In about a week’s time, Major League Baseball teams will open their spring camps across the states of Florida and Arizona. Soon thereafter, the exhibition season will get underway, and before you know it, Opening Day will have arrived. But, before MLB teams start hanging the ceremonial bunting around their stadiums, it’s worth remembering that there are still some quality free agents on the open market.
The past week has seen right-handed starter Jack Flaherty return to the Detroit Tigers, as well as first baseman Pete Alonso rejoin the New York Mets. Add in Yoán Moncada’s deal with the Los Angeles Angels, and that leaves eight members of CBS Sports’ top-50 free-agent rankings available for hire.
With that in mind, below I’ve offered a market reset of sorts by highlighting the five best unsigned players. You’ll find analysis on what those players can bring to clubs, as well as thoughts on why they remain unsigned — and, indeed, where they might end up when all is said and done.
Let’s get to it.
1. Alex Bregman, 3B, No. 3 entering the winter
What does he offer? It’s true that Bregman has not, in recent years, soared to the same heights he occupied earlier in his career. Nevertheless, he’s been one of the six most productive third basemen in the sport since 2020, according to Baseball Reference’s Wins Above Replacement metric. There’s no mystery as to why: Bregman has posted an OPS+ below 115 just once in his career, and he remains a highly skilled defender. He also has ample postseason experience, for whatever that’s worth these days.
Why is he still available? The main factor here seems to be Bregman’s desired length of contract. To be clear: there are some legitimate red flags in his profile, including the possibility that his slugging will take a significant hit outside of Houston’s friendly confines. Teams, naturally, would prefer to limit their downside exposure with a shorter pact. Bregman has seemingly held strong on his demands, however, and if recent reports are to be believed, he’s going to end up getting his way.
Where might he land? A handful of teams have been linked to Bregman over the past few weeks. The group includes the Astros, his incumbent team, as well as the Tigers (managed by former Houston skipper A.J. Hinch), Red Sox, and Cubs. Wherever Bregman goes, you figure he’ll help clear up the Nolan Arenado market, too.
What does he offer? At some unidentifiable point in Pivetta’s career, he turned into a meme on account of the disconnect between his stuff and his results. Because of that dynamic, I think it’s been easy to overlook that he’s grown into a legitimately solid pitcher. To wit, Pivetta has amassed a 102 ERA+ and a 3.15 strikeout-to-walk ratio since the 2021 season — and he’s done it while averaging 26 starts per pop. Add in how Pivetta has always graded well from a pitch-quality perspective, and you can understand why he and his agent declined the qualifying offer to begin the winter.
Why is he still available? Alas, declining the qualifying offer in search of a more lucrative payday resulted in Pivetta’s stock being weighed down by draft-pick compensation. Old perceptions die hard, and it’s possible that teams are still viewing Pivetta with some skepticism, too, even if that feels unwarranted at this stage.
Where might he land? There’ve been a few teams publicly linked to Pivetta over the past month or so. Among them are the Reds and Blue Jays (who have since signed Max Scherzer). It also stands to reason some other club could get involved with Pivetta over the coming weeks should an injury or trade occur that shakes up their pitching staff. For example: might the Padres ink Pivetta if they trade Dylan Cease?
What does he offer? Jansen is getting long in the tooth, having celebrated his 37th birthday back in September. Still, he’s compiled an ERA+ of 120 or better in five consecutive seasons. Last year, he posted his highest strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.10) in a full-length season since 2019. Jansen also now ranks fourth all-time in saves, and while I don’t think his pursuit of Lee Smith (who he’s 31 away from tying) will prove to be a ticket-office draw or anything, it’s worth mentioning here all the same.
Why is he still available? Jansen’s trademark cutter did fare worse than usual last season, allowing the loudest average contact of his career. That, plus his advanced age, might give teams pause before they hand over the reins to a high-leverage role. And that’s without considering the financial aspect. This is pure conjecture, but it’s probably fair to think that, even at this stage of his career, one of the best closers of all time would expect a better payday than some other random veteran reliever.
Where might he land? The Cubs and Mets were both publicly connected to Jansen before making other additions. Chicago has since landed Ryan Pressly and Ryan Brasier in trades; the Mets signed Ryne Stanek. Presumably, some other team will avoid the temptation to obtain a Ryan/Ryne and ink Jansen instead, but the identity of that team will remain a mystery at this point in time.
What does he offer? Heaney is highly unlikely to ever have another season as good as the one he authored with the Dodgers in 2022. Still, he’s a perfectly fine No. 4 starter who managed a 98 ERA+ and a 3.07 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the two years since.
There are plenty of teams that could do worse than slotting him in for 25 to 30 starts.
Why is he still on the market? This could be attributed to a few factors. Heaney is on the older side (turning 34 in June) and doesn’t have a high ceiling, which makes him more of a fallback option for teams looking to elevate their potential. His high fly-ball percentage of 44% also makes him a situational fit, especially for teams playing in homer-friendly ballparks who might be hesitant to give him a regular spot in the rotation.
Where might he end up? While the Tigers and Rangers have been linked to Heaney in offseason rumors, the recent signing of Jack Flaherty by Detroit likely takes them out of the running. It’s pure speculation, but other teams like the A’s, Twins, or Padres could step up and add Heaney to their rotation in the coming weeks.
What does he bring to the table? Quintana is a pitcher who prioritizes results over style. Despite averaging just over seven strikeouts per nine innings, he has managed to maintain a solid 118 ERA+ over the last three seasons. Quintana has shown durability, making 30-plus starts in two of the past three years, which is a valuable trait in today’s game.
Why is he still available? Quintana may not be the most exciting option for modern front offices, as his low strikeout rate can be a cause for concern. While he may not have a high ceiling, his track record suggests he can be a reliable innings eater. Some teams may view him as a trade asset if he can maintain his effectiveness.
Where could he land? It’s unclear where Quintana might end up, as his name hasn’t been prominent in offseason rumors. However, a team without playoff aspirations could see him as a valuable innings sponge who could potentially be flipped for assets at the trade deadline if he performs well. sentence, please.