Finding homes for 10 key remaining MLB free agents

There are still a number of marquee free agents on the market as the offseason rolls into 2025. Here, we take a look at 10 big names who remain unsigned and find ideal fits for each.

Pete Alonso, Mariners

The Mariners have a golden opportunity to make a much-needed upgrade to their lineup with Alonso and the Mets reportedly at an impasse in contract negotiations. Seattle was rumored to be pursuing first basemen Christian Walker, Carlos Santana, and Josh Naylor before they found new homes. Alonso's 226 career homers and .854 OPS would look great on a Mariners club that finished 25th in slugging percentage. The addition would also prevent the team from trading pieces away from its stacked rotation. Jerry Dipoto has shockingly yet to make a move this offseason, and it's unclear if ownership would permit such an expense, but the time is now for Seattle with such a dominant rotation.

Roki Sasaki, Dodgers

Sasaki is a fit for every team considering the low financial cost. However, the Dodgers have felt like the most likely destination for the Japanese star from the moment it was announced he'd be posted to all 30 clubs. They bolstered their rotation with the signing of Blake Snell, but uncertainty still surrounds the team heading into the season. Almost every one of the team's starting pitchers comes with some level of durability concern. The Dodgers found a way to win a World Series with a depleted rotation but can't count on replicating that formula again. Sasaki signing in Los Angeles seems inevitable, even if it will cause a collective groan from a large majority of baseball fans. But at least the Dodgers won't have to defer any money this time.

Alex Bregman, Red Sox

The Red Sox still need one more big move after team president Sam Kennedy said the club wanted to win 90-95 games and an AL East title in 2025. The additions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler are big for the rotation, but the lineup could reach another level with Bregman, who, with his powerful right-handed bat, would add balance to an offense loaded with left-handed hitters. The two-time All-Star and 2024 Gold Glover is also willing to switch positions, which makes sense with Rafael Devers at third base.

Anthony Santander, Blue Jays

The Blue Jays desperately need an infusion of power in their lineup. Toronto finished last season 26th with 156 home runs. Santander hit 44 home runs for the rival Baltimore Orioles in 2024 and has gone deep 105 times since the start of the 2022 season. The Blue Jays face an uncertain future with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette both one year away from free agency. Handing Santander a long-term contract might carry some risk, but it's a necessary move if the Blue Jays want to maximize their chance to win in 2025.

Jack Flaherty, Tigers

The Tigers are reportedly pursuing Bregman and Santander. However, Detroit can also pivot to a familiar face to strengthen what could be one of the strong rotations in the AL. In what was his best season since 2019, Flaherty posted a 2.95 ERA with 133 strikeouts over 106 2/3 innings (18 starts) with the team last year before getting traded to the Dodgers. His return would bolster a group of starters that's set to feature reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson, Alex Cobb, Casey Mize, and Jackson Jobe.

Tanner Scott, Mets

The Mets' bullpen has a lot of uncertainty beyond star closer Edwin Díaz. José Buttó, Reid Garrett, and Dedniel Núñez showed plenty of flashes in 2024, but the club should still be looking to add a proven late-inning option to bolster things. Enter Scott. The left-hander has some control issues but is an excellent strikeout artist and owns a 2.04 ERA with 11.3 K/9 over the past two seasons. Scott and Díaz would arguably be baseball's best one-two punch at the back of a bullpen. Plus, adding Scott would give the team some insurance should Díaz choose to opt out next winter.

Nick Pivetta, Cubs

The Cubs are still trying to improve their starting pitching, as evidenced by their reported chase of Jesús Luzardo before the left-hander was traded to the Phillies. Pivetta, who authored a 4.14 ERA with 10.6 K/9 across 145 2/3 innings (26 starts) last season, would raise the floor of a rotation that includes Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, and Javier Assad.

Jurickson Profar, Padres

Profar finally put it all together with the Padres in his 11th MLB season. The former top prospect hit 24 home runs with 29 doubles, 85 RBIs, and an .839 OPS in 2024. The Padres have been very quiet so far this offseason and currently project to enter the 2025 season with Tirso Ornelas in left field. A reunion between Profar and the Padres makes too much sense not to happen.

Jeff Hoffman, Braves

The Braves haven't done much during a sleepy offseason, while the Mets and Phillies have made significant moves. Atlanta's rotation looks thin after the departures of Max Fried and Charlie Morton, and Spencer Strider won't be ready for Opening Day due to elbow surgery. Signing Hoffman, who can be converted to a starter, is one way to add depth. The All-Star reliever would also help a bullpen that could be without injured setup man Joe Jiménez for the entire 2025 season.

Ha-seong Kim, Angels

The Angels were reportedly among the teams to make an offer to KBO star Hyeseong Kim before he joined the Dodgers on a three-year contract. They have Zach Neto at shortstop, but he can be moved over to third base or second base if Ha-seong joins the roster. Kim has been a consistently excellent defender at shortstop since he made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2021. He doesn't have a ton of offensive upside, but he can make consistent contact and his .336 OBP since the start of the 2022 season would work well atop manager Ron Washington's lineup.