Which position groups have the best free agents? Let's rank 'em

If you’re a baseball team with, say, a billion dollars laying around and are in the market for a 26-year-old selective slugger who is probably bound for the Hall of Fame, boy, have I got good news for you.

But beyond Juan Soto, what are the strengths of this free agent market? If your favorite team needs a [insert position here], how good are the options available?

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Let’s look at it by doing what we do best -- subjective rankings!

1. Starting pitching

The posting of 23-year-old Japanese ace Roki Sasaki augments what was already a very strong starting pitching class. And good thing, too, because everybody is short on starters these days.

In Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell and the rehabbing Shane Bieber, the open market contains three recent Cy Young winners in or approaching their early 30s. In that same age range, Max Fried -- who finished second in the Cy Young voting in 2022 -- and Walker Buehler -- who shook off his post-surgery rust with some impressive moments in the postseason -- both have ace pedigree. Jack Flaherty, Sean Manaea and Luis Severino all increased their value in 2024, as did Yusei Kikuchi after a midseason trade to the Astros.

There are all kinds of guys you can dream on, be it Matthew Boyd now that he’s recovered from Tommy John surgery, or Nick Martinez, who could be more than a swingman, or Nick Pivetta, who has been a solid innings eater but whose stuff might point to more. There’s also a two-time World Series champ in Nathan Eovaldi and likely Hall of Famers in Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw (though we all know where he’s going to end up).

That doesn’t cover everything, of course, but there’s plenty to work with. This is one of the better starting pitching classes we’ve seen of late.

2. Right field

OK, so a generational superstar in Soto certainly amplifies this particular marketplace. But right field also has some really satisfying potential Plan Bs for the teams that come up a penny (or a few hundred million bucks) shy in the Soto sweepstakes.

Can we interest you in a Teoscar Hernández, who made good on a one-year deal with the Dodgers by banging out 33 homers, 32 doubles and 99 RBIs in the regular season and going 7-for-20 with a homer and double in the World Series? Or how about an Anthony Santander (aka “Tony Taters”), whose 44 homers in 2024 were the fifth-most in history (and most since 2006) by a switch-hitter?

And if you’re looking for value, you can do worse than to bet on a Max Kepler bounceback after he battled knee and hip issues last season. He had 24 homers, 22 doubles and an OPS+ that was 20% better than league average in 2023.

3. First base

Across MLB, this position is not as power-packed as it used to be. Last season was the second in the last three years in which the collective slugging percentage of first basemen was below .400.

That adds to the allure of the “Polar Bear,” Pete Alonso, who has banged out north of 30 homers every full season of his career. And if you like guys who can catch it as well as they hit it, there are none better than three-time Gold Glove winner Christian Walker.

This is also a spot where you can go short-term with a wily 38-year-old in Carlos Santana, who is coming off his first Gold Glove season and still provides above-average offense, or another in Justin Turner, who had a solid 114 OPS+ last season. Veterans Paul Goldschmidt and Anthony Rizzo are available as bounceback bets, and Donovan Solano is a reliable veteran solution.

Joey Gallo, Ty France and Josh Bell are some of the lower-tier options.

4. Shortstop

We had two recent shortstop classes in 2021-22 (Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, Javier Báez) and 2022-23 (Trea Turner, Correa again, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson) that, no matter how some of those contracts turned out, were bangers at the time.

This is definitely not that. But there is quality here, beginning with Willy Adames, who probably will no longer qualify for “underrated” status once the market pays out for his premium power at a premium position (though he’s indicated a willingness to change positions if the job pays well). And though he’s recovering from shoulder surgery that will delay his start to 2025, Ha-Seong Kim (who won a Gold Glove as a second baseman but is still a natural at short) should fare well here.

After those two, it will be interesting to see how much Jose Iglesias’ “OMG” return to form is valued in the open market. Paul DeJong and Amed Rosario are other veteran stopgaps available.

5. Second base

Gleyber Torres has disappointed relative to what was forecast for him at the start of his career, but he’s still a good hitter with plus contact and power at a position where that can be difficult to find. And he’ll be 28 next season.

Teams are also intrigued by KBO product Hyeseong Kim, a plus runner and defender who is only 26 years old.

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Beyond Torres and Kim at the top, this spot is looking pretty light, with utility types such as Nicky Lopez, Whit Merrifield and Kyle Farmer among the available options. In terms of an everyday player, Jorge Polanco, who struggled with Seattle in 2024, might be the best solution after Torres.

6. Relievers

We remain powerless peons in our attempt to make any sense of the relief market. Last winter, the Orioles signed Craig Kimbrel for $12 million, and look how that turned out. The Yankees signed Luke Weaver for $2 million, and look how THAT turned out.

It would appear that a 30-year-old Tanner Scott is worthy of a major long-term commitment in the closer role, that Jeff Hoffman has earned himself an extended pay day in a high-leverage role, and that neither Carlos Estévez’s brief and rocky turn in Philadelphia nor Clay Holmes’ bumpy season in the Bronx will stop them from faring well here. But we’re going to guess the best value comes from some guys generating the least buzz and that this relief market is no better or worse than usual. So we’ll just drop it right in the middle.

7. Left field

There are a few reasonable gambles to be made here. One-time top prospect Jurickson Profar is coming off an out-of-nowhere Silver Slugger season with the Padres in which he had an OPS+ 34% better than league average and a career-best 24 homers. It feels like he’s been around forever, but he’ll play next season at 32.

Consistency in health and performance are not his strength, but the yoked Tyler O'Neill has impressive raw power that netted him 30-plus homers in two of the last four seasons.

And Michael Conforto, who once seemed a star in the making, could generate interest after missing 2022 with injuries and then putting together two solid, albeit inconsistent seasons in San Francisco.

Beyond those guys, you can still squeeze good production out of veterans Mark Canha and Tommy Pham or hope that Alex Verdugo bounces back from an unencouraging season in pinstripes.

8. Designated hitter

Hey, Shohei Ohtani was a free agent last year. You had your chance!

But if you’re angling for a bat-only ballplayer, Joc Pederson can still mash righties, J.D. Martinez was still above average in his worst full season in a very long time and Andrew McCutchen still brings the vibes and 20-homer power if you can pry him out of Pittsburgh. And for all we know, maybe the Eloy Jiménez experience will improve in his age-28 season.

9. Third base

The All-Star impact here begins and ends with Alex Bregman. Maybe he’ll return to the Astros. Maybe he’ll reunite with A.J. Hinch in Detroit. Maybe the Mariners or Blue Jays or Phillies scoop him up. Maybe he’ll change positions to sign with a contender that is already set at third.

But wherever he lands, that’ll be the extent of the hot options at the hot corner. Because after Bregman, it’s a bargain bin where teams will hope to find value with the likes of J.D. Davis, Gio Urshela and Yoán Moncada.

10. Catcher

Travis d’Arnaud would have fronted this category, but he already signed with the Angels after the Braves declined his option. Kyle Higashioka had a career year (17 homers, 101 OPS+) in San Diego but still profiles best as more of a glove-first type. Danny Jansen is an interesting option coming off an uncharacteristically poor second half. With Gary Sánchez, Carson Kelly, Yasmani Grandal, James McCann and (2023 All-Star MVP) Elias Díaz among those in the mix, this is where you go for a role player more than an everyday option.

11. Center field

Harrison Bader and Michael A. Taylor can go get it but don’t have much to offer offensively. They are the best everyday options in a center-field market that, frankly, does not move the needle.