MLB Roundtable: Teams under pressure, most risky free agents

With Major League Baseball free agency in full swing, theScore's MLB editors Josh Goldberg, Bryan Mcwilliam, Tom Ruminski, Brandon Wile, and Ben Wrixon answer some of the biggest questions this offseason:

Which FA - other than Soto - would you want to sign?

Roki Sasaki: Who wouldn't want to sign a 23-year-old ace armed with a 100-mph fastball to a minor-league contract? Sasaki will be the most intriguing player available when he's posted later this month after a sensational run in Japan. He posted a 2.02 ERA with 0.88 WHIP and 524 strikeouts over 414 2/3 innings across five years with the Chiba Lotte Marines. The right-hander also helped his country win the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Sasaki could be the final piece for a World Series contender or the cornerstone of a rebuild. He'll be on every team's radar. - Ruminski

Corbin Burnes: There aren't too many legitimate aces available in free agency, but Burnes is one of them. The right-hander's been one of the major's top starters since 2020, ranking second in fWAR behind Zack Wheeler. He's also finished in the top eight in Cy Young voting - winning in 2021 - in five consecutive seasons. The 30-year-old will likely cost around $200 million, but he's durable (193 2/3 innings or more in three straight campaigns) and offered immediate impact to the Orioles' rotation last season. - Mcwilliam

Christian Walker: Walker isn't receiving the same level of attention as some of the other free agents, but the former Arizona Diamondback ranks among the game's best all-around first basemen and shouldn't cost as much in years or dollars as someone like Pete Alonso. Walker ranks third in home runs, sixth in fWAR, and eighth in OPS at his position since the start of the 2022 season. Teams might have some trepidation about committing to a player who'll be 34 next season, but there's nothing glaring that points to an impending decline for Walker. Any teams looking for help at first base should contact his agent. - Goldberg

Which high-profile FA would you stay away from?

Pete Alonso: Handing out a long-term contract to a first baseman is always a gamble - unless it's Freddie Freeman. It's easy to see why Alonso would be sought after on the open market; he's hit the second-most home runs in MLB behind Aaron Judge since debuting in 2019, and he's hit no fewer than 34 homers in five full seasons (he homered 16 times in 57 games during the COVID season). But the Alonso who homered 53 times with a career-best .941 OPS in 2019 is not the same hitter as the one now. He's watched his OPS drop in three straight seasons, landing at a career-worst .788 in 2024. Alonso has also seen his strikeout rate climb in each of the last three years. He remains an All-Star-caliber player entering his age-30 season and should remain productive during the first few years of his new contract, but he'll likely receive a long-term deal that projects to age poorly, and that's what scares me off. - Wile

Alex Bregman: There's no denying that Bregman is a good player. The issue is that he's likely seeking a massive deal worthy of an MVP candidate. He hasn't been that by just about every metric since 2019. Bregman posted his lowest on-base percentage (.315) with at least 400 plate appearances in 2024 and has only topped a 122 OPS+ once in the last five years. A declining offensive skill set accentuated by a potential move away from the hitter-friendly confines in Houston doesn't bode well for a successful long-term deal. - Wrixon

Anthony Santander: The switch-hitting slugger put together an ideal platform season for the Orioles, setting career highs with 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 91 runs scored. Santander doesn't offer much defensive value and is a strong candidate to be a primary DH, perhaps as early as next season. The 30-year-old is certainly an above-average offensive player, but it's probably more realistic to look at him as a 30-home run hitter than someone who can consistently go deep 40-plus times in a season. He'll also cost a draft pick for whoever signs him. - Goldberg

Which team needs to win the offseason?

Yankees: New York still hasn't won a championship since 2009 and was severely outplayed by the Dodgers in the World Series. The loss of Soto would be deflating, especially when considering him potentially landing across town to the Mets or their rivals in Toronto or Boston. Hal Steinbrenner opened his wallet to sign Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge, but it won't sit well if the Yankees are outbid on a generational player like Soto. New York wouldn't be able to make any splash that quells the loss of the superstar outfielder. And even if the club retains Soto, there's lots of work that needs to be done to build a roster that can win it all. - Mcwilliam

Red Sox: Boston's ownership group doubled down by stating it'd be aggressive this winter after completely whiffing on its "full throttle" proclamation last offseason. Now is the time to spend. The farm system is loaded, there's a cheap and talented core already in the majors, and there's plenty of payroll flexibility. Boston missed the playoffs for a third straight year in 2024, while attendance has suffered during this current stretch of underwhelming seasons. The fanbase needs to be re-energized, and that starts with making major moves. Even if the club doesn't sign Soto, ownership just being in the mix is a start. It'll be a major wasted opportunity if the front office doesn't head into Opening Day having made a number of big additions. - Wile

Blue Jays: Toronto's front office needs to try and prop back open a contention window that may already be closed. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are under team control for one more season; signing one or both to an extension would go a long way in convincing fans that a full rebuild isn't around the corner. The Blue Jays need to add a pair of impact bats and another starting pitcher, and they need to remake their entire bullpen. That's not a small feat, especially while competing against the AL pennant-winning Yankees, young and talented Orioles, rising Red Sox, and scrappy Rays in baseball's toughest division. - Ruminski

Which playoff contender will have the most underwhelming offseason?

Cubs: It's hard to really get a grasp on what the Cubs are these days. Chicago has posted a winning record in each of the last two seasons but has missed the playoffs in four straight years and is seemingly stuck in mediocrity. Rather than flex their financial muscle in a mediocre division loaded with owners unwilling to spend, the Cubs seem content just coasting along. Chicago has done well with some recent signings but doesn't seem interested in spending big enough to become a legitimate contender. The team is reportedly trying to move on from Cody Bellinger and has yet to be linked with any of the top free agents. They did, however, hand Matt Boyd $29 million after he threw 11 solid starts (including postseason) last season. - Wile

Brewers: Manager Pat Murphy already made it clear that the likelihood of shortstop Willy Adames returning next season is remote. The Brewers have never been a team to enter the fray for high-profile free agents, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that Adames will land elsewhere. That being said, replacing that level of production at shortstop will not be an easy task. Milwaukee surprised everyone with a 93-win season en route to another NL Central title in 2024. Barring an unforeseen roster upgrade, the Brewers might be hard-pressed to replicate that feat again this season. - Goldberg

Orioles: Baltimore already needed to complement its enviable amount of young talent with veterans to become a true contender, but now it needs to spend uncharacteristically big to get back to where it was in 2024. Will new ownership help that? The Orioles will be active, but there's a real chance they get outbid on both Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander - possibly by their AL East rivals. It's not hard to envision a scenario where the birds get worse while their competition gets better. - Wrixon

Twins: Minnesota crashed harder than any team down the stretch last year, missing the postseason after a 9-18 September. The Twins should be looking for ways to improve after Joe Pohlad compared last season's collapse to "watching a train wreck," but the team is up for sale, making it unlikely any big expenditures are on the table. Minnesota isn't expected to cut payroll again after axing $26 million last year, but it also doesn't look like it'll make any significant moves, either. It's a shame because there's a really solid core that should have a shot at winning the division. - Mcwilliam

Which FA will be the biggest bargain?

Ha-Seong Kim: A lot of people are sleeping on the best shortstop available not named Adames. Kim is entering his age-29 season and will likely be in his prime during his next contract. He can impact the game with his stellar defense, speed, and above-average bat. The 2023 Gold Glover has slashed .250/.336/.385 with a combined 39 homers, 72 stolen bases, and 10.5 fWAR over the last three years for the Padres. Kim's versatility - having also played second and third base in the majors - further enhances his value. - Ruminski

Gleyber Torres: Torres regularly drew the ire of Yankees fans during his seven seasons in New York. He's not a perfect player, but there remains a lot to like. First, he's entering his age-28 season and should still have several years of prime production left. Second, Torres has been 13% better than the league average at the plate in his career, making him worthy of a four- or five-year contract at $15 million-$20 million per season. He can return value on that investment if he can be worth two or three wins above replacement per season. That seems like a worthwhile bet to make, especially with limited infield options in free agency. - Goldberg

Walker Buehler: The right-hander's endured a rough couple of years due to injuries, but he finally started looking like his former All-Star self late in the postseason. Buehler will likely seek a short-term deal in hopes of rebuilding his value to cash in with his next contract, but his ceiling could be huge - even for one season - for a club willing to take the gamble. He also won't cost a compensation pick. His performance in the World Series was vintage Buehler, and someone with his competitiveness is worth rolling the dice on. - Wile

Joc Pederson: Contenders looking for a boost against right-handed pitching shouldn't balk at calling Joc. The 32-year-old crushed 23 home runs with a .908 OPS (151 OPS+) last year with the Diamondbacks. He's strictly a platoon player and shouldn't be asked to play defense, but he's a difference-maker in the right situation who should cost less than the top-of-the-market bats. The lefty masher is also a two-time World Series champion who brings leadership and extensive playoff experience. -Wrixon