At a Glance
- Kyle Tucker signed with the Dodgers on a $240 million deal
- Thirteen players received qualifying offers; four accepted
- Top names like Luis Arráez and Cody Bellinger remain unsigned
Why it matters: Fans and front offices are still tracking impact players who could shift playoff races.
Unlike the NBA and NFL, MLB free agency stretches deep into winter. While other leagues see a signing flurry on Day 1, baseball’s hot stove simmers for months. This year is no different, with marquee talent still available after the Jan. 15 agreement that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million contract.
Qualifying Offer Decisions
Four veterans accepted the one-year qualifying offers from their 2024 clubs:
- Trent Grisham, Yankees outfielder
- Shota Imanaga, Cubs starter
- Gleyber Torres, Tigers second baseman
- Brandon Woodruff, Brewers starter
Several others bypassed free-agent shopping and re-upped with their teams before the market opened:
- Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, Braves
- Starter Michael King, Padres
- First baseman Josh Naylor, Mariners
- Reliever Emilio Pagán, Reds
- Slugger Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
Who’s on the Move
Plenty of headline names changed uniforms:
- Pete Alonso, 1B → Orioles
- Alex Bregman, 3B → Cubs
- Dylan Cease, SP → Blue Jays
- Edwin Díaz, RP → Dodgers
- Adolis García, OF → Phillies
- Kenley Jansen, RP → Tigers
- Merrill Kelly, SP → Diamondbacks
- Jorge Polanco, IF → Mets
- Luke Weaver, RP → Mets
- Devin Williams, RP → Mets
- Kyle Tucker, OF → Dodgers
- Mike Yastrzemski, OF → Braves
Three Japanese standouts joined MLB after being posted:
- Tatsuya Imai, RHP → Astros
- Munetaka Murakami, 1B → White Sox
- Kazuma Okamoto, 3B → Blue Jays
Right-hander Kona Takahashi returned to Nippon Professional Baseball.
Best Players Still Available
Luis Arráez, 1B (Padres)
- Tied for second-most hits in baseball (181)
- Lowest strikeout rate: 3.1%
- Batting title contender despite .292 average
- Defensive metric: minus-7 outs above average
Harrison Bader, OF (Phillies)
- Career year at 31: .796 OPS, 17 HR, 124 hits
- Plus defender: plus-7 outs above average
Chris Bassitt, RHP (Blue Jays)
- 31 starts, 3.96 ERA, 166 K in 170.1 IP
- 1.327 WHIP ranks among highest qualifiers
Cody Bellinger, OF (Yankees)
- Declined $25 million option
- Hit .272 with 29 HR, 98 RBI, 13 SB
- Plus-7 outs above average in outfield
Bo Bichette, SS (Blue Jays)
- Rebounded to .311 average, 181 hits
- Tied for second-best batting average in MLB
- Minus-13 outs above average at shortstop
Zac Gallen, RHP (Diamondbacks)
- ERA jumped to 4.83 after sub-3.65 run since 2021
- 31 homers allowed (fourth most)
Lucas Giolito, RHP (Red Sox)
- Bounce-back 3.41 ERA in 26 starts after Tommy John
Rhys Hoskins, 1B (Brewers)
- Limited to 90 games by thumb injury
- .237 average, 12 HR, 43 RBI
- Plus-1 outs above average
Nick Martinez, RHP (Reds)
- Swingman: 26 starts, 14 relief outings
- ERA rose to 4.45, WHIP to 1.207
- Career-high 165.2 IP
Marcell Ozuna, DH (Braves)
- OPS slipped to .756 after back-to-back .900-plus seasons
- 21 HR vs. combined 79 in previous two years
J.T. Realmuto, C (Phillies)
- First season below .750 OPS in a decade
- .257 average, 12 HR, 52 RBI
Max Scherzer, RHP (Blue Jays)
- Career-worst 5.19 ERA in 17 starts
- 41 years old, 82 K in 86 IP
- Opponents’ OPS: .810 (career high)
Eugenio Suárez, 3B (Mariners)
- 49 HR, 118 RBI, All-Star nod with D-backs
- Slumped to .682 OPS after trade to Seattle
Framber Valdez, LHP (Astros)
- 3.66 ERA, 187 K, 20 quality starts
- Eight complete games since 2022 (second most)
Justin Verlander, RHP (Giants)
- 3.85 ERA, 137 K in 152 IP at age 42
- 1.362 WHIP over 29 starts
Key Takeaways
- Big money is still out there: Tucker’s $240 million deal shows teams will spend for elite talent.
- Pitching depth remains: Starters like Valdez, Bassitt, and Giolito could reshape rotations.
- Hit market has power: Bellinger, Bichette, and Suárez offer middle-of-the-order impact.
- Qualifying offers matter: Accepting the one-year pact gave Torres and others security while cooling bidding on others.
Hot stove watchers should expect more moves before spring camps open, with agents and executives working the phones to close gaps on years and dollars for the top remaining free agents.
