Here are the best remaining MLB free agents originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
THE MLB The offseason certainly hasn’t been short on splashes.
Several big names changed teams this winter, headlining the New York Mets lure outfielder Juan Soto of the Bronx, Queens on a Record contract of $765 million over 15 years In free agency.
Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell also made a move to the state, leaving the San Francisco Giants for one $162 million deal over five years with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers were also able to retain outfielder Teoscar Hernández on a three-year, $66 million contract.
Following the departures of Snell and Soto, the Giants and New York Yankees welcomed new stars to town. San Francisco landed shortstop Willy Adames on a seven-year, $182 million dealwhile New York strengthened its rotation by signing Max Frit to a $218 million deal over eight years.
The Yankees then found their Soto replacement on the trade market, acquisition of outfielder Cody Bellinger of the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs moved on from Bellinger after completing their own trade, bring in outfielder Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros. And in another important trade, the Chicago Sox shipped Garrett Hook pitcher At Boston Red Sox.
Other free agent activity includes first baseman Christian Walker moving from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Astros, second baseman Gleyber Torres leaving the Yankees for the Detroit Tigers and pitcher Sean Manaea returning to the Mets .
It’s been a tough winter so far, and more big changes are still to come as a number of notable names remain unsigned. Here’s an updated look at the top remaining free agents (listed alphabetically by last name):
Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets
The Mets’ current projected lineup is led by Soto and Francisco Lindor, but will it also feature one of the franchise’s all-time best home run hitters? Alonso, 30, ranks third in franchise history with 226 home runs over his first six seasons in the big leagues. The two-time Home Run Derby champion was an All-Star for a third straight season in 2024, hitting .240/.329/.459 with 34 homers and 88 RBIs in 162 games. He also had a strong postseason as New York made a superb run to the NLCS.
Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros
A two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Bregman spent the first nine years of his career in Houston. After a slow start through 2024, he finished the season hitting .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBIs in 145 games. The 30-year-old also won his first career Gold Glove.
Corbin Burnes, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Burnes, 30, has made a smooth transition from the National League to the American League. Following an offseason trade to the Milwaukee Brewers, the former Cy Young winner went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA, 181 strikeouts and 48 walks in 194, 1 round in 32 starts. He also received a fourth consecutive All-Star nomination.
Jack Flaherty, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Flaherty had a bounce-back 2024 season, dropping his ERA from 4.99 the year before to 3.17. The 29-year-old, acquired mid-season by Los Angeles from the Detroit Tigers, was 13-7 overall with 194 strikeouts and 38 walks in 162 innings in 28 starts.
Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Hoffman, 31, received the first All-Star honor of his career in 2024 as he posted a 2.17 ERA with 10 saves, 89 strikeouts and 16 walks in 66.1 innings. In two seasons with the Philadelphia PhilliesHoffman recorded a 2.28 ERA in 118.2 innings.
Ha-Seong Kim, INF, San Diego Padres
A strong defensive outfielder, Kim saw his production at the plate decline in 2024. The 29-year-old hit .233/.330/.370 with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and 22 steals in 121 games. This followed a 2023 season in which Kim posted a .749 OPS over 152 games, stole 38 bases and won a Gold Glove award. Kim’s Opening Day status is uncertain after undergoing shoulder surgery in October.
Jurickson Profar, OF/INF, San Diego Padres
Profar’s 11th big league season was the best of his career. After being released mid-season by the Colorado Rockies in 2023, the 31-year-old earned his first trip to the All-Star Game in 2024, finishing the year with a .280/.380/ average. 459 with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs.
Anthony Santander, OF, Baltimore Orioles
Unanimous MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were the only players last season to hit more home runs than Santander, who hit a career-high 44 times. The 30-year-old also drove in over 100 runs for the first time with 102 RBIs, hitting .235/.308/.506 in 155 games. Santander, who improved his OPS in each of the last three seasons, appeared in his first All-Star Game in 2024.
Roki Sasaki, RHP, Japan
Sasaki is the latest high-profile branch to join Japan’s big boys. The 23-year-old sported a 2.02 ERA with 524 strikeouts and 91 walks in 414.2 innings over four seasons with Japanese club Chiba Lotte. He also made two starts during the 2023 edition of Japan. World Baseball Classic championship race. There is, however, one twist in the Sasaki free agency draw: the teams only be able to use money from the international bonus pool to sign him.
Tanner Scott, LHP, San Diego Padres
Scott, 30, was named an All-Star for the first time in 2024. The left-handed reliever, who was traded from Miami Marlins At San Diego Padres mid-season, recorded a 1.75 ERA with 22 saves, 84 strikeouts and 36 walks in 72 total innings.
Justin Verlander, RHP, Houston Astros
The 41-year-old Verlander’s season was his worst in a decade, as he finished with an ERA above 3.38 for the first time since 2014. The three-time Cy Young winner went 5 -6 with a 5.48 ERA as a neck injury limited him. at 90.1 innings in 17 starts. The difficult season came after Verlander posted a 1.75 ERA over 28 starts in 2022 and a 3.22 ERA over 27 starts in 2023.
