The Major League Baseball off-season sets itself apart from all other North American men’s sports, adopting a markedly slow pace in comparison to the flurry of deals and trades seen in the NHL, NBA, and NFL. Key players in baseball typically hold out longer before deciding on their next steps, and this winter was no exception. The 8th of December marked the day when Juan Soto made his choice, opening doors in the free agent market. Even though the major names took their call following Soto’s decision, there still remain a significant number of top-tier talents yet to commit even a month after the news about Soto made headlines.
With a little over a month left before spring training commences, there is still some significant movement expected in the MLB off-season. Granted, the majority of hefty contracts have already been sorted out, however, there still remain some to be claimed. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics. During the start of November, three players within the top 10 and 10 players within the top 30 remained uncommitted, adding a layer of intrigue to the proceedings.
Among those yet to sign is Roki Sasaki. Sasaki, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher, is expected to make his MLB debut with the kind of excitement and anticipation that is often linked with Japanese pitchers of his caliber. His age allows him to fall under the MLB’s international signing rules. So, when the international signing period kicks off on the 15th of January, he will have just over a week until his posting concludes on the 23rd.
Also, in the running at the top of the market are two dominant corner infielders in the shape of Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman. These remaining top talents can have a considerable impact on the batting line-up of the team they ultimately choose. The 31-year-old Bregman and the recently turned 30-year-old Alonso may have had some dips and peaks in their walk-years, but their histories suggest they contain the potential to be game-changers.
When examining their career graphs, it’s noteworthy that neither Alonso nor Bregman managed to excel offensively in their respective walk-years. Indeed, there’s been a gradual decline in both their OPS over the past two seasons. However, despite this trend, their comprehensive careers still present a formidable picture. Alonso, in particular, has proven to be an intimidating force with his tally of 226 home runs during his initial six seasons in the big leagues.
In addition, outfielder Anthony Santander, starter Jack Flaherty, and infielder Ha-Seong Kim are on the lookout for suitable options. Nonetheless, it is crucial to note that not every team ventures into free agency at the top of the market. Factors such as policies against long-term deals, emphasis on rebuilding, or restrained spending capabilities always impose some constraints on who takes the bold steps.
In the free agency pool, the availability of players ranked between 25 and 50 still lingers, among which are a few established closers. Tanner Scott, Jeff Hoffman, Carlos Estevez, Kirby Yates, David Robertson, and Kenley Jansen, with an accumulated total of 868 saves between them, are yet to make their pick.
Last December, the New York Mets brought onboard veteran infielder Jose Iglesias on a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. On the other hand, there has also been considerable chatter around the Toronto Blue Jays’ off-season activities. Evidently, they’ve been linked to nearly every high-profile free agent in the market.
The Blue Jays, so far, have only made one significant move in this off-season, securing themselves a deal on December 10, with the Cleveland Guardians. This agreement ushered two new members into their fold, infielder Andres Gimenez and reliever Nick Sandlin. Gimenez, renowned for his supreme defensive skills, had also made headlines with his notable performance in the 2022 season, securing a sixth position in MVP voting.
The Toronto team concluded the previous season ranking 23rd in terms of runs scored and landing in the bottom five for least home runs made. Therefore, the question arises – who could help bridge this deficiency? Names like Bregman and Alonso resurface, along with switch-hitting outfielder Anthony Santander, who might just be the power hitter Toronto needs.
Recent murmurs hint at the possibility of a contract proposal on the table for Santander from the Blue Jays. A significant to-do for the Jays this off-season also includes locking down their star first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., for the long haul.
Guerrero has been in exceptional form since his 2021 season, especially during the second half of the last season. With his free-agency year looming, it seems only logical for the Jays to capitalize on his form and make him a long-term prospect.