With MLB free agency underway, lots of the attention will be on Juan Soto, the biggest fish out there and one of the most exciting free agents in history.
Along with Soto, there are some other huge names out there, including some aces, well-rounded power hitters, and one of the best third basemen of the last decade.
Where will the top 10 free agents land?
Here’s our prediction…
10. Teoscar Hernandez: Dodgers
With Hernandez coming off the best full season of his career (137 OPS+) and the Dodgers fresh off a World Series title, this reunion makes all the sense in the world. In fact, after the season ended, Hernandez said, “The Dodgers are the priority” and that he was going to do everything in his power to remain in Los Angeles.
Hernandez signed a one-year deal worth $23.5 million with the Dodgers before the 2024 season. Entering his age-32 season in 2025 and coming off a huge campaign, he should get a two- or three-year deal this time.
9. Anthony Santander: Giants
The Giants have missed on most of the big free agents they’ve gone after since landing Barry Bonds before the 1993 season. That includes a swing and a miss during the Aaron Judge sweepstakes a few offseasons ago when San Francisco nearly had Judge before a late offer from the Yankees lured him back to The Bronx.
The Giants are expected to be among the teams seriously interested in Soto, but it’s nearly impossible to see them landing him. Santander, coming off a 44-homer season for the Orioles, will be the consolation prize.
8. Sean Manaea: Mets
Speaking after the season, Manaea made it clear that he’d like to stay, saying “I love New York, the organization, and all the people here, so I’d definitely love to be back.”
And of all of the Mets’ free agent starting pitchers, Manaea is the one it makes the most sense for them to bring back. He pitched like a legitimate ace after dropping his arm angle in July and should have plenty left in the tank entering his age-33 season. A deal for three or four years should be able to get it done.
7. Blake Snell: Yankees
Depending on how the Yankees’ offseason plays out (more on that below), they could be among the top suitors for the biggest starting pitchers on the market. And they had interest in Snell last offseason before they signed Marcus Stroman.
The Yanks need to improve their fundamentals this offseason and make their offense more well-rounded, but they also need another ace-level starter. Snell has the ability to dominate, and should not cost as much in terms of years or dollars as the other top starters.
6. Willy Adames: Braves
Adames, who will be entering his age-29 season in 2025, has a strong blend of power (he’s hit 24 or more each of the last three seasons) and speed (he stole a career-high 21 bases in 2024). His strikeout totals are a bit of a concern, but haven’t spiked badly — and are still in an acceptable range.
He’s a strong fit for the Braves, who have Ozzie Albies at second base but whose shortstop situation is unsettled.
5. Pete Alonso: Mets
After posting an .869 OPS in 2022, Alonso had an .821 OPS in 2023, and a .788 OPS in 2024 — the lowest mark of his career. But it’s fair to believe some of his struggles in 2024 had to do with the pressure of being in his walk year. And Alonso erupted in the postseason, with a .999 OPS in 58 plate appearances over 13 games.
This is business for the Mets and Alonso, but there’s also some emotion tied in. And unless Alonso’s market spirals out of control, the Polar Bear returning to the Mets — perhaps on a deal worth around $125 million for five years — makes the most sense.
4. Alex Bregman: Blue Jays
The Jays have been all-in when it comes to free agency pursuits recently, including a massive push they made for Shohei Ohtani last offseason. So it will be a huge upset if they don’t wind up with one of the biggest names available this time around.
Whoever signs Bregman could wind up regretting it near the end of his deal, but the guess here is that his relatively down offensive season in 2024 was an aberration. If so, he should be an offensive force during the early part of his next contract, while continuing to provide strong defense at third base.
3. Max Fried: Dodgers
The Dodgers, despite already having what could be a loaded rotation if healthy, still need another big arm to pitch near the top of it. That’s because there are so many question marks, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto (who missed a large chunk of 2024), Tyler Glasnow (who missed the end of it), and both Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May (who missed all of it).
Los Angeles could re-sign Jack Flaherty, but the better fit for them is Fried, who has thrown 165.2 innings or more in four of the last five full seasons (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign) and is a legitimate ace when he’s at his best.
2. Corbin Burnes: Tigers
Burnes is the crown jewel of the starting pitching market, and rightfully so. He has been a special mix of available (he’s thrown 757.0 innings over the last four seasons) and dominant (posting a 2.94 ERA and 1.02 WHIP during that span).
One concern here could be Burnes’ tumbling strikeout rate, which has been decreasing steadily since 2022. But as he prepares for his age-30 season, he’s as good as it gets. Enter the Tigers, who have proven in the past that they have the stomach to spend big (Miguel Cabrera is one recent example) and could make themselves AL Central favorites by pairing Burnes with the electric left-hander Tarik Skubal.
1. Juan Soto: Mets
A perfect storm is brewing for the Mets, who have tons of money coming off the books ahead of the 2025 season, are in strong shape payroll-wise for the next half-decade, and seem primed to make a Soto pursuit the centerpiece of what is expected to be a very aggressive offseason.
Fresh off a run to the NLCS, the Mets are primed to add what they hope are the finishing touches to an already strong core. And Soto, who is entering his age-26 season and is one of the best hitters on the planet, would help transform the offense from good to dangerously good.
As noted above, the Giants are expected to be involved for Soto. So could the Blue Jays and the Dodgers. But it’s hard to see the sweepstakes coming down to anything but a Mets vs. Yankees battle. And the Mets will come out on top.
