Top 3 First Basemen in Free Agency This Winter

We continue our early previews of the top free agents that will be up for bidding this offseason. We looked at the high-end group atop the outfield free agent list yesterday, now we take a look at the top 3 first basemen, another hefty and expensive list.

1. Pete Alonso

We've been hearing about this all season. It was even at the point early in 2024 when rumors were being strongly floated that the Mets, not expected to be playoff contenders, would be looking to trade Alonso. That calculus has changed, of course, as the Mets are sitting in a Wild Card spot heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

If recent big-name free agent first baseman contracts are barometers, then Alonso, one of the top sluggers in baseball over the past five years, could be looking at a deal in the $160 million range (Freddie Freeman signed for $162 million with LA, while Matt Olson scored $168 million from Atlanta).

Alonso (again, going into the final weekend) is tied for 3rd in the majors in most homers hit in the last five seasons (behind only some guys named Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani).

2. Christian Walker

Walker has been one of the most under-the-radar slugging stars in the big leagues the past three years, as he's putting up his 3rd straight season with an OPS in the .800s and an OPS+ in the 120s. The only reason he won't crack the 30-HR mark for the 3rd year in a row was an injury that cost him 30 games. He still has 26 dingers and 84 RBIs going into the final weekend.

His age (34) could limit the term he could receive on a free agent deal, but he should be paid handsomely nevertheless for his consistency.

3. Paul Goldschmidt

He's even more aged than Walker, as Goldy just turned 37. The 2022 MVP has suffered a significant drop-off across the board in his numbers this season with just 22 homers, 62 RBIs and an OPS+ below league average (95), so it'll be interesting to see what he'll manage to reel in on the open market. This will, surprisingly, be his first foray into free agency.

Honorable mentions: Josh Bell, Carlos Santana, Justin Turner.