MLB’s top two free agents will be removed from the roster. And they both belong to the same club.
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed a deal worth more than $1 billion to acquire Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Los Angeles won the two-time AL MVP by unanimous decision for the first time, thanks to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract that included a staggering $680 million in deferred payments. Then, with the help of Ohtani, the Dodgers acquired Yamamoto and gave him a 12-year, $325 million contract, the richest ever for a pitcher.
The Dodgers’ multibillion-dollar spending has been the talk of the offseason, but they’re not the only team making headlines in free agency so far.
The Philadelphia Phillies re-signed ace Aaron Nola, the San Francisco Giants acquired Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez, and the St. Louis Cardinals acquired American outfielder Lee Jung-hoo. – Acquired the league’s Cy Young runner-up Sonny Gray.
So who are the big names still on the market? Here’s a look at the top remaining free agents.
Who is the best MLB free agent?
Tim Anderson, SS
Anderson is a potential comeback candidate after a disastrous 2023 season with the Chicago White Sox, hitting .245/.286/.296. The 30-year-old has batted over .300 in each of the past four seasons, won a batting title and appeared in the All-Star Game twice during that span.
cody bellinger, OF/1B
In his first season away from the Dodgers, Bellinger made a remarkable comeback. The 28-year-old hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs for the Chicago Cubs, which was his second straight year with a sub-.700 OPS.
matt chapman, 3B
Chapman won his fourth Gold Glove Award in 2023, hitting .240/.330/.424 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs. The 30-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.
josh hader, LHP
Hader remains one of the most effective bullpen arms in baseball. The 29-year-old pitched 56.1 innings with the San Diego Padres in 2023, posting a 1.28 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 33 saves.
Rhys Hoskins, 1B/OF
Hoskins suffered a torn ACL during spring training and missed all of last season. The 30-year-old has hit .242/.353/.492 in six major league seasons, all with the Phillies.
After the Dodgers splurged this offseason, we couldn’t help but wonder how many concessions they could buy with that cash.
Kevin Kiermaier, OF
Kiermaier has long been one of the top defensive outfielders in the game, and the 33-year-old is coming off a better season offensively. In his first year with Toronto, he hit .265/.322/.419 and also won his fourth Gold Glove Award.
JD Martinez, DH/OF
Martinez continued his slugging in his first season with the Dodgers, hitting .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs. The 36-year-old has been an All-Star in 162 games over the past five seasons.
jordan montgomery, LHP
Montgomery proved to be a great trade deadline acquisition for the World Series champion Texas Rangers, posting a 2.79 ERA in 11 regular season starts. The 30-year-old southpaw has posted an ERA under 4.00 for three consecutive seasons.
blake snell, LHP
Snell, like Hader, was a bright spot in a disappointing season for the Padres. The southpaw posted an MLB-best 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts over 180 innings, making him the second and first National League player to win the Cy Young Award.
Jorge Soler, DH/OF
Soler helped the Miami Marlins reach the postseason for the first time since 2003. The 31-year-old hit .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs and 75 RBIs, earning his first All-Star selection in the process. .
Marcus Stroman, RHP
When the calendar turned to July, Stroman looked like a Cy Young candidate, but struggled mightily by the end of the season. Despite his inconsistent performance, the 32-year-old still managed four straight seasons with a sub-4.00 ERA.
Justin Turner, DH/INF
Turner, 39, continues to dodge Father Time. In his first season with the Boston Red Sox, Turner hit .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs and 96 RBIs.
Major League Baseball has approved new rules for 2024, including expanded runner lanes and further changes to increase the pace of the game.