Your guide to MLB free agency: Rankings and contract...

Market Overview

The 2024-25 MLB free-agent market opens with unprecedented financial expectations, driven by marquee elite talent across primary position groups. Total guaranteed expenditure for the top 50 free agents is projected to surpass $2.65 billion across more than 140 contract years.

Luxury tax thresholds for the 2025 season set the base Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) limit at $241 million. Front offices are heavily relying on underlying Statcast metrics, platform-year WAR, and age-curve projections to dictate term length and average annual value (AAV).

Key Stats & Facts

• Projected Total Market Value (Top 50): $2.65 Billion
• Average Age of Top 50 Free Agents: 29.4 years
• Top Contract Projection: Juan Soto – 14 years, $620 million ($44.3M AAV)
• Total Combined 2024 WAR (Top 50): 118.4 bWAR
• Qualifying Offer (QO) Impact: 13 players attached to draft-pick compensation ($21.05M value)
• Position Breakdown: 21 Pitchers (14 SP, 7 RP), 12 Infielders, 11 Outfielders, 4 Catchers, 2 DHs

Top 50 Free Agent Rankings & Contract Projections

Top 10 Tier (Marquee Cornerstones)

• 1. Juan Soto (OF, 26): 14 yrs, $620M ($44.3M AAV) | 2024 Stats: .288 AVG, 41 HR, 109 RBI, 7.9 bWAR, 178 OPS+
• 2. Corbin Burnes (RHP, 30): 7 yrs, $215M ($30.7M AAV) | 2024 Stats: 15-9, 2.92 ERA, 181 SO, 194.1 IP, 3.4 bWAR
• 3. Alex Bregman (3B, 30): 6 yrs, $156M ($26.0M AAV) | 2024 Stats: .260 AVG, 26 HR, 75 RBI, 4.1 bWAR, 118 OPS+
• 4. Max Fried (LHP, 31): 6 yrs, $150M ($25.0M AAV) | 2024 Stats: 11-10, 3.25 ERA, 166 SO, 174.1 IP, 3.5 bWAR
• 5. Willy Adames (SS, 29): 6 yrs, $150M ($25.0M AAV) | 2024 Stats: .251 AVG, 32 HR, 112 RBI, 3.1 bWAR, 118 OPS+
• 6. Pete Alonso (1B, 30): 5 yrs, $125M ($25.0M AAV) | 2024 Stats: .240 AVG, 34 HR, 88 RBI, 2.6 bWAR, 123 OPS+
• 7. Blake Snell (LHP, 32): 3 yrs, $105M ($35.0M AAV) | 2024 Stats: 5-3, 3.12 ERA, 145 SO, 104.0 IP, 3.1 bWAR
• 8. Anthony Santander (OF, 30): 4 yrs, $80M ($20.0M AAV) | 2024 Stats: .235 AVG, 44 HR, 102 RBI, 3.3 bWAR, 120 OPS+
• 9. Teoscar Hernández (OF, 32): 3 yrs, $66M ($22.0M AAV) | 2024 Stats: .272 AVG, 33 HR, 99 RBI, 4.3 bWAR, 137 OPS+
• 10. Jack Flaherty (RHP, 29): 4 yrs, $72M ($18.0M AAV) | 2024 Stats: 13-7, 3.17 ERA, 194 SO, 162.0 IP, 3.2 bWAR

Ranks 11-25 (Impact Starters & Everyday Regulars)

• 11. Sean Manaea (LHP): 3 yrs, $60M ($20.0M AAV)
• 12. Christian Walker (1B): 3 yrs, $60M ($20.0M AAV)
• 13. Tanner Scott (LHP/RP): 4 yrs, $56M ($14.0M AAV)
• 14. Ha-Seong Kim (SS/2B): 1 yr, $12M ($12.0M AAV)
• 15. Jurickson Profar (OF): 3 yrs, $45M ($15.0M AAV)
• 16. Nathan Eovaldi (RHP): 2 yrs, $40M ($20.0M AAV)
• 17. Nick Pivetta (RHP): 3 yrs, $45M ($15.0M AAV)
• 18. Gleyber Torres (2B): 3 yrs, $42M ($14.0M AAV)
• 19. Jeff Hoffman (RHP/RP): 3 yrs, $33M ($11.0M AAV)
• 20. Carlos Estévez (RHP/RP): 3 yrs, $30M ($10.0M AAV)
• 21. Yusei Kikuchi (LHP): 3 yrs, $42M ($14.0M AAV)
• 22. Tyler O’Neill (OF): 3 yrs, $45M ($15.0M AAV)
• 23. Luis Severino (RHP): 3 yrs, $45M ($15.0M AAV)
• 24. Joc Pederson (DH): 2 yrs, $28M ($14.0M AAV)
• 25. Clay Holmes (RHP/RP): 3 yrs, $27M ($9.0M AAV)

Ranks 26-50 Depth Summary

• Rotation Depth (26-35): Tomoyuki Sugano (2 yrs, $24M), Frankie Montas (2 yrs, $22M), Matthew Boyd (2 yrs, $20M), Nick Martinez (Accepted QO, $21.05M), Andrew Heaney (2 yrs, $18M), Michael Wacha (Signed KC: 3 yrs, $51M), Jose Quintana (1 yr, $10M), Max Scherzer (1 yr, $15M), Justin Verlander (1 yr, $15M), Kyle Gibson (1 yr, $8M).
• Infield & Catcher Depth (36-42): Paul Goldschmidt (1 yr, $12M), Justin Turner (1 yr, $10M), Danny Jansen (2 yrs, $16M), Jose Iglesias (1 yr, $6M), Kyle Higashioka (2 yrs, $14M), JD Martinez (1 yr, $12M), Yoán Moncada (1 yr, $6M).
• Relief & Outfield Specialists (43-50): David Robertson (1 yr, $11M), A.J. Minter (2 yrs, $16M), Max Kepler (1 yr, $8M), Harrison Bader (1 yr, $8M), Randal Grichuk (1 yr, $6M), Blake Treinen (2 yrs, $14M), Tommy Kahnle (2 yrs, $12M), Andrew Chafin (1 yr, $5M).

Player Spotlight & Standings Impact

Juan Soto: The Market Anchor

Juan Soto enters free agency at age 26 after delivering a 7.9 bWAR campaign with a career-high 41 home runs and a .419 on-base percentage. His projected contract exceeds $600 million, making him the most valuable free agent since Shohei Ohtani.

A signing by the New York Mets or Boston Red Sox instantly creates a 5-to-6 win swing in baseline projections. Losing Soto drops the New York Yankees’ run-differential projection significantly, tightening the AL East race.

Corbin Burnes: Premium Rotation Ace

Corbin Burnes represents the premier top-of-the-rotation arm, maintaining a 2.88 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over the past four seasons combined. He registered 194.1 innings in 2024, ranking in the top five among all starters in workload durability.

Landing Burnes gives contenders an immediate postseason Game 1 starter. Teams targeting Burnes (Baltimore, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco) project a +3.8 win gain in regular-season standings models.

Divisional Standings Shift Indicators

• AL East: A Soto transition away from the Yankees reduces New York’s baseline win projection from 93 to 87 wins, opening a clear division path for Baltimore.
• NL West: If the Dodgers secure Corbin Burnes or Blake Snell, their projected win total pushes past 98 wins, widening the gap over San Diego and Arizona.
• NL Central & East: Loss of key components Max Fried (Braves) and Willy Adames (Brewers) leaves 3.5+ bWAR vacuums for their respective division-defending rosters.