While Juan Soto, Willy Adames, and Blake Snell are off the board, there are still plenty of elite players available in the MLB free-agent pool.
For the sake of this article, we’ll focus on five specific names. It was difficult narrowing down the list, and we must mention the likes of Tanner Scott, Jack Flaherty, Sean Manaea, and others who are still available.
Without further delay, here are our predictions for the remaining top free agents:
Roki Sasaki
Sasaki has officially been posted. The Japanese prodigy will now be able to ink a minor league deal with whichever team he’d like. Agent Joel Wolfe was interviewed at the Winter Meetings in Dallas this past week. Not wanting to reveal his hand, he did throw in some interesting nuggets about Sasaki potentially wanting to play in a smaller market.
The Padres have long been associated with Sasaki as a potential fit being on the West Coast and also featuring Yu Darvish. All of this news — which seems to move away from the Dodgers — almost seems forced in a way which could signal a manufactured plot to try and throw everyone off the scent that Sasaki was always going to be a Dodger no matter what.
LA offers the most robust Japanese community in the United States. We’ve seen how the likes of Hideo Nomo, Kaz Ishii, Kenta Maeda, Hiroki Kuroda, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani have thrived wearing Dodger blue. At only 23 years of age, Sasaki will lead the next wave of elite LA players once the older core exits their respective primes.
Prediction: Sasaki signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Alex Bregman
Reports seem to indicate an internal struggle between the Astros and the Red Sox — with the Tigers and Yankees potentially also being options. The Boston front office is reportedly split on Bregman. Manager Alex Cora would surely love to reunite with the decorated infielder.
AJ Hinch would also love linking up again with Bregman considering his past history with the player — not to mention the upside of Detroit in a very winnable division. Boston’s hunt for a right-handed bat could be between Bregman and Teoscar Hernandez. If Houston trades Kyle Tucker, would that signal a rebuild? There’s many things to suss out here.
Prediction: Bregman signs with the Boston Red Sox
Teoscar Hernandez
This one appears to be a “will they/won’t they” situation. Hernandez was a leader within the Dodgers’ clubhouse this past season. The team, fanbase, and manager Dave Roberts absolutely loves him. Hernandez is a perfect fit within the lineup and fits the timetable with the other stars. He also seemingly wants to stay put in what’s a terrific situation for himself.
However, the Dodgers are a pragmatic franchise. Hernandez is turning 33 next year. Giving a multi-year deal to an outfielder with depreciating skills as a defender is something LA is hesitant about. Hernandez bet on himself (smartly) and had a fantastic 2024 season. He’ll surely want a 4-year deal. The Dodgers would probably be more comfortable with a shorter contract considering his age, the inability to have him DH full-time with Ohtani present, and the team’s best prospect Dalton Rushing ready to come up and play.
Watch out for both the Blue Jays and Red Sox here. It wouldn’t be a total shock to see him leave LA — though we think the two parties will make it work.
Prediction: Hernandez re-signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Corbin Burnes
Burnes will be taking a brisk walk to the bank by the time this period ends. He’s going to cash in majorly in the wake of Max Fried getting a whopping $218 million from the New York Yankees.
Billed as the best pitcher available on the open market, one can envision a deal where Burnes gets close to $250 million (if not more). He might be too expensive for Baltimore to re-sign. Boston may move elsewhere since trading for Garrett Crochet. Toronto doesn’t look like a contending team, and it’s on the opposite part of the continent from where Burnes is from.
That leaves the Giants — a near perfect fit. It’s arguably the best pitchers park in the big leagues. Burnes grew up in Central California (Bakersfield). He also attended college at St. Mary’s in Northern California. Additionally, new head of baseball operations Buster Posey will want to prove that SF can be a free agent destination. Pairing Burnes with Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks and Robbie Ray gives the Giants one of the best starting rotations in the league.
Prediction: Burnes signs with the San Francisco Giants
Anthony Santander
Toronto is desperate to make a splash even if its shortsided. Despite not having agreements in place to re-sign soon-to-be free agents Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, the franchise wants to prove it can lure top-end free agents.
Santander makes sense on the surface. He’ll add some massive pop to the lineup. He’s an AL East veteran, and will be right at home with the Blue Jays. Baltimore is still trying to figure out its financial situation with the new ownership group in place. With the Orioles having good prospects all over the field, re-upping with Santander doesn’t appear to be a must-do on the agenda.
Prediction: Santander signs with the Toronto Blue Jays
