In a season where free agency feels more like a long‑distance run than a sprint, the MLB market has stretched across the entire winter.
A Marathon, Not a Sprint
Unlike the NBA or NFL, where free‑agency buzz explodes in the first week, Major League Baseball sees activity spread out. The last offseason highlighted this trend when high‑profile names like Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman didn’t sign until February. The current class contains 13 players who received qualifying offers, and four—Trent Grisham, Shota Imanaga, Gleyber Torres, and Brandon Woodruff—accepted them.
Players Who Stayed
Several key figures chose continuity:
- Josh Naylor (Seattle Mariners, 1B) re‑signed.
- Emilio Pagán (Cincinnati Reds, RHP) stayed with his club.
- Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies, OF) also re‑signed.
These moves keep the core of each team intact as the offseason progresses.
Players Who Found New Homes
A wave of talent has moved to new teams this winter. The list includes:
- Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles, 1B)
- Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays, RHP)
- Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers, RHP)
- Adolis García (Philadelphia Phillies, OF)
- Ryan Helsley (Baltimore Orioles, RHP)
- Kenley Jansen (Detroit Tigers, RHP)
- Merrill Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks, LHP)
- Jorge Polanco (New York Mets, INF)
- Tyler Rogers (Toronto Blue Jays, RHP)
- Robert Suarez (Atlanta Braves, RHP)
- Devin Williams (New York Mets, RHP)
- Mike Yastrzemski (Atlanta Braves, OF)
These moves reshuffle the balance of power across the league.
Best Remaining Free Agents
With the hot stove season underway, the following players remain on the market, sorted alphabetically by last name:
Luis Arráez – 1B, San Diego Padres
- 28‑year‑old, .292/.327/.392 line.
- 139 singles out of 181 hits; 8 HR, 61 RBI, 11 SB in 154 games.
- Lowest strikeout percentage (3.1%) and tied for 10th‑worst walk percentage (5%).
Harrison Bader – OF, Philadelphia Phillies
- 31‑year‑old, .277/.347/.449.
- 124 hits, 24 doubles, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 54 OPS.
Chris Bassitt – RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
- 36‑year‑old, 3.96 ERA, 166 K, 52 BB over 31 starts.
- 1.327 WHIP, tied for ninth‑worst.
Cody Bellinger – OF, New York Yankees
- 30‑year‑old, declined $25 M option.
- 2019 NL MVP numbers: .272/.334/.480, 29 HR, 98 RBI.
Bo Bichette – SS, Toronto Blue Jays
- 27‑year‑old, .311/.357/.483.
- 18 HR, 94 RBI, 181 hits, 44 doubles.
- Declined qualifying offer.
Alex Bregman – 3B, Boston Red Sox
- 31‑year‑old, .273/.360/.462.
- 18 HR, 62 RBI in 114 games.
Pete Fairbanks – RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
- 32‑year‑old, 2.83 ERA, 59 K, 18 BB, 1.044 WHIP.
Zac Gallen – RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
- 30‑year‑old, 4.83 ERA, 175 K, 66 BB, 1.260 WHIP.
Lucas Giolito – RHP, Boston Red Sox
- 31‑year‑old, 3.41 ERA, 121 K, 56 BB, 1.290 WHIP.
Rhys Hoskins – 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
- 32‑year‑old, .237/.332/.416.
- 12 HR, 43 RBI.
Tatsuya Imai – RHP, Japan
- 29‑year‑old, 3.15 ERA over 159 games.
- 1.92 ERA, 178 K, 45 BB, 0.892 WHIP last season.
Michael King – RHP, San Diego Padres
- 30‑year‑old, 3.44 ERA, 76 K, 26 BB, 1.200 WHIP.
Nick Martinez – RHP, Cincinnati Reds
- 35‑year‑old, 4.45 ERA, 116 K, 42 BB over 165.2 innings.
Munetaka Murakami – 3B/1B, Japan
- 25‑year‑old, .270/.394/.557, 246 HR, 647 RBI.
Ryan O’Hearn – 1B, San Diego Padres
- 32‑year‑old, .281/.366/.437.
- 17 HR, 63 RBI.
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B/1B, Japan
- 29‑year‑old, .277/.361/.521, 248 HR, 717 RBI.
Marcell Ozuna – DH, Atlanta Braves
- 35‑year‑old, .232/.355/.400.
- 21 HR, 68 RBI.
J.T. Realmuto – C, Philadelphia Phillies
- 34‑year‑old, .257/.315/.384.
- 12 HR, 52 RBI.
Max Scherzer – RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
- 41‑year‑old, 5.19 ERA, 82 K, 23 BB, 1.294 WHIP.
Eugenio Suárez – 3B, Seattle Mariners
- 34‑year‑old, .897 OPS, 36 HR, 118 RBI with D‑backs; dropped to .682 OPS, 13 HR after move.
Ranger Suárez – LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
- 30‑year‑old, 3.20 ERA, 151 K, 38 BB, 1.220 WHIP.
Kona Takahashi – RHP, Japan
- 28‑year‑old, 3.39 ERA, 1.296 WHIP.
Kyle Tucker – OF, Chicago Cubs
- 28‑year‑old, .266/.377/.464.
- 22 HR, 73 RBI, 25 SB.
Framber Valdez – LHP, Houston Astros
- 32‑year‑old, 3.66 ERA, 187 K, 68 BB, 1.245 WHIP.
Justin Verlander – RHP, San Francisco Giants
- 42‑year‑old, 3.85 ERA, 137 K, 52 BB, 1.362 WHIP.
Luke Weaver – RHP, New York Yankees
- 32‑year‑old, 3.62 ERA, 72 K, 20 BB, 1.021 WHIP.
Key Takeaways
- MLB free‑agency spreads across the winter, unlike other major sports.
- Four qualifying‑offer recipients accepted, while many high‑profile players moved to new teams.
- The remaining free‑agent market includes a wide range of talent, from hitters like Luis Arráez to pitchers such as Framber Valdez.
The offseason continues to shape the league’s landscape, with teams balancing continuity and new acquisitions as the season approaches.
Closing
As the winter wind gathers, MLB’s free‑agency marathon keeps fans on their toes. Teams that navigate this long haul may find themselves better positioned for the upcoming season, while players on the move look to prove their worth in new environments.
