Travis Sawchik

Wins and losses are rarely tied to one player - or one decision. Decisions and performances are stacked, the cumulative result leading to game outcomes.

Major League Baseball's expanded playoffs often shake up the postseason, but the Cinderellas have all gone home this year.

How generous, or cheap, is your favorite MLB team's owner?

Haters can no longer place an asterisk on this era of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball.

It was just a year ago that the most sought-after free agent in MLB history, Shohei Ohtani, hit the open market, but another unicorn will be available when free agency begins Monday.

Juan Soto, the premier free agent on the market this season, wants Shohei Ohtani money - and he doesn't want it to be deferred.

Ross Atkins revealed something interesting about his club's internal expectations for next season at the GM meetings in San Antonio this week.

Last week, we ranked where Juan Soto fits best. Soto is in a class by himself this offseason, but he's not the only difference-maker available on the open mark.We now turn our attention to the next tier of star MLB free agents. (We are not including Roki Sasaki, who's restricted by the international bonus pool and is not part of the MLB free-agent class.)The following are the top 10 free agents beyond Soto. The rankings were determined by averaging the MLB Trade Rumors and FanGraphs crowdsourced contract projections. Who has the motivation, need, and projected payroll space to sign these stars?Corbin Burnes !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Rob Tringali / Getty ImagesBurnes is widely viewed as the best arm available. He ranks second behind only Zack Wheeler in fWAR (22.7 to 19.2) since 2021.Very few pitchers have the depth of Burnes' arsenal. That includes his unicorn pitch, a darting mid-90s cutter.Very few have been as durable as Burnes. He's averaged 189 innings per season over the last four seasons, which ranks just behind Aaron Nola, Logan Webb, and Wheeler.There are some red flags with Burnes, who just turned 30. Notably, his ability to miss bats is in decline. His strikeout-minus-walk rate fell from an elite mark of 30.4% in 2021 to 24.1% in 2022, 17.1% in 2023, and 17% last season. (The MLB league average was 14.4% in 2024.)While he's no longer super-elite, he's still a good bet to be one of the game's best pitchers over the next couple of seasons.The Mets need top-end pitching, and owner Steve Cohen has recently shown a willingness to invest in much older arms than Burnes (such as Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander). Moreover, Mets general manager David Stearns has a history with Burnes from their time with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he reportedly wants to reunite with Burnes.Alex Bregman !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rGreat teams generally have to make fewer decisions between rostering bat- or glove-first players. They have major leaguers that can do both. The Blue Jays need more such players to mix in with their emerging youth while maximizing the last year they have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette under contract.Adding Bregman, who turns 31 in March, would fill third base with a two-way player much like Matt Chapman. That'd allow Guerrero to remain at first base while placing Ernie Clement in a super-utility role. Bregman said he's also open to playing second base, opening up further optionality for whoever signs him.Rogers Centre would also be a great fit for Bregman's extreme fly-ball, pull-heavy approach. Statcast projects Bregman would've hit more home runs as a Blue Jay last season (29) compared to his output in Houston (26).Toronto must strengthen and deepen its lineup, which ranked 23rd in the majors in runs scored last season, while not surrendering defensive value. Bregman is one of the best options to accomplish just that.Willy Adames !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r John Fisher / Getty ImagesAtlanta shortstops produced 0.6 WAR with a 71 wRC+ mark last season, ahead of only Oakland and Detroit.The Braves' lineup suffered massive regression last year. They need it to return to 2023 levels to compete for the division title.Adames, 29, can help it do just that. He posted career highs in doubles, home runs, RBI, and steals in 2024.Blake Snell !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rOnly Coors Field has been a more favorable venue than Fenway Park for left-handed hitters over the last three seasons, so it makes sense for the Red Sox to target lefty pitchers. There are three quality options available on the open market: Snell, Max Fried, and Sean Manaea.Snell, who turns 32 in December, is an excellent but sometimes erratic pitcher. That was again the case this season when he posted a 6.31 ERA in the first half and a 1.45 mark in the second half. But the industry can perhaps throw the first half out as Snell missed much of spring training waiting for a contract.Snell remains one of the game's premier lefties, and Boston needs more arms to complement an emerging young lineup.Max Fried!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Ronald Martinez / Getty ImagesCamden Yards, like Fenway Park, owns extreme splits for batters. It's much more favorable for left-handed bats after renovations to the left-field wall tamped down home-run production from righties. Baltimore is a great fit for southpaws who can neutralize left-handed power.If the Orioles were ever going to spend, now would be the time. New owner David Rubenstein seems much more likely than the Angelos family to do so. Fried would be an ideal fit to replace Burnes and supplement the excellent young lineup.The lefty is more of a health risk than Burnes, and he'll turn 32 in January, but he's remarkably consistent. Fried hasn't posted an ERA north of 3.25 since 2020 or an FIP worse than 3.33. He's also due for some positive regression as his walk rate (8%) was above his career average of 6.8%.There's a chance Fried continues to refine his skill set, especially if he lands with an elite player development team like Baltimore. He could be something like early-to-mid-30s Cliff Lee for the team that signs him, and that's a difference-maker.Pete Alonso !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Elsa / Getty ImagesOn one hand, there's no doubting Alonso's slugging prowess. Only Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Kyle Schwarber have hit more home runs than him over the last five seasons. And if a contender has its eyes on postseason play, home runs play up even more in October.On the other hand, Alonso doesn't create much value outside of his slugging. He's also entering his age-30 season. While he's hardly ancient, long-term deals to first basemen don't always work out well (see Albert Pujols, Angels).If the Yankees don't retain Soto, they should be highly motivated to add another impact bat, especially at first base.Consider how poor New York was at first base last season:Yankees first basemen ranked last in the majors in wRC+ (71), their worst mark since 1913.They also ranked 30th in batting average (.206), the second worst in franchise history.And they were ranked 30th in slugging (.312), 30th in on-base percentage (.282), and 27th in HRs (17).Moreover, with an aging core of key players - Judge will be 33 next season, Gerrit Cole will be 34, and Giancarlo Stanton will be 35 - Alonso fits into a win-now mindset.Jack Flaherty !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rThe Tigers were operating rationally when they traded Flaherty at the deadline as they owned miniscule playoff chances. But if they'd retained the 29-year-old for a remarkable late-season surge that nearly saw them get into the ALCS, perhaps they would've made the next step. Now Detroit can get him back.The Tigers have a low payroll and should be able to add impact players. Just as with Kansas City last year, there's value in adding a veteran presence to an emerging young rotation.Anthony Santander!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rSantander ought to fit with several teams: He's a 30-year-old switch-hitter who's been one of the most consistent bats in the game over the last three seasons, and he's coming off a 44-homer campaign. But his profile fits best in a place that favors pull power. Sorry, Kansas City.According to BaseballSavant estimates, only Great American Ball Park would fit Santander better than Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have shown a willingness to trade gloves for bats, aided by the tight dimensions of their ballpark. Santander in the center of the lineup might give them the firepower to compete with the Dodgers in a postseason series.Sean Manaea !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Rob Tringali / Getty ImagesManaea, 32, improved his stuff after an offseason trip to Driveline in the 2022-23 offseason and returned to the rotation full time with the Mets last season. New York can't afford to lose him, and Cohen ought to be willing to match and exceed any offer.Teoscar Hernández !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rIt remains to be seen whether Reds ownership will pay up for anyone in free agency. However, Cincinnati currently owes little guaranteed money, and Reds right fielders ranked 23rd in the majors last season with a lowly 89 wRC+.Hernández, 32, projected to hit 43 homers in Cincinnati last season, the best among all MLB parks for his batted-ball profile. The Reds play in an incredibly favorable hitter's park and need to take advantage of it.Travis Sawchik is theScore's senior baseball writer.

There was an immediate shift in sentiment among many Pittsburgh Pirates fans when Paul Skenes was named the NL Rookie of the Year on Monday.

One key subplot this winter transcends any specific player or team interest, instead centered around someone working behind the scenes - and occasionally in front of the cameras.Uber-agent Scott Boras represents eight of the consensus top 20 free agents, and five at the top of the list: Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, Alex Bregman, Blake Snell, and Pete Alonso.Rarely does one agent have so much influence.Last offseason, he represented a collection of stars known as the "Boras Five" - Snell, Matt Chapman, Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger, and J.D. Martinez. This year's crop is even more accomplished.How Boras advises his clients this offseason will determine which clubs win and lose in terms of roster improvement, and also whether he enjoys a personal bounce-back performance. Newsday / Getty ImagesBoras isn't used to losing, but last winter represented one of the few Ls on his resume.At the start of the offseason, FanGraphs' crowdsourcing predictions forecast the "Boras Five" would sign for a combined $466 million. Those players' actual contracts totaled just $233 million guaranteed.That was a significant and rare miss for Boras, who'd been an outlier in terms of both signing clients to record deals in terms of total dollars and beating market expectations.Macro-level factors, like the unraveling of the sport's cable TV ecosystem, were at play last winter. Local TV revenues account for about a quarter of team earnings, so that uncertainty likely played a role in reducing the amount spent by clubs, even in Ohtani mania. Spending on free agency last offseason ($2.96 billion), was down nearly a billion dollars from the previous year ($3.9 billion)."(Last offseason) 10 teams decided to lower their budgets from '23," Boras told theScore in March when asked about his clients' contract shortfalls. "There was a billion dollars taken out of the free-agent market."What I've done with players like Carlos Correa - when the markets are not there, we got him a three-year guarantee for about $100 million (in 2022). He took a contract with optionality (a first-year opt-out)," Boras explained. "The very next market, they were spending, and there was more demand for his services. He ended up getting a contract for $200 million with a chance to make an additional $70 million. He converted a situation with optionality into something that more than doubled the value (of the 2022 deal)." Mike Stobe / Getty ImagesSnell is pursuing a path similar to Correa's. He opted out of the deal he signed last March, when he was coming off winning the NL Cy Young Award, to test the waters again. (Snell and Boras turned down a $150-million offer from the Yankees last winter before settling for a shorter-term deal with the Giants.)Bellinger, on the other hand, elected to remain with the Cubs for 2025. Not everyone trusts there will be a market rebound, and Bellinger is coming off a so-so campaign.Perhaps the market conditions have improved. There's less uncertainty related to regional television deals, but many clubs have taken smaller payouts to stay with Diamond Sports Group now that it's exited bankruptcy. Others are striking out on their own in partnership with MLB.It'll be interesting to see if Boras' approach is any different. He's certainly not lowering his initial demands.Ken Rosenthal reported Boras is seeking a guarantee for Bregman north of $300 million, nearly double what FanGraphs expects ($162 million).But the big question remains how long Boras is willing to advise his clients to wait, especially after irking Montgomery last offseason and losing him as a client.Boras, historically, is comfortable playing the waiting game, and generally plays it well."People call me all the time and say, 'Man, your players aren't signed yet.' Well, it doesn't really matter what time dinner is when you're the steak," Boras said in 2013. Mitchell Leff / Getty ImagesDuring the 2018-19 offseason, Boras clients Manny Machado and Bryce Harper - the last two under-26 stars to hit the open market before Soto - didn't sign until March. They became the first free agents to sign $300-million deals.But they were steaks.When that approach falters, players are squeezed. The melting offseason clock favors clubs more and more as spring training camps open.Last winter, Montgomery was worth more than the one-year, $25-million deal with a $22.5-million option he signed with Arizona in late March. Public forecasts had him signing for more than $100 million. He blamed the late start to his preparation for his down campaign. After the worst year of his career, he exercised the option rather than hit free agency again.Montgomery later fired Boras and told the Boston Herald he felt Boras "kind of butchered" his free agency. Rich Schultz / Getty ImagesThere was a lot of squeezing in the market last offseason, in part because of Boras.The first 60 days of last offseason featured 44 free agent signings, well short of the previous 10-year average of 58.7. The guaranteed number of seasons awarded (97) was also below the 10-year average of 116 for the first two months of the offseason. And the market never warmed up.But will Boras change his approach? Will teams be more aggressive with large-revenue clubs like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and perhaps the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, seemingly incentivized to improve their rosters? And how will things change if Soto signs early, as the industry expects? It'll be a fascinating offseason. Free-agent players as a whole need a rebound, and so, too, does the game's top agent.Travis Sawchik is theScore's senior baseball writer.