MLB Free Agents 2024: Latest Rumors, Predictions for Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, More

Could 26-year-old Juan Soto be the biggest free-agency domino in modern baseball history?

The generational hitter continues to nab headlines as he decides on his future team, with both New York squads, Toronto, Boston, and Los Angeles all in play for his services.

What is the latest on the reigning AL champion and other high-profile free agents?

Find out with this look at insider reports.

Juan Soto

Dustin Satloff/MLB Photos via Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 30: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates a catch by Aaron Judge in the fourth inning during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The Juan Soto Free Agency Tour rolled through the Big Apple, with visits to the New York Mets and the incumbent Yankees.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that the meeting with the Yankees went "very well," but the likelihood remains that he will still take the best deal, which could come from the crosstown Mets.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays remain in play.

Yankees commentator Michael Kay suggested Mets owner Steve Cohen is willing to go "$50 million" higher than any other bidder.

Up next for Soto are the World Series champions Los Angeles Dodger, as Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported. One would be hard-pressed to imagine a scenario where the team follows up last year's massive offseason, in which it added a billion dollars in free agents including Shohei Ohtani at $700 million, but that deal is favorable enough that the team could theoretically get something done with Soto.

Still, Heyman wrote, "In fact, one rival predicted: 'I have a hard time seeing Steve Cohen be outbid.'"

While Soto reportedly prioritized winning, "multiple executives with interested teams are assuming that, like with most free agents, the actual deal will be the largest consideration."

If that is the case, Mets fans are about to have $600+ million reasons to celebrate.

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Prediction: Soto signs with the Mets

Corbin Burnes

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 01: Corbin Burnes #39 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches the ball against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning of Game One of the Wild Card Series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on October 01, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Along with recently posted Roki Sasaki, the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking into pitchers Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, and Max Fried, Heyman reported.

Starting pitching is an area of need for the Dodgers, and Burnes, Snell, and Fried are the best available this offseason.

Burnes was a difference-maker for the Orioles in his lone season with the squad, going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.

Snell went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA and a 2.1 WAR.

Fried feels like the best fit for the team. The Braves starter was 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He spent time on the IR in 2024 with a forearm injury but was key to the Braves' return to the playoffs.

At 30, he is entering his 10th year, and if his late-season performance is any indication, he has plenty to offer a contending team.

Burnes will have plenty of suitors, including the incumbent Orioles, and he will likely be the most expensive option. If the Dodgers have hopes of adding Soto or any other free agents at key positions, Fried and his projected $174 million value is a better fit than Burnes, who is projected at $247 million by The Athletic's Jim Bowden.

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Prediction: Dodgers sign Fried

Walker Buehler

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Bronx, New York, Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler (21) looks to the dugout the moment striking out the New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo to seal a series clinching 7-6 win in Game five of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Walker Buehler had a forgettable 2024 but came through when the Dodgers needed him most, helping guide them to a World Series victory over the New York Yankees.

Against the Mets in the NLCS and the Yankees in the Fall Classic, the Dodgers righty allowed no earned runs in 10 innings, struck out 13 and six hits.

The career-long Dodger compiled his highest ERA since 2017 this past regular season with a 5.38 in just 16 games. During that span, he allowed 16 home runs and 28 walks, creating questions about his command in his seventh season.

The question is whether his postseason performance will be enough to warrant him a big deal in free agency.

ESPN's Jeff Passan, in an appearance on the Cespedes Baseball Bar-B-Cast, reported that the Baltimore Orioles are expected to check in on him.

The AL East runners-up are in need of starting pitching, regardless of whether they can re-sign Burnes. The rotation had its struggles in 2024, and while Buehler and his big-game experience would be beneficial, questions about his health and consistency could present more of the same issue for Baltimore.

The Orioles will likely look to Burnes first and go from there.

As for Buehler, he has spent his entire career in Los Angeles and considering how important he was to the team in his final two appearances of the season, it only feels right that he would return for another season in Dodger blue.

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Prediction: Buehler returns to the world champs