We’re starting to count down the days until baseball returns — there’s just one little NFL game left on the season and then we can turn our focus to spring training.

Despite players soon reporting to camps, plenty of free agents remain unsigned, including 13 of Kiley McDaniel’s original top 50 heading into the offseason. Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso are the two biggest names out there, still looking to secure the final nine-figure contracts of the winter.

Let’s go position by position and check in on the best players still available (the ranking of players from our top 50 will be noted), including some possible landing spots for the biggest names left on the market.


Starting pitchers

Best available: No. 9 Jack Flaherty (Projection: 5 years, $115 million)

Others: No. 14 Nick Pivetta, No. 31 Andrew Heaney, No. 42 Max Scherzer, No. 44 Spencer Turnbull, Jose Quintana, Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, Patrick Corbin, Jakob Junis

Best fits:Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, Athletics

The starting pitching market moved much quicker than last year, when Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remained unsigned into late March, although Flaherty remains unsigned. At this point, it seems unlikely he’ll get anything close to that $115 million forecast — and maybe that’s not so surprising. From 2021 to 2023, he made just 50 starts with a 4.35 ERA as he battled injuries and control problems. He got off to a hot start with Detroit last season (2.95 ERA, 7.0 SO/BB ratio) but tailed off after his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers (3.58 ERA, 3.21 SO/BB ratio). He had one great scoreless start for the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, but he also got hammered a couple times and his overall postseason (7.36 ERA) didn’t win him any bonus points from evaluators.

On the “Foul Territory” podcast last week, Flaherty said not enough teams have a championship mindset. “You have a certain number of teams that want to win, they look at their rosters and they’re happy with it,” he said. “I think teams just want to get into the playoffs — [it’s] not World Series or bust, but ‘hope we get into the playoffs and see what happens.'”

Maybe so, but the biggest spenders — the Dodgers, Mets, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies — have already filled out their rotations. Whom does that leave? Maybe the Mets still add another starter, although a return engagement with Quintana, who had a nice season for them in 2024, feels more likely. The Tigers are perhaps the best mix of payroll room and need, and they certainly saw Flaherty at his best, but they’re also juggling a few things as they consider Bregman plus bullpen help.

Meanwhile, the 40-year-old Scherzer remains an intriguing roll of the dice, coming off a season in which he made just nine starts with a 3.95 ERA. He threw a bullpen session last week, with scouts from the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Braves, Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers and Red Sox reportedly among those in attendance. The Braves are an interesting possibility; they struck gold with the Chris Sale trade last year and could use another starter as they wait for Spencer Strider to get healthy.

Prediction: Flaherty to the Angels, Scherzer to the Braves.

The Angels’ payroll is about where it was last season but still well below the luxury tax threshold — and they certainly could use another starting pitcher if they’re serious about trying to contend in what could be a wide-open American League West. As for Scherzer, any of the contenders we listed is a possibility. The Braves might not want to go over the tax threshold, but their current rotation features the often-injured Sale, a converted reliever in Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder coming off a 6.52 ERA.


Relief pitchers

Best available: No. 27 Carlos Estevez (Projection: 3 years, $36 million)

Others: No. 32 Kenley Jansen, No. 50 David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino, Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Hector Neris, Trevor Richards, Hunter Strickland

Best fits:Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Blue Jays, Cubs, Mets, Tigers, Phillies, Angels

As always, relievers can end up anywhere — including the White Sox, who could sign one or two of these guys with the goal of flipping them for prospects at the deadline. Estevez has a closer’s pedigree based on the past two seasons, although 2024 was much better than his All-Star season with the Angels in 2023. His strikeout and walk rates both dipped, as did his BABIP. He’s an extreme fly ball pitcher who generates very little chase. Frankly, he feels like a big risk on a three-year deal.

He works best for a team in a tough home run park, such as the Tigers (who have reportedly expressed interest) or Mets (although, he’d have to be a setup guy to Edwin Diaz). The Reds need bullpen help, although Estevez is a bad fit for that park. The Rangers need a closer, and while the Phillies signed Jordan Romano to replace Jeff Hoffman, Romano is coming off an injury-plagued season, so don’t rule out a return there. As for the others, Robertson turns 40 in April but is still at the top of his game, striking out 99 batters in 72 innings in 2024. He’s a fit for the Rangers, as either a closer or setup guy.

Prediction: Estevez to the Reds, Robertson to the Rangers, Jansen to the Nationals.

The Reds recently signed a new local TV deal, with general manager Nick Krall saying that gives the team “a little bit more” to work with in the payroll department. The bullpen wasn’t good last season, plus the Reds traded Fernando Cruz, so Estevez gives them another closing option if Alexis Diaz struggles with his control again. The Rangers need to replace Kirby Yates (who remains officially unsigned, but reports have him agreeing to a deal with the Dodgers) and Jose Leclerc, so let’s give them Robertson. The Nationals’ closer is … Derek Law? Jorge Lopez? Give them Jansen.


First base

Best available: No. 7 Pete Alonso (Projection: 6 years, $159 million)

Others:Anthony Rizzo, Ty France, Rowdy Tellez

Best fits:San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Mets, Blue Jays

Did the Mets confirm their intention to move on from Alonso when they signed Jesse Winker and A.J. Minter and reportedly told Mark Vientos and Brett Baty to start working out at first base? Or is this still down to the Mets and Blue Jays? Are the Giants really going to run back a LaMonte Wade Jr./Wilmer Flores platoon that produced a .699 OPS and just 14 home runs? Will the Mariners finally add a big bat?

The Blue Jays probably have the most to gain in signing Alonso, especially if they’re serious about moving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to third base to accommodate Alonso. No doubt: Guerrero, Alonso and Anthony Santander would provide a power-packed middle of the order to a lineup that ranked 26th in the majors in home runs. If Bo Bichette bounces back from his lost 2024, then you have a team that can score enough runs to make the playoffs.

Prediction: Alonso to the Blue Jays.

Mets owner Steve Cohen spoke on Saturday at the team’s winter event for fans, and it certainly didn’t sound like Alonso is headed back to New York, with Cohen saying the negotiations have been much more difficult than with Juan Soto: “This is worse. A lot of it is, we’ve made a significant offer. I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us. I think it’s highly asymmetric against us, and I feel strongly about it.”


Second base

Best available:Jose Iglesias

Others:Jorge Polanco, Enrique Hernandez, Cavan Biggio, Whit Merrifield, Adam Frazier

Best fits:San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Angels, Mariners, White Sox

After not playing in the majors in 2023, Iglesias hit .337/.381/.448 for the Mets last season, producing 3.1 WAR in 85 games. Of course, that was a stone-cold fluke, but he does possess excellent contact skills and can play all over the infield. Otherwise, it’s a pretty weak group of past-their-prime veterans at second base. Polanco still has pop — he hit 16 home runs for Seattle in 118 games — but he has averaged just 101 games the past three seasons and underwent knee surgery last October. He’s barely passable at second base anymore, bad knee or not, and a second base/DH profile isn’t exactly in demand.

Hernandez had some nice moments for the Dodgers in the postseason, but his OPS+ over the past three seasons is just 78 and their signing of Hyeseong Kim pushes him out of L.A. He’ll get a job somewhere due to his ability to play both infield and outfield. Merrifield was dismal with the Phillies but showed some life after the Braves picked him up (.248/.348/.336) — and believe it or not, he’s just one season removed from being an All-Star with the Blue Jays in 2023.

The Guardians and Mariners could use second base help, but they’re hoping prospects Travis Bazzana and Cole Young, respectively, break through by the second half. The Padres have Jake Cronenworth and Luis Arraez for second and first, but they have no DH, so they could also use another infielder and move Cronenworth to first and Arraez to DH.

Prediction: Iglesias to the Padres, Polanco to the White Sox.


Third base

Best available: No. 5 Alex Bregman (Projection: 6 years, $187 million)

Others: No. 46 Yoan Moncada, Luis Urias

Best fits:Houston Astros, Tigers, Red Sox, Phillies, Dodgers, Angels, Blue Jays

Bregman is a perfect fit for Fenway Park, where he has a career OPS of 1.240 in the regular season, plus the Red Sox need a right-handed hitter. It seems everyone has wanted to put Bregman on the Red Sox all winter, but I’m not buying the idea of Bregman playing second base in Boston — not with Kristian Campbell, a top-10 overall prospect, all but ready for the majors.

Unless the Red Sox are willing to move Rafael Devers to first base or DH, which might require trading Triston Casas, spending big money on Bregman to block Campbell doesn’t make sense. Devers, while a below-average defender at third, is certainly playable there, and blowing up your infield to sign a 31-year-old Bregman coming off a career-low .315 OBP is risky no matter his winning pedigree.

Prediction: Bregman to the Astros.

On paper, the Tigers remain a strong fit — they need offense and they have plenty of payroll room, plus Bregman would reunite with former Astros manager A.J. Hinch in Detroit. The Astros, however, just cleared Ryan Pressly’s $14 million salary with his trade to the Cubs, just a couple of days after Astros GM Dana Brown told reporters the club remains in talks with Bregman. While Brown called it a “long shot” for Bregman to return, those odds suddenly look much greater. Yes, the Astros have Isaac Paredes at third base and Christian Walker at first (Paredes’ other position), but they could trade Paredes or use him as a part-time DH (when Yordan Alvarez plays left field) and utility player.


Shortstop

Best available: No. 25 Ha-Seong Kim (Projection: 2 years, $42.1 million)

Others:Paul DeJong

Best fits:Pittsburgh Pirates, Padres, Angels

Kim had shoulder surgery after getting injured diving back into first base in August. He missed the postseason for the Padres, and both sides declined a mutual $8 million option. Kim won’t be ready for the start of the season, and while he was a Gold Glove winner as a utility player in 2023 and plus defender at shortstop in 2024, uncertainty about his throwing after the surgery complicates his free agency. Thanks to his excellent defensive metrics, he has averaged 4.4 WAR the past three seasons despite just average offensive production.

Prediction: No idea here.

No team has a glaring hole at shortstop, although the Angels will be without Zach Neto to start the season after his own shoulder surgery. But Kim is in the same situation. He could play second for the Angels. The Pirates probably have the weakest projection at shortstop with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, but they’re not going to pay anything close to that contract projection. The Padres might be the best fit, but payroll concerns factor in there. Kim could remain unsigned until after the season starts.


Outfield

Best available:Harrison Bader

Others:Alex Verdugo, Mark Canha, Randal Grichuk, David Peralta, Manuel Margot, Tommy Pham, Joey Gallo, Adam Duvall

Best fits:Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays, Padres, Reds, A’s, Pirates

The thin list of free agent outfielders has been picked through, leaving a group of fourth-outfielder types to choose from. Bader didn’t have a good season at the plate with the Mets in 2024 (.236/.284/.373), but he can still run and play center field and has historically hit left-handers. He’s a good fit as a platoon outfielder, although the Mets have apparently moved on with Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri both capable of playing center.

For any team looking for a full-time left fielder, Verdugo might be the guy to roll the dice on, even coming off a terrible offensive season with the Yankees in which he hit .233/.291/.356. However, he’s still just 29, plays a good enough left field and puts the ball in play. Peralta is 37 years old but hit well in a part-time role with the Padres in 2024, slashing .267/.335/.415. They could use a left fielder after losing Jurickson Profar to the Braves.

Prediction: Murky.

This is where the small-market payrolls might get their hands dirty. But, without Profar, the Padres are the contending team with the biggest hole in the outfield.


Designated hitter

Best available: No. 48 J.D. Martinez (Projection: 1 year, $12.5 million)

Others:Justin Turner

Best fits:Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Mariners, Giants, White Sox

Martinez can still hit the ball hard (77th percentile in hard-hit rate, 87th percentile in expected slugging percentage) while Turner ranks near or at the bottom in hard-hit rate (14th percentile) and bat speed (first percentile). Turner can at least play some first base, while Martinez is strictly a DH. Turner turned 40 in November and that slow bat speed is worrisome, even with his knowledge of the strike zone.

Prediction: Martinez to the Diamondbacks, Turner to the Mariners.

How about Martinez going to Arizona to replace Joc Pederson and Turner returning to Seattle, which has expressed interest in bringing him back.


Catcher

Best available:Elias Diaz

Others:Yasmani Grandal, Reese McGuire, James McCann

Best fits: Padres, Red Sox, Marlins, Phillies, Guardians

These are veterans now earmarked for backup duty.

Prediction: Any of them to the Padres, Guardians or Red Sox.

San Diego’s lack of depth shows up once again as it lost Kyle Higashioka to the Rangers. Cleveland should look to upgrade over Austin Hedges, and Boston’s catching situation projects as one of the worst, with the projection systems not entirely buying Connor Wong’s 2024 numbers.