At a Glance
- MLB free agency stretches over winter, unlike NBA/NFL.
- 13 players received qualifying offers; 4 accepted: Trent Grisham, Shota Imanaga, Gleyber Torres, Brandon Woodruff.
- New signings include Pete Alonso, Dylan Cease, Edwin Díaz, and more.
- Why it matters: Fans and teams track these moves to gauge roster changes for the 2025 season.
MLB’s free-agency season unfolds like a marathon, with activity spread across the winter months. The last offseason saw Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman waiting until February to sign, and this year’s class features a mix of qualifying-offer acceptances, re-signings, and fresh deals.
Qualifying Offers and Re-signings
Thirteen players were extended qualifying offers, and four of them accepted. The accepted offers went to Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres, and Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff.
- Accepted qualifying offers: Trent Grisham, Shota Imanaga, Gleyber Torres, Brandon Woodruff
- Re-signings: Ha-Seong Kim, Michael King, Josh Naylor, Emilio Pagán, Kyle Schwarber
New Signings
Teams across the league have secured new talent, ranging from high-profile acquisitions to role-player additions.
- Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles)
- Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Pete Fairbanks (Miami Marlins)
- Adolis García (Philadelphia Phillies)
- Ryan Helsley (Baltimore Orioles)
- Kenley Jansen (Detroit Tigers)
- Merrill Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks)
- Ryan O’Hearn (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Jorge Polanco (New York Mets)
- Tyler Rogers (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Robert Suarez (Atlanta Braves)
- Luke Weaver (New York Mets)
- Devin Williams (New York Mets)
- Mike Yastrzemski (Atlanta Braves)
- Tatsuya Imai (Houston Astros)
- Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox)
- Kazuma Okamoto (free agent until Jan. 4)
- Kona Takahashi (free agent until Jan. 4)
Top Players and 2025 Stats
Here are key 2025 performance metrics for the most talked-about free agents.
| Player | Position | 2025 Stats | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luis Arráez | 1B | .292/.327/.392, 8 HR, 61 RBI, 11 SB | 139 singles, 3.1% K |
| Harrison Bader | OF | .277/.347/.449, 17 HR, 54 RBI, OPS .796 | 124 hits, 18th in outs above average |
| Chris Bassitt | RHP | 3.96 ERA, 166 K, 52 BB, 1.327 WHIP | 31 starts, 170.1 IP |
| Cody Bellinger | OF | .272/.334/.480, 29 HR, 98 RBI, 13 SB | 152 appearances |
| Bo Bichette | SS | .311/.357/.483, 18 HR, 94 RBI | 181 hits, 44 doubles |
| Alex Bregman | 3B | .273/.360/.462, 18 HR, 62 RBI | 114 games |
| Zac Gallen | RHP | 4.83 ERA, 175 K, 66 BB, 1.260 WHIP | 33 starts |
| Lucas Giolito | RHP | 3.41 ERA, 121 K, 56 BB, 1.290 WHIP | 26 starts |
| Rhys Hoskins | 1B | .237/.332/.416, 12 HR, 43 RBI | 90 games |
| Nick Martinez | RHP | 4.45 ERA, 116 K, 42 BB, 1.207 WHIP | 26 starts, 14 relief |
| Kazuma Okamoto | 3B/1B | .277/.361/.521, 248 HR, 717 RBI | 21 HR last season |
| Marcell Ozuna | DH | .232/.355/.400, 21 HR, 68 RBI | 79 HR previous two seasons |
| J.T. Realmuto | C | .257/.315/.384, 12 HR, 52 RBI | 34-year-old catcher |
| Max Scherzer | RHP | 5.19 ERA, 82 K, 23 BB, 1.294 WHIP | 17 starts, thumb injury |
| Eugenio Suárez | 3B | 49 HR, 118 RBI, .897 OPS (D-backs), 13 HR after move | |
| Ranger Suárez | LHP | 3.20 ERA, 151 K, 38 BB, 1.220 WHIP | 26 starts |
| Kona Takahashi | RHP | 3.39 ERA, 1.296 WHIP, 88 K, 41 BB | 148 IP |
| Kyle Tucker | OF | .266/.377/.464, 22 HR, 73 RBI, 25 SB | 70th in outs above average |
| Framber Valdez | LHP | 3.66 ERA, 187 K, 68 BB, 1.245 WHIP | 31 starts, 20 quality starts |
| Justin Verlander | RHP | 3.85 ERA, 137 K, 52 BB, 1.362 WHIP | 29 starts |
These statistics illustrate the varied performance levels and contract considerations that teams weigh during the free-agency process.
Key Takeaways
- MLB free agency is a prolonged winter process with activity spread over months.
- Four players accepted qualifying offers; many others re-signed or moved to new teams.
- 2025 performance data shows a mix of high-usage starters, solid relievers, and power hitters.
As teams finalize deals, the winter-long free-agency season continues to shape the 2025 MLB landscape.
