2024 MLB Free Agents: Latest Rumors, Predictions for Juan Soto, Hyeseong Kim, More
The Juan Soto domino still has not fallen, meaning there are several key free-agent moves that have yet to occur as the baseball world waits with bated breath for news of the generational hitter's signing.
Rumors and reports continue to run wild surrounding the 26-year-old, one of which headlines this collection of free-agent updates.
Joining it is the latest on a South Korean free agent who could be of assistance in the Pacific Northwest and a veteran reliever who may have a second life as a starter in MLB.
Juan Soto Narrowing His Options
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Ken Rosenthal, Evan Drellich, and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reported that Juan Soto is narrowing his free agency options. "Agent Scott Boras said Tuesday at Dodger Stadium that Soto has started the process of eliminating potential landing spots, but did not specify which ones."
The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Blue Jays are all well known to have interest in and made offers to the right fielder. The report stated that the deal is expected to be for 12 years with a floor of $600 million and that the Mets remain the favorite, despite quality offers from the Yankees and Red Sox.
At 26 years old, Soto is a young free agent and a generational hitter. In 2024, his first season with the Yankees, he achieved career-highs in hits (166), runs (128), and home runs (41) while slashing .288/.419/.569.
He was an All-Star, a Silver Slugger, and finished third in AL MVP voting, all while helping to guide the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009.
It remains to be seen if the Bronx Bombers can convince him to continue his career in Yankee Stadium.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has the finances to outbid any opponent and if it does come down to the highest offer, Soto will likely be sporting blue and orange across town next season.
Prediction: Soto signs with the Mets
Interest in Hyeseong Kim
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Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that South Korean star Hyeseong Kim is expected to be posted Wednesday, opening a 30-day window where he can sign with an MLB club.
Morosi previously reported that the Seattle Mariners would be a team to watch in the Kim sweepstakes.
In his age-25 season with the Kiwoom Heroes, Kim hit .326 with 11 home runs, 75 RBI, 90 runs, and 166 hits. Unsurprisingly, the Mariners, a team that struggled offensively this past season, would be interested in acquiring a player who put the bat to the ball as frequently as Kim did in 2024.
The question is whether that franchise has the pieces in place to convince the veteran young free agent to sign. Even with Julio Rodriguez and one of the best rotations in the game, the team failed to make the postseason.
They will be a player and likely sell the youthfulness and future of the organization to Kim. Whether that sways him, or a bigger market with brighter stars does, remains to be seen.
Prediction: Kim signs in MLB, but not in Seattle
Clay Holmes: Starter?
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Clay Holmes was an AL All-Star in 2024 as a Yankees reliever, despite blowing a league-leading 13 saves. Still, despite that unflattering number and the fact that he lost his closer job, he has still been outstanding for the organization since arriving in 2021.
So much so that teams like the crosstown Mets are interested in him as a potential starter, Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote.
Holmes has not been a starter since 2018 but the success that fellow Yankees reliever Michael King has had in San Diego with the Padres has some teams thinking the 31-year-old can follow suit.
In four years with the Yankees, Holmes established a 2.69 ERA and in 2024, appeared in the second-most games of his career at 67. He is durable, reliable, and has proven All-Star ability. The question is whether he can go six or seven innings every five days consistently.
That King has had success and Seth Lugo out in Kansas City finished third in Cy Young voting has left some teams hoping to return quality pitchers to their starting roles, Heyman wrote.
Whether Holmes can be that guy is the question. His ERA (3.14) was his highest since the 2021 season but he did face his most batters since that season, proving there may be a correlation.
If that is a move he is willing to make, the Mets are as good a team as any to keep an eye on. Between Sean Manaea and Luis Severino in 2024, to Frankie Montas thus far in free agency, the team has demonstrated a willingness to pick up veteran pitchers who can eat up innings and keep the team in games.
Holmes does not have to be spectacular, he just has to be efficient. If he can do that, there is a spot waiting for him in Queens.
Prediction: Holmes signs as a starter, presumably with a hungry and determined Mets squad. Perhaps San Diego is an option given what that organization accomplished with King.
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