Juan Soto Still Leads World Series Roster (Video)

How do we get ready for a stellar World Series Between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, let’s not lose sight of the free agency landscape that is still taking shape. You’ll probably hear a lot about this every time Yankees superstar Juan Soto or Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernandez approaches the plate during the World Series. There are also plenty of other Dodgers and Yankees that will hit the open market after the series ends.

Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz followed the field throughout the regular season. with top 25 listing. Here’s a look at the top free agents heading into the fall classic. This list will evolve and expand as hot stove season approaches.

Juan Soto, Yankees, 26.

He has already established himself in Yankee history with his AL pennant wins homer vs. Guardians. His deal is expected to be a record deal.

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

Willie Adams, Brewers CC, 29 years old.

Mints: Dansby Swanson became a free agent in the winter of 2022 with a worse record and received a seven-year contract worth $177 million. Looks like Adames’ gender. People associated with the game also view the Dominican Republic native as a member of an elite club.

Corbin Burns, Orioles, 30.

Burns gave the Orioles gem in the AL wild card round it was wasted by Baltimore’s short-lived playoff run. He will become a free agent as a top player.

Mints: Burns’ contract number probably starts with a two.

Max Fried, Braves SP, 31

Mints: There is an argument to be made for pairing Fried with Blake Snell, who is lower in this top ten, but I think the left-hander’s long track record of success is the divider.

Alex Bregman, Astros 3B, 31.

Mints: Bregman is no longer the MVP candidate he was a few years ago, but he also isn’t the listless bogeyman we saw in the first six weeks of 2024. This all points to a figure of around $200. Bregman will be in high demand.

Blake Snell (waiver), Giants SP, 32

Mints: All the reigning NL Cy Young needs is time. After an initial few months off and on, during which he fought off a series of nagging injuries, Snell has regained his peak form. Expect him to opt out of the contract he signed with San Francisco last winter.

Pete Alonso, Mets 1B, 30 years old.

If this was Alonso’s final with the Mets, he deserves praise from their fans after one legendary homer to eliminate the Brewers in the wild card round And another one that helped expand the NLCS.

Mints: He’s still a right-handed first baseman, which scares teams. He’s a great hitter, but not an elite one. There is a gap between what Alonso once hoped to receive ($200 million) and what he is likely to receive (closer to $125). However, he is ranked above the next group of forwards due to his long-term track record.

Anthony Santander, Orioles, 30.

His microscopic postseason sample size – 1 of 8 with 2 points – in Baltimore’s short-lived postseason run shouldn’t be a deal breaker for a free agent.

Mints: The switch-hitting outfielder has a few unavoidable shortcomings: he is a mediocre defender and walks less than would be desirable for a middle-order batsman. However, Santander carried water-treading Orioles with him for long stretches of the summer, and 40-homer sluggers don’t grow on trees.

Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers, 32.

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

Mints: He’s behind Santander because he’s older and lacks offensive ability, but Hernandez is ahead of Jurickson Profar because he has a much longer track record.

Yurikson Profar, Padres OF, 32 years old

Profar did one of the most memorable catches of this postseasonbut he batted just .200 in seven games for the Padres.

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

Jack Flaherty, Dodgers, 29.

Here’s another World Series contender whose free agent profile could rise even higher with a strong performance at the Fall Classic.

Mints: He is no longer a candidate for a qualifying offer, which would have stopped his market (players traded mid-season are not eligible).

Cody Bellinger (waiver), Cubs OF/1B, 29

Mints: The deal he signed with the Cubs last winter has two years, $53 million and changes remaining, and while his offensive numbers have taken a step back from his resurgent 2023, he’s still an above-average hitter who can play in the center of the field.

Christian Walker, Diamondbacks 1B, 34.

Mints: He is still an interesting free agent proposition as he is a relatively older corner bat and has plenty of experience hitting baseballs.

Ha-Seong Kim (waiver), Padres IF, 29

Mints: There’s an alarming lull in power output for a player who doesn’t have a particularly high batting average and is a more reliable defender than Golden Glover. Then again, there aren’t many players who can crack defenses at the infield’s toughest position, which should make Kim a hot commodity despite his offensive struggles.

Yusei Kikuchi, Astros SP, 34 years old.

Mints: Houston was criticized for overpaying for the Japanese left-hander at the deadline, but Kikuchi delivered for the Astros, with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts. With a revamped approach—he throws more sliders and less curveballs—a rejuvenated Kikuchi could earn another multi-year deal this winter.

Tyler O’Neill, Red Sox outfielder, 30.

Barring injuries, O’Neal had 31 homers in 113 games in 2024.

Joc Pederson, DH, 33

Mints: Lefty Pederson is a complete platoon bat at this point. He’s still making money, but is it enough to warrant a multi-year deal?

Michael Wacha (refusal), Royals SP, 34

Mints: Wacha has a year and $16 million remaining on his deal with the Royals. A right-handed veteran is a good option to opt out; he ranked in the 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 solid postseason play help him lose his reputation as a low-energy player? Coming to number one in mid-August certainly helped.

Tanner Scott, Padres RP, 30.

Mints: He’s still the most exciting pitcher on the market.

Clay Holmes, Yankees member, 32 years old.

Mints: His signature sinker was never going to be a top-notch offering, but it collected more whiffs than during his disastrous midseason flop.

Carlos Estevez, Phillies RP, 32.

Mints: He feels he has an opportunity to improve on the $2/$13.5 million deal he got with the Angels in 2022.

Justin Verlander, Astros SP, 42.

His player option would kick in if he reached 130 IP. He fell slightly short of that mark due to injuries that kept him out of the Astros’ playoff lineup. Mints: Verlander has been vocal about his desire to pitch until he’s 45, and while his skills and command have looked shaky in his two starts since coming off the IL, he’s still getting enough strikeouts to warrant another deal even if he returns to Houston. . Victory No. 300 looms in the distance.

Shane Bieber, Guardians SP, 30 years old.

Made two starts this season before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Mints: He won’t be ready to perform again until next April at the earliest. However, he is sure to generate a ton 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 reaching those heights again.

Alex Verdugo, Yankees, 29.

Mints: Verdugo, to be honest, is not a very dynamic striker. He’s a league average player.