{“title”:”MLB Free Agency Still Sizzles”,”body”:”At a Glance
– Kyle Tucker inked the winter’s biggest deal so far: four years, $240 million with the Dodgers on Jan. 15.
– Thirteen players received qualifying offers; four accepted, including Shota Imanaga and Gleyber Torres.
– More than 20 headline names have already switched teams, with top talents like Luis Arráez and Bo Bichette still unsigned.
Why it matters: Fans tracking hot-stove moves can see which contenders upgraded and which stars remain in limbo.
Unlike the NBA or NFL, Major League Baseball’s open market moves at a deliberate pace. Front offices canvass the winter calendar, and 2025 has followed the familiar slow burn. While some stars found homes quickly, a deep pool of difference-makers is still available.
## Qualifying-offer scorecard
Thirteen free agents were tagged with a one-year, $21 million qualifying offer. Four took it:
– Trent Grisham, Yankees OF
– Shota Imanaga, Cubs SP
– Gleyber Torres, Tigers 2B
– Brandon Woodruff, Brewers SP
Several others re-signed before the market opened:
– Ha-Seong Kim, Braves SS
– Michael King, Padres SP
– Josh Naylor, Mariners 1B
– Emilio Pagán, Reds RP
– Kyle Schwarber, Phillies DH
## Biggest contracts so far
Kyle Tucker set the pace, reportedly agreeing to a $240 million contract over four seasons with the Dodgers. The deal became official Jan. 15, giving Los Angeles a middle-of-the-order force who posted 29 homers, 98 RBI and 13 steals last year.
## Notable players on new teams
– Pete Alonso, 1B → Orioles
– Alex Bregman, 3B → Cubs
– Dylan Cease, SP → Blue Jays
– Edwin Díaz, RP → Dodgers
– Adolis García, OF → Phillies
– Ryan Helsley, RP → Orioles
– Kenley Jansen, RP → Tigers \- Merrill Kelly, SP → Diamondbacks
– Ranger Suárez, SP → Red Sox
– Devin Williams, RP → Mets
– Mike Yastrzemski, OF → Braves
Three Japanese league stars also finalized moves after being posted:
– Tatsuya Imai, RHP → Astros
– Munetaka Murakami, 1B → White Sox
– Kazuma Okamoto, 3B → Blue Jays
Kona Takahashi, RHP, opted to return to NPB.
## Best players still available
### Luis Arráez, 1B
– Age: 28
– 2025 stats: .292/.327/.392, 8 HR, 61 RBI
– Led MLB with 181 hits (tied) and the lowest strikeout rate (3.1%)
### Bo Bichette, SS
– Age: 27
– 2025 stats: .311/.357/.483, 18 HR, 94 RBI
– Finished second in batting average and second in doubles (44)
– Declined qualifying offer from Toronto
### Zac Gallen, RHP
– Age: 30
– 2025 stats: 4.83 ERA, 175 K, 33 starts
– Had not posted an ERA above 3.65 since 2021
### Framber Valdez, LHP
– Age: 32
– 2025 stats: 3.66 ERA, 187 K, 192 IP, 31 starts
– 20 quality starts (tied for 7th in MLB)
### Cody Bellinger, OF
– Age: 30
– 2025 stats: .272/.334/.480, 29 HR, 98 RBI
– Declined $25 million player option
### Chris Bassitt, RHP
– Age: 36
– 2025 stats: 3.96 ERA, 166 K, 170.1 IP
– At least 30 starts for the fourth straight year
### Lucas Giolito, RHP
– Age: 31
– 2025 stats: 3.41 ERA, 121 K, 145 IP
– Best ERA since 2019 after missing 2024 following UCL surgery
### Harrison Bader, OF
– Age: 31
– 2025 stats: .277/.347/.449, 17 HR, 54 RBI
– Career highs in hits, doubles, homers and OPS
### Rhys Hoskins, 1B
– Age: 32
– 2025 stats: .237/.332/.416, 12 HR, 43 RBI in 90 games
– Missed time with a thumb injury
### Nick Martinez, RHP
– Age: 35
– 2025 stats: 4.45 ERA, 116 K, 165.2 IP
– Split time between rotation (26 starts) and bullpen (14 relief outings)
### Marcell Ozuna, DH
– Age: 35
– 2025 stats: .232/.355/.400, 21 HR, 68 RBI
– OPS dropped to .756 after back-to-back .900-plus seasons
### J.T. Realmuto, C
– Age: 34
– 2025 stats: .257/.315/.384, 12 HR, 52 RBI
– First season under .750 OPS in a decade
### Max Scherzer, RHP
– Age: 41
– 2025 stats: 5.19 ERA, 82 K, 86 IP in 17 starts
– Career-worst ERA; limited by thumb injury
### Eugenio Suárez, 3B
– Age: 34
– 2025 stats: Combined .897 OPS, 36 HR with Arizona; .682 OPS, 13 HR after trade to Seattle
– Made first All-Star team since 2018
### Justin Verlander, RHP
– Age: 42
– 2025 stats: 3.85 ERA, 137 K, 152 IP in 29 starts
– Third career Cy Young already on résumé
## Key takeaways
– Hot stove season remains active; more than 20 impact players are off the board, yet elite names linger.
– Pitching depth stands out among unsigned stars, with Valdez, Gallen, Bassitt, Giolito, Scherzer and Verlander all seeking deals.
– Hitting options feature high-average bats (Arráez, Bichette) and power potential (Bellinger, Ozuna).
– Teams eyeing upgrades still have chances to land proven difference-makers before spring training.”,”meta_description”:”Kyle Tucker’s $240M Dodgers deal tops a slow-burn MLB winter. See who signed, who accepted qualifying offers and which stars-Bichette, Valdez, Bellinger-are still free agents.”,”categories”:[“Breaking News”,”Business News”]}
