Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw has declined his $10 million player option with the Los Angeles Dodgers, electing to become a free agent.
The MLB Players Association listed Kershaw as a free agent in a statement released on Monday. The left-hander is still expected to re-sign with the Dodgers, his only big league team during his 17-year career.
The 36-year-old was hurt for much of last season, finishing with a 2-2 record and a 4.50 ERA over seven starts.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Dodgers did exercise a $5 million option for infielder Miguel Rojas and a $3.5 million option for catcher Austin Barnes. Barnes is the second-longest tenured Dodgers player behind Kershaw, playing 10 seasons.
The 35-year-old Rojas just finished one of the best seasons of his 11-year career, batting .283 with six homers and 36 RBIs. Barnes hit .264 with one homer and 11 RBIs.
Dodgers win World Series, Is Los Angeles a dynasty? | First Things First
If Hernández does, he will be under contract with the Dodgers for another season. If he declines and signs elsewhere, his new team must forfeit at least one draft pick and Los Angeles will receive at least one draft pick as compensation.
New York had until 5 p.m. ET to add a $36 million salary for 2029 to his contract, which had four years and $144 million remaining.
The sides were still working on a revised contract, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.
ADVERTISEMENT
Cole’s $324 million, nine-year deal, agreed to before the 2020 season, gave him the right to opt out following the 2024 World Series but said the Yankees could void the opt out by adding the additional year.
A 34-year-old right-hander, Cole won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award. His 2024 season didn’t start until June 19 because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. The six-time All-Star went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.
New York’s decision gives the Yankees six potential rotation returnees, a group that includes Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman.
Juan Soto and Teoscar Hernández, fresh off their appearances in the World Series, were among the 13 free agents who received $21.05 million qualifying offers Monday. The players have until 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 19 to accept.
Since 2012, when the qualifying offer system began, only 13 of 131 players who were extended the offer have accepted it. All seven who got a qualifying offer last year rejected it. Most notably, superstar Shohei Ohtani turned down the offer from the Los Angeles Angels and went on to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. Ohtani, along with Hernández, won the World Series over Soto and the New York Yankees.Â
Joe Kelly did not throw a single pitch in the 2024 postseason, but that’s not stopping the Los Angeles Dodgers reliever from sounding off about the New York Yankees team that lost to his Dodgers in the World Series.
“We were saying every single game, ‘Just let them throw the ball to the infield. They can’t make a play,'” Kelly said on a recent episode of his “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast. “You saw Shohei [Ohtani] get an extra base, going to third on a sloppy Gleyber [Torres] play. It’s well-known. We all knew. I mean, we’re the Dodgers, we know every little detail.”
Kelly was referencing a crucial misplay in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series. With the Yankees leading 2-1, Ohtani doubled off the wall in right-center field, and Juan Soto‘s throw to the infield bounced in front of Torres. But the Yankees second baseman tried to snag Soto’s throw backhanded instead of putting his body in front of the ball, which bounced off Torres’ glove and dribbled into the infield, allowing Ohtani to take third. Ohtani scored the tying run on Mookie Betts‘ sacrifice fly, forcing the game into extra innings and setting up Freddie Freeman‘s walk-off grand slam in the 10th.
ADVERTISEMENT
Torres’ play was overshadowed, though, by what happened in Game 5. With the Yankees up 5-0 and needing a win to force a Game 6 in Los Angeles, the Dodgers scored five unearned runs in the fifth inning off New York ace Gerrit Cole thanks to three Yankees errors — a dropped routine fly ball from Aaron Judge in center field, a botched throw from shortstop Anthony Volpe on a fielder’s choice, and a miscommunication between Cole and first baseman Anthony Rizzo on a Betts ground ball that should have ended the inning. The Dodgers eventually won 7-6 to clinch the series.
Afterward, a report in the New York Post indicated that a major component of the Dodgers’ advance scouting and game plan for the World Series was the belief that the Yankees were “talent over fundamentals” and putting pressure on New York’s defense in particular would pay off. Kelly went even further, though, in his comments.
“It was a fun series, they almost snagged a couple of wins,” Kelly said. “But … it was just a mismatch from the get-go. [If] we had a playoff re-ranking, they might be ranked [the] eighth- or ninth-best playoff team. You’re putting the Padres ahead of them. You’re putting the Phillies ahead of them. You’re putting the Mets ahead of them. You’re putting the Braves ahead of them, and the Braves just got unlucky because they had to play that doubleheader [at the end of the regular season]. I mean, the Guardians played like crap, but the Guardians play better [defense], better baseball all-around.”
Dodgers vs. Yankees: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 World Series | MLB on FOX 🎥
–> <!–>
Kelly went on to say it was a similar feeling to how the juggernaut 2018 Red Sox that he was on felt when they faced the Dodgers in that year’s World Series, where there was a belief in the clubhouse that they were “the way better team.” But Boston entered that series also regarded as the heavy favorite by most observers, unlike the 2024 Dodgers-Yankees matchup that was seen as evenly matched if not tilted towards New York due to Los Angeles’ shorthanded pitching staff.
“All we knew is we just had to play regular Dodger baseball,” Kelly said. “We didn’t have to do anything crazy, and we were gonna win the World Series. It’s facts. Just look at the team, look at the talent. Re-rank the teams and they’re ranked eighth, and they were up against the No. 1 seed. Like I said, everyone knew. We go through numerous scouting reports, videos, like ‘Hey, look at this sloppy play.’ We pay attention to every single detail.”
Another major subplot heading into the World Series was the matchup of the Dodgers’ and Yankees’ veteran superstars, lead by presumptive National and American League MVPs Ohtani and Judge, respectively, while also featuring Betts, Freeman, Soto and Cole among others. But Kelly seemed to throw shade at the Yankees’ stars while praising his own teammates.
“We have a lot of big superstars in our clubhouse, but the superstars also care and aren’t lazy and play hard,” Kelly said. “So that’s the difference and that’s the biggest separator.”
Kelly is a free agent after signing a one-year contract to return to the Dodgers last winter. He and his wife famously helped recruit Ohtani to the Dodgers by giving up the No. 17 that Kelly had previously worn — and getting a Porsche in return.
Voting was conducted among managers and up to six coaches from each team, who can’t select players on their own club. Since 2013, voting has been factored with a Society for American Baseball Research defensive index, which comprises about 25% of the total.
The utility category is based on a SABR formula and additional defensive statistics.
Now it’s time to see which teams are in the mood to open their wallets for free agents in preparation for the 2025 season.
The Ohtani sweepstakes dominated last year’s offseason conversations until the Japanese superstar inked an eye-popping $700 million, 10-year deal last December.With apologies to Juan Soto, there might not be anyone that commands that kind of salary in the coming months, even if this year’s class is arguably deeper.
MLB‘s general managers will meet this week in San Antonio, Texas, in the unofficial opener to the offseason. There usually aren’t a lot of moves during these early November conversations, but the groundwork is often laid for future deals.
Here are some things to watch as MLB free agency opens this week:
Soto shined as a Yankee, but don’t expect a NY discount
This class may be deep, but there’s no doubt the No. 1 prize is Soto. The four-time All-Star already has 201 career homers, a career .421 on-base percentage and helped lead the New York Yankees to the World Series before losing in five games to the Dodgers.
He’s also just 26 years old.
The Yankees would love to keep Soto, who teamed with Aaron Judge to become a formidable pair for the Bronx Bombers. But it’s unclear how much owner Hal Steinbrenner is willing to spend on a player who could command a contract in the range of $500 million.
Soto didn’t tip his hand after New York’s disappointing exit in the Fall Classic, but it doesn’t sound like he’s willing to sign for a discount.
“I’m going to be available for all 30 teams,” Soto said. “I don’t want to say anybody has any advantage, because at the end of the day, we’re going to look at what they have and how much they want me.”
More Big Apple decisions brewing for the Mets
One of the more intriguing teams to watch over the coming months is the New York Mets, who overcame a slow start to advance all the way to the NL Championship Series before losing to the Dodgers.
Now the franchise must decide whether to keep them, build anew, or do a mixture of both. There’s a lot of pressure on the team to improve, especially because it doesn’t seem like the crosstown Yankees are going to stop winning anytime soon.
Fascinating veterans look for late-career resurgence
It’ll be fascinating to see what happens with veterans like Paul Goldschmidt, Walker Buehler, Shane Bieber and Carlos Santana. These are guys who have some miles (and surgeries) on their bodies, but have been great big leaguers for a long time.
Goldschmidt was the 2022 NL MVP for the St. Louis Cardinals, but his offensive production took a dive over the past few years. Still, he’s a first baseman that’s good in the clubhouse and keeps his body in excellent shape.
Buehler came back from his second Tommy John surgery this season. There were several ups and downs, though his sterling performance in the World Series is reason to believe he has plenty left. He threw six scoreless innings against the Yankees, including a scoreless ninth, to clinch the series in Game 5.
Superagent Scott Boras will make his presence felt again
Baseball superagent Scott Boras has long been considered one of the best in the business, although last year’s offseason wasn’t among his finest.
Several of his clients — including Snell, Matt Chapman, Jordan Montgomery and Cody Bellinger — didn’t sign until spring training, yet didn’t command the high-dollar, long-term deals they were seeking. Instead, most ended up signing short-term deals.
Boras will be a major factor again this offseason, representing many of the major free agents, including Soto, Burnes, Alonso, Snell and Bregman.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
FOLLOWFollow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience
Major League Baseball
Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Yankees
–>
recommended
Get more from Major League BaseballFollow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Gerrit Cole exercised his opt out from his New York Yankees contract, giving the team two days to void the opt out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
Three days after the Yankees lost the World Series, New York said Saturday it declined first baseman Anthony Rizzo‘s $17 million option in favor of a $6 million buyout, making the first baseman a free agent.
Cole’s decision, which was expected, was conveyed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because it was not publicly announced. Cole would give up $144 million in the four remaining seasons of his $324 million, nine-year contract.
A 34-year-old right-hander, Cole won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award. His 2024 season didn’t start until June 19 because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. The six-time All-Star went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.
ADVERTISEMENT
A three-time All-Star, the 35-year-old Rizzo hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBIs over 92 games in an injury-interrupted season.
Rizzo missed 62 games with a fractured right forearm after colliding with Boston reliever Brennan Bernardino on June 16. He batted .380 (8 for 21) after returning from the injured list on Sept. 1, then fractured the fourth and fifth fingers when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki on Sept. 28.
He returned for the AL Championship Series and World Series and batted .267 with no RBIs.
A 2016 World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs, Rizzo has a .261 career average with 303 homers and 965 RBIs in 14 major league seasons. He was traded from Chicago to the Yankees in July 2021.
He stayed with the Yankees for a $32 million, two-year deal, then agreed in November 2022 to a $40 million, two-year contract.
With Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto making their first appearance, the World Series averaged 12.9 million viewers in Japan, making it the most-watched Fall Classic in the nation’s history.
Along with the United States ratings, the five-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees had a combined 28.7 million average in the two countries.
The Dodgers’ 4-2 victory in Game 2 averaged 15.9 million in Japan, making it the most-watched postseason game in the nation’s history, according to Major League Baseball. Yamamoto was the Dodgers’ starting pitcher and allowed only one run and one hit in 6 1/3 innings.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tokyo is 19 hours ahead of New York and 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles, meaning the games started around 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday morning in Japan. The games were carried through Fuji TV, NHK BS and J Sports.
The Series also delivered record viewership in Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Taiwan, according to MLB.
The World Series averaged 15.8 million viewers in the U.S. on FOX, FOX Deportes and streaming, its best performance since 2017. That is a 67% increase over last year, when the Texas Rangers‘ victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games averaged only 9.11 million, which was the lowest-recorded Series average.
Los Angeles was the top market with a 18.9 rating and 53 share, while New York was third with a 12.4 rating and 41 share. San Diego was second at 12.4 and 41.
The rating is the percentage of television households tuned in. The share refers to the percentage of the audience viewing it at the time.
FOX and FS1 averaged 7.49 million for the postseason, a 42% jump over last year, and its best average in seven years.
Baseball is just a game. Except on Friday afternoon at Chavez Ravine, 42,458 fans didn’t flock to Dodger Stadium to watch one.Â
They arrived with their kids, their friends, their parents and grandparents, many of whom once watched Fernando Valenzuela electrify a city and ignite a movement, for a party both four and 36 years in the making.Â
When the Dodgers won it all in 2020, the only fans their stadium welcomed came in the form of cardboard cutouts. The real ones were watching from their homes, confined by the limitations of a pandemic that forced the postseason to be played in a Texas bubble and denied the winners the parade they had always imagined.
Despite all the winning the Dodgers had done over the last few decades, including 11 straight trips to the postseason before this year, they hadn’t celebrated a full-season World Series championship since 1988.Â
ADVERTISEMENT
On Friday afternoon, on what would have been Valenzuela’s 64th birthday, a city erupted and a long-awaited parade began.Â
“It certainly made up for 2020,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Obviously there’s a lot of players in 2020 that didn’t get to appreciate and experience what we experienced, but this is for them, too.”
The Dodgers returned home from New York, where they had silenced the critics and naysayers who tried to claim the only championship they’d won in the last 30 years, a 60-game sprint, somehow didn’t count the same. They demonstrated they could win in an unprecedented sprint. This year, they displayed they could emerge from a rigorous marathon, too.Â
Baseball is just a game, but the tears that welled up in the eyes of Dodgers players when they finally got their parade suggested more.Â
The lengthy build-up to the occasion, Clayton Kershaw explained, might have made it “even sweeter.”
“I waited a long time for this,” Kershaw said. “I’m just so thankful to every single fan that came out, so thankful at how well they’ve treated me and my family for all these years. I mean, we’ve been through it. We’ve been through some stuff. To be able to see them as happy as they were, be able to celebrate with us, it means the world to me. It really does.”
Angelenos flooded the streets to mark the occasion, including hundreds of thousands on the Dodgers’ parade route, which started at City Hall, took the team through downtown Los Angeles and eventually ended at the place where they won 52 regular-season games this year, then clinched the NLDS and NLCS.Â
Roberts began October on the hot seat after a couple early playoff exits. He began November on a ceremony stage at Dodger Stadium, where he danced alongside Ice Cube, having expertly orchestrated his team to a championship.
“Today,” Roberts said, “was a good day.”Â
The way the Dodgers expressed their jubilation varied, as one by one some of the most prominent figures took the microphone.Â
Some, including Shohei Ohtani, spoke in their second language. The prized free-agent acquisition, after six years without a winning season to begin his career in Anaheim, addressed the crowd in English to express his appreciation after winning a World Series in year one with the Dodgers.Â
“This is so special,” he said. “I’m so honored to be here and be part of this team. Congratulations, Los Angeles. Thank you guys.”
Many kept it brief: “We’re world f—ing champions, motherf—er,” Walker Buehler said, two days after throwing the final pitch at Yankee Stadium.Â
Levity was a popular form of expression, including from another player who furthered his October legend.Â
The addition of Betts sparked the Dodgers’ last championship season, but he had struggled through the past couple Octobers before breaking out again this postseason, slashing .290/.387/.565 with four homers and becoming the only active position player in the majors with three World Series rings.Â
“I’m trying to fill this hand up, LA,” said Betts, who signed a 12-year contract extension during the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series run.
Baseball is just a game, but for many Dodgers veterans, it also led to a cathartic release.Â
There was Freddie Freeman, who had battled not only ankle, finger and rib injuries but also personal distress throughout the season’s second half. His 3-year-old son, Max, persevered through a sudden, scary autoimmune illness that at one point rendered him temporarily unable to walk. When Freeman returned from the emergency family list in early August after Max began to improve, the Dodger Stadium crowd gave him a standing ovation that stuck with him as cheers rained down again Friday.Â
“You guys showed out for my family and I,’ Freeman said. “That was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had on the field. I was so touched. I did everything I could to get out on this field for you guys. And I’m glad I did.”
There was Teoscar Hernández, who joined the Dodgers on a one-year deal after his market didn’t materialize the way he expected last winter. He decided to go to Los Angeles for the chance to win, then provided a vital jolt to the Dodger lineup in a bounceback year. Hernández, who quickly became a quick fan favorite, as the cheers indicated Friday, got choked up as he grabbed the microphone and thanked the crowd.Â
The impending free agent also expressed hope to return next year as a Dodger, calling it “the priority.”Â
“I knew it was going to be good,” Teoscar Hernández said. “I knew a lot of things were about to happen in a good way, but this is way more than I expected.”
And then there was Kershaw, the embodiment of the franchise’s colossal highs and gut-wrenching lows of the past two decades.
“I didn’t have anything to do with this championship, but it feels like the best feeling in the world,” Kershaw said to a cheering crowd. “Dodger for life.”
The future Hall of Famer was unable to contribute down the stretch of the 2024 season after trying and failing to push multiple injuries. He will need two surgeries on Wednesday, one to address the left big toe and foot issues that forced him out for the year and another to fix the meniscus in his left knee.Â
That’s part of why it was so meaningful to him that Roberts and Kershaw’s teammates still beckoned him to the stage to say a few words in front of a fanbase that has lived and died with each pitch, with each grueling defeat and euphoric win, the same way he has for 17 years.Â
Next year, Kershaw plans to make it an 18th in a Dodger jersey, whether he picks up his player option or not.Â
The 2020 season championship brought him relief. This one induced only tears of happiness.Â
“Baseball is just a game, everybody says that,” Kershaw said. “But I don’t know, man. You look around and you see how much it means to so many different people. I think it might be baseball, but it means a lot to a lot of different people, and I’m no different.”Â
Dodgers vs. Yankees: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 World Series | MLB on FOX 🎥
–> <!–>
Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.Â
The ground in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium had barely started drying up before the hot stove got cooking.Â
Free agency is here, and teams are already wheeling and dealing. On Thursday, the day after the World Series, the Braves traded Jorge Soler to the Angels. Over the next few days, teams will begin negotiating with their own free agents and tendering qualifying offers. On Monday afternoon, players can start signing with new clubs as unrestricted free agency begins.Â
While it might take a couple of months for the biggest pieces to start moving, now’s a good time to start looking at the talent available before the action takes place. Below are the top 30 players from the 2025 free-agent class.Â
Note: This list only includes free agents and players with opt-outs who seem likely to test the market. It does not include Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese pitching standout who has expressed interest in pitching in the majors next season but has not yet been posted by his NPB team. Players with an asterisk below have an option for next season. Players’ ages in 2025 season are listed in parentheses.
I mean, was there any question? I guess there is one: How many hundreds of millions will it take? Five? Six? More? And seeing what he means to the Yankees’ lineup, how high are they willing to go to keep him in pinstripes? It’s not every day that a 26-year-old superstar becomes available, and he’ll be far and away the most desired free agent on the market.Â
Possible fits: Yankees, Mets, Giants, Dodgers, Nationals Â
If there’s one person who can’t be blamed for the Orioles’ October shortcomings, it’s Burnes. Even if his strikeout rate was down, he was still every bit the ace they traded for and went out on a high note with an eight-inning, one-run wild-card performance that should have been enough for his team to secure a win. His year-to-year consistency should make any pitching-needy team feel confident in him headlining a rotation.Â
Possible fits:Â Orioles, Dodgers, Mets, Giants, Red SoxÂ
Snell didn’t get the type of multi-year offer many expected coming off his second Cy Young Award-winning campaign, but he didn’t sulk about it. Instead, the left-hander delivered again, posting an even higher strikeout rate than he had the previous year. After signing in late March, injuries limited him in the first half. But these were his numbers in 14 starts after an IL stint: 5-0, 1.23 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 38.1 K%. He was the only pitcher in baseball to have a WHIP under 1.0 and strikeout rate above 33% during this span (minimum 10 starts), and he also tossed a no-hitter. Here’s assuming he’ll opt out and get offered something a little closer to what we expected last winter.Â
Possible fits:Â Giants, Dodgers, Mets, Braves, Rangers
4. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros (31)
It feels weird that Bregman could play somewhere other than Houston, where the two-time All-Star has been a fixture for nearly a decade. But there will be plenty of suitors for the veteran infielder who has hit 32% better than league average over his nine years in Houston (and has hit at least 13% better than league average every season). While Bregman chased more and walked significantly less than normal last season, he’s still an offensive difference-maker who hits for average, packs some pop, rarely whiffs or strikes out and plays elite defense.Â
Want the best shortstop on the market? Look no further. A major component of a surprise division winner in Milwaukee, I’m not sure enough people talked about how good Adames was this season. In a career year, Adames upped his launch angle, launched 32 homers, knocked in more runs than any shortstop in the majors and also swiped 21 bags while playing plus defense (even if it didn’t grade out as highly this year as it did the previous season).Â
Possible fits:Â Dodgers, Giants, Braves, Blue Jays, TigersÂ
6. Max Fried, SP, Atlanta Braves (31)
Forearm issues are never what you want to hear in a contract year, but Fried pushed through to make 29 starts and deliver his second All-Star season. About as steady as they come, the lefty doesn’t miss many bats, but he’ll consistently keep the ball on the ground and limit hard contact. He posted his highest ERA since 2019 this year, and yet it was still the 15th-best mark in the majors among qualified starters.Â
Possible fits:Â Red Sox, Giants, Mets, D-backs, PadresÂ
The Polar Bear saved some of his best work for last. Will his late-season heroics be enough for Steve Cohen to pay up to keep him in Queens? A reunion might be the most likely scenario. Alonso has been durable, but as enticing as his 30-plus homers might be, his defensive deficiencies, rising strikeout rate and a batting average that has plummeted the past two years bring risk as he approaches his age-30 season.Â
Possible fits:Â Mets, Astros, Mariners, Yankees, GiantsÂ
Hernández never got the long-term offer last offseason that he expected after a down year in Seattle, so he decided to reset his market on a one-year flier in Los Angeles. The move is about to reward the Home Run Derby champ handsomely, whether it’s back in L.A., where he rebounded in an All-Star season as a key cog for the champs, or elsewhere. Considering what an additive presence he was to the Dodgers both on and off the field, and how much he enjoyed the winning environment, a return makes a lot of sense.Â
Possible fits:Â Dodgers, Phillies, Royals, Braves, Red SoxÂ
Here are the hitters with more homers than Santander over the past three seasons: Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso, Matt Olson. That’s it. It’ll be interesting to see how similar the market is for Hernández and Santander, a fellow All-Star corner outfielder coming off a career-high 44-homer season. While Santander won’t provide much with his glove or his legs, he supplies a rare amount of power for someone who doesn’t strike out a ton.Â
Possible fits: Orioles, Blue Jays, D-backs, Reds, RoyalsÂ
10. Christian Walker, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks (34)
One of this year’s biggest All-Star snubs, Walker had an .838 OPS and 22 homers in the first half before his numbers dipped late after an oblique issue. Walker’s age will be a deterrent for teams, but he hasn’t demonstrated any signs of slowing down. He can still mash — this was his third straight season hitting more than 20% above league average — and is one of MLB’s best defenders at his position.Â
Possible fits: Astros, D-backs, Mariners, Yankees, Mets Â
11. Jack Flaherty, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers (29)
Flaherty’s career didn’t unfold the way many expected after he finished fourth in Cy Young voting as a 23-year-old in 2019, but a bounce-back season this year demonstrated what’s still left in the tank. A sensational first half in Detroit made him the best pitcher available at the deadline, and while he had a volatile second half and postseason stretch with his hometown Dodgers, he raised his stock considerably. The eight-year big leaguer just turned 29 and posted the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of his career.Â
Possible fits:Â Angels, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs
Just take a look at his Statcast page. The only blip is his walk rate, but this is the most electric reliever on the market, a left-hander any contender could use at the back end of the bullpen.Â
Possible fits:Â Padres, Orioles, Blue Jays, Rangers, D-backs
13. Nathan Eovaldi*, SP, Texas Rangers (35)Â
A vesting player option kicked in this year for Eovaldi when he tallied more than 300 innings over the past two years in Texas. At 34, he’s still plenty productive, and his history of postseason success should make him an attractive short-term add for a contender.Â
Possible fits:Â Rangers, Orioles, Mets, Braves, Red SoxÂ
This one’s the closest call on the list in terms of whether or not he’ll opt out. Bellinger didn’t command the type of contract he might have expected last offseason coming off a year in which he produced an .881 OPS and finished 10th in MVP voting. A more pedestrian follow-up season leaves him with an interesting decision to make.Â
Possible fits:Â Cubs, Angels, Astros, Giants, Blue Jays
15. Gleyber Torres, 2B, New York Yankees (28)
This wasn’t the walk year Torres probably envisioned. But while his performance can fluctuate and his defense can confound at times, he’s still one of the most talented middle infielders on the market. He’ll also be just 28 when next year begins, and he flourished toward the end of 2024 after moving into the Yankees’ leadoff spot. Â
Possible fits:Â Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, GiantsÂ
16. Yusei Kikuchi, SP, Houston Astros (34)
The Astros caught a lot of flak for what they surrendered to get Kikuchi at the deadline. Then the former Blue Jay did nothing but reward his new team, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and a 5.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio after making some prudent arsenal tweaks. He can be prone to hard contact, but 200-strikeout arms don’t grow on trees.Â
Possible fits:Â Astros, Twins, Brewers, Rangers, Nationals
17. Michael Wacha*, SP, Kansas City Royals (33)
He didn’t get the attention of rotation mates Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans, but Wacha’s changeup looked as good as ever as he quietly produced a 3.35 ERA and his lowest hard-hit rate since 2017. That’s now three straight years with a sub-3.40 ERA — and for three different teams. After pitching for six different teams over the past six years, he can decide if he wants to stick in Kansas City for $16 million in 2025 or explore other options.Â
Possible fits:Â Royals, Brewers, Cubs, Orioles, Guardians
It wasn’t that long ago when O’Neill finished eighth in MVP voting as a Gold Glove 26-year-old outfielder in St. Louis. Injuries diminished his production his final two years with the Cardinals, but a healthier season in Boston yielded huge power numbers again.Â
Possible fits:Â Red Sox, Phillies, Royals, Tigers, RedsÂ
19. Jurickson Profar, OF, San Diego Padres (32)
The former top prospect, who never developed into what many scouts envisioned, put together a surprising career year at 31. How will teams weigh that late breakout compared to his first 10 seasons?Â
Possible fits:Â Padres, Royals, Reds, Pirates, Phillies
20. Sean Manaea, SP, New York Mets (33)Â
A lower arm slot turned him into a different kind of force down the stretch and the Mets’ top option in October.Â
Possible fits:Â Mets, Twins, Brewers, Rangers, OriolesÂ
There might not be anyone who benefited more from October baseball than Buehler. After a forgettable return from a second Tommy John surgery, he turned back the clock and thrived in the postseason, as he tends to do. Even if he doesn’t replicate his old form during the regular season, the perennial playoff standout demonstrated again what a difference he can still make on the biggest stage for a team with World Series aspirations.Â
Tommy John surgery wiped out most of Bieber’s 2024 season, but because it took place in April, there should be a good chance he plays most of next season. If he can replicate the elevated whiff rate he achieved in his first two starts of 2024 before his elbow blew out, his next team will be getting a difference-maker. But, of course, there is risk.Â
Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
