MLB Roundtable: Remaining free agents, most improved teams

With less than three weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, theScore's MLB editors answer some of the biggest questions surrounding the offseason.

Which remaining free agent would you sign if you were a GM?

Pete Alonso: Alonso's market has been surprisingly quiet considering he's hit 226 home runs over the last six seasons. He has his flaws - namely strikeouts and poor defensive metrics at first base - but his power is a game-changer. Home runs matter, especially in the postseason, when elite pitching makes it harder to string together base hits. His ninth-inning blast in the wild-card series against the Milwaukee Brewers is one of many examples of how the long ball can tip the scales. Prolific sluggers like Alonso don't become available very often, and it appears he can be had on a shorter-term deal. - Ben Wrixon

Jack Flaherty: It's surprising Flaherty remains unemployed after one of the more effective seasons of his career. The right-hander posted a 2.95 ERA with a career-high 11.2 K/9 and career-low 1.6 BB/9 in 18 starts with the Detroit Tigers before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he maintained solid numbers. Flaherty is only 29 years old, has a proven track record of success at the top of a rotation, and won't cost draft-pick compensation because he was ineligible to receive a qualifying offer. - Bryan Mcwilliam

Ha-Seong Kim: Kim has developed into an excellent all-around shortstop over the past three seasons. The 29-year-old improved at the plate and brings a great glove and good speed on the bases. He's accumulated 3.6, 4.2, and 2.6 fWAR over the last three campaigns. Kim's expected to miss the start of the regular season as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, but teams looking for an upgrade at shortstop should still look at what it might take to sign him. - Josh Goldberg

Update: Rays, Kim reportedly agreed to 2-year, $29M deal Jan. 29

Which team - other than the Dodgers - has improved the most this winter?

Athletics: The Athletics spent aggressively for the first time in years. Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs will help bolster the rotation, and José Leclerc is a proven option at the back of the bullpen. The Athletics went a respectable 32-32 after the All-Star break last season, with a number of players putting together impressive stretches. The AL West isn't quite as intimidating as it's been in the recent past, leaving the door open for the Athletics to potentially surprise some people in 2025. - Goldberg

Yankees: It's not often that a team loses a generational superstar like Juan Soto and still manages to improve, but that's exactly what the Yankees have done. They did it by spreading what would've been Soto's $700-million-plus salary around the diamond. In the weeks following Soto's departure, the reigning AL champs signed Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt and traded for Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger. The moves allow Aaron Judge to shift back to right field while finally opening left for top prospect Jasson Domínguez. Soto's irreplaceable, but the Yankees potentially came out of this a more complete team. - Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb

Mets: New York's other club unquestionably got better by landing Soto, who amassed 8.1 fWAR in 2024 and recorded at least 6.0 fWAR per season in three of the last four years. The Mets also made a lot of unheralded additions. They re-signed Sean Manaea and brought in Frankie Montas to fortify a rotation that'll be led by a healthy Kodai Senga. All-Star reliever Clay Holmes is expected to transition to a starting role but could end up back in the bullpen with newcomer A.J. Minter in high-leverage roles behind Edwin Díaz. Jose Siri and Jesse Winker provide outfield depth with potential upside. A resolution to the stalemate with Alonso could be the last piece of the puzzle in turning the Mets into a World Series contender. - Tom Ruminski

Which team has had the most disappointing offseason?

Padres: A family court battle over ownership, whiffing on Roki Sasaki, big names leaving town - it's been a Murphy's Law offseason for the Friars. They scouted the Japanese right-hander for years but were beaten out by their bitter rivals, the Dodgers, who also signed Tanner Scott to add insult to injury. Beloved clubhouse presence Jurickson Profar then departed for the Atlanta Braves. San Diego has serious holes to fill but seems to be intent on shedding payroll instead. This team feels incredibly far removed from pushing the Dodgers to the brink of elimination in October. - Wrixon

Mariners: Seattle missed last season's playoffs by one game despite one of the majors' top starting rotations. You'd think that would mean a big winter would be on the horizon from the normally aggressive Jerry Dipoto. That hasn't been the case, with the team's biggest acquisition a one-year, $3.5-million pact with Donovan Solano. The Mariners desperately need offensive upgrades after finishing 21st in runs scored last season, but no significant deals have come so far. - Mcwilliam

Orioles: Baltimore hasn't been inactive, and it even made some decent acquisitions in Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, Gary Sánchez, and Tyler O'Neill. But it also feels like this team missed an opportunity to take the next step. The O's started 2024 with huge expectations, only to fall flat in the second half, be swept out of the wild-card series, and watch as Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander walked away in free agency. Between that and new owner David Rubenstein musing about a salary cap, it's fair to ask if this franchise even wants to start spending again. The Orioles' young, homegrown core deserves more help than this. - Sharkey-Gotlieb

Which team needs to make a big move before spring training opens?

Tigers: President of baseball operations Scott Harris has been lurking on the periphery of the transaction wire all winter. Although he signed Gleyber Torres and Alex Cobb to one-year deals, it's clear he wants to do more, as evidenced by Detroit's involvement in the Alex Bregman sweepstakes. Getting a megadeal done with Bregman would be a great capper to the offseason, as would a reunion with Flaherty. Perhaps a need-for-need trade involving Spencer Torkelson could net an impactful return. The Tigers are riding high after a shocking playoff appearance, they employ the reigning AL Cy Young winner, and they play in a perennially weak division that's theirs for the taking. It's time for them to pounce. - Sharkey-Gotlieb

Blue Jays: Toronto's been trying to land a big fish all offseason, falling short in its pursuit of Soto, Burnes, and Sasaki. However, the club's winter has been pretty decent amid a general narrative that nobody wants to take the team's money. The Blue Jays signed 2024 All-Stars Anthony Santander and Jeff Hoffman, traded for 2022 All-Star Andrés Giménez, and brought in relievers Yimi García and Nick Sandlin. Yet there's still a need for another impact bat, which could be solved by convincing Alonso or Bregman to play in Canada. Bolstering an already solid rotation by adding Flaherty or Nick Pivetta could also do the trick, which would allow Yariel Rodríguez to head to the bullpen as an intriguing swingman. - Ruminski

Angels: Just when it looked like the Angels were ready to rebuild and focus on the future, Perry Minasian and his front office acquired several veteran players this winter. While the message was clear that the Angels intend to remain competitive, they still haven't made an impact acquisition. Yusei Kikuchi, Jorge Soler, Travis d'Arnaud, and Kyle Hendricks are nice pieces who should help Los Angeles improve upon its 66 wins from 2024, especially if Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon can stay healthy. But there are still holes on this team, like first base, where Alonso would be a terrific fit. - Mcwilliam

Which under-the-radar acquisition will have the biggest impact this season?

Joc Pederson: The Rangers gave Pederson a two-year, $37-million contract to crush right-handed pitching, and there's no reason to think he won't do exactly that in 2025. He hit 22 home runs with a .923 OPS in 335 at-bats against righties last season, accruing an impressive 3.0 fWAR as a designated hitter. That's premium offensive production. - Wrixon

Paul Goldschmidt: The Yankees signed the former NL MVP to a one-year, $12.5-million deal after the worst offensive season of his career. Goldschmidt looks to have something left in the tank, which could lead to great value for the Yankees at a position that didn't provide much impact for them last season. The 37-year-old still hits the ball hard - 92nd percentile in hard-hit % and 82nd percentile in average exit velocity last season - is dependable against lefties (.839 OPS in 2024), and he finished strong in the second half, posting a .799 OPS with 29 extra-base hits in his final 61 games. - Mcwilliam

Max Kepler: The Phillies gave the former Twins outfielder a one-year, $10-million contract after he struggled in 2024. Kepler appeared in 105 games, hitting just eight home runs with a 94 wRC+ last season. The soon-to-be 32-year-old is just one year removed from accruing 2.8 fWAR with a 123 wRC+ and 24 home runs. Kepler's done damage against right-handed pitching throughout his career and should benefit from hitting in a lineup with as much talent as the Phillies possess. - Goldberg