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    • 2024 MLB Free Agent Predictions: Soto, Bregman and Alonso Rumors
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    2024 MLB Free Agent Predictions: Soto, Bregman and Alonso Rumors

    Umito Posted on

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    Major League Baseball offseason is underway, with Juan Soto’s free agency being the big talking point.

    Only 26 years old, Soto is one of the best players to ever hit the open market and is expected to gross over $600 million, perhaps even reaching the title. Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million record agreement last winter. Soto spent 2024 with the Yankees and these are them favorite to bring him back to the Bronx.

    As Soto leads the 2024-25 free agents, he is joined by Cy Young winners Blake Snell (Giants) and Corbin Burnes (Orioles) at the top of the class, as well as third baseman Alex Bregman (Astros), first baseman Pete Alonso (Mets) and 2022 Cy Young finalist Max Fried (Atlanta).

    Here’s where USA TODAY Sports’ MLB writers and editors see the best free agents to finish :

    Juan Soto

    ∙ Bob Nightengale: Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays still have $700 million burning a hole in their wallet, and after the Yankees refused to back down from their initial offer, the Blue Jays swoop in and get their man for $630 million over 14 years.

    ∙ Gabe Lacques: New York Yankees – It’s either writing a check for half a billion dollars or trying to “replace it in the big picture.” And that’s largely not possible given what exists in the market and in the minor league system.

    ∙ Steve Gardner: New York Yankees — He’ll listen to offers and Scott Boras will do his due diligence, but Soto’s career-high home run total last season was bolstered by the small front porch at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees can’t afford to lose Soto’s left-handed power bat, so expect him to enjoy that home park advantage for years to come.

    ∙ Scott Boeck: New York Yankees – Soto said he’s available to all 30 teams after the World Series, but only a few can realistically afford him. The Bronx – and the little porch of Yankee Stadium – suits him best.

    ∙ Jesse Yomtov: New York Yankees – A reunion just makes sense with the Yankees and Soto, who would be paired with Aaron Judge for (at least) seven more opportunities to win a World Series together.

    Blake Snell

    ∙Bob Nightengale: San Francisco Giants – He didn’t want to sign there a year ago, but the market collapsed. He showed what he was capable of with his monster second half and the Giants fell in love with him. It’s not his hometown, Seattle, but it’s close enough.

    ∙ Gabé Lacques: San Francisco Giants – Buster Posey administration needs a W to gain credibility with the fans, Snell was pretty comfortable there and they have been sitting on large sums of money for quite a while now.

    ∙ Steve Gardner: San Diego Padres – A return to San Diego is not out of the question. He won a Cy Young there and the Padres may be just one bold move away from overtaking the Dodgers. Getting a lefty for their right rotation might just be the missing piece.

    ∙ Scott Boeck: San Francisco Giants – The two-time Cy Young winner remains in the Bay where he has become a very reliable starter after a horrible start to the 2024 season. Just sign him before the start of spring training or the Red Sox could grab him.

    ∙ Jesse Yomtov: Los Angeles Angels – In the mix of the two-time Cy Young winner’s services last winter (and spring), perhaps the Angels will pull the trigger this time, committing multiple years to Snell for their next battle with the Athletics for fifth place in the AL West.

    Corbin Burnes

    ∙ Bob Nightengale: Chicago Cubs – Hey, his old boss fled the Brewers for the Cubs, so why can’t he join Craig Counsell and come too, and be really hated in Milwaukee? Living at home in Phoenix during spring training might just be too good to pass up.

    ∙ Gabé Lacques: New York Mets – With three starters in free agency, the Mets can pay upper-middle prices for volatile replacements, or spend Cohen Cash on what appears to be the safest bet on the market.

    ∙ Steve Gardner: New York Mets – Losing the bid for Soto, the Mets will turn to pitching. Burnes is the next biggest name on the block and will provide the durability and consistency they desperately need with last year’s top two starters, Luis Severino and Sean Manaea, also free agents.

    ∙ Scott Boeck: New York Mets – The Mets will look to Burnes, not Snell, to become the ace of the staff. Unfortunately for the Orioles, billionaire owner Cohen will outbid them and every other team.

    ∙ Jesse Yomtov: New York Yankees – After the strange Gerrit Cole opt-out saga, the Yankees really should add another sure thing to the rotation. The former Cy Young winner is the safest ace bet on the market this winter and stealing him from the Orioles would further move the needle in the always competitive AL East, putting Baltimore’s new owner on the back foot .

    Alex Bregman

    ∙ Bob Nightengale: New York Yankees – Bregman always loved the spotlight, dreamed of playing on the big stage and what is bigger than New York. Both New York teams will bid for him, but the Yankees will be the ultimate winners.

    ∙ Gabe Lacques: Washington Nationals – Jim Crane is pushed beyond his comfort level and lets another dynasty-building asset leave Houston. Bregman becomes the veteran glue of a promising core that needs a North Star.

    ∙Steve Gardner: Houston Astros – Is there any way the Astros can let Bregman walk? His teammates and fans want him back, and he’d be crazy to leave Houston, where his mid-range pull-up power is tailor-made for dropping homers into the Crawford Boxes in left field.

    ∙ Scott Boeck: Houston Astros – It’s hard to see Bregman, the face of the franchise, leave after nine years. But then again, Houston let All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa walk.

    ∙ Jesse Yomtov: New York Mets – Boras launched the possibility of Bregman playing second basewhich brings the Mets into the conversation as the NL runners-up now have Mark Vientos firmly entrenched at third. Bregman, 30, is coming off the worst season of his career and his employer for 2025 could be largely determined by the fallout from Soto’s courtship.

    Pete Alonso

    ∙ Bob Nightengale: Seattle Mariners – Alonso learns that the Mets never really wanted him back after all, instead pursuing Christian Walker. The Yankees also hit the pause button. Alonso falls into the Mariners’ lap, wishing they had accepted a trade offer from the Mets last summer.

    ∙ Gabé Lacques: New York Mets – He was already making $20.5 million, so a move into his 30s won’t be a major shock. A near miss on Soto leaves the club hungry to maintain some identity.

    ∙ Steve Gardner: New York Mets – The Polar Bear is beloved in Queens, especially after helping lead the upstart Mets to the NLCS. They need to throw more, but they also can’t afford to risk alienating an energetic fan base.

    ∙ Scott Boeck: New York Mets – Despite the ups and downs in Queens, the Mets need to bring Alonso back and pay him his money.

    ∙ Jesse Yomtov: New York Mets – One of the most popular players in Mets history, Alonso simply doesn’t have the same intrinsic value elsewhere. He would be a huge addition for teams in need of power and/or a first baseman, it’s hard to see Cohen letting him go elsewhere if the Mets don’t win the Soto sweepstakes.

    Max Frit

    ∙ Bob Nightengale: Baltimore Orioles – Atlanta was scared to death about his arm and those fears were echoed by several big market teams. The Orioles can’t afford to be picky and choose him to replace Burnes in the rotation.

    ∙ Gabe Lacques: Seattle Mariners – Desperately needing bats, they find them by trading one or two prized young pitchers – and replace them with Fried, a more economical option than Snell or Burnes.

    ∙ Steve Gardner: Baltimore Orioles – The O’s have a low payroll and need an ace to be a legitimate World Series contender. Keeping Burnes or going after Snell will likely cost more, so they’ll turn to Fried. Adding a lefty makes sense with Camden Yards’ vast expanse in left field, although Fried is more of a ground ball thrower anyway.

    ∙ Scott Boeck: Los Angeles Dodgers – Fried has established himself as a true ace in Atlanta, but the Dodgers are big spenders. And what a compliment he would pay to Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani when the two-way star returns to the mound.

    ∙ Jesse Yomtov: San Diego Padres – Originally drafted by San Diego and ultimately traded to the Braves for Justin Upton in 2014, the Southern California native would be a good fit for Joe Musgrove who is expected to miss 2025 after Tommy John surgery.

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    Umito
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