2024 MLB Free Agents: Latest Rumors, Predictions for Juan Soto, Willy Adames, Dodgers
The free-agent market in MLB remains at a standstill as teams wait for the Juan Soto domino to fall.
The latest insider report suggests it may come sooner rather than later, with very little surprise as to where the generational hitter winds up.
Where might that be and which teams still have an outside shot at acquiring him?
Find out the answer to that question, as well as what the future holds for Willy Adames and the Los Angeles Dodgers, with these rumors and predictions.
Juan Soto Update
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The Mets remain the favorite to sign Juan Soto in free agency, with the expectation being that no team can outbid them and that the Yankees have a number in mind that they will not go beyond, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
He added that, while the Blue Jays remain a dark horse candidate, "with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette eligible for free agency in a year, Toronto would have to dramatically beat the Mets' offer to have a prayer."
The NLCS runners-up have been linked to Soto since before the end of the season, and it is not particularly surprising as to why. The 26-year-old is a generational hitter coming off the best season of his career. He hit 41 home runs and had career highs in hits (166) and runs (128).
Adding his bat to a lineup that includes NL MVP candidate Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, and, potentially, Pete Alonso would make a great Mets team from 2024 even better.
Even if the team cannot bring Alonso back, it would still immediately stand out as one of the favorites to emerge from the National League and compete for a World Series.
As for where Soto ends up, it appears to be becoming less and less dramatic.
Prediction: Soto signs a historic deal with the Mets
Surprise Suitor for Willy Adames?
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Willy Adames is the top free-agent shortstop this offseason, and the Boston Red Sox want him, Nightengale wrote.
"The Red Sox also have strong interest in All-Star free-agent shortstop Willy Adames, who is willing to move to third base. They have scheduled an upcoming meeting and have internally discussed moving Rafael Devers off third base."
Boston has made it abundantly clear that it wants to compete in an AL East that appeared to pass it by at times in 2024, and adding a bright young star like Adames to the lineup will help with that.
The Brewer hit for .251 with 32 home runs and 112 RBI last season while compiling a fielding percentage of .963.
Either Adames or incumbent shortstop Trevor Story would likely move to third base, moving Devers to DH or forcing a change of position. How well that goes over with the 28-year-old likely determines if the team can get a deal done and make the setup work.
It still feels like Adames is a better fit for the Dodgers given the world champs' need at the position, but the Red Sox appear determined to get free-agent signings done this year amid mounting frustration with their recent lack of success.
Prediction: Adames signs elsewhere, like Los Angeles
Dodgers Free Agency Plans
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"The Dodgers, who won the World Series with only three healthy starters, are pursuing at least one top-tiered free agent starter even with Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw all expected to join Yamamoto in the rotation this year," Nightengale reported.
Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Blake Snell are the three most prominent free-agent starters this offseason.
Burnes is the best of the bunch and coming off a Cy Young-worthy season in Baltimore. The Orioles are expected to compete to retain his services but if there is any organization that can outbid the young AL East squad and convince Burnes to head west, it is the star-studded World Series champs.
Fried is coming off a season in which he overcame injury to go 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA and 166 strikeouts and was a huge factor in the Braves' late-season run to the playoffs.
Snell pitched a complete game while compiling a 3.12 ERA and giving up just 36 earned runs during his time in San Francisco.
All three are legitimate options for the Dodgers, but if the team hopes to acquire another free agent, taking Fried or Snell would allow them a little more room to make that happen.
Prediction: The Dodgers sign Fried
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