by Here are the top remaining MLB free agents originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
There was certainly no shortage of splashes in the MLB free agency period.
Several big names have changed teams this offseason, most notably the New York Mets, who lured outfielder Juan Soto from the Bronx to Queens with a record 15-year, $765 million contract.
Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell also moved in-state, leaving the San Francisco Giants for a five-year, $162 million contract with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Following the departures of Snell and Soto, the Giants and New York Yankees welcomed new stars to town. San Francisco secured shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract, while New York bolstered its rotation by signing Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract.
The Yankees then found their Soto replacement on the trade market, acquiring outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs moved on from Bellinger after making a major trade of their own, acquiring outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros.
And in the other big trade of the offseason, starting pitcher Garrett Crochet moved from the Chicago White Sox to the Boston Red Sox.
It’s been a wild winter so far and there are more big moves to come with a number of big names still unsigned. Here’s an updated look at the remaining free agents (listed alphabetically by last name):
Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets
The Mets’ current projected lineup is headlined by Soto and Francisco Lindor, but will it include one of the franchise’s all-time best home run hitters? The 30-year-old Alonso ranks third in franchise history with 226 home runs in his first six big league seasons. The two-time Home Run Derby champion was an All-Star for the third straight year in 2024, hitting .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs in 162 games. He also enjoyed a strong postseason as New York made a stunning run into 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 to 2024, he finished the season hitting .260/.315/.453, 26 home runs and 75 RBIs in 145 games. The 30-year-old also received his first Gold Glove of his career.
Corbin Burnes, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Burnes, 30, made a smooth transition from the National League to the American League. After an offseason trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, the one-time Cy Young winner went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA, 181 strikeouts and 48 walks in 194.1 innings over 32 starts. He also received his fourth consecutive All-Star nomination.
Jack Flaherty, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Flaherty enjoyed an upswing in the 2024 season, lowering his ERA to 3.17 from 4.99 the year before. The 29-year-old, who Los Angeles acquired from the Detroit Tigers midseason, went 13-7 with 194 strikeouts and 38 walks in 162 innings in 28 starts.
Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Hernández’s decision to sign a one-year deal with the Dodgers last offseason appears to be a wise one. After his OPS dipped to .741 in 2023, the 32-year-old rebounded to hit .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs in 154 games. He also made his second All-Star Game and helped Los Angeles win the World Series title.
Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Hoffman, 31, earned the first All-Star honor of his career in 2024 when he posted a 2.17 ERA with 10 saves, 89 strikeouts and 16 walks in 66.1 innings. In two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Hoffman posted a 2.28 ERA over 118.2 innings.
Ha-Seong Kim, INF, San Diego Padres
Kim, a strong defensive infielder, experienced a decline in performance at the plate in 2024. The 29-year-old hit .233/.330/.370 with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and 22 steals in 121 games. This was followed by a 2023 season in which Kim posted a .749 OPS, stole 38 bases and won a Gold Glove Award in 152 games. Kim’s opening day status is uncertain after she underwent shoulder surgery in October.
Sean Manaea, LHP, New York Mets
Manaea had a strong first season with the Mets as he returned to a full-time starting role. The 32-year-old southpaw went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA, 184 strikeouts and 63 walks in 181.2 innings in 32 starts. It was his first season with an ERA below 4.00 in at least 30 starts since 2021.
Joc Pederson, DH/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Pederson, 32, has put together three straight strong seasons at the plate, with his 2024 season being the best of them all. The two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion hit .275/.393/.515 with 23 home runs and 64 RBIs in 132 games. His .908 OPS was the best of his career as he continued to primarily face and enjoy right-handed pitchers.
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 yards. The 30-year-old also drove in over 100 runs with 102 RBIs for the first time and hit .235/.308/.506 in 155 games. Santander, which has increased its OPS in each of the last three seasons, reached its first All-Star Game in 2024.
Roki Sasaki, RHP, Japan
Sasaki is the latest high-profile arm to join the big boys from Japan. The 23-year-old posted a 2.02 ERA with 524 strikeouts and 91 walks in 414.2 innings in four seasons with Japanese club Chiba Lotte. He also made two starts during Japan’s 2023 World Baseball Classic championship. However, there’s a twist to the Sasaki free agency draw: Teams can only use international bonus pool money to sign him.
Tanner Scott, LHP, San Diego Padres
Scott, 30, was an All-Star for the first time in 2024. The left-handed reliever, who was traded from the Miami Marlins to the San Diego Padres mid-season, posted a 1.75 ERA with 22 saves, 84 strikeouts and 36 walks in 72 total innings.
