2024 MLB Free Brokers: Newest Rumors and Predictions for Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Extra

Juan Soto’s free-agency journey is the greatest story of the 2024-25 MLB offseason.

That stated, it’s miles from the one attention-grabbing plot level to observe throughout this iteration of the recent range.

It feels becoming, then, that the most recent batch of baseball buzz contains rumblings on each Soto’s choice and that of among the different prime gamers out there. Let’s dissect the most recent rumors and predict what the gamers concerned will in the end resolve.

Earlier than the market even opened, Soto sounded greater than able to soak all of it in. Again in October, he characterized his free company as “thrilling” and famous how he thinks “each participant within the huge league needs to expertise this.” He even expressed an openness to “hear to each single group.”

Whereas his market was by no means going to be 30-teams deep—solely so many franchises can afford what’s positive to be an astronomic contract—it all the time figured to be a aggressive race for probably the most coveted gamers to ever enter the market. Any group within the race certainly hopes it turns into precisely that, however some within the baseball world already suppose the sweepstakes embody solely the 2 New York groups.

“It is the Yankees or the Mets,” one American League government advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. “He is aware of the Yankees effectively after spending a 12 months there, and Steve Cohen has sufficient cash to provide him no matter he needs if he decides he needs him badly sufficient. It is powerful for me to see Soto winding up anyplace else.”

To not burst all of the non-Huge Apple-based bubbles on the market, however our crystal ball agrees Soto is not leaving New York Metropolis. Whereas the Yankees gave Soto a season to recollect throughout his first go-round in pinstripes, the Mets’ potential to supply him the richest contract and nonetheless area a formidable roster round him appears too good for him to miss.

Prediction: Soto indicators with the Mets.

In some years, Pete Alonso may be probably the most sought-after participant in free company.

For anybody in want of offensive oomph, he can present that in droves. Since debuting in 2019, he has belted 226 dwelling runs over 846 profession contests. The 29-year-old generally is a batting common drag—although he did hit .271 over 160 video games in 2022—his energy is plain, and his run manufacturing is elite (162-game profession averages of 112 RBI and 94 runs scored, per Baseball-Reference.com).

With all eyes—together with these of the Mets’—on Soto, although, Alonso is type of floating beneath the radar a bit. Might that open the chance for somebody to swipe him away from New York? Effectively, a current survey of group executives and MLB insiders by ESPN’s Jesse Rogers revealed that eight of 18 respondents predicted Alonso leaving the Mets with one voter predicting he’ll be a part of the Washington Nationals.

“He indicators with Washington as a vibes/energy man just like once they signed Jayson Werth earlier than 2011, earlier than their group was absolutely fashioned,” the voter stated.

That might be a enjoyable jolt for the Nationals, however we see Alonso rising as a wonderful comfort prize for whichever New York group loses the Soto sweepstakes.

Prediction: The Yankees signal Alonso.

Free company couldn’t have come at a greater time for Willy Adames.

The 29-year-old had delivered some huge stat traces earlier than, however nothing got here near his 2024 marketing campaign. This was a full-fledged breakout on numerous fronts, as he not solely posted personal-bests in dwelling runs (32) and RBI (112), however he additionally set his excessive marks in stolen bases (21) and runs scored (93), too.

It is of little shock, then, to listen to Adames has generated “very broad” curiosity on the open market, per MLB Community’s Jon Morosi, who added that the Houston Astros may contemplate including Adames and having him man third base if they do not re-sign Alex Bregman.

“I really like that concept, by the best way,” Morosi stated. “You set Adames, doubtlessly, at third, [Jeremy] Peña at quick, [Jose] Altuve at second, I’d love that infield.”

Bregman has manned the recent nook in Houston since 2016 and been part of two totally different World Sequence championship groups. It is arduous to image him sporting one other uniform, however he’ll have loads of curiosity elsewhere, simply because the Astros could have alternate options in the event that they go a special route.

Prediction: Adames indicators with the San Francisco Giants; Astros re-sign Bregman.