MLB free agent rankings: Top 20 overall initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Purple Sox have a variety of wants to handle earlier than the 2025 MLB season.
Pitching (beginning and aid), right-handed hitting, and defensive upgrades prime the record. The query is, is that this the offseason the entrance workplace lastly decides to spend?
In that case, they’re going to have loads of choices for upgrades in free company. This 12 months’s class — headlined by famous person outfielder Juan Soto — options a number of aces, a stud reliever, and several other right-handed sluggers.
Extra 2025 MLB free agent rankings
Here is a take a look at the highest 20 gamers in the marketplace:
1. Juan Soto, OF
Age: 26
2024 stats: .288/.419/.569, 41 HR, 109 RBI, 119 SO, 129 BB (157 video games)
Soto is the unquestioned No. 1 participant in the marketplace this winter. He simply turned 26 final week and already has 4 All-Star nods, 4 Silver Sluggers, two top-five MVP finishes, a batting title, and a World Sequence championship below his belt. He is arguably the perfect hitter within the sport and solely now coming into his prime. We will count on him to earn a deal price as much as $650 million, and he’ll possible be price each penny.
2. Corbin Burnes, RHP
Age: 30
2024 stats: 15-8, 2.95 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 172 SO, 47 BB, 189.1 IP (31 begins)
Corbin Burnes lived as much as expectations as a bonafide ace after being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Baltimore Orioles. The 2021 Nationwide League Cy Younger Award winner anchored the O’s employees and was chosen to the All-Star Recreation for the fourth consecutive 12 months, this time beginning for the American League.
Burnes will price a fairly penny as probably the most coveted pitcher in the marketplace, however he’ll nearly actually be definitely worth the hefty price ticket. He is confirmed to be some of the sturdy starters within the sport (three straight years with 30+ begins) and is a digital lock to publish an ERA round 3.00, roughly 200 innings, and 200 strikeouts in a season.
3. Alex Bregman, 3B
Age: 31
2024 stats: .260/.315/.453, 26 HR, 75 RBI, 86 SO, 44 BB (145 video games)
Bregman, a two-time World Sequence champion, goes to demand a hefty contract this offseason. The 2-time All-Star is anticipated to rake in roughly $200 million. That is a steep value to pay for a 31-year-old infielder, however he is the most effective all-around gamers accessible on this 12 months’s free-agent class.
4. Gerrit Cole, RHP
Age: 34
2024 stats: 8-5, 3.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 99 SO, 29 BB, 95 IP (17 begins)
Observe: Cole has a $36 million participant possibility with the New York Yankees for the 2025 season.
Cole can choose out of his deal, but when he does, the Yankees can void his resolution by including one other 12 months at $36 million. With the Cy Younger right-hander coming off an elbow harm and searching much less constant as he enters his mid-30s, it is going to be fascinating to see how this case performs out.
5. Blake Snell, LHP
Age: 32
2024 stats: 5-3, 3.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 145 SO, 44 BB, 104 IP (20 begins)
Regardless of profitable the 2023 NL Cy Younger award, Snell did not signal his free-agent contract till March 27, the eve of Opening Day. It should not take so lengthy for groups to throw cash at him this time round.
Snell posted the perfect Ok/9 charge (12.5) and FIP (2.43) of his profession to show his second Cy Younger season was no fluke. He’ll be among the many most sought-after arms in the marketplace.
6. Max Fried, LHP
Age: 31
2024 stats: 10-10, 3.42 ERA, 1.195 WHIP, 157 SO, 55 BB, 165.2 IP (28 begins)
Fried has been among the many most constant starters within the sport since 2020. The veteran left-hander has posted an ERA of three.25 or decrease in every season since then, incomes two All-Star nods, an NL Cy Younger runner-up, and three Gold Gloves within the course of. He was instrumental within the Braves’ 2021 World Sequence title.
As arguably the highest left-hander accessible, Fried will probably be expensive. However after him, Burnes, and Snell, there aren’t many bonafide aces on this 12 months’s free-agent class.
7. Willy Adames, SS
Age: 29
2024 stats: .251/.331/.462, 32 HR, 112 RBI, 21 SB, 173 SO, 74 BB (161 video games)
In accordance with MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, some inside the Purple Sox group “worth Adames extremely and would like to see him in Boston.” It is an intriguing possibility, and we weighed the pros and cons of signing Adames here. He has loads of pop and provides worth as an above-average defender. The draw back? His lackluster numbers towards left-handed pitching.
8. Pete Alonso, 1B
Age: 30
2024 stats: .240/.329/.459, 34 HR, 88 RBI, 172 SO, 70 BB (162 video games)
Alonso is on the shortlist of gamers to seem in all 162 video games this season. His clutch postseason moments might have satisfied the Mets to pay him this winter. But when New York strikes on from its All-Star slugger, Boston ought to at the least look into the potential of signing him as a DH/first baseman with a swing tailored for Fenway Park. Alonso has hit at the least 34 homers in each season besides the abbreviated 2020 marketing campaign.
9. Ha-seong Kim, SS
Age: 29
2024 stats: .233/.330/.370, 11 HR, 47 RBI, 77 SO, 58 BB (121 video games)
Kim’s 2024 season ended prematurely because of a shoulder harm that required surgical procedure. Regardless of that, he’ll possible check the free agent marketplace for a multi-year deal as one of many prime center infielders accessible. He is a stellar defender at shortstop, second base, and third base. Plus, he is a respectable menace on the basepaths with 38 stolen bases in 2023 and 22 in 2024.
10. Teoscar Hernandez, OF
Age: 32
2024 stats: .272/.339/.501, 33 HR, 99 RBI, 188 SO, 53 BB (154 video games)
Hernandez signed a one-year “show it” take care of the Dodgers final offseason, and “show it” he did.
He bounced again after a tough season in Seattle with a career-high 33 homers. His success continued within the postseason, the place he belted three homers and drove in 12 runs en path to a World Sequence title.
Hernandez feasts on left-handed pitching, making him an interesting possibility for a Purple Sox membership that struggled mightily towards southpaws all through 2024.
11. Marcell Ozuna, DH/OF
Age: 34
2024 stats: .302/.378/.546, 39 HR, 104 RBI, 170 SO, 74 BB (162 video games)
Replace: Ozuna’s $16 million membership possibility has been exercised by the Atlanta Braves for 2025.
Ozuna was one in every of 4 MLB gamers to seem in all 162 regular-season video games. The veteran slugger was an enormous vivid spot for a Braves staff that was decimated by accidents, and like Hernandez, he rakes towards left-handers.
12. Anthony Santander, OF
Age: 30
2024 stats: .235/.308/.506, 44 HR, 102 RBI, 129 SO, 58 BB (155 video games)
Santander is a switch-hitter with pretty even splits towards lefties and righties. He had an influence surge this 12 months with career-highs in homers, RBI, and OPS.
13. Cody Bellinger, OF/1B
Age: 29
2024 stats: .266/.325/.426, 18 HR, 78 RBI, 89 SO, 45 BB (130 video games)
Replace: Bellinger has exercised his $27.5 million participant possibility with the Chicago Cubs for 2025.
Bellinger re-signed with the Cubs final offseason and will stay in Chicago if he opts in, however he is reportedly expected to test the free-agent market once more.
Though Bellinger’s 2024 wasn’t as nice as his 2023 marketing campaign, he’d nonetheless be the highest left-handed bat in the marketplace not named Juan Soto. The 2019 NL MVP’s departure would mark a big loss for the Cubs.
14. Christian Walker, 1B
Age: 34
2024 stats: .251/.335/.468, 26 HR, 84 RBI, 133 SO, 55 BB (130 video games)
Walker is likely one of the most underrated gamers in at present’s sport. An distinctive defender at first base with two Gold Gloves below his belt, the veteran is a positive wager for roughly 30 homers when wholesome. The D’backs will possible do their greatest to maintain him in Arizona, the place he has spent the final eight seasons, however he’s set to earn a hefty contract on the open market.
15. Jack Flaherty, RHP
Age: 29
2024 stats: 13-7, 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 194 SO, 55 BB, 162 IP (28 begins)
Flaherty wager on himself when he signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers in free company. That call paid off as he loved a stellar bounce-back marketing campaign in 2024.
He made 18 begins with Detroit, amassing a 2.85 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 133 strikeouts earlier than being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the deadline. With L.A. he posted a 3.58 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 61 strikeouts in 10 begins.
There is a fairly steep drop-off from the Burnes/Snell/Fried trio to the Flaherty tier. Nonetheless, the 29-year-old righty ought to earn loads of consideration in free company after exhibiting his simple upside.
16. Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
Age: 35
2024 stats: 11-8, 3.96 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 161 SO, 41 BB, 163.2 IP (28 begins)
Eovaldi adopted his robust debut season in Texas with arguably a good higher 2024 marketing campaign. It would not be a shock to see the two-time World Sequence champion choose into his $20 million deal and stick together with his hometown staff, however he’d nearly actually earn greater than that on the open market as a confirmed veteran with a postseason pedigree.
17. Sean Manaea, LHP
Age: 33
2024 stats: 12-5, 3.29 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 183 SO, 61 BB, 178 IP (31 begins)
Manaea led the Mets into the postseason because the ace of the pitching employees in 2024. The veteran southpaw notched the perfect ERA of his nine-year profession whereas tossing a career-high 181.2 innings. Whereas some r
18. Tanner Scott, LHP
Age: 30
2024 stats: 22 saves, 1.75 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 84 SO, 36 BB, 72 IP (72 video games)
Scott was probably the most coveted reliever at this 12 months’s commerce deadline and he’ll be probably the most sought-after reliever in free company. It helps his trigger that he’ll be far and away the highest left-handed possibility accessible.
Chosen to his first All-Star Recreation in 2024, Scott posted dominant numbers with each the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres. The hard-throwing southpaw ranked within the 92nd percentile in whiff rate (32.7 p.c) and when opposing hitters did make contact, it often wasn’t arduous. He was within the one centesimal percentile in common exit velocity (84.3 mph).
Scott initiatives as the right match to anchor Boston’s bullpen. If Breslow and Co. are going to lastly going to spend, he’d be an important place to start out.
19. Michael Wacha, RHP
Age: 33
2024 stats: 13-8, 3.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 143 SO, 44 BB, 161.2 IP (28 begins)
Replace: The Royals have re-signed Wacha to a three-year contract price $51 million, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Maybe the Royals’ surprisingly profitable season will probably be sufficient to persuade Wacha to train his participant possibility. Nonetheless, the veteran righty continued to show worthy of a multi-year contract with one other excellent marketing campaign. He is solely getting higher with age.
20. Luis Severino, RHP
Age: 31
2024 stats: 11-7, 3.97 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 161 SO, 60 BB, 182 IP (31 begins)
Severino was one of many greatest bounce-back performers of the season. After a horrible end to his Yankees profession, the veteran right-hander moved to Queens and reminded the league what he is able to when wholesome. He possible earned himself a large deal in free company.
