Where will these 5 prominent free agents land?
Mark Feinsand
@feinsandWhen Juan Soto signed his record-breaking deal during the Winter Meetings, the expectations around the Majors were that the free-agent dam was about to break.
Soto¡¯s deal would theoretically set the market in motion, allowing the rest of the top players to find homes before MLB took a well-deserved break for the holidays.
That scenario didn¡¯t play out as expected. Yes, a number of top free agents have inked new deals since Soto landed with the Mets -- Max Fried, Corbin Burnes, Nathan Eovaldi, Sean Manaea, Walker Buehler, Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez, Christian Walker, Gleyber Torres, Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana all came off the board before the calendar turned to 2025 -- but some notable names remain available with fewer than six weeks remaining until Spring Training camps open.
Here¡¯s a look at where things stand with five of the most prominent unsigned free agents:
Entering the offseason, the two teams that many expected to be primary suitors for Bregman were the Astros and Yankees, but as we enter 2025, the two American League contenders seem unlikely to be landing spots for the two-time All-Star.
Houston signed Walker to play first base and acquired Isaac Paredes in the Kyle Tucker deal, locking up its corner-infield spots. The Yanks signed Goldschmidt to play first base, and while third base is still open (assuming that Jazz Chisholm Jr. moves back to second base), New York doesn¡¯t appear to have interest in signing Bregman to a nine-figure deal, especially given the penalties it would incur for signing a second player who rejected a qualifying offer. (The Yankees already signed Fried, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Braves.)
The Tigers have been a potential landing spot for Bregman, who has a lengthy history with manager A.J. Hinch and would add a much-needed right-handed bat. But Detroit recently signed Torres to play second base, and while its third-base situation remains fluid, the Tigers have had ample time to make a play for Bregman to this point.
It¡¯s silly to count out the Mets when it comes to any free agent, as Steve Cohen has shown a willingness to spend like no other owner in the game. Bregman could play third base for the Mets, moving Mark Vientos to first base, though the potential for Pete Alonso to return (more on him in a minute) will play a key role in the club¡¯s interest in Bregman.
Another club connected to Bregman has been the Phillies, though any move at third base would have to be predicated on a trade of Alec Bohm, who remains in Philadelphia despite weeks of trade speculation.
Perhaps the most logical team for Bregman at this point is the Red Sox, who have addressed their rotation concerns with the signing of Buehler and the trade for Garrett Crochet, but Boston has come up short in its pursuit of an impact bat. Triston Casas and Rafael Devers are firmly planted at the corners, so unless Casas is traded and Devers is moved to first base, Bregman could play second base, providing the type of right-handed hitter the Red Sox are looking to add.
The best pure home run hitter available, Alonso¡¯s market has been relatively quiet this offseason. A number of teams looking for first-base help addressed their needs before the end of last year, taking them out of play for the 30-year-old slugger.
Those include the Astros (Walker), Yankees (Goldschmidt), D-backs (Josh Naylor), Nationals (Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell), and Guardians (Santana), though not all of those clubs were considered potential landing spots for Alonso.
The Mets remain engaged with Alonso, who has played his entire six-year career in New York. Industry sources believe the Mets will ultimately re-sign Alonso, though a deal could include opt-out clauses after the first and/or second year, giving Alonso an opportunity to explore free agency again after the 2025 or ¡®26 seasons.
Two other clubs to watch are the Giants and Blue Jays, each of whom has been connected to Alonso at some point this offseason.
San Francisco added Willy Adames on a seven-year, $182 million deal in December, just two months after giving Matt Chapman a six-year, $151 million extension. The Giants would have to sacrifice two more Draft picks and $1 million in international bonus pool money to sign Alonso, who turned down a qualifying offer, but given the competitive state of the NL West, they might believe that adding another impact bat to the lineup is crucial.
As for Toronto, the addition of Alonso would either shift Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to third base or create a first base/DH combo between the two sluggers. Alonso would also give Toronto some insurance in the event that Guerrero leaves as a free agent next offseason, though any opt-out clauses in Alonso¡¯s contract would make that iffy at best.
With Burnes, Fried and Blake Snell all signed to deals with new clubs, Flaherty is the best remaining arm on the free-agent market -- and unlike fellow free agent Nick Pivetta, the 29-year-old didn¡¯t receive a qualifying offer, so any team that signs Flaherty won¡¯t have to give up Draft picks.
The Orioles seem like a logical candidate to sign Flaherty as Baltimore lost its ace to free agency when Burnes agreed to a six-year, $210 million deal with Arizona. Flaherty pitched for the O¡¯s in 2023 after being acquired at the Trade Deadline, and while he went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in nine outings, his rebound in 2024 has him in line to sign a lucrative multi-year deal.
With few alternatives in free agency, the Orioles could turn to the trade market -- San Diego¡¯s Dylan Cease and Seattle¡¯s Luis Castillo are among potential trade candidates -- to fill the hole atop the rotation, but a reunion with Flaherty would make perfect sense.
A number of other teams also remain in the mix for Flaherty including the Giants, Blue Jays, Tigers and Cubs.
Following his 44-homer season, Santander figured to be a hot commodity in free agency, but his market never crystallized in December. One of the few true power bats available, the switch-hitting Santander would be a good fit with a number of teams, none more so than the Blue Jays.
Toronto has swung and missed on a number of free agents this offseason, none bigger than Soto. The Blue Jays are entering a crucial season in 2025, as Guerrero, Bo Bichette and Chris Bassitt are all slated to become free agents at the end of the year. That leaves a one-year window to contend with the current roster, though the Jays will certainly try to lock up Guerrero with a long-term deal.
Santander is believed to be seeking a five-year deal worth at least $100 million, and while his defense is below-average, his power will be impactful on any lineup he joins.
The Red Sox, Yankees, Angels and Tigers are among the other clubs that have been connected to the 30-year-old Santander, who made his first All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2024.
The most intriguing free agent of the offseason, Sasaki is on a time clock to decide where he wants to play, as his 45-day window to sign expires on Jan. 23.
Money is unlikely to be the deciding factor for Sasaki, who is considered an international amateur free agent, limiting him to clubs¡¯ international bonus pool rather than an all-out bidding war like the one that resulted in a $325 million deal for Yoshinobu Yamamoto a year ago.
Joel Wolfe, who represents Sasaki, said this week that 20 teams sent in presentations for the pitcher after he was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines last month. Sasaki has already held in-person meetings with at least seven clubs -- the Dodgers, Cubs, Padres, Yankees, Mets, Rangers and Giants -- and is expected to hold a second round of meetings this month.
The Padres and Dodgers are considered by industry sources to be the favorites to sign the star pitcher, whose contract limitations make him a financial fit for any team in the Majors. Sasaki isn¡¯t expected to sign before Jan. 15, when the 2025 international signing period begins, allowing teams to use their entire bonus pool for the upcoming season.