Projecting the 10 MLB Stars Playing for a New Team in 2025
It's been the worst-kept secret in baseball in 2024 that the New York Mets hope to lure superstar outfielder Juan Soto away from the cross-town rival Yankees in free agency this offseason.
Ultimately, the Scott Boras client may end up signing with the highest bidder, and it's certainly not difficult to imagine Steve Cohen and the Mets being willing to make that type of financial commitment.
Still, after seeing how dominant the duo of Soto and Aaron Judge can be this season, it's hard to imagine the Yankees—forever associated with being willing to flex their financial muscle—letting the 25-year-old leave in free agency. The smart money should still be on Soto getting his megadeal from them.
Even if Soto doesn't move, though, this upcoming offseason figures to be one with quite a bit of movement from big-name players.
To that end, here are 10 star players—whether via trade or free agency—you can expect to be on a new team in 2025.
LHP Garrett Crochet
1 of 10
Concerns about Garrett Crochet's innings limit and his desire for a contract extension to pitch in October derailed his trade candidacy this summer, but he seems likely to be dealt by the Chicago White Sox in the winter.
In his first full season as a starter, the 25-year-old has a 3.64 ERA, 2.83 FIP and MLB-best 12.6 K/9 over 128 2/3 innings pitched. He may never be a workhorse, but he's had dominant stretches in 2024 and can't become a free agent until after the 2026 season.
There will be a slew of teams with serious interest in Crochet this offseason.
Who might White Sox general manager Chris Getz hear from in the winter? Prior to the deadline, both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies made "attractive" offers for Crochet, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. It stands to reason that those two teams could circle back in the winter.
The Baltimore Orioles—particularly if ace Corbin Burnes departs in free agency—also make sense as a possible trade partner.
SS Bo Bichette
2 of 10
You didn't have to read that deeply into things this summer to get the impression that Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette might have been happy to get a change of scenery.
In late June, the 26-year-old said that a trade wouldn't leave him surprised "at all." In July, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Bichette had "told friends that he would welcome a trade."
Ultimately, no deal surfaced, with Toronto general manager Ross Atkins saying he never came near to trading Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
"Not close," Atkins said. "Was never our intention to try to trade either one of them, and they are absolutely a part of things moving forward."
However, the rubber might meet the road this offseason. Both Bichette and Guerrero can become free agents after the 2025 season. It would be malpractice to carry both into a contract year.
Guerrero is the better player, and if Bichette is indeed open to being moved, it would make sense to maximize the return on the shortstop, assuming there isn't momentum toward a long-term contract.
RHP Corbin Burnes
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It would signal a new era in Baltimore if new owner David Rubenstein is able to keep ace Corbin Burnes with the Orioles for the foreseeable future this winter.
But considering Burnes will be the best starting pitcher to hit the open market since Gerrit Cole received a nine-year, $324 million deal from the New York Yankees prior to the 2020 season, it could well take $275 million-plus to retain the ace.
Forbes estimates that Rubenstein is worth $3.7 billion, so this is a matter of priorities.
However, the history of the Orioles suggests they'll collect draft compensation when Burnes declines a qualifying offer and signs elsewhere.
The O's will probably be able to say something to the effect of "We would have loved to keep Corbin, but we're thinking about eventual deals for Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson."
One would assume the Dodgers will be interested in Burnes in free agency, and there are already indications that the Chicago Cubs—led by his old Milwaukee Brewers skipper Craig Counsell—will be players as well.
They certainly won't be the only two teams who show interest, because it's not every offseason that a starter with Burnes' resume and relatively young age (he'll turn 30 in October) hits the open market.
3B Alex Bregman
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There seemed to be a feeling prior to the 2024 season that this would probably be it for Alex Bregman in Houston, with the Boras client likely to test free agency and go to the highest bidder.
Bregman does have some things working against him, though.
First of all, the 30-year-old got off to an ice-cold start to his contract year, as he was hitting just .219 with a .652 OPS at the end of May.
Secondly, his connection to the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal might cause some teams that would otherwise make sense as suitors—such as the Dodgers and Yankees—not to pursue him in free agency.
Still, Bregman has been hot since the All-Star break, with an .865 OPS. He's a player with an established postseason resume, as his 19 career playoff home runs are sixth in MLB history. He also plays a premium position, and for as long as he's been around, he's still relatively young.
Because you can make a cause that his legacy makes him more valuable to the Astros than any other team, he's not nearly as certain to switch teams this offseason as some of the others on this list.
However, Bregman has turned his season around to the point that he should have serious interest from other teams, which may ultimately lead to him departing Houston after nine years.
LHP Blake Snell
5 of 10
For as disastrous as Blake Snell's first half as a San Francisco Giant was at times, he's been as good as any pitcher since the All-Star break, with a 1.66 ERA over seven starts, including a no-hitter on Aug. 2 against the Cincinnati Reds.
The 31-year-old will almost certainly opt out of the final season of his two-year deal with the Giants and return to free agency. Yes, that will mean passing up on a $38.5 million salary in 2025, although $15 million of that is deferred to 2027 and he figures to get a much larger total guarantee on the open market.
What's scary for the Giants is that because Snell received a qualifying offer from the San Diego Padres last offseason, he isn't eligible to get one this offseason.
The same goes for third baseman Matt Chapman. If both opt out and leave in free agency, San Francisco will be left empty-handed.
The guess here is that Chapman will remain with the Giants, with Boras recently telling Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that both parties have "active dialogue" on a long-term deal.
Even if he's not a workhorse, though, Snell is pitching at a very high level again, and any interested team won't have to give up draft compensation to sign him this winter. He'll likely be the No. 2 pitcher on the open market behind Burnes, and that may mean he cashes in elsewhere.
SS Willy Adames
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At the forefront of what's been a special season in Milwaukee has been shortstop Willy Adames, but his time with the Brewers may be coming to an end.
With 23 home runs, 86 RBI and a .787 OPS, he figures to be coveted in free agency this offseason. It's concerning that he has -12 defensive runs saved this year, but he had 17 DRS between 2022 and 2023.
It's unlikely he's just forgotten how to play shortstop at age 28, and potential suitors will likely convince themselves his metrics can bounce back with adjustments made to defensive positioning.
Two offseasons ago, Dansby Swanson left the Atlanta Braves to sign a seven-year, $177 million deal with the Chicago Cubs before his age-29 season. He had a much better contract year in the field than Adames has, but the Brewers star is a pretty accomplished fielder with a relatively similar offensive profile to Swanson.
So it would make sense if eclipsing Swanson's deal is what Adames seeks to do this offseason.
Will the Brewers make that type of investment? It's fair to be skeptical. Shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt, 20, is a ways away, but it's possible that if Adames leaves in free agency, Milwaukee could shift Joey Ortiz from third base to shortstop. It could pivot to short-term veteran at third base, knowing No. 7 prospect Brock Wilken could be a factor in 2025 as well.
The Dodgers and Boston Red Sox are two teams that could make sense as suitors.
LHP Max Fried
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Max Fried is going to be one of the most interesting free agents this offseason because he's probably a better pitcher when healthy than Aaron Nola, who returned to the Philadelphia Phillies on a seven-year, $172 million deal after testing free agency last offseason.
The difference is that Nola is, arguably, the most durable pitcher in the sport, while Fried has dealt with some minor injuries in each of the past two seasons. He was limited to 14 starts in 2023 because of a left forearm strain and a left index finger blister.
The 30-year-old recent had a brief IL stint as he dealt with left forearm neuritis. He's managed to avoid any major injuries, but forearm issues can give teams pause.
At the same time, Fried is 50-22 with a 2.85 ERA, two All-Star Game appearances, three Gold Glove Awards and a runner-up finish in NL Cy Young Award voting (2022) on his resume.
He's going to decline a qualifying offer the Braves inevitably give him this offseason and search for a deal of at least five years. And there's little doubt he is worth that type of commitment if you feel comfortable about him staying healthy.
Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has let most star players who look to maximize their value in free agency—Josh Donaldson, Freddie Freeman and Swanson—depart. Fried could be next if he doesn't want to take a hometown discount.
Among the teams that could make sense as suitors are the Yankees, Orioles, Astros, Cubs, Mets and Dodgers.
RF Anthony Santander
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Anthony Santander has had a monster contract season for the Baltimore Orioles, and it will set the switch-hitting outfielder up to cash in this offseason.
While he's a favorite in Baltimore, general manager Mike Elias may opt to let the 29-year-old leave in free agency and collect draft compensation when he declines a qualifying offer.
The Orioles will still have Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins and Heston Kjerstad as internal options, and they could sign a cheaper veteran as a stopgap until the next wave of young outfield talent—Vance Honeycutt, Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Dylan Beavers—is ready.
Even if it's not from the O's, Santander should make out well in free agency. He's on track for his first 40-home run season. Teams may view 2024 as a relative outlier, but he averaged 31 home runs and 92 RBI between 2022 and 2023, so his track record as a run producer is hardly confined to just one year.
The Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals, Mets and Giants all make sense as suitors for Santander, who should aim to top the five-year, $100 million Nick Castellanos signed with the Phillies before the 2022 season.
Reliever Carlos Estévez
9 of 10
Carlos Estévez is the de-facto closer for the Phillies, but he just hasn't had a ton of save opportunities since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels prior to the trade deadline.
Nonetheless, the 2023 All-Star is having a career year and should do well in free agency this offseason.
Estévez has a 2.42 ERA over 44 appearances this season, with 22 saves in 26 attempts. He's got a great personality, which made him a seamless transition into the Phillies clubhouse.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski may like to re-sign the 31-year-old, but the Phillies could be left to decide between him and Jeff Hoffman this winter. Hoffman was a first-time All-Star this year, and he seems likely to be the bigger priority in the offseason.
Such is life for relievers. Estévez should have no problem finding work this winter. He's proved capable of closing, but he could also go to a team that prefers a more matchup-based approach or just wants him to be their top setup man.
If not a return to the Phillies, the Texas Rangers, Cubs and Diamondbacks could all be fits for the veteran righty.
OF Teoscar Hernández
10 of 10
When Teoscar Hernández signed a one-year, $23.5 million deal with the Dodgers last offseason, it kind of felt like he would probably be one-and-done in L.A.
Granted, he may help the Dodgers to win a World Series in the meantime, but the two-time All-Star might have to get his multi-year deal elsewhere.
One thing working against the 31-year-old is because the Mariners didn't give him a qualifying offer last winter, the Dodgers can and probably will this time. He will almost certainly decline it, but it will hurt his stock that any signing team not only needs to give up money but also draft compensation.
Nonetheless, after a gap year in Seattle, he is putting up the type of offensive production he did for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2019-2022, and that should land him a multi-year deal in free agency this offseason.
Hernández shouldn't be the face of your lineup, but if he's hitting fifth or sixth with a chance to drive in runs, you're in a good spot.
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