Without question, Juan Soto heads the MLB free agent class for 2025. But several MLBbros are looking for new contracts and homes this coming winter, too. From seasoned veterans like Josh Bell to players trying to salvage careers like Tony Kemp and Tim Anderson, former greats such as Andrew McCutchen and others with significant upside, this winter’s free-agent pool features a talented group of MLBbros who are poised to make an impact wherever they land.
Here’s a look at the MLBbros set to hit the free-agent market, along with their 2024 stats:
1. Josh Bell (1B/DH)
After a year spent with the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks, Bell is one of the most intriguing power hitters available this offseason. The 32-year-old switch-hitter has established himself as a consistent offensive force, capable of driving in runs and hitting for both average and power.
2024 Stats:
Batting Average: .249
Home Runs: 19
RBIs: 71
OPS.725
Bell’s combination of power and on-base ability makes him an attractive option for teams in need of a bat at first base or designated hitter.
2. Jack Flaherty (SP)
World Series Champion Black Jack Flaherty had a season for the books playing a vital role for the Los Angeles Dodgers. After dominating as a starter for the Detroit Tigers, Flaherty was acquired at the trade deadline and delivered. He was chosen to start Game 1 and he shut out the Yankees for five innings, before allowing a two-run home run to Giancarlo Stanton.
2024 Stats:
W-L Record: 13-7
ERA: 3.17
Strikeouts: 197
WHIP: 1.07
Flaherty’s stuff is undeniable, his ability to stay healthy and consistently pitch at a high level will be a key factor in his free-agent destination.
3. Tim Anderson (SS)
Once regarded as one of the top shortstops in baseball, Tim Anderson’s 2024 season saw some struggles offensively, but he remains a potentially dynamic presence at short if he can bring it all together again on and off the field. Known for his bat speed, aggressive baserunning, and energy, Anderson is a free agent who could revitalize his career in the right situation.
2024 Stats:
Batting Average: .214
Home Runs: 0
RBIs: 9
OPS: .463
While his power numbers dipped in 2024, Anderson’s ability to put the ball in play and his track record as a consistent hitter for average will draw attention from teams in need of a shortstop with speed and experience at the crucial position.
4. Michael A. Taylor (OF)
Known for his elite defensive ability, Michael A. Taylor remains one of the best center fielders in the game. A former Gold Glove winner with a respectable bat, Taylor has value as a fourth outfielder or starting center fielder on a contending team.
2024 Stats:
Batting Average: .193
Home Runs: 5
RBIs: 21
OPS: .543
5. Aaron Hicks (OF)
After an up-and-down tenure with the Los Angeles Angels, Aaron Hicks will be looking for a fresh start in 2025. A switch-hitter with a strong defensive profile, Hicks showed flashes of brilliance in 2024 but struggled with consistency.
2024 Stats:
Batting Average: .140
Home Runs: 1
RBIs: 5
OPS: .415
While Hicks’ overall numbers may not stand out, his ability to play all three outfield positions and provide power from both sides of the plate gives him a chance to bounce back in the right situation.
6. Andrew McCutchen (DH)
One of the most beloved players in baseball, Andrew McCutchen enters free agency with a storied career behind him. Though his prime years are in the past, McCutchen can still provide valuable leadership, plate discipline, and the occasional clutch hit.
2024 Stats:
Batting Average: .232
Home Runs: 20
RBIs: 59
OPS: .739
McCutchen may no longer be a superstar, but his veteran presence and ability to get on base will make him a sought-after asset in the right role.
7. Tony Kemp (2B/LF)
Known for his energy and gritty play, Tony Kemp is a versatile utility player who can contribute in a variety of ways. Kemp’s ability to play multiple infield and outfield positions makes him a valuable bench piece, and his speed and contact skills can provide a spark to a team looking for a depth piece.
2024 Stats:
Batting Average: .000
Home Runs: 0
RBIs: 0
8. Jason Heyward (OF)
After a resurgent 2024 season, Jason Heyward enters free agency ready to bounce back from a shaky season. Known for his glove and leadership, Heyward showed he still has something left in the tank.
2024 Stats:
Batting Average: .211
Home Runs: 10
RBIs: 37
OPS: .700
Heyward’s combination of defense, leadership, and timely hitting will make him a valuable asset to teams looking to add a veteran presence to their outfield.
9. Joe Ross (RP)
Joe Ross is an underrated arm who has battled injuries in the past but remains a reliable bullpen option for any contender. The 31-year-old right-hander could be a solid addition to a bullpen looking for depth and flexibility.
2024 Stats:
W-L Record: 3-6
ERA: 3.77
Strikeouts: 66
WHIP: 1.36
As the MLB free agent market heats up, these MLBbros will be looking for new homes where they can continue to make their mark on the game. Whether they are veterans with championship aspirations or young talents ready to break through, these players all have something to offer and will be closely watched by teams.
The 2024 season may have been a mixed bag for many of them, but each of these MLBbros brings something unique to the table in the quest for new contracts and future success.
Fans in Pittsburgh are loving what they are seeing from Taylor and he’s been fitting into the lineup quite well.
The Pirates have also started the season off strong and have one of the best records in all of baseball (8-2). The latest win came in dramatic fashion (3-2) on Sunday against the surging Orioles.
And Taylor has been a huge contributor and will look to contribute throughout the remainder of the season.
Taylor’s hot bat is a plus for Pittsburgh
Taylor started the season on a seven-game hit streak and had a superb series against his former team, the Washington Nationals.
During the three-game series, he went 7-for-12 with three RBI and scored three runs. When he returned to the nation’s capital, he enjoyed the reaction he received from National fans.
“That was awesome. That was really awesome,” Taylor said in an article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Probably one of the better moments I’ve had on a baseball field. To be able to come back here and get that kind of welcome was special. I really appreciated it.”
“I know what this place meant to me,” he said. “I had a lot of good times, and whether I got an ovation or anything like that, my time here was still very good.”
Taylor has wasted no time establishing himself at the plate this season. For his career, he’s currently hitting .240 and has only had two seasons where he hit over .250, which came in 2017 (.271) and 2022 (.254).
This could be Taylor’s first season where he hits .300 or better if he continues to have the success he’s had at the plate.
Playing a key role for the Pirates
Pittsburgh has been one of the hottest teams in the league so far and have been fun to watch. This could be the year where they make a potential playoff appearance since their last in 2015.
And Taylor, who has postseason experience, can certainly make a significant impact on this team, whether it’s in the field or at the plate.
The 2019 World Series champion talked about the makeup of this Pirates team and how it’s been playing with them.
“We have a very dynamic team,” Taylor said. “There’s a lot of ways we can score runs, and that’s keeping us in a lot of ball games. We’re just able to take what they give us.”
“I feel like we’re doing a great job with coming in with a game plan, and everyone’s committed to it and sticking to it,” he said. “That’s contagious. We’ve got a good thing going right now, and we’re looking forward to keeping it going.”
The Pirates will be a team to watch throughout the season and we will get to see if Taylor can continue his success at the plate.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are shocking the world with an 8-2 record to start the season, fueled by the play of MLBbro Michael A.Taylor. The World Series champion is doing it all for the Bucs.
Chris Bolton chooses him as our Home Boil Highlights recipient.
With the MLB season in its infancy stages, one of the more surprising stories is the white-hot start of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After a dominant Monday performance dismissing the Washington Nationals 8-4, the Pirates have raced off to a 5-0 record leading before running it back on Wednesday against the Nats. All of a sudden, a team that finished fourth in the NL Central with a 76-86 record without a winning record since 2018 is an offensive juggernaut these days.
Pittsburgh’s offense is on a historical, albeit short, run. The Pirates have tallied at least six runs in each of their victories for the first time in more than a century, something Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton loves…
“There’s significance to getting off to a good start,” Shelton said Monday night after the Pirates beat the Nats to follow up a four-game sweep at the Miami Marlins. “You come out of spring training and all the things you talk about that you kind of want to implement – and we’ve talked a lot about our intent should be and how it should be – and we’ve kind of executed that in the first five games.”
Teams don’t dominate offensively to the tune of 39-21 without input throughout the lineup. MLBbro.com has eyes on the collection of talent from the “MLBbro Amigo” trio consisting of Ke’Bryan Hayes, Andrew McCutchen, and Michael A. Taylor.
These three MLBbros have made their presence felt through the first week but Monday’s win featured two of the three…
Michael A. Taylor led the offensive brigade with three hits.
Andrew McCutchen followed suit strongly with two hits as well.
Another sweep on the road could possibly have the Pittsburgh Pirates become the talk of the Majors, shocking the baseball world with a long winning streak. But to do that, the contributions of the MLBbros will get them there.
Ke’Bryan Hayes:
For years, Ke’Bryan Hayes has been known for snagging balls in the field with swagger and excellence. Now it seems he has brought his baseball bat to the party. After struggling with injuries, Hayes started to find his eye at the plate.
Our MLBbro is coming off a career campaign at the plate with career highs in hits (134), doubles (31), triples, (7), Bro Bombs, (15) and RBI (61). In August, Hayes hit .320 with six homers and 20 RBI in August and followed that up with nine doubles and four homers in September.
Through five games this season, Ke’Bryan Hayes has been on fire, flirting with the .400 mark hitting .391 with five RBI and an even more impressive OPS 1.004. With the combination of a hot bat and his Gold Glove ease in the field…
Are NL MVP awards in his future? Just remember MLBbro.com mentioned it first.
Andrew McCutchen:
For any team to stay on top especially when it’s not a normal occurrence, locker room leadership is needed to keep everyone focused. This is the job of MLBbro, Andrew McCutchen. A player the Pirates brought back on a one-year $5 million deal this offseason. A veteran who has mastered the process of staying ready, and in the moment, understanding the highs and lows has already been shown this season…
After striking out five times in his first nine at-bats…
After being a scratch in the Saturday and Sunday games…
McCutchen returns to the lineup and has a solid 2-4 (with a walk) performance at the plate including a huge RBI in the 8th inning on Monday.
Andrew McCutchen with a double off the wall that would have been his 300th HR in 7/30 ballparks
Our MLBbro has a resume that includes five All-Star appearances and a 2013 NL MVP who remembers the last time this franchise was relevant leading the Pirates to three straight playoff appearances (2013-15).
If McCutchen can duplicate the stat line of 12 homers, 43 RBI and 55 runs from the DH spot in part-time duty, his experience alone as a winner will keep the young players on track. Keep it locked to MLBbro.com as we track Andrew’s 300th career home run, which he missed by inches on Monday.
Michael A. Taylor:
MLBbro.com has been shining the spotlight on Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II his whole career for his production at the plate out of the ninth spot in the lineup.
It’s time for him to slide over and make room for Michael A. Taylor, also a center fielder who is now on fire hitting out of the eighth/ninth slot in the lineup. This MLBbro is batting .471 with four RBI and an OPS of 1.064. Couple this with a slugging percentage of .588 Taylor is off to an unbelievable start. Like fellow MLBbro McCutchen, Taylor has a team-friendly one-year contract at $4 million.
The former American League Gold Glove winner has a 10-year run as one of the best fielding outfielders in the game. Now that his hot bat is included, it’s not hard to see why Pittsburgh is undefeated.
These three MLBbro amigos have illustrated three ingredients of winning baseball…offense…defense and leadership off the field. It’s something the Pittsburgh Pirates need to keep their winning ways.
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