With MLB Free Agency underway, there will be a lot of attention Juan Sotothe biggest fish around and one of the most exciting free agents in history.
Besides Soto, there are a number of other big names, including some aces, well-rounded power hitters and one of the best third basemen of the past decade.
Where will the top 10 free agents land?
Here’s our prediction…
10. Teoscar Hernández: Evaders
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. After the season, Hernandez even said, “The Dodgers are the priority” and that he would do anything to stay in Los Angeles.
Hernandez signed a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers before the 2024 season. If he enters his age-32 season in 2025 and has a huge season, he should get a two- or three-year deal this time around.
9. Anthony Santander: Giants
The Giants have missed out 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 seasons ago, when San Francisco almost got 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 almost impossible to see them landing him. Santander, who is coming off a 44-home run season for the Orioles, will be the consolation prize.
8. Sean Manaea: Mets
Manaea made it clear after the season that he would like to stay, saying, “I love New York, the organization and all the people here, so I would definitely like to come back.”
And of all the Mets’ free agent starting pitchers, it makes the most sense for them to bring back Manaea. He pitched like a legitimate ace after dropping his arm corner in July and should still have plenty left in the tank as he enters his age-33 season. A three or four year deal should 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 candidates for the biggest starting pitchers on the market. And they had interest in Snell last offseason before signing Marcus Stroman.
The Yanks need to improve their fundamentals this season and make their offense more complete, but they also need a top-level starter. Snell has the ability to dominate and shouldn’t cost as much in terms of years or dollars as the other top starters.
6. Willy Adames: Brave
Adames, who will enter his age-29 season in 2025, has a strong mix of power (he hit 24 or more each of the past three seasons) and speed (he stole a career-high 21 bases in 2024). His strikeout totals are a bit concerning, but haven’t gone up badly – and are still within an acceptable range.
He’s a good fit for the Braves, who have done the same Ozzie Albies at second base, but whose shortstop situation is uncertain.
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 that some of his struggles in 2024 had to do with the pressure of his walking year. And Alonso burst onto the scene in the postseason, with a .999 OPS in 58 plate appearances in 13 games.
This is business for the Mets and Alonso, but there is also some emotion attached to it. And unless Alonso’s market goes out of control, the Polar Bear returning to the Mets – perhaps on a deal worth around $125 million for five years – will make the most sense.
4. Alex Bregman: Blue jays
The Jays have been all-in lately when it comes to free agency activity, including a huge push they pulled off Shohei Ohtani last outdoor season. So it will be a huge shock if they don’t end up with one of the biggest names around this time.
Whoever signs Bregman could regret it near the end of his contract, but the bet is that his relatively poor offensive season in 2024 was an aberration. If so, he should be an offensive force through the early part of his next contract while continuing to provide strong defense at third base.
3. Max Fried: Evaders
The Dodgers, despite already having a loaded rotation when healthy, still need a big arm to pitch at the top. That’s because there are so many question marks, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto (who missed much of 2024), Tyler Glasnow (who missed the end of it), and both Tony Gonsolin And Dustin May (who missed it all).
Los Angeles could re-sign Jack Flahertybut a better fit for them is Fried, who has thrown 165.2 innings or more in four of the past 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 for good reason. He was a special mix of available (he threw 757.0 innings over the past four seasons) and dominant (with a 2.94 ERA and 1.02 WHIP during that span).
One concern here could be Burnes’ declining strikeout rate, which has been steadily declining since 2022. But as he prepares for his 30-something season, he’s as good as it gets. Join the Tigers, who have proven in the past that they have the courage to spend big (Miguel Cabrera is a recent example) and could make themselves AL Central favorites by pairing Burnes with the electric left-hander Tarik Skubal.
1. Juan Soto: Mets
There’s a perfect storm brewing for the Mets, who have taken tons of money off the books for the 2025 season, are in strong shape payroll-wise over the next five years and appear poised to make a Soto chase the centerpiece of what It is expected to be a very aggressive offseason.
Fresh off a run to the NLCS, the Mets are ready to, they hope, put the finishing touches on an already strong core. And Soto, who is entering his age-26 season and is one of the best hitters in the world, would help transform the offense from good to dangerously good.
As mentioned above, the Giants are expected to be involved with Soto. That includes the Blue Jays and the Dodgers. But it’s hard to see the sweepstakes coming down to anything other than a battle between Mets and Yankees. And the Mets will come out on top.
