We take a look at some free agents who are still to claim a deal with either a new club or their existing team, with some big players having opted for free agency.
Jacob deGrom
Former New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom decided to opt out of his final year of his contract, with the possibility of a lucrative deal either back with the Mets or with another club.
The two-time Cy Young award winner won’t be short of offers, giving him a chance to cash in on a deal like his former team-mate Max Scherzer. Will his recent injury concerns hamper a big deal though?
Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge turned down the offer from the New York Yankees of seven years and $213.5million at the start of last season. Judge then went and broke records with his home run record of 62, winning his first American League Most Valuable Player award.
Will he stay with the Yankees or will he try his hand elsewhere. Judge has always said that the Yankees will have first refusal, however was last April’s deal the only offer?
The Yankees are +1000 to win the World Series next season.
Trea Turner
Trea Turner had a good year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, scoring 101 runs while driving in another 100.
While Turner’s OPS dropped to .809 after he averaged .900 from 2019-2021, he should still command a good deal, perhaps even around the $300m mark over perhaps eight-years.
Justin Verlander
Despite nearly reaching 40, Justin Verlander is still much in demand despite having Tommy John surgery and making just one start in two seasons (2020-2021).
In 2022, Verlander led the American League with 18 wins and a 1.75 ERA, throwing 175 brilliant innings for the World Series champion Houston Astros en route to his third career Cy Young Award.
Verlander decided against his $25m option for 2023, with the possibility of making a little bit more money.
The New York Mets have touched base with Verlander’s people about a possible move to the Big Apple and they are +900 to win the World Series in 2023.
Chris Bassitt
Chris Bassitt had a strong season with the New York Mets posting a 3-42 ERA, but opted to offer out of his second year.
At age 34, he is looking for one big deal before the end of his career, since 2018 and following Tommy John surgery, Bassitt has a 3.29 ERA delivering five solid seasons, with more to come.
Xander Bogaerts
Xander Bogaerts opted out of his three-years remaining and $60m on his Boston Red Sox deal, having been a 2022 All-Star, hitting .307 with a .833 OPS.
He may not get the best shortstop deal with Trea Turner ahead of him and Carlos Correa also in the market.
Related MLB News
MLB: What next for Trea Turner?
MLB: Where next for Aaron Judge?
Carlos Correa
Despite signing a three-year, $105.3mi deal with the Minnesota Twins, there was an opt-out after one year and Carlos Correa has exercised that option.
Correa had a good season for the Twins, but it wasn’t a great one. Can Correa get the high-end deal that he missed out on last season?
Brandon Nimmo
If Brandon Nimmo can stay fit, whoever he signs with will get a quality outfielder and a lead-off hitter who gets on base. If you want a power hitter then maybe look elsewhere.
At 30 years old he certainly would lift any side he signs with, he has speed with high on-base skills to go with a solid defence in mainly centre-field.
Carlos Rodon
Carlos Rodon received a two-year deal with the San Francisco Giants with an opt-out after one-year if he pitched 110 innings, well he pitched 178 and posted a 2.88 ERA and made his second straight All-Star team, he’ll get a bigger deal this time around.
Will it be with the Giants though, as the Mets are re-evaluating their pitching staff for 2023, they have touched base with the 30-year-old.
The Giants are +4000 to win the World Series in 2023, they may have to do it without Rodon though.
Dansby Swanson
Dansby Swanson isn’t going to be an elite shortstop, but he is part of a well-sought after group.
The 29-year-old is a strong defender who made his first All-Star team in 2022 and has contributed with the bat in recent seasons for the Atlanta Braves.
His appearances are very consistent with 382 appearances out of a possible 384 since the start of the 2020, he was a World Series winner with the Braves in 2021 and was part of the regular line-up that helped them lift their fifth consecutive National League East Division title.
