MLB Free Agents 2024: Latest Rumors, Predictions for Juan Soto, Willy Adames, More
Juan Soto is the most coveted free agent this offseason, a generational player fresh off of a career year who helped the New York Yankees return to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
He is also the biggest domino to fall in free agency, the piece around whom several franchises revolve in their attempt to better their rosters and pursue a world title.
Several other superstar players' fates could be directly linked to the right fielder, their futures dependent upon where (and when) he signs.
Find out the latest on Soto and which players may be in play for teams chasing him with this collection of insider reports.
Dodgers Not Serious Bidders for Juan Soto
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Count the World Series champs out of the Soto race.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported, "[The Dodgers] are expected to talk to Boras about Soto but won't be a serious bidder."
Instead, the organization will focus on signing one of the key members of its championship campaign.
"They instead would prefer to retain outfielder Teoscar Hernández providing his price tag doesn't become exorbitant."
Hernández, the 2024 Home Run Derby champ, hit 33 homers for Los Angeles while tallying 99 RBI, 160 total hits, and 12 stolen bases.
The 32-year-old left fielder had several significant performances for the Dodgers, including a seven-hit World Series against the Yankees that included four RBI and a home run. He came through in big spots for Los Angeles and it is no surprise that the organization would be interested in bringing him back, as long as he does not price himself out of their range.
The team will also keep its eyes on one of the best free-agent shortstops on the market.
"They also have strong interest in free-agent shortstop Willy Adames, believing his personality and energy would be a great fit in Los Angeles."
Adames hit 32 home runs and drove in 112 on 153 total hits.
He is an upgrade at a position the Dodgers have not been able to nail down yet, despite trying a bevy of options in 2024, including all-world player Mookie Betts.
Securing Hernández and acquiring Adames would make for a one-two punch that would put the Dodgers in position to repeat as World Series champs.
Philadelphia Primed for Big Move in Free Agency
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Bryce Harper has been the face of the Philadelphia Phillies franchise since 2019 and despite his leadership and MVP-caliber play, the team has made it to the World Series but not been able to cash in with a championship.
The front office has taken notice.
Nightengale reported, "The Phillies can't believe they don't have a ring in the Bryce Harper era, and after knocking on the door the past few years, they are willing to make a huge move to change their fate."
Managing partner John Middleton told reporters that, "For the right player, I have a high degree of confidence that Dave [Dombrowski] and I would go over the third limit."
Could that huge move include Soto?
He would be one of the few, if not the only player, that would carry a contract large enough for Middleton to make that declaration.
Adding Soto to that hard-hitting lineup, with his 41 home runs, 128 RBI, and 166 hits in 2024, would, in theory, make the Phillies offense nearly unstoppable while filling one of its biggest needs this off-season: outfielder.
It is exactly the sort of high-profile move Philadelphia has favored dating back to the addition of Harper and including Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.
Pete Alonso in Play for Yankees If AL Champs Don't Sign Soto
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Should the New York Yankees not be able to secure Soto for the future, they could have a backup plan prepared in the form of free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Alonso had a statistically down year in 2024 but still managed 34 home runs and 88 RBI on 146 hits.
He had one of the best defensive years of his career, with a fielding percentage of .995 and some spectacular catches along the way. Considering the Bronx Bombers declined Anthony Rizzo's option, thus making their starting first baseman a free agent, the team could eye Alonso as a replacement.
Especially if they cannot convince Soto to re-sign with the reigning American League champs.
The question is whether Alonso would consider staying put in NYC and playing for a different team.
Considering his ties to Queens and his own admissions that he would like to stay with the Mets, it would be difficult to imagine him turning in one set of pinstripes for another.
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