Greatest Matches for MLB’s Most Intriguing Obtainable Free Brokers

In spite of everything that has already occurred in the course of the 2024-25 MLB offseason, it’s shocking what number of intriguing free brokers are nonetheless obtainable.

So, what’s say we take a second to ponder the proper match for 10 of them?

The solid of characters here’s a assortment of the most effective free brokers nonetheless on the board. That half is straightforward, nevertheless it’s essential that everybody is on the identical web page that’s not about pairing them with their almost definitely suitors.

Fairly, it is about pinpointing which staff would stand to profit probably the most from signing every of those gamers. Possibly it is a couple of positional want. Or a necessity for a particular ability. Or for expertise. Or some mixture of the entire above.

Simply as a phrase of warning, Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is just not included on this dialogue. He isn’t an extraordinary free agent, in any case, and we simply sized up his best landing spots on Sunday.

Let’s take it away.

Age: 29

2024 Stats: 121 G, 470 PA, 11 HR, 22 SB, .233 AVG, .330 OBP, .370 SLG

Qualifying Provide: No

Why It is the Greatest Match

The Mariners signing Ha-Seong Kim in all probability cannot occur instantly.

They’re already projected to spend extra in 2025 than they did in 2024, in order that they seemingly need to clear some cash earlier than making any massive signings. You recognize, simply in case anybody was questioning what the Luis Castillo trade rumors are all about.

Even when the Mariners do create payroll house, Kim won’t be their first alternative. They reportedly like Christian Walker, who would definitely fill a necessity at first base.

Nevertheless, what Walker does not have that Kim completely does is an elite bat-to-ball ability. Kim has been within the top 10 percent in whiff price in every of the final two seasons, which might have helped a Mariners offense that ranks first in strikeouts throughout these seasons.

Assuming he recovers properly from right shoulder surgery, Kim must also proceed to supply above-average protection at a number of infield positions. He has 23 Outs Above Average in 4 seasons.

The Mariners aren’t as needy on this entrance, nevertheless it would not harm them to improve an infield that posted minus-15 OAA this 12 months.

Different Good Matches: Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves

Age: 30

2024 Stats: 72 G, 72.0 IP, 45 H (3 HR), 84 Okay, 36 BB, 1.75 ERA

Qualifying Provide: No

Why It is the Greatest Match

You recognize who else thinks Tanner Scott is an efficient match for the Dodgers?

The Dodgers, based on Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. He reported on December 9 that the reigning World Sequence champs have been in on Scott and Devin Williams, who has since become a New York Yankee.

The Dodgers’ curiosity in Scott is smart on two fronts, beginning with how their bullpen may use a surefire choice to shut video games. With 54 saves in 67 tries over the past three seasons, Scott can deal with closing.

Signing Scott would in any other case give the Dodgers three stable lefty relievers. Whereas he does not actually have a stark platoon break up, he’s simpler on left-on-left matchups. This 12 months, for instance, lefties hit simply .132 off him.

Name it insurance coverage for Juan Soto in case the Dodgers meet the New York Mets within the playoffs. He is good in opposition to everybody, however much less so in opposition to lefties (.857 OPS) than righties (1.000 OPS).

The Dodgers may additionally breathe simpler realizing that Shohei Ohtani would not need to face Scott anymore. He’s 1-for-9 with a mere single in opposition to Scott for his profession.

Different Good Matches: Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 33

2024 Stats: 130 G, 552 PA, 26 HR, 2 SB, .251 AVG, .335 OBP, .468 SLG

Qualifying Provide: Sure

Why It is the Greatest Match

Now that they’ve Cody Bellinger in heart subject between Aaron Choose and Jasson Domínguez, the Yankees darn properly needs to be eyeing Walker for first base.

He matches the Astros higher, nevertheless.

Although neither the Yankees nor the Astros have been sturdy on the chilly nook in 2024, Houston has had an issue on the place for 2 years now. Their first basemen tallied simply 0.1 rWAR in 2023, adopted by minus-1.0 rWAR this season.

On the plate, Astros first basemen have been 18 percent worse than common over the past two seasons. And based on OAA, solely Chicago White Sox first basemen have been much less efficient within the subject.

Therefore Walker. He is a 30-homer slugger who’s usually 20 percent higher than common on the dish. He is additionally the most effective defensive first baseman in MLB by a laughable margin, with 39 OAA to point out for the final three seasons.

Plus, the Astros are roughly $16 million in common annual worth away from the primary luxurious tax threshold for 2025. Against this, the Yankees are more than $48 million over it.

Different Good Matches: New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks

Age: 32

2024 Stats: 32 GS, 181.2 IP, 134 H (21 HR), 184 Okay, 63 BB, 3.47 ERA

Qualifying Provide: Sure

Why It is the Greatest Match

The longer you concentrate on Sean Manaea’s free company, the extra his potential touchdown spots appear to multiply.

He is an excellent pitcher, however one who can seemingly be had on an reasonably priced contract. The three-year, $63 million deal that Yusei Kikuchi did with the Los Angeles Angels is an efficient mannequin for Manaea, and loads of groups can do one thing like that.

However what if Manaea merely returned to the Mets?

That might presumably swimsuit him simply tremendous, as Manaea was open in October with how a lot he liked taking part in for the Mets. A reunion must also swimsuit the staff, which nonetheless wants a starter after including Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes in free company.

The Mets additionally simply plain perceive find out how to get probably the most out of Manaea. He owes this 12 months’s breakout partly to inspiration he took from Chris Sale, but in addition to changes made at the behest of Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.

It is a good working relationship that should proceed, and it helps that the Mets will not want Manaea to be their No. 1 going ahead. That job belongs to Kodai Senga.

Different Good Matches: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Crimson Sox, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 29

2024 Stats: 28 GS, 162.0 IP, 135 H (24 HR), 194 Okay, 38 BB, 3.17 ERA

Qualifying Provide: No

Why It is the Greatest Match

Jack Flaherty’s first flip as an Oriole didn’t go properly.

They picked him up in a commerce with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023, and he did not even survive of their rotation after that. All informed, Flaherty made 9 appearances as an Oriole and pitched to a 6.75 ERA.

But as Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported in July, the Orioles suspected Flaherty was worn down once they traded for him.

That this certainly proved to be the case didn’t bitter them on him, as Rosenthal stories that they are fascinated by Flaherty once more now.

The O’s nonetheless want a starter even after adding Japanese righty Tomoyuki Sugano on a one-year deal. And even when Flaherty is not on Corbin Burnes’ stage, he is the absolute best alternative for the 2021 NL Cy Younger Award winner inside Baltimore’s seemingly value vary.

Signing with Baltimore may in any other case assist with the reverse splits that Flaherty had in 2024, whereby righties had a .730 OPS and 14 homers off him. Even with new left field dimensions, Oriole Park at Camden Yards nonetheless figures to favor lefties over righties.

Different Good Matches: Boston Crimson Sox, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets

Age: 32

2024 Stats: 154 G, 652 PA, 33 HR, 12 SB, .272 AVG, .339 OBP, .501 SLG

Qualifying Provide: Sure

Why It is the Greatest Match

Although the Dodgers are still in on Teoscar Hernández, they now have Michael Conforto within the house that Hernández used to roam in left subject.

Because the Yankees determine to be out of the outfield market after trading for Bellinger, that leaves the Crimson Sox to lastly get their man.

Boston went after Hernández final winter, and the curiosity appears mutual this time. The slugger is back on the Crimson Sox’s radar and reportedly “intrigued” about taking part in at Fenway Park.

Stunning? Hardly. Hernández has 14 residence runs and a .950 OPS at Fenway Park. The latter is his highest for any stadium at which he is taken at the very least 100 plate appearances.

The Crimson Sox have a surplus of outfielders, however not of right-handed hitters. Hernández is about in addition to they’ll do in regard to the latter, and it will be straightforward for Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora to get him at-bats in left subject and at designated hitter.

This, after all, would imply much less work for Masataka Yoshida. However that would not essentially be a foul factor, given how punchless his bat has been in two MLB seasons.

Different Good Matches: Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees

Age: 30

2024 Stats: 155 G, 44 HR, 2 SB, .235 AVG, .308 OBP, .506 SLG

Qualifying Provide: Sure

Why It is the Greatest Match

It is exhausting to think about Anthony Santander returning to the Orioles, however likewise exhausting to think about him leaving the AL East.

Essentially the most notable golf equipment tied to Santander embrace the Yankees, Crimson Sox and the Blue Jays, who’re the most effective match due to how they lack left-handed energy.

Toronto has gotten simply 127 residence runs from the left facet over the past three seasons. That’s the second-fewest in MLB, rating forward of solely the White Sox.

The switch-hitting Santander spends most of his time batting lefty, and it is certainly his extra highly effective facet. He has a .227 ISO as a lefty hitter, in comparison with a .214 ISO as a righty hitter.

Maybe it does not must be extra difficult than this, however it’s also value noting that the Blue Jays may create a simple match for Santander in proper subject in the event that they made George Springer their common DH.

Such a transfer may solely assist the 35-year-old Springer keep wholesome, although transferring him off proper subject may be addition by subtraction defensively. Per OAA, he hasn’t been a high quality defender since 2021.

Different Good Matches: New York Yankees, Boston Crimson Sox, Washington Nationals

Age: 30

2024 Stats: 162 G, 695 PA, 34 HR, 3 SB, .240 AVG, .329 OBP, .459 SLG

Qualifying Provide: Sure

Why It is the Greatest Match

Wait a second…should not Pete Alonso’s finest match be the Mets?

Most likely, yeah. They have not technically changed him at first base but. And even after doing offers with Soto, Montas and Holmes, there’s nonetheless a shockingly large gap between what the staff spent in 2024 and what it tasks to spend in 2025.

Then once more, the Mets can transfer on with Mark Vientos on the chilly nook. In addition they do not actually want Alonso’s trademark energy—trace: 226 homers in six seasons—as a lot as different groups, together with the Nationals.

The Nationals hit solely 135 residence runs this season. That is not at the same time as many because the Yankees and Orioles hit just in the first half.

The Nationals know that they should do one thing about their energy outage. And as to how, basic supervisor Mike Rizzo has openly mused about including a primary baseman or designated hitter.

Even when the Nats have but to be strongly related to Alonso, whether or not they can afford him should not be up for dispute. At its peak, this franchise ran a nearly $200 million payroll.

Different Good Matches: New York Mets, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers

Age: 30

2024 Stats: 145 G, 26 HR, 3 SB, .260 AVG, .315 OBP, .453 SLG

Qualifying Provide: Sure

Why It is the Greatest Match

There is a large subject of curiosity in Alex Bregman, with Mark Feinsand of MLB.com looping in each New York golf equipment and the Crimson Sox.

The Crimson Sox are an particularly tempting choose. He has a 1.240 OPS at Fenway Park, the highest of any participant on file.

But whereas Boston may signal Bregman, transfer Rafael Devers to first base and commerce Triston Casas, that is a inflexible set of dominoes. It might be far easier if he simply signed with the Tigers.

Based on Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the curiosity between Bregman and the Tigers is mutual. If that is shocking, it is solely as a result of it implies that Bregman is just not scared by the power-suppressing tendencies of Comerica Park.

However on the plus facet, Bregman would reunite with former Astros supervisor A.J. Hinch at a time when he has the Tigers on the rise. It wasn’t till late in 2024 that Detroit turned a contender, nevertheless it does not really feel like a fluke after so a few years of rebuilding.

As for {dollars} and cents, properly, the Tigers used to spend twice as a lot on payroll as they did in 2024. Time to get again to that, guys.

Different Good Matches: Boston Crimson Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets

Age: 30

2024 Stats: 32 GS, 194.1 IP, 165 H (22 HR), 181 Okay, 48 BB, 2.92 ERA

Qualifying Provide: Sure

Why It is the Greatest Match

Per Feinsand and Jon Heyman of the New York Publish, two names maintain arising on Corbin Burnes’ nook of the rumor mill.

One is the Blue Jays. The opposite is the Giants.

Neither is mistaken to be circling Burnes, however Toronto’s rotation is already set with Kevin Gausman and José Berríos up high. The Giants, alternatively, have Logan Webb and a gap the place Blake Snell was once.

Burnes himself has one good purpose to think about the Giants, and it has to do with Oracle Park. It is a pitcher-friendly stadium on the whole, and particularly so in terms of keeping balls in the yard.

This would not matter as a lot if Burnes was nonetheless a top-tier strikeout artist, however these days have handed. Since 2021, he is gone from the 97th to the 51st percentile in strikeout price.

This isn’t to indicate that Burnes is now a foul pitcher, however somewhat that he wants extra benefits than he used to. And to this finish, the Giants can supply him an excellent protection with a familiar face along with an enormous residence yard.

Different Good Matches: Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Crimson Sox, Baltimore Orioles