible matches: Astros, Cardinals, Mets

8. Willy Adames

In the past few years, multiple standout shortstops like Corey Seager, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Dansby Swanson have become free agents and signed lucrative contracts. After a successful offensive year with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs, Adames is the best shortstop for the upcoming winter. Despite his less impressive defensive stats in 2024, he is still a reliable fielder.

Possible matches: Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants.

9. Jack Flaherty

Flaherty’s initial experience with free agency was unsuccessful last year when he took a chance on himself by signing a one-year contract worth $14 million with the Tigers. His risk was successful, as the pitcher performed well in 18 games for Detroit before being traded to the Dodgers before the Trade Deadline.

He posted a 6-2 record with a 3.58 ERA in 10 regular-season starts for Los Angeles, aiding the team in reaching the World Series, and later excelled in Game 1 to increase his appeal. In a somewhat small pool of starting pitchers available, Flaherty is likely to secure the multiyear contract he couldn’t find last year despite it being dominated by top-tier pitchers.

Possible matches: Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox

10. Tanner Scott

Scott has become one of the top relievers in the sport, receiving his inaugural All-Star nomination earlier this summer. The southpaw recorded a 1.75 ERA and 22 saves in 72 games with both the Marlins and the Padres, making him the top free-agent reliever. Because there is a high demand for dependable relief pitchers across the league, Scott is expected to have many interested teams.

Possible matches: Blue Jays, Phillies, Yankees