As the MLB playoffs heat up, front offices around the league are already thinking about the upcoming free agent market. While some players are solidifying their cases for massive paydays, others are struggling to make an impact. Here’s a breakdown of who’s helping – and hurting – their free agent stock during the postseason.
In a class of his own, Juan Soto is poised to become one of the highest-paid players in baseball history, with a projected contract worth over $500 million. His postseason performance will likely have little impact on his payday, as he’s already proven himself as a superstar.
Jack Flaherty and Pete Alonso are the next tier of free agents, both with the potential to land nine-figure deals. Flaherty’s bounce-back season has him tracking towards a contract similar to Kevin Gausman’s five-year, $110 million deal. Alonso, on the other hand, has some key factors working in his favor, including his marketability and ability to deliver in big spots. He could land between Paul Goldschmidt’s five-year, $130 million deal and Freddie Freeman’s six-year, $162 million contract.
Ha-Seong Kim, Teoscar Hernandez, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jeff Hoffman, Carlos Estevez, and Tanner Scott are all in line for big multiyear deals, with some potentially reaching the $100 million mark. Hernandez has answered questions about his defensive metrics and is set to clear $50 million, while Manaea and Severino are poised to land at least three-year deals. Hoffman, Estevez, and Scott are the top relievers on the market, all pitching crucial innings during the postseason.
Michael Wacha, Clay Holmes, and Jurickson Profar still have something to prove. Wacha is likely to opt out of his player option and land a multiyear deal, but his velocity increase this season could lead some teams to see upside. Holmes was awful down the stretch, but his previous form could earn him a three-year deal. Profar is a hard-to-read player, but his 4.3 WAR season could lead to multiyear offers.
Finally, players like Kyle Higashioka, Gleyber Torres, Jose Iglesias, Alex Verdugo, Harrison Bader, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Matthew Boyd, Tommy Kahnle, Blake Treinen, and Spencer Turnbull are looking at short-term options, with projected guaranteed money around $10 million. Torres is an intriguing case, with a big prospect status and uneven career, while Buehler’s finesse-based pitching could lead to a one-year get-right deal or a multiyear contract from a team with a plan for his arsenal.
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