As is the case in most years, the MLB offseason is not off to an thrilling begin, however with a number of high-profile free brokers out there, the motion ought to choose up quickly.
Though the Juan Soto sweepstakes is the largest storyline of the free-agency interval, there are many different gifted hitters available on the market who might also be on the transfer. With that in thoughts, listed below are our predictions for the place the top-10 free-agent hitters will land:
Outfielder Juan Soto
Prediction: The 26-year-old stays in New York however with Mets on record-setting deal
For the second consecutive offseason, one free agent stands above the remainder. We’ve not seen a youthful and extra gifted participant hit free company since Alex Rodriguez grew to become out there in 2000. Soto, who’s broadly anticipated to signal one of many richest offers in MLB historical past, met with the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, Purple Sox and Dodgers over the past week.
Whereas his defense and base running raise questions about whether or not he is value a record-setting contract, Soto’s bat, in addition to his resume, greater than compensate for these flaws. The 2019 World Sequence champion ranks sixth all time in residence runs amongst gamers underneath 26 (201) and first in walks (769), drawing 101 extra free passes than the next-closest participant, Mickey Mantle. Moreover, Soto is coming off an excellent season for the American League champion Yankees, his first with the crew, hitting a career-high 41 homers.
A number of insiders consider Soto will re-sign with the Yankees or be part of the crosstown Mets, with cash being the largest motivator behind his eventual resolution. If these studies are correct, it is exhausting to think about Mets billionaire proprietor Steve Cohen, who’s reportedly keen to bid $50 million greater than every other crew for Soto’s providers, not signing the four-time All-Star.
In any case, Cohen did not draw back from overpaying for RHPs Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander within the twilight of their careers. One can solely think about how a lot cash Cohen is keen to offer a generational expertise who’s coming into his prime.
Shortstop Willy Adames
Prediction: Indicators with San Francisco Giants
The following shortstop set to money in on a nine-figure deal, Adames would be the most sought free-agent infielder following his stellar 2024 season. In 161 video games for the Nationwide League Central champion Brewers, Adames hit 32 residence runs with 112 RBI — each profession highs — and had 4.8 fWAR, the ninth best within the NL. (Per FanGraphs, fWar is a stat that estimates a participant’s worth to his crew by combining all facets of his efficiency into one quantity.)
Due to his reported willingness to maneuver to third base, Adames has no scarcity of suitors. Nonetheless, it is unclear how a lot of an element a place change will play in his resolution, and if all affords are comparable, maybe he’ll go the place he can play shortstop. What may be stated for sure is that San Francisco may gain advantage from including a shortstop and has the motivation to signal a star expertise.
The Giants have repeatedly been left on the altar by prime free brokers lately. They’ve misplaced out on Aaron Decide and Shohei Ohtani and had a $350 million cope with Carlos Correa nixed over a failed bodily, however their aggressiveness should not change underneath new president of baseball operations Buster Posey, the previous Giants star. In the end, San Francisco will make Adames its subsequent shortstop, a place it obtained simply 1.8 WAR from final season, the seventh worst amongst groups.
Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez
Prediction: Re-signs with Los Angeles Dodgers
Hernandez did not signal the multiyear contract he was in search of over the past free-agency cycle and opted to hitch the Dodgers on a one-year deal. He shouldn’t have any hassle securing a long-term deal this offseason, as Hernandez turned in the very best season of his profession for the World Sequence champion Dodgers, slashing .272/.339/.501 with 33 homers and 99 RBI.
Per The Athletic’s Will Sammon and Fabian Ardaya, a minimum of five teams have expressed curiosity in Hernandez. It would not be surprising to see the Boston Purple Sox, a crew Hernandez doubtless would’ve signed with final winter had it provided him a three-year deal, sparking a bidding battle. However in the long run, the two-time All-Star will re-sign with Los Angeles, simply as he has been hoping for the reason that offseason started.
First baseman Pete Alonso
Prediction: Re-signs with New York Mets
“The Polar Bear” wager on himself final season after turning down a seven-year, $158 million contract extension from the Mets in 2023, however the resolution did not go as deliberate. Alonso posted a career-worst OPS (.788) and hit 34 homers and drove in 88 runs, his lowest marks in every class in a 162-game season.
Nonetheless, Alonso bounced again within the postseason, hitting .273 with 4 residence runs. After all, no homer was extra notable than Alonso’s go-ahead ninth-inning blast to assist the Mets win a winner-take-all Sport 3 of the wild-card sequence towards the Brewers. He may very well be declining, however as a result of Alonso has unquestionably solidified himself as an all-time nice Met, Cohen will do all the things in his energy to maintain the four-time All-Star.
First baseman Christian Walker
Prediction: Indicators with New York Yankees
Considered one of MLB’s extra underrated abilities for the previous few seasons, Walker is perhaps a extra fascinating choice for groups eyeing a primary baseman than Alonso. When wholesome, Walker is likely one of the extra constant hitters in baseball and arguably the very best fielding first baseman, rating first on the place in Outs Above Average in every of the previous three seasons. An indirect harm harm his 2024 offensive stats, however Walker nonetheless hit 26 homers and posted a .803 OPS in 130 video games with Arizona.
Earlier this month, Bob Nightengale of USA In the present day reported the Yankees are among the many groups planning “to aggressively pursue Walker,” which is not shocking as a result of Anthony Rizzo hit free company. Walker would absolutely be an improve over Rizzo, and as a right-handed hitter, he’d give New York wanted assist towards left-handed pitching. If the Yankees do not re-sign Soto as we’re predicting, Walker will probably be simply one of many crew’s many noteworthy additions.
Third baseman Alex Bregman
Prediction: Indicators with Philadelphia Phillies
With the management and postseason expertise he offers, Bregman must be a scorching commodity this offseason, particularly after posting a robust 134 wRC+ within the second half of final season. (Per MLB.com, wRC+ takes the statistic Runs Created and adjusts that quantity to account for essential exterior components — like ballpark or period.)
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic believes the two-time World Sequence champion is in search of a deal value almost $350 million over 11 years. In all probability, Bregman will not obtain a contract of that magnitude, however the Phillies will probably be desirous to spend huge on him.
In 2024, Philadelphia once more fell brief within the postseason, getting eradicated by the Mets within the NLDS, and should take some huge swings to maintain its championship window open. The primary main roster shake-up for the Phillies will probably be shifting third baseman Alec Bohm, who’s on the commerce block after going 1-for-13 towards the Mets within the playoffs.
It should not be troublesome to discover a commerce associate for Bohm, and to adequately change the All-Star, the Phillies will signal the longtime Astro to a $200M contract with the extra assets supplied by their new investors.
Outfielder Anthony Santander
Prediction: Indicators with Cleveland Guardians
Santander, 30, will doubtless be the fall-back plan for golf equipment that fail to land Soto, although “he is drawing curiosity from lower-revenue groups as effectively,” in response to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The switch-hitter set a career-high with 44 residence runs for Baltimore in 2024, and over the previous 4 seasons, solely 11 gamers have hit extra homers than Santander’s 123. Even so, Passan believes Santander will not command a $100M deal due to his unimpressive lifetime .307 on-base share.
Cleveland loved a profitable first season underneath American League Supervisor of the Yr Stephen Vogt, successful the AL Central and reaching the ALCS. Nonetheless, to turn out to be a respectable World Sequence contender, its lineup, which scored the fifth-fewest runs after the All-Star break, desperately wants the pop Santander can present. Because of this, search for the Guardians to make an uncharacteristic splash in free company and signal the Venezuela native to a three-year, $70M deal.
Outfielder Jurickson Profar
Prediction: Re-signs with San Diego Padres
The previous top-ranked prospect lastly reached stardom in his age-31 season after re-joining San Diego on a one-year deal final winter. Along with setting a profession highs in homers (24), Profar, who earned his first All-Star nod in 2024, posted the seventh-highest on-base share within the majors (.380).
Despite the fact that signing Profar to a multiyear deal may very well be thought of a danger due to the turbulent begin of his profession, San Diego will not squander the chance to retain certainly one of its finest hitters. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel tasks Profar to signal a three-year, $45M deal, which might be an affordable worth for the Padres.
Second baseman Gleyber Torres
Prediction: Indicators with Seattle Mariners
It seems Torres’ time with the Yankees has come to an finish after the crew determined to not lengthen him the qualifying provide, doubtless understanding he would’ve accepted it. 2024 was a combined bag for Torres, who led MLB second basemen in errors (18) and posted the second-worst OPS of his profession (.709).
Regardless of his regular-season struggles, Torres emerged as certainly one of New York’s most impactful hitters in October, slashing .241/.348/.397 with two homers and eight RBI. Due to his resurgent postseason, coupled with a scarcity of intriguing options, groups will overlook Torres’ defensive shortcomings and contemplate him the highest free-agent second baseman.
After holding a 10-game lead within the AL West standings throughout mid-June, the Mariners spiraled en path to an 85-77 end and missed the postseason. Seattle’s woeful offense was a driving pressure behind its collapse and since Jorge Polanco is a free agent, the crew would profit from including a power-hitting second baseman. 2025’s outcomes may determine whether or not the Mariners will transfer ahead with their present core, so anticipate them to splurge on Torres, signing him to a three-year deal.
Infielder Ha-Seong Kim
Prediction: Indicators with New York Yankees
As a result of Torres is leaving the Bronx, the Yankees should get artistic in looking for a alternative. Though New York may select Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Oswaldo Cabrera to fill the void, Kim will show to be too useful to go on in free company.
Kim has been a league-average hitter since debuting for San Diego in 2021, posting a 101 wRC+, however has established himself as one of many prime defensive infielders in baseball. The 2023 Gold Glove Award winner not solely has the flexibility to play second base, third base and shortstop. He’s additionally a dynamic base runner. Over the previous two seasons, Kim ranks fifteenth in MLB in stolen bases (60).
Kim’s ability set makes him a super match for a Yankees crew that completed third within the American League in errors final season (93) and stole 88 bases, the seventh fewest within the majors. And since he underwent shoulder surgical procedure in October, placing his availability for the beginning of the 2025 season in query, the Yankees may land him on a discount of a contract.
