Ranking next winter's top 20 MLB free agents

The long, slow Major League Baseball offseason isn't quite over, but it's never too early to look ahead. Next winter is set to feature a loaded group of players on the open market, including some of the biggest stars in the sport. Here's an early look at the top 20 free agents in 2024-25.

1. Juan Soto

Position: LF/RF
2024 Team: Yankees
Age (as of July 1): 26
Career fWAR: 28.4

There's no question that Soto is next winter's crown jewel. Arguably the best all-around hitter in baseball, Soto is an on-base machine with power who walks more than he strikes out, has never posted an OBP below .400, and has collected a World Series ring, batting title, and four Silver Sluggers before turning 26. This is the kind of charismatic superstar every franchise dreams of building around - and he'll be available to everyone in the middle of his prime. Soto's worth every penny of the exorbitant price he'll command.

2. Gerrit Cole

Position: RHP
2024 Team: Yankees
Age (as of July 1): 34
Career fWAR: 43.9

There's no guarantee that Cole will hit the market. He has an opt-out clause after this season, but if he exercises it, the Yankees can immediately void that decision by adding a 10th guaranteed year at $36 million to his contract. Barring injury, that seems like an easy choice for New York. Still, it's nice to dream about seeing Cole in free agency again. He'd be the best available pitcher by a mile.

3. Alex Bregman

Position: 3B
2024 Team: Astros
Age (as of July 1): 30
Career fWAR: 35.2

One of baseball's best all-around third basemen will likely be open for business next winter. Bregman's a two-time All-Star whose quiet consistency on both sides of the ball has made him one of the heartbeats of the Astros' AL West dynasty. A Scott Boras client who's likely to ask for a long-term deal heading into his age-31 season may scare some teams off, but the smart clubs will be all over the second-best position player of this class. Bregman's a winner and can be a difference-maker for any contender with a hole at the hot corner.

4. Corbin Burnes

Position: RHP
2024 Team: Orioles
Age (as of July 1): 30
Career fWAR: 17.7

If Cole isn't available, Burnes instantly becomes the top free-agent starter. The 2021 NL Cy Young winner is a strikeout machine, averaging 11 K/9 for his career and leading the NL in strikeouts (243) in 2022. Moving to pitcher-friendly Camden Yards should boost his walk-year numbers at the perfect time. Despite never throwing a complete game, Burnes has proven durable over the last three years and should remain a top-tier ace for a long time.

5. Max Fried

Position: LHP
2024 Team: Braves
Age (as of July 1): 30
Career fWAR: 15.7

Fried dealt with some injuries in 2023 and will be a free agent heading into his age-31 season. But, when healthy, he's one of the most dominant lefties in baseball - as he showed while putting up a 2.55 ERA with 9.3 K/9 in only 14 starts last year. Fried, the NL Cy Young runner-up in 2022, consistently carves up hitters with a devastating six-pitch arsenal and is one of the best at limiting the long ball. He'll have no shortage of suitors if he hits the open market.

6. Zack Wheeler

Position: RHP
2024 Team: Phillies
Age (as of July 1): 34
Career fWAR: 31.8

After his dominant run with the Phillies, Wheeler's shown few signs of slowing down nearing age 34 and continues to rack up the strikeouts while anchoring Philadelphia's staff alongside Aaron Nola. The Phillies will certainly have a fight on their hands to try and keep him. Wheeler's experience will likely make him a wanted man for contenders seeking a hardened veteran to help push them to the next level.

7. Paul Goldschmidt

Position: 1B
2024 Team: Cardinals
Age (as of July 1): 36
Career fWAR: 57.4

Goldschmidt remains one of the best first basemen in the sport, even at 36. He might not win another MVP, but there's no reason to dismiss him as a mid-order threat. Goldschmidt's glove remains solid (three defensive runs saved last year), which adds to his value since he's not a strict DH. He should still be a top option among available sluggers next year.

8. Jose Altuve*

*(Note: Altuve signed a 5-year extension after this article was published.)

Position: 2B
2024 Team: Astros
Age (as of July 1): 34
Career fWAR: 52.6

Like him or not, Altuve is still a brilliant hitter who would fit perfectly at the top of any lineup. The three-time batting champion and former AL MVP may not be a lock for 200 hits anymore, but he's one of the few consistent .300 hitters in today's game and couples that talent with elite power for his position (and stature). Whoever gets him will be buying a future Hall of Famer and potentially get the chance to watch him reach 3,000 hits in their uniform.

9. Pete Alonso

Position: 1B
2024 Team: Mets
Age (as of July 1): 29
Career fWAR: 14.5

Alonso isn't a perfect player. His OBP declined last year, he walks less than some might want for a "three true outcome" hitter, and over one-third of his 123 hits in 2023 were home runs. But if it's power you're looking for, the Polar Bear is your guy. Flaws aside, Alonso is a lock for 35-plus homers and 100-plus RBIs annually and will always be a danger in the middle of the lineup. As the premier power bat of the 2024-25 class, he'll command a large salary in free agency - with good reason.

10. Kenley Jansen

Position: RP
2024 Team: Red Sox
Age (as of July 1): 36
Career fWAR: 23.4

Jansen has quietly continued his excellence at the back of the bullpen in Boston and is showing no signs of slowing down. MLB's active saves leader has never posted a K/9 rate below 10 in his career and is coming off a 29-save All-Star campaign. Barring injury, Jansen should be the best reliever on the market next year and will certainly have plenty of suitors since he's unlikely to sign a long-term deal at his age.

11. Anthony Santander

Position: OF
2024 Team: Orioles
Age (as of July 1): 29
Career fWAR: 6.9

Santander's one of the more underrated success stories of the Orioles' rebuild. Among switch-hitters over the last three seasons, only José Ramírez has hit more home runs than Santander's 79. He's placed top-10 in his league in extra-base hits twice and was second in the AL in doubles last year. Santander's set to hit free agency squarely in his prime and presents a solid switch-hitting option for teams in need of outfield help.

12. Christian Walker

Position: 1B
2024 Team: Diamondbacks
Age (as of July 1): 33
Career fWAR: 12.4

Walker is one of the most consistent players in baseball. He's quietly become a perennial 30-homer threat in Arizona and is among the best active defensive first basemen, earning two consecutive Gold Glove awards. Though Walker won't be the best first baseman available, he's an excellent option for teams who will balk at the prices for Goldschmidt and Alonso.

13. Shane Bieber

Position: SP
2024 Team: Guardians
Age (as of July 1): 29
Career fWAR: 20.7

If Bieber can shake off his rough 2023, he'll be in the perfect position to cash in next winter. When healthy, the former Cy Young winner is a reliable workhorse who can front almost any rotation. At age 29, he may be viewed as a better long-term option than some of his fellow starters.

14. Justin Verlander

Position: SP
2024 Team: Astros
Age (as of July 1): 41
Career fWAR: 81.3

No one can reasonably expect Verlander to win another Cy Young at this point - but no one expected him to win one at age 39 following Tommy John surgery, either. Verlander continues to defy Father Time, and while he's now more of a mid-rotation pitcher at this stage of his career, he can still bring plenty to the table. If he throws 140 innings this year, Verlander will trigger a player option that would likely be declined since he'll have proven to still be a workhorse at 41. That would make him a wanted man in 2025.

15. Ha-Seong Kim

Position: IF
2024 Team: Padres
Age (as of July 1): 28
Career fWAR: 8.6

Kim has a mutual option for 2025, but those are rarely picked up by both sides, so he'll likely be available next winter. He presents an intriguing infield option thanks to his solid but unspectacular bat, excellent baserunning, and brilliant defense at three infield positions that won him last year's utility Gold Glove. Kim's age should also work in his favor, as he's younger than some other free-agent infielders.

16. Danny Jansen

Position: C
2024 Team: Blue Jays
Age (as of July 1): 29
Career fWAR: 8.6

Jansen will headline next year's crop of free-agent catchers, and it'll be fascinating to see what his market looks like. He's only played in 100 games once in his career, although some of his many injuries were freak incidents. Jansen hit a career-high 17 homers in only 301 plate appearances last year, has excellent career splits batting with the bases loaded and with runners in scoring position, and is defensively sound. He may not light the world on fire, but there are worse options than a healthy Jansen behind the plate.

17. Eugenio Suárez

Position: 3B
2024 Team: Diamondbacks
Age (as of July 1): 32
Career fWAR: 24.4

Suárez is the ultimate "three true outcome" player. He's led his league in strikeouts three times but walks enough (his career BB% is above 10%) and hits more than enough home runs to offset the Ks. He's also a consistent presence, playing at least 143 games in every full season since 2016. Should the Diamondbacks decline his club option, Suárez will offer plenty of value in the second tier of infielders and DH bats.

18. Gleyber Torres

Position: 2B
2024 Team: Yankees
Age (as of July 1): 27
Career fWAR: 13.8

It feels like yesterday that Torres was a top prospect headlining a blockbuster trade, and now he's poised to hit free agency. Torres' career hasn't always been smooth, but he is a two-time All-Star with pop who can play both second and shortstop as needed and is still a few years away from his 30th birthday. One more solid season in the Bronx will make him a wanted man in free agency as one of the better middle infielders available.

19. Willy Adames

Position: SS
2024 Team: Brewers
Age (as of July 1): 28
Career fWAR: 17.1

It feels unlikely that the Brewers will extend Adames, meaning he's a lock to become the best pure shortstop in next year's class. At the plate, he hasn't been able to fully replicate the .886 OPS he put up during his first year in Milwaukee and his OBP has also dropped, but the power (55 homers over the last two seasons) is still there. He's never won a Gold Glove, but his defense - 17 defensive runs saved and 25 outs above average since 2022 - is among the best at the position. There are far worse options to grab at shortstop on a long-term deal.

20. Max Scherzer

Position: SP
2024 Team: Rangers
Age (as of July 1): 39
Career fWAR: 72.5

No, he's not the old Mad Max anymore. It's fair to ask questions about a soon-to-be 40-year-old pitcher with chronic back problems who could miss the entire first half following back surgery. But if he's healthy, would you want anyone else on the mound? As long as his back holds up in the second half, this version of Scherzer on a short-term deal will be among the best pitchers available.