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.
The Miami Marlins signed shortstop Tim Anderson in the 2023 off-season. Anderson is on a one-year deal hoping to get paid this off-season, however, everything is not going to plan. Anderson is batting just below the 200 mark at .195. This is not like Tim Anderson. Anderson has a .278 batting average for his career and is a two-time all-star. Maybe it’s not his fault for his batting woes.
With a chunk of the season behind us, it’s hard to say when he will get hot. The Marlins have a group of young charismatic players with Anderson at the helm, who are great baseball players. The question is, why is the team performing this badly? The Miami Marlins organization is known for making bad decisions and running great players out over the last three years. The lack of urgency to win in the organization could be affecting Anderson on the offensive end.
Tim Anderson is a two-time all-star (2021,2022) and won the 2019 batting title, making him one of the sport’s best young players. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2013. He spent three years in the minors before making his big league debut in 2016. His first seven years were with the White Sox, making him a key piece to the franchise. In 2022 the White Sox organization was going nowhere, and Anderson’s all-star level was getting nowhere.
Kinda like how Miami is right now. Miami is last in their division and twenty-three games out of first place. Tim Anderson should play for a team that can make him better, and have better team chemistry than he already has. Anderson’s offensive struggles are because there is no winning atmosphere in South Beach.
At this point in Anderson’s career, he should be playing for something, not playing just to be a great player. If Anderson goes to a team with winning chemistry and a winning atmosphere, his numbers could spike back up and compete in the playoffs.
Tim Anderson can also turn his performance around this season. If Anderson can have a good second half to the month of June, we could see the Tim Anderson of old in July. Once the weather gets warmer the bats heat up as well. Anderson is also the vet to that young core of guys. If he can spark a fire in the other players and get them going. Anderson can also be the X-factor on the defensive end as well. If he shows his fire on the defensive end then the rest of the team will fall in line.
No matter what the box score says, Tim Anderson is still a great player and be a key piece to any contending team. If he is around the right people and winning culture, he can become that All-star level player we all know.
For years the Miami Marlins have struggled to keep a consistent roster together. With a poor record (10-29) to start the season, a playoff run looks highly unlikely this season.
Also, in traditional Marlins’ fashion, the team has already begun to sell off big name players as last week they traded Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres. The fire sale mode of the team could mean that multiple MLBbros could be on the move.
These MLBbros could benefit from a change of scenery and this unstable losing environment.
This MLBbro has spent his entire five-year career with the Marlins, and he has electrified their fans with his flashy style and innovative style.
While ideally Chisholm would be a cornerstone piece for the future of the team, there is no certainty of this. Currently the MLBbro center fielder is batting .236 with five home runs and 20 RBI.
Jazz was an All-Star as recently as 2022 and still provides great speed and versatility, being able to play second base, shortstop, and center field. He is under team control for the next two seasons, so his availability is something to monitor around the league.
When the Miami Marlins acquired Josh Bell last year, he showed surges of power and was supposed to provide the team with a run-producer in the middle of the lineup.
He was much more impressive with them than he was with his previous team the Cleveland Guardians, hitting the same number of homers in 53 games with Miami (11) as he hit in 97 games with the Guardians.
This year has been bad to say the least. He is on pace for the worst statistical season of his career. There are numerous teams who are always willing to take a chance at switch-hitting power. What Bell lacks defensively, he makes up for with his effectiveness as a DH. He can also fill in as a below average first baseman defensively. When he’s rolling he’s a force.
Tim Anderson
Our last MLBbro in this entry has been on the decline for some time.
Signing Tim Anderson made a lot of sense at the time, adding a veteran to a younger team should have yielded dividends. However, Anderson has struggled to hit for power (zero home runs) and average (.203). With him still providing solid defense at shortstop he could possibly end up on a team willing to take a chance on him, especially due to his manageable contract status (one-year $5 million). But this experiment has simply not worked for the Marlins and if given a decent offer for the MLBbro they should readily accept.
Tim Anderson is showing his resilience and determination by recovering from a difficult 2023 season with the Chicago White Sox.
Since signing a one-year/$5M show me deal, Anderson is getting his mojo back with the Miami Marlins.
The former two-time all-star has endured hardships and disappointments, but his unwavering dedication to excellence has allowed him to rise above and become a top athlete once more.
In 2023, Anderson had a season he wants to forgetbatting (.245). That is not the standard for the former Silver Slugger. Anderson suffered an MCLsprain during a defensive rundown on April 10th.
“My front leg, so that kind of messed with me hitting.I kind of wasn’t really hitting up against anything on the front side.I’m really not trying to make that excuse,” said Anderson.
Nor did Anderson continue to fight throughout the 2023 season.TheWhite Sox finished the season with a record of61 wins and 101 losses. That was the second worst record in the American League Central behind the Kansas City Royals.
With an overall year full of disappointment on November 4, 2023, the White Sox declined their option on Anderson, making him a free agent.
Anderson’s lack of interest in free agency was due to injury and a poor season. Despite his proven track record of success on the field, teams were hesitant to pursue him due to concerns about his health and ability to return to form after injury.
For Anderson, the move represented a fresh start and an opportunity to make a meaningful impact with a new team. Joining the Marlins provided him with the chance to showcase his talents in a new environment and contribute to a rising young team.
For the Marlins’ signing Anderson was a statement of intent, signaling their commitment to fielding a competitive team and investing in a top-tier talent. His arrival added depth and firepower to the Marlins’ lineup.
A line up that has fellow MLBbros Jazz Chisholm, Nick Gordon, and Josh Bell.
In the 2024 season Anderson currently has a stat line of 4 RBI and a batting average of .230 for the Marlins.
Anderson’s rebound from a challenging season with the White Sox to a decent season with the Marlins is a testament to his resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
It’s the beginning of the MLB offseason and many teams are already starting to gear up to improve for the 2024 season and Spring Training. One team that is getting a lot of buzz in the headlines lately is the Los Angeles Angels.
The mainstream news regarding the Angels concerns superstar player Shohei Ohtani who’s out on the market as a free agent and has been rumored to seriously be looking at the Los Angeles Dodgers as a potential destination.
LA Angels Pursuing Tim Anderson?
Aside from the Ohtani news, the Angels have been rumored to display a strong interest in the former Chicago White Sox shortstop who’s coming off a disappointing season, where he posted career lows in batting average (.245), on-base percentage (.286), slugging percentage (.296), and on-base plus slugging percentage (.582).
The two years prior to last season Anderson was a back-to-back All-Star selection in both 2021 and 2022, the 2020 Silver Slugger recipient, and the AL batting champion in 2019. Anderson had a decline in numbers in large part due to injuries, suffering a knee sprain (and a three-week injured list stint) that seemed to throw off Anderson from regaining his All-Star momentum of the previous seasons.
Anderson, 30, was bought out by the White Sox for $1 million after the White Sox declined his $14 million dollar club option and sent Anderson to the free agency pool for the first time in his career after 10 seasons with the club.
Tim Anderson Moving To Second Base?
Anderson has played shortstop throughout his career, but it’s been rumored to be looking for him to play second baseman if he were to sign with the team. This would be a great bargain and steal for the Angels if they could sign a healthy and focused Anderson, adding depth around their franchise pillars and former league MVPs in Ohtani and Mike Trout, assuming Ohtani returns to the club.
Ohtani declined the Angels’ one-year $20.325 million qualifying offer ahead of Tuesday’s 1 p.m. PT deadline. The Angels will now receive Draft-pick compensation if Ohtani decides to sign elsewhere as a free agent.
The Angles have some young MLBbro prospects in outfielders Jo Adell and Jordyn Adams and talented middle infielder Kyren Paris, who are ready to make a huge impact on the team in 2024. In addition, Ron Washington has added former Houston Astros manager Bo Porter to his staff as a first base coach and adviser.
Porter has served in every capacity from managing, to bench coach and base coach, MLB Network and MASN analyst, executive and is the current Director of Coaching for MLB, adding a wealth of knowledge to an already experienced coaching staff.
However, getting Anderson would be a great overall pick up if he can get his health back on track. The Angels are projected to have second-year player Zac Neto as the potential top candidate for shortstop next season. Having Anderson on the roster would allow them the flexibility and depth if Neto struggles or gets hurt.
Assuming Ohtani leaves, the Angels will be losing their star designated hitter, opening up more at-bat opportunities for guys such as Anderson. Now Anderson is no Ohtani (hint no one is), if he can regain what made him a Silver Slugger winner in 2020, that will surely help fill what will be a major gap left by the two-way phenom and MVP’s departure.
Let’s all root for Anderson as he looks to get healthy and find a new home for his baseball career.
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