Insider Ranks Top 5 Free Agents This Offseason

The offseason is only 10 days away for a majority of teams around the major leagues, and with that, free agency is getting ever closer. 

Baseball insider Jon Heyman has come up with a ranking of the top free agents this winter (including those likely to opt out of their contract to become FAs), based on total expected contract value.

1. Juan Soto

This was a slam dunk at the top of this list. Soto is expected to haul in a contract in value north of $550 million, perhaps even to top the $600 million mark. And while teams like the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and LA Dodgers can "never be ruled out," not to mention the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants, one rival GM told Heyman that the New York Yankees "didn’t trade for Soto thinking he’d only be there for a year."

2. Corbin Burnes

The top pitcher on the list is a former Cy Young winner (2020) and would be an ace and No. 1 starter in almost any rotation in the league. The Baltimore Orioles have gotten great value out of the four-time All-Star in trading for him last winter, but it remains to be seen if they're ready to pony up the huge contract it would take to re-sign him, certainly north of $200 million.

3. Willy Adames

We would disagree with Adames coming in above Pete Alonso on this list, but he might very well break the bank because this offseason, for the first time in years, there are no other star shortstops for sale in free agency, and the Milwaukee Brewers slugger will own the SS market. One recent report suggested he'll haul in at least $150 million, but Heyman thinks he could crack the $200 million mark. 

4. Pete Alonso

It's a bit of a "down" year for Polar Bear, but he still has 33 homers and an OPS+ of a more-than-solid 127. The Mets offered him a $158 million contract last offseason, but that seems low. Heyman says one rival team suggests he can land a $185 million deal, but we wouldn't be surprised if it goes higher, given the elite power that Alonso brings, as he has hit the 3rd most HR in baseball over the last five years. 

5. Max Fried

The Atlanta Braves' long-time top-of-the-rotation starter should land a huge deal, as he boasts the lowest ERA among qualified starters since 2021, at 2.89. 

Honorable mentions on Heyman's list are as follows:

6. Alex Bregman

7. Blake Snell

8. Anthony Santander

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