#mlb-free-agency

#mlb-free-agency

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been connected to multiple relief pitchers, but have yet to land one of their targets. That list included Devin Williams, Raisel Iglesias and Ryan Helsley, who all signed new contracts. Edwin Díaz remains in play as the top available option, but the Dodgers are unlikely to meet his demands. Outside of Díaz, Robert Suarez is the best relief pitcher still available in free agency.

However, the Blue Jays hope in landing an elite bullpen arm could significantly take a bigger hit if the latest prediction by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com ends up coming to fruition. Feinsand has top free agent closer Edwin Diaz signing with the reigning World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers this winter. Blue Jays fans should roll their eyes at this Dodgers prediction

Evan Phillips, for example, became a free agent when the Los Angeles Dodgers declined to offer him a contract through the arbitration system. The right-handed reliever is recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June, a timeline that could put him back in action around the time that playoff contenders are searching for bullpen help at the trade deadline,

The left-hander had a bounce-back season with the Rangers after having a disappointing 2024 season with the Milwaukee Brewers (4.73 ERA, 3.14 FIP and 1.19 WHIP in 64.2 innings pitched). This year, Milner recorded a 3.84 ERA, 3.39 FIP and 1.27 WHIP in 70.1 innings pitched, which was an adequate result for a middle-of-the-pack reliever. The 34-year-old used a sweeper, sinker, change-up and four-seam fastball in the past year, with the sweeper (35%) and sinker (33%) being his top two pitches.

The MLB free agent class for relief pitchers got stronger with longtime Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks joining the group after the team declined to pick up his 2026 option worth $11 million. The right-hander is coming off another solid season as he went 4-5 with a 2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.04 WHIP and 27 saves in 60.1 innings pitched across 61 appearances. Fairbanks is part of a talented class of relievers that includes Edwin Díaz, Robert Suárez, Raisel Iglesias, Ryan Helsley, Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan, among others.

While I would love to see Cease in a Braves' uni, I think he may get a much better deal elsewhere with Atlanta's seeming insistence on being "logical" with every free agent (cue Friedman's famous quote). Milwaukee has a penchant for really getting something extra out of pitchers, and Peralta is a finished product who will be too expensive for them to keep much longer.

There is no Juan Soto in MLB free agency this year. There is definitely no Shohei Ohtani. But although there might not be a player who will inspire people to track the flight paths of private jets on social media, it's an intriguing class of free agents nonetheless -- one especially deep in power hitters. Players are ranked in order of their Baseball-Reference WAR from 2025.

While Naylor has been emphasized as the club's priority, Divish suggests that it's possible Polanco actually winds up being the one most likely to sign. That's in part due to Naylor's age, with Divish noting that he's likely to seek a deal longer than three years in free agency. That's the sort of contract that has typically fallen outside of Seattle's comfort zone under Dipoto in free agency, although it's not hard to imagine that the Mariners might view Naylor as an exception to that.

Brian Snitker, who has been with the Atlanta Braves organization for 49 years, will get a 50th year. According to Jeff Passan and Mark Bowman, it will not be as manager of the team. Snitker, who has been manager of the Braves since 2016 and won over 800 games, won 6 division titles, and won a World Series, will not be back.

Cade Cavalli shines with 7 scoreless innings, but Nathaniel Lowe's release marks a significant shift for the Nationals as they move forward without him.