Thanksgiving has passed and now it’s time to take advantage of the Black Friday sales. Check out these potential free agent bargains for the winter and catch up on the latest hot stove rumors for Friday. The Winter Meetings, a major event in baseball’s offseason, are just around the corner.
Blue Jays Eyeing Bregman, Fried, Santander, Severino
Aside from pursuing Juan Soto, the Blue Jays are showing interest in top free agents such as Alex Bregman, Max Fried, Anthony Santander, and Luis Severino, according to Sportsnet. It’s unclear how committed they are to these players and what their overall offseason plans entail. Could they potentially sign multiple high-profile players or are these targets part of a backup plan?
Toronto has several needs to address this offseason, including a power bat for the outfield, a designated hitter, a third baseman, bullpen reinforcements, and possibly another starting pitcher. Team President Mark Shapiro has indicated that the payroll for next year will be similar to 2024, which ended at $235 million for competitive balance tax purposes. The current 2025 commitments are estimated at $195 million. Bregman, Fried, Santander, and Severino all rank among the top 20 free agents.
Angels Looking to Strengthen Rotation
Despite adding Kyle Hendricks and Yusei Kikuchi to the rotation, the Angels are open to further upgrades, as per GM Perry Minasian in an interview with the Orange County Register. They are exploring both free agent options and potential trades to bolster their pitching staff. FanGraphs projections currently rank the Angels’ rotation as the 25th best in baseball.
The 2025 rotation will feature Hendricks, Kikuchi, Tyler Anderson, and breakout pitcher José Soriano. Reid Detmers, Jack Kochanowicz, and Chase Silseth are in contention for the fifth spot. Affordable free agent pitchers like Cal Quantrill, Trevor Williams, Martín Pérez, and local favorite Michael Lorenzen are also on the radar.
France Fielding Multiple Offers, Open to New Position
Free agent Ty France has received several offers, including at least one major league contract, and he is willing to expand his versatility by playing catcher, as reported by MLB.com. While primarily a first baseman in recent years, France has experience at second and third base, as well as emergency catcher duties.
Now 30, France posted a .234/.305/.365 slash line with the Mariners and Reds in 2024. He is best suited as a right-handed platoon option at first base and DH, although his performance against left-handed and right-handed pitchers is relatively balanced. Adding catching skills or proficiency at other infield positions could enhance his value in the market.
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