Like us get ready for a star-studded world series Between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, let’s not lose sight of the picture of free agency that is still taking shape. You’ll probably hear a lot about it every time Yankees superstar Juan Soto or Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernández approach home plate during the World Series. There are also several other Dodgers and Yankees that will hit the open market once the Series is over.

Throughout the regular season, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz kept track of the field with a list of the 25 best. Here’s a look at the top crop of free agents heading into the Fall Classic. This list will evolve and expand as we approach the warm stove season.

Juan Soto, Yankees OF, 26 years old

He has already established himself in Yankees lore with his AL pennant wins home run against Guardians. His contract should break all records.

Mintz: Soto is the best player on the market, and he’s not close. His free agent contract will start with a five; remember, he turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Nats in 2022.

Willy Adames, Brewers SS, 29

Mintz: Dansby Swanson entered free agency in the winter of 2022 with an inferior balance sheet and received a seven-year, $177 million contract. It looks like Adames soil. People around the game also view the Dominican-born shortstop as an elite presence in a clubhouse.

Corbin Burnes, Orioles SP, 30

Burnes gave the Orioles a gem in the AL wild-card round this was wasted by Baltimore’s short playoff run. He will enter free agency as an available senior arm.

Mintz: Burnes’ contract number probably starts with two.

Max Fried, Braves SP, 31

Mintz: There’s an argument for Fried to be grouped with Blake Snell, further down this top 10, but I think the southpaw’s long history of success is a separator.

Alex Bregman, Astros 3B, 31

Mintz: Bregman is no longer the MVP candidate he was a few years ago, but he’s also not the listless ghost we’ve seen through the first six weeks of 2024. All of this points to a number around 200 $. Bregman will be highly sought after.

Blake Snell (opt-out), Giants SP, 32

Mintz: All the reigning NL Cy Young needed was time. After an initial few months off during which he fought off a series of nagging injuries, Snell returned to peak form. Expect him to opt out of the contract he signed last winter with San Francisco.

Pete Alonso, Mets 1B, 30 years old

If this was Alonso’s final with the Mets, he deserves a tip of the hat from their fans after a legendary home run that ousted the Brewers in the wild-card round And another who helped expand the NLCS.

Mintz: He’s still a right-handed first baseman, which scares teams. He’s a great hitter but not an elite hitter. There is a chasm between what Alonso once hoped to get ($200 million) and what he is likely to get (closer to $125). Still, he ranks above the next group of hitters because of his multi-year track record.

Anthony Santander, Orioles OF, 30 years old

His microscopic playoff sample size — 1-for-8 with 2 Ks — during Baltimore’s short playoff appearance shouldn’t be a drag in free agency.

Mintz: The switch-hitting outfielder has a few unavoidable flaws: he’s a mediocre fielder, and he walks less than you’d like for a mid-range bat. Still, Santander carried the Orioles who walk on water for long stretches of the summer, and 40-homer sluggers don’t grow on trees.

Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers OF, 32

He’s about to get a big raise on his one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers. The shine of a potential World Series title wouldn’t hurt either.

Mintz: He ranks behind Santander because he’s older and isn’t a hitter, but Hernández ranks ahead of Jurickson Profar because he has a much longer track record.

Jurickson Profar, Padres OF, 32

Profar did one of the most memorable catches of these playoffsbut he hit just .200 in the Padres’ seven games.

Mintz: This year has been better late than never for the former top prospect. Whether that’s enough for a team to spend big years and money on a solidly mediocre player for a decade remains to be seen.

Jack Flaherty, Dodgers SP, 29

Here’s another World Series entrant whose free agency profile could rise with a big performance in the Fall Classic.

Mintz: He is no longer a candidate to be given a qualifying offer that could have dampened his market (players traded mid-season are not eligible).

Cody Bellinger (opt-out), Cubs OF/1B, 29

Mintz: There are two years, $53 million and changes left on the deal he signed with the Cubs last winter, and while his offensive numbers have taken a step back from his 2023 resurgence, he’s still an above-average hitter who can play center field.

Christian Walker, Diamondbacks 1B, 34

Mintz: He remains a fascinating free agent proposition as a relatively older corner bat with a long track record of bashing baseballs.

Ha-Seong Kim (opt-out), Padres IF, 29

Mintz: There’s a worrying lull in power output for a player who doesn’t hit for a particularly high average and is more of a solid shortstop defender than a Gold Glover. Then again, there aren’t many players who can hack the defense at the tougher interior position, which should make Kim a hot commodity despite his offensive issues.

Yusei Kikuchi, Astros SP, 34

Mintz: Houston was criticized for overpaying for the Japanese left-hander at the trade deadline, but Kikuchi delivered for the Astros, with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts. With a revamped approach – he throws his slider more and his curveball less – a rejuvenated Kikuchi could land another multi-year deal this winter.

Tyler O’Neill, Red Sox outfielder, 30

Injuries aside, O’Neill has 31 homers in 113 games in 2024.

Joc Pederson, D-backs defender, 33 years old

Mintz: The left-swinging Pederson is entirely a platoon bat at this point. He continues to collect, but is it enough to close a multi-year deal?

Michael Wacha (unsubscribe), Royals SP, 34

Mintz: Wacha has one year and $16 million remaining on his contract with the Royals. The veteran right-hander is a good bet to retire; he was top-20 in MLB in ERA and made at least 23 starts in nine of the last 10 seasons.

Gleyber Torres, Yankees 2B, 28

Will his strong playoff run help him shed his “low energy player” reputation? The move to first place in mid-August certainly helped.

Tanner Scott, Padres RP, 30

Mintz: He remains the most exciting reliever on the market.

Clay Holmes, Yankees PR, 32

Mintz: His trademark sinker will never be a premium offering, but he’s garnered more whiffs than during his horrible mid-season slump.

Carlos Estévez, Phillies PR, 32 years old

Mintz: He feels like a lock to improve on the $2/$13.5 million deal he got from the Angels in 2022.

Justin Verlander, Astros SP, 42

His player option would have been acquired if he had reached the 130 IP mark. He’s a long way from that due to injuries that kept him out of the Astros’ playoff run. Mintz: Verlander has been open about his desire to pitch until age 45, and while his stuff and command have looked shaky in his two starts since coming off the IL, he still has enough outs to justify another deal, even if he ends up back in Houston. . Victory No. 300 is hidden in the distance.

Shane Bieber, SP goalkeepers, 30 years old

Made two starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery this season. Mintz: It won’t be ready to launch again until next April at the earliest. However, he will surely generate a lot of interest, given his track record. Bieber was a top 10 pitcher from 2020 to 2022 and is young enough that you can imagine him climbing back to those heights.

Alex Verdugo, Yankees OF, 29

Mintz: Verdugo, frankly, just isn’t a very dynamic hitter. He’s an average player in the league.