This week’s MLB Power Rankings looks at the 15 best free agents in the 2023-2024 offseason and one team that could steal them away.
This winter’s class of free agents has dried up almost to completion. In this week’s MLB Power Rankings, we’ll jump ahead to next offseason when a whole new crop of players hit the open market.
While some of these players may receive extensions by then, there are plenty who will not. Included in this list are players with opt-outs and options. They’re ordered subjectively based on factors such as age, expected performance in 2023, and what teams looking to sign them could expect in 2024 and beyond.
Who are the best free agents in next winter’s class and which teams should try to steal them away? These are the questions this week’s MLB Power Rankings will try to answer.
First, a notable honorable mention to Tim Anderson who has a team option for the 2024 season. This list does include players on options and opt-outs, however, the Chicago White Sox are very likely to pick up his option so he doesn’t quite fit. Everyone else is a bigger mystery.
15) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Clayton Kershaw
It’s hard to ever know what Clayton Kershaw will be each year. There are a lot of miles on his arm. It definitely does feel like the 2023 season could be his last. He re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for another year at $20 million. He has made 22 starts in each of the last two years. He was very good last year. Any team taking a chance on him needs to be sure they have a chance at winning.
If Kershaw does decide to stick around and not return to the Dodgers, it’s the Seattle Mariners who should make a run at him. Their starting staff should have an opening by then. He could be the finishing touch they need even if it’s only for 22 starts.
14) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Josh Bell
Josh Bell’s deal with the Cleveland Guardians includes an opt out after the 2023 season. It’s hard to tell exactly what the future holds for him. A fantastic year with some nice power should have him running to opt out. A weak season might have him staying put.
An early fit for him would be the Chicago Cubs. Although they passed on him for the 2023 season, he could be a fit for them next winter. By then, they should be in a much better position to compete, too.
13) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Rhys Hoskins
Rhys Hoskins has had a nice run with the Philadelphia Phillies. The poor defense is one thing that has limited him most. He can draw walks with the best in the league and should remove a powerful hitter for the middle of a lineup. His ultimate destiny should place him as a club’s DH. The Phillies have enough of those guys. Who should steal Hoskins?
After buying out Joey Votto, the Cincinnati Reds should take the plunge and look to sign him. Hoskins could give their weak team a major power boost. He has a lot in common with Votto with the masterful OBP numbers. He’s not nearly as good as Votto was in his prime. Any chance to win would be a treat for Reds fans.
12) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Josh Hader
It’s debatable to have Josh Hader on this list. Regardless of the meatballs he regularly served up with the San Diego Padres last year, he is a coveted free agent that should have plenty of attention. The Padres may have other needs aside from him next offseason. If Hader becomes a free agent, who should sign him?
The Chicago Cubs could be ready to sign a big name closer by next offseason. Signing an ex-rival who caused them plenty of pain would be a nice move to ensure they improve the roster. It’s hard to know exactly what Hader will do. Any club willing to take a chance should eye him. The Cubs are already taking one with Cody Bellinger in 2023.
11) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Lucas Giolito
Don’t let the poor 2022 season have you thinking otherwise. Lucas Giolito was one of the American League’s best pitchers the three years prior. He’ll reach free agency after his age 28 campaign, putting him in the position to land a fat contract.
The San Diego Padres are the team that should go after him. They have a bunch of free agent starting pitchers of their own. It would be a natural transition for the Padres to replace one with a much younger arm. Expect Giolito’s price tag to increase if he does anything but stink up the joint for the Chicago White Sox this year.
10) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Marcus Stroman
The deal Marcus Stroman signed with the Chicago Cubs after the 2021 season has an opt out next winter. It’s hard to tell right now whether he’ll flex it or not. The contract is only one more season after 2023 at $21 million. One would think a multi-year deal will be on Stroman’s mind. Let’s say he does use it. Who should take him away?
Stroman’s willingness to go to the Cubs in a rebuild could make him a candidate to sign with the Baltimore Orioles. He’d join a team a little closer to winning after the 2023 season. One thing missing from their roster is a starting pitcher of Stroman’s caliber. First, we do need to see the Orioles go out and actually spend some significant money in free agency to believe they’d go in this direction.
9) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Matt Chapman
Matt Chapman has something to prove this season. He didn’t win a Gold Glove in 2022 with the Toronto Blue Jays. His offensive numbers, while slightly better than the year prior, weren’t quite what we know he can do. His elite glove and great power potential should still put him in line to receive a nice contract. There is one team that could make a lot of sense to swipe him away from the Blue Jays.
The New York Yankees will be able to move on from Josh Donaldson after the 2023 season. The third base vacancy can allow them to pivot toward Chapman. He’ll be the third best at the position available in free agency. Given how much the Yankees have already invested in other areas, coming up with the third-best is realistic.
8) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Ian Happ
Signing Ian Happ to an extension is something Chicago Cubs fans have been waiting to see the team do with Ian Happ. A superb free agent for his bat and positional versatility, there are few teams that wouldn’t have a spot on their roster for Happ.
It’s the Atlanta Braves who should go after him most. As a left fielder but also someone they can use at second base or third base, Happ is a player capable of wearing many hats and playing even more positions. He’s coming off of an All-Star campaign in 2022. Unless the Cubs finally extend him, he’ll be a hot trade deadline candidate yet again this year. The Braves, looking to improve their left field situation, make a ton of sense already. He won’t break the bank and will fit in nicely with the rest of the roster.
7) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Yu Darvish
The free agent case for Yu Darvish will be an interesting one because of his age. He’s on the other side of 35, but did log 194.2 innings in 2022 to prove he has durability left. Darvish might end up as the next big pitcher to settle for short, high AAV contracts. Other than remaining with the San Diego Padres, where could he end up?
The Minnesota Twins are a bit of a mystery. They surprised everyone when they signed Carlos Correa last offseason and have been aggressive in at least targeting players. Outside of a massive rebuild after the 2023 season, look for them to seek out a pitcher like Darvish to maybe put them over the edge. They seem to have a will to spend money.
6) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola’s time with the Philadelphia Phillies may end after this upcoming season. A Cy Young candidate at times and a middle of the order arm in other years, extending him should be on the club’s offseason to-do list. With no sign of a longer deal about to get done, Nola may end up as a free agent. If this happens, there will be plenty of teams looking to sign him.
Nola would fit well in the Los Angeles Angels pitching staff. Because they will likely lose a big free agent of their own next offseason as well, there will be an opening in the rotation. The Angels look eager to remain competitive. This offseason was a chance for them to rebuild in a major way. Instead, they’re going for it. Good for them. Could Nola be next offseason’s big starting pitcher signing?
5) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Max Scherzer
The mega-deal the New York Mets signed Max Scherzer to includes an opt out after the 2023 season. It’s too soon to guess what Scherzer will decide. He can simply take the $43.33 million owed to him or try and test the market for another similar short, high AAV deal. If Justin Verlander was able to get the deal he did this winter at an older age, maybe Scherzer does, too.
A trip to his hometown team, the St. Louis Cardinals, could be the outcome with Scherzer in free agency again. The Cardinals have four starting pitchers that could hit free agency after the 2023 season. Adam Wainwright could retire but Miles Mikolas, Jordan Montgomery, and Jack Flaherty are all open for business. Landing Scherzer could give the Cardinals a final punch toward a championship.
4) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Julio Urias
Julio Urias is on the rise. He led the league with 20 wins in 2021. In 2022, he led the league with a 2.16 ERA. What will he do in 2023? Urias may only have a pair of years with 100+ innings pitched. A fantastic season in 2023 will set him up for a mega-contract and probably the biggest of any free agent starting pitcher in terms of overall total.
Urias hits the open market right before his age 27 season. The Philadelphia Phillies are the team that should steal him from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Under the pretense of losing Aaron Nola, Urias would be the record-breaking addition to make. The Phillies do have a couple of intriguing young pitchers in the minor leagues. Bringing on Urias will reward them with one experienced arm to have behind Zack Wheeler for a year and move forward with as their new ace.
3) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Manny Machado
The opt out in Manny Machado’s contract is likely to get flexed next offseason. The San Diego Padres have plenty of other high-profile players to think about retaining. Machado could be on his way out. A couple of teams should chase after him, including this one American League contender.
In their attempt to not waste all of the talented youth, the Chicago White Sox should be the team to snag Machado when he becomes a free agent. Unless they have plans of targeting someone else, it’s pretty important for the White Sox to make a valiant attempt at someone of Machado’s caliber. His experience and overall MVP-caliber performance is can’t miss. He won’t be the highest-priced free agent which will allow them to add other pieces around him.
2) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Rafael Devers
The Boston Red Sox probably will let Rafael Devers leave. It’s a real shame. The fans already witnessed Mookie Betts get traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Xander Bogaerts left in free agency for the San Diego Padres. Where could Devers end up?
Although the Padres should be after him, it’s the San Francisco Giants who will need him much more. Their massive free agent misses in the 2022-2023 offseason should have thinking gigantic next offseason. And because Tim Anderson probably will stay put in Chicago, they need to strike and land one of the best hitters in the open market.
1) MLB Power Rankings: 2024 free agent Shohei Ohtani
The Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes will be fun, if only because we’re all curious to see what his record-breaking contract looks like. He’s probably on his way out from calling himself an employee of the Los Angeles Angels. Frankly, there’s only a single team out there that seems to make sense for him.
Steve Cohen and the New York Mets are unafraid to spend money to build a winner. Ohtani has been on the radar of the Mets ever since Cohen took over as the owner. It’s an absolute that if one owner will sign the first $500 million player in the sport, it’ll be this guy. The only thing to stop him would be a hard salary cap. Even under those circumstances, expect the Mets to find a clever way around it to acquire the face of baseball.