Spring training is around the corner, and the free agent market has been stripped of its universal impact. What’s left — with very few exceptions — are players who would barely move the needle on one roster but fill a specific need on another. So, let’s find those guys some uniforms and get on with it. Here’s one remaining free agent for every major league team.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Kenley Jansen, RHP
A few days ago, we might have paired the D-Backs with a right-handed bat, but they just filled that need by re-signing Randal Grichuk. So, what’s left is to solidify the back end of their bullpen. Putting Jansen in the ninth would leave Justin Martinez to serve as a high-octane setup man. And playing for a good team would give Jansen a chance to get the 31 saves he needs to tie Lee Smith for the third-most saves in history.
Athletics
Nick Pivetta, RHP
The A’s have already signed one free agent attached to the qualifying offer. So, what’s one more? Add Pivetta to Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs, and the A’s would have a completely new top of the rotation while leaving room for young arms JP Sears, Joey Estes and Mitch Spence to round out the group. With a young and exciting lineup, and a couple of legitimate late-inning relievers — Mason Miller and Jose Leclerc — another proven starter could really raise the floor in Sacramento.
Atlanta Braves
Kyle Gibson, RHP
Stability. That’s all we’re looking for here. The Braves have done very little this offseason — Jurickson Profar and not much else — and are counting on the return of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. to meaningfully raise their ceiling. Fair enough. Strider, Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez are the impact starters at the top of the rotation, but another veteran starter would help solidify the group and protect against further injury.
Baltimore Orioles
John Means, RHP
The Orioles just filled their last glaring need by signing Ramon Laureano to provide some right-handed balance in the outfield. The market doesn’t offer meaningful upgrades to their rotation, and their bullpen is more or less full, but a reunion with Means — who underwent Tommy John surgery last summer — would bring back a former All-Star and begin building depth for next season.
Boston Red Sox
David Robertson, RHP
Entering his 17th season, David Robertson just keeps delivering strong performances. (Kiyoshi Mio / Imagn Images)
Massive impact would come from signing Alex Bregman, but short of that, the Red Sox could use another dependable arm in their bullpen, and Robertson, who pitched like his old self as a 39-year-old last season. He would give the team another experienced reliever who could even be an option in an uncertain ninth inning.
Chicago Cubs
Jalen Beeks, LHP
Recent trades for Ryan Pressly and Ryan Brasier have given the Cubs some much-needed help in the late innings, and a late deal with Beeks would give them another experienced reliever who’s been everything from a long man to a closer. Beeks would also give the Cubs some left-handed balance in their pen. Caleb Thielbar is their only lefty at the moment.
Chicago White Sox
Brendan Rodgers, 2B
Throw a dart at a list of free agents, and you’ll probably hit a name that could help the White Sox. They could really use a veteran pitcher, but how many veterans really want to be a part of such a rebuild? For Rodgers, though, the White Sox could provide an opportunity to play every day and build back some value after a couple of down seasons in Colorado.
Cincinnati Reds
Phil Maton, RHP
The Reds have plenty of role players and a full five-man rotation (though an additional starter wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world). What they don’t have is a single reliever who FanGraphs projects to have an ERA below 4.15. It’s not necessarily a bad bullpen, but it lacks a standout aside from Alexis Díaz (who’s not even the best reliever in his own family). So, let’s add another solid arm into the mix and let Terry Francona sort it out in spring training.
Cleveland Guardians
Kiké Hernández, CF/2B
Defensively, center field is the Guardians’ most glaring need. In terms of experience, they’re thinnest at second base. And their everyday lineup includes only one strictly right-handed hitter. Well, Hernández would address all of that. He would be their best defensive option in center, their most experienced option at second, and another right-handed bat on a roster loaded with lefties and switch hitters. Maybe Lane Thomas would still play center field against righties, but Hernández could play there against lefties and in the late innings. Maybe Juan Brito is ready to play second, but Hernández would free him to also help out at other positions.
Colorado Rockies
James McCann, C
You might think it would make sense to give the Rockies a veteran starter. But their starting pitchers already are veterans! Or maybe give them an experienced reliever. But who would want that job? So, let’s give the Rockies the most boring addition possible: a new backup catcher. Playing McCann behind Jacob Stallings would free Hunter Goodman to continue playing all over the field (first base, catcher, outfield corners) to see if his immense power will play at the big league level (he had a .228 on-base percentage but slugged .417 in a half season last year).
Detroit Tigers
Justin Turner, 1B
You know what would be really fun? Putting Alex Bregman in Detroit. But in this market, Turner is the next best thing. The Tigers definitely need another right-handed hitter — Gleyber Torres and Matt Vierling are their only everyday righties — and Turner could play first base and DH while letting manager A.J. Hinch mix and match with lefty hitters Kerry Carpenter, Colt Keith and Jace Jung. Turner would also give the Tigers a massive clubhouse presence as they try to build on last season’s breakout.
Houston Astros
Alex Verdugo, LF
We sent Bregman elsewhere, which means this version of the major league multi-verse won’t have the Astros filling their left field void by shifting Jose Altuve from second base. So, let’s give them a real left fielder. Bonus points for the fact Verdugo hits left-handed (the Astros’ only everyday lefty is Yordan Alvarez). FanGraphs is still projecting Verdugo to have a 1.1 WAR season, which is better than Ben Gamel and Taylor Trammell — the two left-handed outfielders currently jockeying for Astros’ playing time — have produced in the past four seasons combined. Verdugo hasn’t been especially good in a few years, but he’s the best of what’s left.
Kansas City Royals
Brandon Drury, 3B/2B
Brandon Drury had an ugly season, but before that he was a standout contributor for three years. (Stephen Brashear / USA Today)
According to FanGraphs WAR, there was not a player in baseball less valuable than Drury last season. He was a full 2.1 wins below replacement. So why would the Royals want him? Because they actually have enough infielders — if this signing goes belly up, they’re covered at second and third — but Drury had a 118 OPS+ from 2021 to 2023, and he generated that offense while playing first, second, third, left and right. Basically, Drury would be a chance for the Royals to maybe find some cheap offense. Their projected Opening Day roster on FanGraphs includes seven hitters projected to have a sub-100 wRC+. That includes their entire bench and their starting third baseman, Maikel Garcia, who’s a great defender but had a 69 wRC+ last season. If Drury can bounce back to be just league average at the plate, he could help the Royals at multiple positions.
Los Angeles Angels
Craig Kimbrel, RHP
The Angels are in wing-and-a-prayer territory, anyway. They need a ton of things to go right, and those things range from Mike Trout’s health to Kyle Hendricks’ sinker. Scott Kingery and Jo Adell are involved. Yoán Moncada just joined them. There’s a Rule 5 pick in there, too. It’s a lot. So, why not add one more wild card? Kimbrel was an All-Star in 2023 and he saved 23 games last season, but he also pitched so poorly that the Orioles released him in September. How many teams are in a position to give Kimbrel even a chance to close again? The Angels are! If Kimbrel stinks and Ben Joyce wins the job, so be it, but the Angels bullpen is crawling with 20-somethings, and adding a veteran to the mix wouldn’t be the worst idea.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw, LHP
What do you get the team that has everything? How about a Hall of Famer? And, in this case, it’s a Hall of Famer who is almost certainly going to re-sign with them eventually, anyway. Kershaw to the Dodgers is basically the free square in free agency bingo, but we’ll gladly take the gimme.
Miami Marlins
Cal Quantrill, RHP
The Marlins would be a reasonable landing spot for all sorts of free agency leftovers. Michael A. Taylor would give them a legitimate defender in center. South Florida native Anthony Rizzo would be a veteran presence and a left-handed option at first base. Pretty much any free-agent reliever would become the most experienced guy in their bullpen. But Quantrill feels like an upside play for their rotation. He’s only two years removed from a couple of encouraging seasons in Cleveland. Best-case scenario: Quantrill rounds out the Marlins rotation in April before becoming a trade chip in July.
Milwaukee Brewers
Paul DeJong, SS
This is the only remotely viable shortstop left on the free agent market (the next-best was Nick Ahmed, but he just signed a minor league deal with the Rangers). Signing DeJong would let the Brewers keep Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz at second and third, where they’re excellent defenders. DeJong would also give the Brewers another right-handed bat (their regular lineup already has four lefties).
Minnesota Twins
Luis Urías, 3B/SS
The Twins want to add infield depth, especially shortstop depth, and this just isn’t the free-agent market for teams that need a shortstop. There’s really only one free-agent shortstop left, and this hypothetical exercise has him landing in Milwaukee. The fact Urías, who hasn’t played a big league game at short, is even on the radar for such a role speaks to just how few options are out there (Ahmed recently signed a minor league deal with the Rangers). For teams in the market for a viable shortstop, it’s pretty much DeJong-or-bust.
New York Mets
Brooks Raley, LHP
Our first draft suggested the Mets re-sign Pete Alonso. Then they actually did! So, we went back to the drawing board and found a Mets roster that has basically everything covered. The Mets have seven experienced starting pitchers, at least six guys who could get time at second base, and a pretty solid bullpen. So, we’ll suggest bringing back Raley, who pitched well for the Mets the past two seasons before Tommy John surgery last summer. He won’t be available until the second half, at which point the Mets might be happy to have the extra lefty.
New York Yankees
Colin Poche, LHP
The Yankees have done most of their heavy lifting, and short of Bregman, there’s no free-agent infielder who meaningfully improves them at second base or third. But they could use a second left-handed reliever to pair with Tim Hill, and Poche is a proven commodity in the AL East.
Philadelphia Phillies
Héctor Neris, RHP
With every team, there’s a desire to come up with an interesting addition that fits one specific need, but the Phillies basically addressed the most glaring needs in December when they traded for Jésus Luzardo, signed Max Kepler and signed Jordan Romano. The free-agent market really doesn’t offer any other ideal fits. Neris at least would give them one more veteran arm, and a familiar arm at that. He would fit about as well as anyone. Basically, just give the Phillies one of the last relievers standing, hope all their big bats stay healthy, and call up Andrew Painter in June.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Lance Lynn, RHP
At 37, Lynn has considered transitioning to a bullpen role, and that’s where he might best fit the Pirates. The team could go the usual route and sign one of the remaining free-agent relievers — Andrew Chafin? Dylan Floro? Scott Barlow? — but Lynn feels like an upside play. If he thrives in a one-inning role, Lynn would give the Pirates a veteran arm to pair with David Bednar. And, frankly, with Johan Oviedo returning to the rotation from Tommy John surgery, Lynn could end up being a welcome fallback option should the Pirates need a starter instead.
San Francisco Giants
Mark Canha, DH/RF
This is probably out of the Giants’ price range, but the team did trade for Canha at last year’s deadline, and he delivered a .376 on-base percentage in the final two months. Canha doesn’t have the power typical of a DH, but his on-base skills are valuable, and the Giants don’t really have a better option at DH. Canha can also play first base and right field, two spots where the Giants have left-handed hitters and could use the right-handed option. Alternatively, the Giants could add a depth starter or bring in another relief pitcher, but it’s hard to imagine them doing anything to wow you at this point.
San Diego Padres
Jose Quintana, LHP
The first thought was to add J.D. Martinez or Rizzo to an already aging lineup and see what happens (the Padres don’t really have a DH as long as Luis Arraez is playing first base). Maybe the Padres could do that, but if they’re going to keep exploring trades for either Dylan Cease or Michael King, they’re going to need someone else to fill the innings. Frankly, the Padres could probably use the pitching depth anyway, and Quintana, 36, is coming off another solid season.
Seattle Mariners
Jose Iglesias, 2B
The Mariners are all about being reliably decent, so here’s a veteran second baseman who tends to hit OK while playing solid defense. He would add stability to a questionable Mariners infield and improve the bench by freeing Dylan Moore to serve as a super-utility man. Otherwise, maybe David Peralta as a left-handed bat off the bench?
St. Louis Cardinals
Jose Urquidy, RHP
The Cardinals seem content to just kind of exist this offseason. Maybe they’ll trade Nolan Arenado and open the door to another right-handed bat or add a guy like Andrew Heaney for a bit of rotation depth, but if the Cardinals are going to keep their focus on the future, we’ll do the same and take a look at a two-year deal with a guy recovering from Tommy John surgery. Urquidy probably won’t help much this season, but he could give the Cardinals a leg up in their search for 2026 rotation depth (Steven Matz, Miles Mikolas and Erick Fedde are free agents after this season).
Tampa Bay Rays
Kevin Pillar, CF
The Rays could use another right-handed bat and a backup in center field. Pillar, 36, had an .852 OPS against lefties last season, and while he’s no longer among the elite center fielders in baseball, both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average had him as a positive defender in center last season. He would provide a veteran presence alongside starting center fielder Jonny DeLuca.
Texas Rangers
Kendall Graveman, RHP
The Rangers seem to be collecting relievers who aren’t quite closers but are certainly comfortable pitching the late innings. Chris Martin, Robert Garcia, Jesse Chavez, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb and Shawn Armstrong have all been added to the bullpen this offseason, so we’ll add one more to the mix. Graveman was a pretty good late-innings arm before shoulder surgery cost him all of 2024. He seems like a worthwhile addition to this hodgepodge bullpen the Rangers are putting together.
Toronto Blue Jays
Alex Bregman, 3B
This is the splash the Blue Jays have been trying to make for a couple of years. Bregman is a better fit — both short-term and long-term — than Alonso would have been, and he would give the Blue Jays one of the best infields in all of baseball alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Andrés Giménez. Bregman is basically the biggest move any team could make, and the Blue Jays are as motivated as anyone to make it.
Washington Nationals
Kyle Finnegan, RHP
The Nationals are in a tough spot in a loaded NL East, but they went out of their way to add a couple of meaningful bats (Josh Bell, Nathaniel Lowe), they took an interesting gamble on Mike Soroka, and they have a couple of young outfielders just waiting to establish themselves as big league stars. Why do all that and leave the ninth inning unprotected? Finnegan has his shortcomings, but the Nationals never really replaced him this offseason, and at this point, bringing him back would be their best way to improve the bullpen.
(Top photo of Jansen: Billie Weiss / Boston Red Sox / Getty Images)
Source: nytimes.com
