With the World Series nearly wrapped up, it’s never too early to look at everyone’s favorite offseason topic — free agency. This year’s class is rather interesting, with a host of traditionally big names available. After carefully analyzing those who will be entering the market this winter, here are five of the better infielder options available.
5. Christian Walker
Walker’s value dips a bit considering he will be 34 in March. However, for a team in need of a DH with elite fastball-hitting skills, Walker could be your guy. He’s coming off a year in which he hit 26 HRs for the Diamondbacks. Walker added 84 RBIs with a .251 average and a .803 OPS. Those numbers are certainly respectable, and he’s a guy with plenty of experience. Walker has hit at least 26 HRs in four of the last six years. He’s also earned two Gold Gloves during this period. A contending team will likely land Walker and be very happy in doing so. He’s one of the more underappreciated players in the sport.
4. Gleyber Torres
Torres is a mercurial player. You can see the talent he possesses in flashes. At only 27 years old, age is certainly on his side with potentially more development to come. He’s found a home as the Yankees’ leadoff hitter — primarily because he doesn’t chase and has one of the better eyes in all of baseball. At the same time, Torres has been prone to making some puzzling mistakes in the field and the batter’s box. There’s an inconsistency to his game which is truly maddening. Remember, he hit 38 HRs and drove in 90 RBIs as a 22-year-old back in 2019. He’s not come close to approaching either of those numbers since despite purportedly being in his prime. A change of scenery might ultimately do him a world of good.
3. Willy Adames
Adames has quietly developed into one of the better shortstops in the league. He hits for power and fields the position at an above-average level. He’s had six seasons with at least 20 HRs and he’s not yet 30 years of age. There will certainly be a market for his services. With that said, it almost appears as if the worst-kept secret in baseball has Adames signing with the Dodgers. He has long been admired by the franchise, and he has a previous connection to Andrew Friedman. The Dodgers also might have a hole at shortstop next year considering Miguel Rojas’s age/free agency status and the likelihood of making Tommy Edman the full-time centerfielder next season. Either way, based on his age and production, Adames should be in line for a nice payday.
2. Alex Bregman
Bregman is a proven commodity in this league. For years with the Astros, he’s been one of their better hitters. Bregman’s swing is beautiful when firing on all cylinders. Direct and quick to the ball, there’s a reason why Bregman traditionally has been a doubles machine. The days of him hitting 40 HRs are likely gone. There’s still a world in which he should be a consistent threat to hit approximately 25 HRs annually with an above-average OPS. Some worry about Bregman’s future on a long-term deal, as he’s recently accrued a higher strikeout rate over the past two years with slower bat speed than in years past. Still, Bregman is a good player that can help out a contending team.
1. Pete Alonso
Alonso is a throwback player in a sense. He’s not a good baserunner, is mediocre-to-poor as a fielder, and won’t always hit for average. Having said that, he can slug with the best of them as a pure home run hitter. As he approaches his 30th birthday, Alonso has already clubbed 226 HRs in his career. The four-time All-star has struggled with strikeouts throughout his career. There’s a reality that he could become a full-time DH sooner rather than later. The Mets have viewed Alonso as the face of the franchise since his rookie year in 2019. The question is, do they want to commit a huge chunk of long-term money towards him? Will some of that money go instead to Juan Soto? If Alonso does leave the Mets, he will have plenty of suitors.
