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While some of the top free agents on the market have already signed, who are the best remaining MLB free agents in 2024?
Obviously, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have already signed a couple of the largest contracts in MLB history. But there are still plenty of players left in MLB free agency who are bonafide difference-makers who figure to sign a massive contract before the start of spring training.
Ranking 10 Best Remaining MLB Free Agents
Now that it’s officially 2024, we should start to see some more dominoes starting to fall. While they won’t get the same money as Ohtani, the best remaining MLB free agents in 2024 are going to receive a big payday.
Of course, there is always a chance that one of these players ends up signing one of the worst contracts ever given the dollar values being talked about. With that in mind, here are the 10 best remaining MLB free agents in 2024.
10. J.D. Martinez
Of course, J.D. Martinez isn’t the player he used to be. But the guy still had 33 home runs and 103 RBI last season. He’s a professional hitter who will be a great asset in any clubhouse.
Plus, teams won’t have to commit to a long-term deal to sign him. All of those factors still make Martinez one of the top free agents left on the board.
9. Marcus Stroman
Somehow, Marcus Stroman has been overlooked among the starting pitchers on the market. He’s still a little undersized and is starting to get old, so Stroman may not warrant a long-term deal.
However, not including 2020, he’s made at least 25 starts in seven straight seasons and pitched to an ERA under 4.00 in five of the last six seasons. Stroman is still a reliable mid-rotation starter capable of looking like an ace for a few starts per year.
8. Teoscar Hernandez
Teams that need a power bat should be looking at Teoscar Hernandez. He may not bring a ton to the table outside of his power.
But Hernandez has hit at least 29 home runs in three straight seasons and four of the last six years. He can also hold his own in a corner outfield spot, so it’s not as if he’s only a DH or a one-trick pony.
7. Jorge Soler
No free agent offers more power potential than Jorge Soler. He smashed 36 home runs for the Marlins last year and also has a 48-homer season on his resume.
Soler also hit 24 doubles and batted .250 in 2023, so he’s not an all-or-nothing hitter. Any team that’s looking for a full-time DH should have Soler on their radar.
6. Shota Imanaga
Obviously, Yamamoto came with a lot of fanfare, but Shota Imanaga would be a great consolation prize for the teams that missed signing him. He probably doesn’t qualify as an ace and isn’t a bonafide power pitcher like Yamamoto.
However, he’s a talented and crafty lefty who figures to be a reliable mid-rotation starter in the big leagues. For teams that still need a pitcher, he’ll be a great asset at an affordable price.
5. Josh Hader
It’s rare for a relief pitcher to receive a qualifying offer the way Josh Hader did, which explains why he wasn’t among the first free agents to sign.
Also, Hader has a chance to set a record for free-agent relievers in terms of contract value. As a five-time all-star and a three-time National League Reliever of the Year winner, Hader figures to be worth the massive contract he’s likely to sign before the start of the season.
4. Matt Chapman
It’s a little surprising to see Matt Chapman still available this late in the offseason. He’s a Gold Glove third baseman who also brings a solid bat to the middle of a lineup.
The only issue is that not every team is in the market for a third baseman. But at least a handful of teams have a hole to fill at the hot corner, so there are a few possible destinations where Chapman could land.
3. Jordan Montgomery
While he’s probably only the second-best left-handed starter on the market, there is a lot of interest in Jordan Montgomery. He’s proven to be a reliable starter for many years while the role he played in helping the Rangers win the World Series last year only helped his stock.
In fact, staying in Texas is an option for the southpaw, so is a reunion with the Yankees. But those aren’t the only teams that would be happy to sign Montgomery before the season.
2. Blake Snell
After winning the second Cy Young of his career in 2023, Blake Snell is going to have a huge payday. Waiting for Yamamoto to sign first may have actually increased the demand for Snell among teams that lost out on Yamamoto.
Outside of the Dodgers, any team interested in a high-end starter will be checking in with Snell. That should give Snell his pick of any team he wants and a lucrative contract.
1. Cody Bellinger
Cody Bellinger is undoubtedly the biggest fish on the pond. After a bounce-back season with the Cubs in 2023, the former MVP appears to have put his struggles during his last couple of seasons in Los Angeles behind him.
Bellinger won Comeback Player of the Year honors and the second Silver Slugger of his career in 2023, so he’s hitting the free-agent market at the right time. He’s also just 28 years old and capable of playing either the outfield or first base. The bidding for Bellinger could earn him a contract of up to 10 years and close to $300 million, if not more. That’s obviously a big commitment, but the upside Bellinger still has to be one of the biggest stars in the game is tough to ignore.
