With the World Series officially over, teams throughout the MLB will be searching for new additions to bolster their squads. Teams that came up just short of the championship will be hoping to jump up to title favorites, and borderline playoff teams will be attempting to take a step into contention. Both big name players and smaller, underrated additions will prove crucial to any team’s success.
We are two Cresskill High School Baseball players who are big MLB fans. Here are our predictions for where we think some of the top free agent options will land:
Player: Juan Soto
Position: Right Field
Current Team: New York Yankees
Jack’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
The Mets are a perfect landing spot for Juan Soto. After having an amazing season last year and coming in 3rd place for the American League MVP, Soto will be the most sought after player on the free agent market. The Mets will be looking for a new outfielder, and as we have seen in the past, Steve Cohen, the Mets owner, is the most capable owner in the league at paying Soto upwards of $600 million.
Dean’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
I think the New York Mets are a good spot for Juan Soto because, since Juan Soto has recently just spent his time in New York with the Yankees, I don’t think it will be such a crazy difference. The Mets are in the search for an outfielder and I believe that the owner, Steve Cohen, will be willing to spend as much money as Soto would want.
Player: Corbin Burnes
Position: Starting Pitcher
Current Team: Baltimore Orioles
Jack’s Prediction: San Francisco Giants
Reasoning:
The San Francisco Giants are coming off of a season in which they had a team ERA of 4.10, which was below league average. Corbin Burnes finished the season with a 2.92 ERA, which was 7th in the MLB. Burnes, a California native, may be looking to move closer to the city in which he grew up in.
Dean’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
I believe that the New York Mets will be a great spot for Corbin Burnes not only because of the money that owner, Steve Cohen is willing to spend on anyone i just believe that the Mets would need this and Corbin would be a good fit for the Mets organization
Player: Pete Alonso
Position: First Baseman
Current Team: New York Mets
Jack’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
Pete Alonso has spent the first 6 years of his career with the team that drafted him, the New York Mets. In this time, he has accumulated 226 home runs, the 3rd most in Mets history. I think it is highly unlikely that he signs with another team, considering the postseason heroics he put on display this year. With the season on the line in an elimination game, he hit a 3-run go ahead home run in the 9th inning to keep the Mets season alive. Overall, Alonso is special to the Mets organization, making it a good chance that he remains in New York.
Dean’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
Pete Alonso has been the Mets most important player since 2019. Alonso Has brought much cheer and energy for the team: with home runs and energy, he has brought the team many good things throughout the years. I believe if the Mets resign Alonso,they will have an even more successful season than last year.
Player: Alex Bregman
Position: Third Baseman
Current Team: Houston Astros
Jack’s Prediction: Seattle Mariners
Reasoning:
The Seattle Mariners capped off a disappointing 2024 campaign by missing the playoffs entirely. Although they have perhaps the best pitching staff in the league, their offense severely underperformed throughout the second half of the season. Alex Bregman is a very good offensive 3rd baseman, and he could help solve their issues offensively while also providing the team with his valuable playoff experience.
Dean’s Prediction: Houston Astros
Reasoning:
I think Alex Brehman will be staying with the Houston Astros: not only because of his incredible performance he has given the crowd of Houston, but also because of his fan favoritism he has brought to the organization.
Player: Anthony Santander
Position: Right Field
Current Team: Baltimore Orioles
Jack’s Prediction: Baltimore Orioles
Reasoning:
Anthony Santander is coming off of another season in which he was criminally underrated. This past season, he smashed 44 home runs, the 3rd best in the league. For the past 7 years with the Orioles organization, Santander has hit 155 total home runs. A beloved piece to a young Orioles team, it is likely Santander will remain with the Orioles in hopes that he can win a World Series within the next few years.
Dean’s Prediction: Baltimore Orioles
Reasoning:
I think the Baltimore Orioles will re-sign Anthony Santander because of his incredible but underrated performance as a hitter, he ended the regular season with a .235 batting average while also blasting 44 home runs. I think the Orioles will re-sign him after going deep this season in the playoffs and that Santander can lead them to a World Series.
Player: Blake Snell
Position: Starting Pitcher
Current Team: San Francisco Giants
Jack’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
The New York Mets currently have 3 of their starting pitchers that may be lost to free agency. It is highly unlikely they will be able to retain all of them, and Snell can provide the Mets with the extra step they need to become a title favorite. As mentioned previously, Steve Cohen is very capable of paying big names with large sums of money. With the Mets highest paid players, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander (both traded) no longer paid by the Mets, Cohen will be especially capable of paying large contracts.
Dean’s Prediction: New York Yankees
Reasoning:
I think the Yankees will grab Blake Snell off the list due to their bad pitching performance this season. as they couldn’t handle the bad pitching this season. With their bust of picking up Carlos Rodon last season, they need another lefty in the rotation with Rodon to dominate.
Player: Jurickson Profar
Position: Left Field
Current Team: San Diego Padres
Jack’s Prediction: San Diego Padres
Reasoning:
After playing with the Padres at the beginning of his career, the former number 1 overall prospect has returned to his former team and had a breakout season last year. After finally putting the talent and potential he has together, he was one of the most valuable pieces to a successful Padres team this year. His history with this organization makes it very likely that he remains in San Diego next season.
Dean’s Prediction: San Diego Padres
Reasoning:
After being with the Padres this year and having a breakout season dominating both in the outfield and with the bat in his hand, I think if Jurickson Profar stays a San Diego Padre, he will dominate another season and could have a chance to lead the Padres deeper into the playoffs.
Player: Tanner Scott
Position: Closing Pitcher
Current Team: San Diego Padres
Jack’s Prediction: New York Yankees
Reasoning:
The New York Yankees are likely to lose one of their top relievers of this past season, Clay Holmes. If this is the case, Tanner Scott would be a great option for their team. Scott, a 1st time All-Star, is coming off of the best season of his career. He posted a career-low 1.75 ERA along with 22 saves this past season.
Dean’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
Due to the New York Metropolitans horrible game blowing bullpen and Steve Cohen’s large bank account, having Tanner Scott in the bullpen will provide a key piece for the team if they really want to have a better season than last season.
Player: Christian Walker
Position: First Baseman
Current Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
Jack’s Prediction: New York Yankees
Reasoning:
The New York Yankees are officially parting ways with their aging first baseman, Anthony Rizzo. With Rizzo no longer being on the payroll, one of the highest salaries of the team is no longer being paid. This provides space for Christian Walker, one of the best all around first baseman in the league. He is by far the best defensive first baseman in the league, and has great offensive productivity to go along with it. His defense will be valuable to a weak Yankees defense that showed in the World Series.
Dean’s Prediction: New York Yankees
Reasoning:
I think the Yankees will secure Christian Walker as their new starting first baseman because of the injury of Anthony Rizzo last season where he only was able to come back for late playoffs. I think that Christian Walker would be a good fit for the Yankees future season.
Player: Nathan Eovaldi
Position: Starting Pitcher
Current Team: Texas Rangers
Jack’s Prediction: Boston Red Sox
Reasoning:
Nathan Eovaldi won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox 7 seasons ago in 2018. Now, he is a free agent again and may be looking to go back to the team in which he made a name for himself. The Boston Red Sox had a below average pitching staff last season, which could be heavily assisted by Eovaldi’s presence.
Dean’s Prediction: Baltimore Orioles
Reasoning:
I think the Baltimore Orioles will be able to get Natthan Eovaldi as an addition to their starting pitching rotation. As bad as this team wants a World Series, I think that if they are able to get Nathan they will be able to dominate in the playoffs.
Player: Max Fried
Position: Starting Pitcher
Current Team: Atlanta Braves
Jack’s Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays
Reasoning:
The Toronto Blue Jays were the most disappointing team in the MLB last season. After a strong season and playoff appearance in 2023, the Blue Jays finished last in their division in 2024. In order to stay in the playoff race while in the AL East, one of the most competitive divisions in the entire MLB, they will need pitching help. Last season, they finished with a team ERA that was 22nd in the league, which would improve heavily with Fried on their team.
Dean’s Prediction: Atlanta Braves
Reasoning:
I think that the starting pitcher Max Fried will be coming back to Atlanta for another season because of the fans consistently showing love to his starts as the stadium is usually full whenever he pitches as fans stock in to see him dominate. Therefore, I think he will be staying with the Braves Organization.
Player: Willy Adames
Position: Shortstop
Current Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Jack’s Prediction: San Francisco Giants
Reasoning:
The San Francisco Giants are in desperate need for a middle infielder. While Adames is a primary shortstop and has only played second 10 times in his career, he has expressed his willingness to potentially move positions. The Giants middle infield offense is relatively weak, with Tyler Fitzgerald and Brett Wisely. Adames would provide the Giants with significant offensive production along with spectacular defense.
Dean’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
I think that, if the Mets are unable to, for whatever reason, not get Pete Alonso, Willy could be a good fit for the team, as he would be the 3rd baseman for the New York Mets moving Mark Vientos to 1st base.
Player: Teoscar Hernandez
Position: Left Field
Current Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Jack’s Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays
Reasoning:
Although Teoscar Hernandez began his career with the Houston Astros, his career only began to take off when he was a Blue Jay. During his time there, he put up well above average numbers over the span of 5 years, earned one All-Star selection, a Silver Slugger award, and finished in the top 20 of MVP voting 2 times. Overall, Teoscar Hernandez could provide a big bat to an offense that failed to meet expectations last season.
Dean’s Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers
Reasoning:
I think the LA Dodgers will come in again and get Teoscar Hernandez for another season, or even more, because of the money that LA consistently puts out on the table for these players and the superteam they have built so far. Personally, I don’t know who wouldn’t say yes to an easy World Series win once again.
Player: Sean Manaea
Position: Starting Pitcher
Current Team: New York Mets
Jack’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
Sean Manaea is coming off of the best season of his career with the New York Mets. Due to a mechanical adjustment with his delivery in which he significantly lowered his arm slot, he was able to reduce his ERA from 4.44 in 2023 to 3.47 in 2024. After a deep postseason run to the NLCS with the Mets that saw him play a critical role in their starting rotation, it is highly likely that he will be looking to stay in New York and build off of this season’s successes.
Dean’s Prediction: New York Mets
Reasoning:
I believe after the changes in Sean Manaea’s pitching mechanics and his incredible underrated breakout season, which led the Mets to a NLCS run, that the Mets organization would be stupid to not sign him putting him back in the rotation.
Player: Jack Flaherty
Position: Starting Pitcher
Current Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Jack’s Prediction: Texas Rangers
Reasoning:
After winning a World Series in 2023, the Rangers fell far short of their expectations this past year. Part of the reason for this was their lack of pitching. Their team ERA ranked 24th in the league. Although part of the reason for this was Jacob DeGrom’s constant injury, they are likely to lose starters Max Scherzer and Nathan Eovaldi this offseason to free agency. Therefore, it is likely that they are willing to spend money on a top arm such as Jack Flaherty to chase another title while they still have Corey Seager and Marcus Semien on their team, both top 5 in their respective positions.
Dean’s Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers
Reasoning:
I think that the LA Dodgers will simply pull off signing another stud of a pitcher – he led the team to a terrific run even though he was injured, and so I believe the Dodgers will pay him whatever he would like and move on with the season.
Conclusion
Many different free agents will make decisions this offseason based on chasing money, a World Series Championship, or simply to stay with their former teams in which they found a home. As MLB fans at CHS hold their breaths, all that’s left now is to wait and see in which city the top players of the game will choose to play next season.
