One perfect free agent for three 2025 World Series Contenders
The teams that fell short of winning it all will be looking to make key offseason moves to take the next step in 2025 and dethrone the Dodgers as champions.
Every team has one goal at the start of every MLB season: win the World Series. Unfortunately, only champion can be crowned, and the other 29 teams must use the offseason to bolster their roster and chances to win it all.
Building out a deep roster is key to making a postseason run, but its the big-name signees that will drastically alter the odds. Here are three teams that had a shot at the World Series last season but fell short, and the free agent signing that can help change their fates to win the title in 2025.
3. New York Yankees
The Yankees made it to the World Series in 2024, but were noncompetitive in a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers. Right fielder Juan Soto, second baseman Gleyber Torres, left fielder Alex Verdugo, and relief pitchers Tommy Kahnle and Clay Holmes are among several players who have hit free agency this offseason.
Their offense ranked 12th with a .246 batting average last season, although Soto's .288 average immensely helped. Aaron Judge is the only returning position player who hit over .250, so a big free-agent bat is an option the Yankees need to consider.
The starting rotation is returning all five players after Gerritt Cole re-signed for four years. This past season, the Yankees starting pitchers ranked 11th in ERA, and the relievers ranked 6th, which leaves pitching as a low priority, relative to the need to re-sign or replace Soto.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has his work cut out for him, with only $48 million remaining in their Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) space. The CBT is the amount a team has available for player salaries and benefits before incurring penalties. The Bronx Bombers routinely go over that amount, but the penalties are harsher for repeat offenders.
Soto would be the ideal choice, but he's got other deep-pocketed suitors in the Dodgers and Mets. The next best option would be longtime Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.
This acquisition would allow Jazz Chisolm Jr. to focus on only playing second base (assuming Torres also departs) and give the Yankees a reliable bat at the hot corner. Bregman has played in at least 145 games the last three years and hit .260 this past season with 26 HRs and 75 RBIs. His career OPS of .848 would rank third on the Yankees behind Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
2. Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians lost to the Yankees in the ALCS 4-1, and luckily, only four players are eligible for free agency: ace Shane Beiber, who only made two starts this past season due to needing Tommy John Surgery, catcher Austin Hedges, and starting pitchers Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb.
They are returning their entire offensive lineup, which ranked a paltry 21st in batting average and 14th in runs per game. Notably, next offseason, the Guardians will see a majority of their starting lineup's contracts expire unless extensions are addressed this winter. The offense should be addressed in free agency, but they have a more pressing need if they hope to improve on their finish from this year.
The Guardians are returning their entire bullpen, which ranked first in ERA with just a 2.57 ERA, .54 points lower than the second-best Milwaukee Brewers. With AL Cy Young finalist Emmanuel Clase leading the charge, their relief crew should remain a strength in 2025.
Their big free agent need is starting pitching. Just three starting pitchers threw more than 100 innings last year for Cleveland: Tanner Bibee (173 2/3 innings, 3.47 ERA), Ben Lively (151.0 innings, 3.81 ERA), and now-free agent Carlos Carrasco (103 2/3 innings, 5.64 ERA). Retaining Bieber would be nice, but his daunting injury history and high price tag could box Cleveland out of his market.
Their projected rotation is righty-heavy at this moment, so the Guardians can use a lefty starting pitcher. Max Fried has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the sport for the Atlanta Braves. He has had five straight seasons with an ERA under 3.25, and has completed at least 165 innings pitched in three of the last four seasons.
Of course, Fried is expected to sign a big contract, but the Guardians are in a good position with the 10th-best CBT space available. Their projected 2025 payroll is already nearing their final number from this year, but the team just fell shy of the American League pennant. If there was ever a time to capitalize on a talented young roster, it's now.
1. San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are coming off a strong season, though they ultimately lost to the Dodgers in the NLDS. They have eight players eligible for free agency, including starting pitcher Martin Perez, relief pitcher Tanner Scott, catchers Kyle Higashioka and Elias Diaz, left fielders David Peralta and Jurickson Profar, and middle-infielders Donovan Solano and Nick Ahmed.
Their offense ranked 2nd in batting average and 8th in runs per game this past season. Profar, Solano, and Peralta were significant contributors, but viable options are already on the roster to fill their void. One of those players is one of their top prospects, left fielder Tirso Ornelas.
The bullpen ranked 11th in ERA in 2024, with trade deadline acquisition Tanner Scott's 1.77 ERA greatly helping, but Scott is going to have many suitors. The starters ranked 13th in the same metric, and the team is returning its entire starting rotation.
However, Randy Vasquez and Matt Waldron had a 4.87 and 4.91 ERA, respectively. A big arm would be a huge improvement to the rotation. As we've seen in the past, the Padres' front office is open to throwing money at the most prominent names on the market.
The rotation could use a left-handed pitcher to join their rotation full of right-handers, but the best starter available is Corbin Burnes. The Padres only have $52 million in CBT space, but there are few holes in their 2025 roster, which makes going after Burnes a little more sensible. They could also seek a reunion with 2023 NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who (like Burnes) will likely be priced above the Max Fried tier of players.
Big free agent signings likely will not begin until the MLB Winter Meetings, which starts December 9. This is a four-day event where representatives from all MLB teams, agents, and media get together. It is traditionally the time when big free-agent signings and blockbuster trades occur, and the same should be expected with this year's loaded free agent class.
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