These free agents are worthy of the All-MLB Team

These free agents are worthy of the All-MLB Team

November 11th, 2024

Every free agent wants to head into the open market on the heels of a suburb season. In 2024, some current free agents were so good that they became nominees for the All-MLB Team presented by MGM Rewards.

Which players made the cut? We'll find out on Thursday during the All-MLB Awards Show, which will air on MLB Network at 8 p.m. ET and is a part of All-MLB Weekend in Las Vegas.

In anticipation of the festivities, here's a closer look at the free agents who could land on the 2024 All-MLB Team.

FIRST BASE

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Alonso went deep 34 times and posted a .788 OPS in 2024, appearing in all 162 games for the Mets. The slugger has hit 226 homers since his 2019 debut, ranking second only to Aaron Judge (232) in that span. He last made the All-MLB Team in 2019, earning First Team honors after setting a rookie record with 53 dingers.

Unlike Alonso, Walker didn’t have instant success in the Majors, but he has blossomed into one of the top first basemen in the game in his 30s, combining a potent bat with elite defense. Walker won his third straight Gold Glove Award in 2024 and hit 26 homers with an .803 OPS over 130 games for the D-backs.

THIRD BASE


Bregman is a free agent after eight seasons with Houston, during which the team won seven division titles, four AL pennants and two World Series championships. The veteran third baseman rebounded from a slow start to hit .288 with 22 homers and an .862 OPS over his final 94 games in 2024, helping the Astros overcome a sizable deficit behind the Mariners in the AL West to finish in first place once again. He has one All-MLB Team selection under his belt, earning a place on the Second Team in 2019.

SHORTSTOP


Adames had an outstanding walk year in 2024, setting career highs in homers (32), doubles (33), RBIs (112) and steals (21) while posting a .793 OPS over 161 games for the National League Central-champion Brewers. Adames has hit 112 home runs since 2021, tying Corey Seager for first among primary shortstops.

OUTFIELD

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Soto is last in this alphabetized list but undoubtedly No. 1 among 2024-25 free agents. Already one of the game's premier talents before he was traded to the Yankees last winter, Soto put together what may have been his best season to date in 2024. His 41 homers, 128 runs scored and .988 OPS were all career bests and among the top five in MLB. He seems likely to make the All-MLB Team for a fourth time.

Soto and the Yankees were knocked off in the World Series by Hernández and the Dodgers. The right-handed slugger hit 33 home runs and logged an .840 OPS during his year in L.A. O'Neill is another righty bopper -- his 31 home runs tied for 10th-most in the AL -- but he does come with injury concerns. O'Neill played in 113 games this year and has missed at least 40 games in each of the past three seasons.

Profar and Santander are switch-hitters who offer different skill sets. Profar, with his high walk and low strikeout rates, finished 2024 with a .280 average and a .380 on-base percentage. His bat has some pop (24 homers), but not as much as Santander's. Santander mashed 44 home runs and racked up 102 RBIs for the Orioles.

DESIGNATED HITTER


Pederson made a big impact after signing a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the D-backs last offseason, recording 23 homers with a career-high .908 OPS over 449 plate appearances in his age-32 campaign.

STARTING PITCHER

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After cementing himself as one of baseball's top starters from 2020-23 with Milwaukee, Burnes was traded to the Orioles in February and kept dominating the opposition in his new surroundings. His 2.92 ERA was seventh-best in the Majors, and his 31.6% hard-hit rate ranked in the 95th percentile. Burnes' strikeout rate dropped for the fourth straight season, down to 23.1%, slightly above league average. However, considering that he has tossed at least 190 innings in each of the past three seasons, Burnes' blend of reliability and results is unmatched among free-agent pitchers.

Flaherty was also on the move in 2024 as he was dealt at the Trade Deadline from the Tigers to the Dodgers. Flaherty's 3.17 ERA, 162 innings and 29.9% K rate were his best since 2019. Thanks to his improved command, Flaherty's K-BB rate of 24% was fourth-best among qualified starters.

Manaea rebounded from a couple of subpar seasons with arguably the best of his career. The 32-year-old left-hander posted a 3.47 ERA across a career-high 181 2/3 frames. He was a bona fide ace during the season's second half; he limited hitters to a .181 average and a .576 OPS through his final 18 regular-season starts.

RELIEF PITCHER

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After posting a 5.68 ERA over 134 appearances for the Rockies and Reds from 2016-22, Hoffman unexpectedly broke out for the Phillies in 2023. The right-hander built on that success in 2024, earning his first All-Star selection and finishing with a 2.17 ERA, 89 strikeouts, 10 saves and 21 holds over 66 1/3 innings. Scott also earned his first All-Star nod in 2024, recording a 1.75 ERA with 84 strikeouts and 22 saves over 72 innings between the Marlins and Padres.

Meanwhile, Jansen (37), Yates (37) and Robertson (39) are all still going strong in their late 30s. Jansen, who ranks fourth in MLB history with 447 saves, added 27 saves to his total in 2024 and ended the year with a 3.29 ERA over 54 2/3 innings for the Red Sox. Yates and Robertson both joined the Rangers on one-year deals last offseason and locked down the late innings for Texas. Yates had a microscopic 1.17 ERA with 33 saves and 85 K's, while Robertson recorded a 3.00 ERA with 34 holds and 99 K's.