Projecting the Price Tags For Top MLB Free Agent of 2024-2025 Class

A significant amount of money changes hands each offseason in MLB free agency, and this year's crop of available talent led by superstar outfielder Juan Soto and top-of-the-rotation ace Corbin Burnes will ensure that annual tradition continues.

According to Spotrac, a whopping $3,008,585,000 was spent in free agency last winter, with the Los Angeles Dodgers accounting for a significant chunk of that figure with their $1,081,900,000 spending spree that was headlined by the addition of Shohei Ohtani.

While Soto and Burnes will likely be the two biggest contracts handed out in free agency, they are far from the only players poised to cash in this winter, and several other $100 million deals are likely on the horizon.

Ahead we've given our predictions for the price tags on each of the top 10 remaining free agents, based on our Top 100 free agents list that was released at the start of the offseason. The only top 10 player from that original list who has signed so far is Blake Snell, who inked a five-year, $182 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

B/R Top 100 Rank: 3

2024 Stats: 161 G, 118 OPS+, .251/.331/.462, 65 XBH (32 HR), 112 RBI, 3.1 WAR

Contract Prediction: Six years, $150 million

The top shortstop on the market this winter and one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball the past several seasons, Willy Adames is a lock to become the ninth active shortstop playing on a $100 million deal.

The ugly early returns on the matching six-year, $140 million contracts that Javier Báez and Trevor Story signed prior to the 2022 season could give teams reason for pause, but it won't stop someone from paying up to add a middle-of-the-order run producer and quality defender at a premium position who has logged four straight 3-WAR seasons.

Predicted Landing Spot: San Francisco Giants

B/R Top 100 Rank: 7

2024 Stats: 162 G, 123 OPS+, .240/.329/.459, 65 XBH (34 HR), 88 RBI, 2.6 WAR

Contract Prediction: Five years, $125 million

The report that Pete Alonso turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension offer during the 2023 season has been referenced frequently, and while he might not be able to top that offer in terms of total money, he could land a higher AAV on a shorter deal.

A $25 million AAV would put him in the same ballpark as the deal that Freddie Freeman ($27 million AAV) signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and after his performance for the Mets in the postseason, it's hard to imagine Steve Cohen letting him wear any other uniform in 2025.

Predicted Landing Spot: New York Mets

B/R Top 100 Rank: 6

2024 Stats: 145 G, 118 OPS+, .260/.315/.453, 58 XBH (26 HR), 75 RBI, 4.1 WAR

Contract Prediction: Six years, $156 million

Third baseman Alex Bregman just wrapped up a five-year, $100 million extension with the Houston Astros by posting his sixth 4-WAR season in nine years in the big leagues, and he has racked up 39.6 WAR total in his career while helping the team win a pair of World Series titles.

A reunion with the Astros is still a possibility, but now that he has reached the open market there is a long list of potential landing spots. A $26 million AAV would represent a solid raise and lucrative overall payday on a long-term deal, and if the Phillies can find the right deal to move Alec Bohm, they might be the favorites to land him.

Predicted Landing Spot: Philadelphia Phillies

B/R Top 100 Rank: 2

2024 Stats: 32 GS, 15-9, 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 48 BB, 181 K, 194.1 IP, 3.4 WAR

Contract Prediction: Seven years, $255.5 million

All the way back in July, I predicted the Baltimore Orioles would extend Corbin Burnes with a seven-year, $255.5 million deal, which would represent an AAV a tick higher than the $36 million Gerrit Cole is earning annually on his deal with the New York Yankees.

A reunion with the Orioles no longer looks like the most likely outcome for his free agency, but he could end up being the immediate fallback plan for the Boston Red Sox or New York Mets if they miss out on Juan Soto.

Predicted Landing Spot: New York Mets

B/R Top 100 Rank: 10

2024 Stats: 28 GS, 13-7, 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 38 BB, 194 K, 162.0 IP, 3.1 WAR

Contract Prediction: Five years, $100 million

Jack Flaherty is one of the more polarizing players on the market this offseason, as his 2024 performance and age suggest he should secure a nine-figure payday, but his injury history and lackluster numbers in 2023 give some reason for pause.

The 29-year-old settled for a one-year, $14 million deal last winter, and he should have no problem exceeding the $17 million AAV that Frankie Montas received on his new deal with the New York Mets. With the ever-climbing cost of starting pitching, a $20 million AAV looks like his floor, and the San Francisco Giants are looking for a Blake Snell replacement to slot alongside Logan Webb at the top of the rotation.

Predicted Landing Spot: San Francisco Giants

B/R Top 100 Rank: 5

2024 Stats: 29 GS, 11-10, 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 57 BB, 166 K, 174.1 IP, 3.5 WAR

Contract Prediction: Seven years, $175 million

When healthy, Max Fried has been one of the best pitchers in baseball the past several seasons for the Atlanta Braves, and after dealing with some arm issues in 2023 he tallied 29 starts and 174.1 innings pitched in his contract year.

Aaron Nola signed a seven-year, $172 million extension with the Philadelphia Phillies at the same age last winter, and while Nola has been more consistent and durable throughout his career, Fried is the second-best arm on the market right now and is capable of ace-caliber production. The Blue Jays were ready to break the bank for Shohei Ohtani last winter, and they will be motivated to convince free-agent-to-be Vladimir Guerrero Jr. they are serious about contending.

Predicted Landing Spot: Toronto Blue Jays

B/R Top 100 Rank: 8

2024 Stats: 154 G, 137 OPS+, .272/.339/.501, 67 XBH (33 HR), 99 RBI, 4.3 WAR

Contract Prediction: Five years, $100 million

After a good-not-great 2023 season with the Mariners, Teoscar Hernández settled for a one-year, $23.5 million deal from the Dodgers last offseason. He responded with a career-high 33 home runs while helping secure a World Series title, and now he stands as one of the top bats on the market.

The five-year, $100 million deal that Nick Castellanos signed when he joined the Phillies looks like a reasonable comparison, and while a reunion with the Dodgers remains a distinct possibility, his market could open up once the Juan Soto sweepstakes reaches its conclusion.

Predicted Landing Spot: New York Yankees

B/R Top 100 Rank: 11

2024 Stats: 32 GS, 12-6, 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 63 BB, 184 K, 181.2 IP, 3.0 WAR

Contract Prediction: Five years, $90 million

After spending a significant chunk of the 2023 season pitching out of the bullpen for the San Francisco Giants en route to a 4.44 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 117.2 innings over 10 starts and 27 relief appearances, Sean Manaea settled for a one-year, $14.5 million deal with a $13.5 million player option last offseason.

Declining that player option became a no-brainer after he put together a stellar 2024 campaign that included a stretch of nine quality starts in 11 outings during the second half while the Mets were chasing a playoff berth. He might not reach $100 million on his next contract, but he is the best of the market's second-tier arms and should take home a solid payday.

Predicted Landing Spot: Baltimore Orioles

B/R Top 100 Rank: 9

2024 Stats: 155 G, 134 OPS+, .235/.308/.506, 71 XBH (44 HR), 102 RBI, 2.9 WAR

Contract Prediction: Four years, $80 million

Anthony Santander does not provide much in the way of secondary value with his defense in the outfield or speed on the bases, but he is an elite power hitter and coming off a career-high 44 home runs hitting in the middle of a young Baltimore lineup.

In many ways, he has a similar profile to Kyle Schwarber, albeit with less on-base ability. The Phillies signed the slugging outfielder/designated hitter to a four-year, $79 million deal prior to the 2022 season, and that seems like a reasonable range for the type of contract Santander can expect to find this winter. No team needs a proven middle-of-the-order slugger more than the Mariners.

Predicted Landing Spot: Seattle Mariners

B/R Top 100 Rank: 1

2024 Stats: 157 G, 178 OPS+, .288/.419/.569, 76 XBH (41 HR), 109 RBI, 7.9 WAR

Contract Prediction: 15 years, $675 million

"The floor for Juan Soto is $600 million."

That's the latest report from Ken Rosenthal, Evan Drellich and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, with the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox and Yankees the teams known publicly to be in pursuit of the generational talent. All remaining contenders have made offers above $600 million, according to the report.

Even if his contract does not end up exceeding the $700 million deal Shohei Ohtani signed last offseason, so much of that contract was deferred that the present-day value of the deal was assessed at roughly $460 million, which puts into perspective the type of money teams are offering up for Soto's services.

All signs point to him making his decision some time between now and the conclusion of the annual winter meetings set to take place next week, and that should set off a flurry of secondary activity on the offseason market.

Predicted Landing Spot: Boston Red Sox