1 Player Every Team Should Re-Sign in 2024-25 MLB Free Agency
In case you haven't heard, Juan Soto is going to become a free agent this offseason, and the New York Yankees will try to fend off the crosstown rival Mets, among others, to retain the superstar free agent.
However, Soto is hardly the only notable free agent set to hit the open market this offseason. And while there's typically a focus on potential new destinations, today we're looking at teams that need to re-sign their stars, whether it's before or during free agency.
Not every team has a notable free agent, or a free agent at all. Some don't have a free agent worth bringing back. But the majority of teams have at least one impending free agent they're hopeful to re-sign. Here's a look at where all 30 teams stand.
Max Deal?
1 of 10
Arizona Diamondbacks: Christian Walker
Walker missed more than a month in 2024 with a left oblique strain, which interrupted what otherwise might have been his best season.
Walker hit 26 home runs and posted 84 RBI, despite the aforementioned IL stint. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner also continued to be one of the best defenders at his first base with 13 outs above average.
Given that he's going to be 34 in March and will likely have a qualifying offer attached to him, Walker isn't the perfect free agent. But there will be interest from other teams who view him as an alternative to Pete Alonso. The Diamondbacks would surely like to retain Walker as well.
Athletics: Scott Alexander
Losing Alexander wouldn't be the end of the world for the A's—who are playing in Sacramento indefinitely but will do so without a city name attached to their brand—but he had a nice season for them in 2024.
Across 45 appearances, the 35-year-old Alexander posted a 2.56 ERA. He would be a nice piece to bring back as the A's try to build their bullpen around electric closer Mason Miller.
Atlanta Braves: Max Fried
Fried doesn't have a perfect health history, but since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2014 as a prospect, he's largely avoided any major injuries.
He's also become one of the better pitchers in baseball, posting top-five NL Cy Young Award finishes in 2020 and 2022, the latter of which he finished runner-up. Additionally, Fried's resume across eight seasons with the Braves features two All-Star Game selections and three Gold Glove Awards.
Under president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves have let players who sought to maximize their earnings in free agency—like Josh Donaldson, Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson—leave. It will be interesting to see if they operate that way with Fried. The 2025 Braves would certainly be worse without him.
Let It Burne?
2 of 10
Baltimore Orioles: Corbin Burnes
If new owner David Rubenstein wants to build up goodwill with his fanbase, he'll authorize general manager Mike Elias to spend in excess of $200 million to retain his ace.
Across his first season with the Orioles, Burnes went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA over 194.1 innings pitched. Since the start of the 2020 season, Burnes is second to only Zack Wheeler in WAR among starting pitchers. He's only entering his age-30 season and has logged 190 or more innings in three consecutive years.
There will be a ton of other teams interested in Burnes, and the field would probably be a wise bet on where he lands in free agency. But it would signal a real changing of the guard from the Angelos Era if Rubenstein and the O's find a way to keep Burnes.
Boston Red Sox: Tyler O'Neill
As Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors noted, O'Neill would likely accept the one-year, $21.05 million deal if it was offered to him by the Red Sox. That means that the Red Sox likely won't offer it to him, because that would be a steep price to pay for him.
With that said, the Red Sox should try to bring O'Neill back, even if you know he's probably going to miss time every year with an injury or two. Across 113 games in his first season in Boston, O'Neill homered 31 times and drove in 61 runs, while posting one defensive run saved across the two corner outfield spots.
What will be interesting is if the Red Sox—or any other interested suitor—would give O'Neill multiple years.
Chicago White Sox: None
When you lose 121 games, it requires wholesale changes. It sounds like the White Sox also plan to trade ace Garrett Crochet, despite his reported willingness to discuss a long-term deal to stay with one of the worst teams in MLB history.
Thought You'd Always Be Mine
3 of 10
Chicago Cubs: Jorge López
López talked his way out of New York in a bizarre early season exchange with the media that ended his time with the New York Mets.
With that said, he found a home in Chicago and posted a 2.03 ERA in 24 games after joining the Cubs. Bringing him back as a piece to complement rising star Porter Hodge in manager Craig Counsell's bullpen would make sense.
Cincinnati Reds: Nick Martinez
Martinez turned in the best season of his career in 2024, posting a 3.10 ERA across 142.1 innings for the Reds. That means he will likely opt out of the $12 million he's set to make in 2024, instead returning to the free-agent market. Would the Reds give the 34-year-old a multiyear deal?
Reliever Buck Farmer (3.04 ERA in 61 games) and swingman Jakob Junis (2.85 ERA over 41 innings after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers) are two other interesting free agents for the Reds.
Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber
The Guardians had an all-time great bullpen during the regular season, but Emmanuel Clase ran out of gas in the postseason. In a seven-game series, you need to have some more reliable starting pitching.
It's unclear whether Shane Bieber can be that type of workhorse in 2025, as he comes off of Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in April. With that said, a healthy Bieber was going to price his way out of Cleveland most likely. The injury could become an opportunity to sign him to a two-year deal, knowing there may be some setbacks/struggles in the first year but that he should be fully healthy in 2026.
The former AL Cy Young Award winner's free agency will be interesting to monitor. He should pitch in 2025, but it's hard to know whether he'll be ready for the start of the season and what type of workload he's capable of taking on. Cleveland is in position to make the best evaluation of any potential suitors.
Still Tippin'?
4 of 10
Colorado Rockies: Jacob Stallings
Long known for his work behind the plate, Stallings had a strong season as a part-time player for the Rockies. While some of his defensive metrics have slipped in recent years, Stallings had the best offensive year of his career in 2024, hitting .263 with nine home runs, 36 RBI and an .810 OPS in 82 games.
Stallings will likely decline his half of a $2 million mutual option for 2025. He would be a good fit for the Rockies as part of their solution behind the plate, though owner Dick Monfort has reportedly inexplicably decided to lower payroll in 2025, so who knows.
Detroit Tigers: None
The Tigers literally have zero free agents. They traded both Jack Flaherty and Mark Canha—both of whom will be free agents this offseason—before going on a rather shocking run to the postseason.
Houston Astros: Alex Bregman
Is there an argument for resetting a bit this offseason, letting Bregman walk and focusing your resources on trying to re-sign Kyle Tucker and/or Framber Valdez next offseason? Probably.
But if the Astros want to compete in 2025, it's hard to imagine walking Bregman walk. The franchise icon overcame a slow start to homer 26 times and drive in 75 runs in his contract year.
For what it's worth, general manager Dana Brown seemed hopeful when asked about Bregman's future late in the season.
"I think it'll work out," Brown said. "When you get down to it, I think he wants to stay here. I think we want him to stay here. And it's just a matter of coming up with some type of an agreement."
And Teoscar Goes To...
5 of 10
Kansas City Royals: Michael Wacha
Though Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo got most of the attention, Wacha was another valuable piece in manager Cal Quatraro's rotation. He went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA across 166.2 innings, the most innings he's logged since 2015.
The 33-year-old will likely opt out of the $16 million he's due in 2025 and return to free agency. He may not get more than $16 million in 2025, but over the course of a multiyear deal, Wacha will get more total guaranteed dollars. Will the Royals be the team that comes from?
Los Angeles Angels: Hunter Strickland?
The question mark after Strickland's name isn't there by mistake. The 36-year-old posted a 3.31 ERA across 72 games for the Halos in 2024. Taking the ball with that type of frequency is valuable. But whether he's back or not, there's not much reason to be optimistic about the Angels in 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Teoscar Hernández
This is pretty clear. Hernández signed a pillow contract with the Dodgers last winter, and proved to be a great fit in Los Angeles, homering 33 times and driving in 99 runs.
The Dodgers will surely extend the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer to Hernández, and he will likely decline it. However, that means that any team other than the Dodgers who signs Hernández would have to give up draft compensation in addition to money to land him. Some organizations might be hesitant to do that for a 32-year-old corner outfielder.
There will definitely be other interested suitors for Hernández, but a return to the Dodgers on a three-year deal probably makes sense for all parties involved.
Big Willie
6 of 10
Miami Marlins: None
The Marlins don't have any players scheduled to become free agents this offseason. president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has gutted the team, attempting to overhaul the organization in his image. Sandy Alcántara, Jesús Luzardo and Eury Pérez will return from injuries in 2025, but if they perform well then the clock starts ticking until the Marlins trade them away.
Milwaukee Brewers: Willy Adames
With Christian Yelich and Brandon Woodruff set to return from injuries, the Brewers have a chance to be even better in 2025 than they were this past season, when they won 93 games and captured the NL Central crown.
However, it's widely believed that the small-budget Brewers won't spend to retain shortstop Willy Adames, who has been an integral part of their team since being acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. Adames had a monster walk year offensively, homering 31 times and driving in 112 runs.
Joey Ortiz had some nice moments in his first season with the Brewers after being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in the Burnes trade. He could shift from third base to shortstop in 2025, or the Brewers could find an external replacement. But anyone is likely going to be a downgrade from Adames.
Minnesota Twins: Probably None
Max Kepler's time in Minnesota has likely run its course, so he doesn't figure to return. However, there's an outside chance the Twins could circle back with Carlos Santana if they don't find a better option at first base.
Santana did hit 23 home runs, with 71 RBI and 65 walks, so you could certainly do worse than him at first base. However, you could do better than him, and there will be multiple potential upgrades in free agency.
The other risk you run if you bring Santana back is that he finally hits a wall. While Santana has had pretty incredible longevity to this point, he'll turn 39 in April and 2025 will be his 16th season.
If You Can Make It Here, You Can Make It Anywhere
7 of 10
New York Yankees: Juan Soto
What more needs to be said? Soto is 26 and was a perfect fit in pinstripes, homering 41 times, drawing 129 walks and posting a .989 OPS. It feels unthinkable that the Yankees—the team most historically associated with spending money—would let a player like that leave. But the Yankees will face competition for Soto—a Scott Boras client—in free agency, perhaps from both of the other teams on this slide.
New York Mets: Pete Alonso
By his standards, Alonso didn't have a great walk year, posting a .788 OPS after posting an .851 OPS between 2021 and 2023.
Still, Alonso homered 34 times and drove in 88 runs, while playing all 162 regular-season games. He also hit four home runs and drove in 10 runs in an unexpected run to the NLCS, silencing any critics who thought he wasn't a big-game player.
Before he was repped by Boras, Alonso declined a seven-year, $158 million extension offer from the Mets in 2023, per Joel Sherman of The New York Post. Entering his age-30 season, it feels unlikely Alonso will get that many years. But trying to get that type of money over five or six years seems like a fair ask.
Philadelphia Phillies: Jeff Hoffman
Hoffman was an All-Star in 2023, and by just about any metrics, he's been one of the best relievers over the last two seasons. Since the start of the 2022 season, Hoffman has a 2.28 ERA across 122 games.
However, Hoffman's season had an unceremonious ending as he gave up six earned runs while recording just four outs across three postseason appearances. Virtually the entire bullpen for the Phillies collapsed in their NLDS loss to the Mets, and Hoffman was at the forefront of that.
Still, Hoffman has reiterated a desire to remain with the Phillies, and unless president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski plans to trade for Devin Williams or Ryan Helsley, it's hard to imagine upgrading over Hoffman.
Left My Heart in San Francisco
8 of 10
Pittsburgh Pirates: Andrew McCutchen
The Pirates need to make external upgrades to maximize the window they have with likely NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. But they can do that while continuing their relationship with franchise icon Andrew McCutchen.
McCutchen isn't a star anymore, but he still homered 20 times, drove in 50 runs and walked 58 times. If he plays a 17th season, it should be in Pittsburgh.
San Diego Padres: Jurickson Profar
Profar is a bit of a complicated free agent to figure out. He was a first-time All-Star in 2024 but had his best season in his age-31 campaign, which followed up what was a largely disappointing 2023, spent primarily with the Rockies.
Still, Profar has been largely successful during parts of five seasons with the Padres over two stints. Will he have another season where he homers 24 times and drives in 85 runs again? Maybe not, but the Padres don't have a natural replacement for him in left field. A two-year deal would make sense for both sides.
San Francisco Giants: Blake Snell
Snell's deal with the Giants looked like a disaster when he posted a 6.31 ERA across just eight first-half starts. But then he was one of the best pitchers in baseball after the All-Star break, going 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA across a 12-start stretch that included a no-hitter.
So Snell is very likely to opt out of the $38.5 million salary he's due to make in 2025. First of all, $15 million of that is deferred to 2027. Secondly, even if he doesn't get $38.5 million in 2025, he'll get more than that in total over the course of a long-term contract.
Snell isn't a perfect pitcher, but he's won two Cy Young Awards and won't have a qualifying offer attached to him this offseason. That means any team that would sign Snell wouldn't have to give up draft compensation. It also means that the Giants—who did surrender draft compensation to sign Snell—wouldn't get anything if he left in free agency. So new president of baseball operations Buster Posey will have a very interesting first decision to make.
Meet Me in St. Louis
9 of 10
Seattle Mariners: None
The only free agents the Mariners are likely to have this offseason are Justin Turner, Yimi Garciá (6.00 ERA in 10 appearances after being acquired) and Jorge Polanco (.213 batting average). Turner posted a .766 OPS in 48 games after being acquired, so if the Mariners brought him back in a small role, it would be hard to be outraged about that.
But Turner will be 40 in November, and president of baseball operations Jerry DiPoto needs to make more substantive changes to improve an offense that struggled so much that the Mariners missed the postseason, despite having perhaps the best starting pitching staff in baseball.
St. Louis Cardinals: Andrew Kittredge
Since the Cardinals are cutting costs, we'll see whether they attempt to retain the 34-year-old reliever. They'll be worse without him, though, as he posted a 2.80 ERA across a career-high 74 appearances.
Tampa Bay Rays: None
Brandon Lowe has played in 281 of a possible 486 games over the past three seasons, so it would be difficult for a Rays front office that operates with a small budget to justify picking up his $10.5 million option for 2025. They'll instead take the $1 million buyout, and the two sides will likely go their separate ways. He'll be Tampa Bay's only free agent.
Deep in the Heart of Texas
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Texas Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi
Eovaldi pitched more than 300 innings across the last two seasons with the Rangers, which means he now has a $20 million option for 2025. He's likely to decline that and become an intriguing free agent given his postseason experience and the fact that he is ineligible to receive a qualifying offer by virtue of getting one from the Red Sox after the 2022 season.
Whether or not Eovaldi will make $20 million in 2025 isn't really the point. He'll make more than that on a multiyear deal and should command at least a two-year deal even as he prepares for his age-35 season. The Rangers still need his presence in their starting rotation.
The Rangers got really good production from both Kirby Yates and David Robertson out of their bullpen in 2024, but given that both are in their late 30s, running it back with one or both carries some risk.
Toronto Blue Jays: Ryan Yarbrough
Acquired in the trade that sent Kevin Kiermaier to the Dodgers, Yarbrough pitched well across 12 outings with the Blue Jays, posting a 2.01 ERA. He would be a nice piece to bring back as Toronto tries to improve a bullpen that posted a 4.29 ERA in 2024.
Washington Nationals: Trevor Williams
Williams missed more than three months this past season with a right flexor muscle strain. But he returned to make two starts at the end of the season, and was tremendous across the 13 total starts he made in 2024, posting a 2.03 ERA. As the Nationals try to return to the postseason for the first time since 2019, Williams is a piece they should bring back.
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