PHOENIX — After investing over $1 billion in star players such as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Teoscar Hernández last offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their World Series victory in style this postseason. Now, teams are preparing to open their checkbooks once again as they gear up for the 2025 season and the free agency period that lies ahead.
Last year’s offseason was dominated by the buzz surrounding the Ohtani sweepstakes, culminating in a staggering $700 million, 10-year contract for the Japanese sensation last December. Although Juan Soto is also in the mix, it’s uncertain whether anyone this year could command a similar figure, despite a potentially deeper free agent class.
Soto, along with fellow high-profile players like Willy Adames, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Blake Snell, Alex Bregman, and Jack Flaherty, will be seeking new teams as they navigate free agency. Additionally, there’s a group of appealing players, including Hernández, Anthony Santander, Jurickson Profar, Ha-Seong Kim, Pete Alonso, Christian Walker, and Sean Manaea, who could provide a significant boost to teams in pursuit of a championship.
General managers of Major League Baseball will gather this week in San Antonio, Texas, marking the unofficial start of the offseason. Although major transactions are typically scarce during these early November discussions, important groundwork for future deals is often established.
As the free agency period opens, several narratives are worth following: Soto’s stint with the Yankees has been a success, but he isn’t likely to settle for a lower salary in New York. The four-time All-Star has already hit 201 home runs, has an impressive .421 on-base percentage, and was a key figure in the Yankees’ playoff run, although they fell short against the Dodgers in the World Series. Just 26 years old, he is expected to demand a hefty contract, potentially in the neighborhood of $500 million. Soto has expressed that he remains open to offers from all teams, making any notion of a local advantage obsolete.
The New York Mets are another team to watch closely in the coming months. After a rocky start, they progressed to the NL Championship Series but were ultimately eliminated by the Dodgers. Players like Alonso, who has hit 226 homers over the last six years, along with pitchers Manaea, Luis Severino, and José Quintana, are up for grabs. The organization’s decisions on whether to retain these core players or reinvent their roster entirely are essential for their future prospects, especially given the Yankees’ current dominance in the league.
Veteran players such as Paul Goldschmidt, Walker Buehler, Shane Bieber, and Carlos Santana, each with extensive careers and some injury setbacks, could be looking for career revivals. Goldschmidt, who was named the NL MVP in 2022, has seen a decline in performance recently, but remains a strong clubhouse presence and maintains his physical fitness. Buehler, following his recovery from a second Tommy John surgery, may have started to find his form again, especially showcased by his compelling performance in the World Series, where he delivered six scoreless innings to help clinch the title.
Superagent Scott Boras is expected to play a significant role in the free agent landscape this offseason. While some of his clients faced challenges last year—signing late with short-term deals rather than the lucrative contracts they expected—he still represents many of this year’s top free agents, including Soto, Burnes, Alonso, Snell, and Bregman. His influence over this offseason could make for an intriguing few months leading up to the new season.