"We've started to see some top free agents come off the board as the MLB offseason has gotten rolling: Kyle Schwarber back to the Philadelphia Phillies, Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles and Dylan Cease to the Toronto Blue Jays. The closer market also moved quickly: Devin Williams to the New York Mets, Edwin Diaz then ditching the Mets for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Robert Suarez to the Atlanta Braves and Ryan Helsley to Baltimore."
"That still leaves seven of the top 10 free agents from Kiley McDaniel's top-50 ranking unsigned. Let's look at that group and see where things stand. The team at the center of everything right now is the Mets: They have needs to fill and money to spend and will be a key player in how the rest of this offseason plays out."
"Does the reluctance to give Diaz and Alonso long-term contracts preclude signing the younger Tucker? Not necessarily, but it's clear president of baseball operations David Stearns is operating with a disciplined mission this offseason, focusing on upgrading the team's defense and not getting trapped into longer deals that can quickly go awry. Plus, with Soto entering the second year of a 15-year contract, does it make sense to give another long-term deal to an outfielder? Probably not."
Several notable free agents have signed early in the offseason, including Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso and Dylan Cease, and several top closers found new teams. Seven of the top 10 free agents remain available, creating movement opportunities for contenders. The New York Mets possess both roster needs and payroll flexibility, positioning them as a pivotal offseason actor. Projections for the top-ranked free agent remain at 11 years and $418 million (with potential deferrals). Team decision-makers are showing caution on long-term outfield deals, prioritizing defense and avoiding lengthy contracts that can deteriorate in value.
Read at ESPN.com
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