Which player-team reunions make the most sense?

Which player-team reunions make the most sense?

November 15th, 2024

We’ll spend a lot of time this winter talking about free agents joining new clubs, but a number of players on this year’s market may wind up signing back with their former teams.

Here’s a look at all 30 clubs and which incumbent could make the most sense to return for 2025.

Jump to: AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

American League East

Blue Jays: LHP

Yarbrough, who was acquired for Kevin Kiermaier before the Trade Deadline, is Toronto’s lone free agent. The lefty posted a 2.01 ERA in 12 outings (31 1/3 innings) for the Blue Jays.

Orioles: RHP

Burnes delivered everything the Orioles could have hoped for when they acquired him last offseason, going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts. Burnes will be the most sought-after arm on the market this winter, so new ownership will have to make a major financial commitment to keep him in Baltimore.

Rays: None

The Rays do not have any free agents from their 2024 roster. They recently exercised their $10.5 million option on INF/OF Brandon Lowe.

Red Sox: RHP

Pivetta had a solid season in 2024, posting a 4.14 ERA and 103 ERA+ over 145 2/3 innings for Boston, which extended him a qualifying offer. The 31-year-old posted an above-average ERA+ in three of his four full seasons with the Red Sox, who could look to bring him back to fill a spot in the back end of the rotation.

Yankees: OF

Soto’s first year in New York was spectacular. He hit a career-high 41 home runs with a .988 OPS in 157 games. Soto is looking at a free-agent deal worth north of $500 million, but New York is one of the few clubs that can afford to dole out such a contract.

American League Central

Guardians: LHP

Boyd hasn’t thrown a full season’s worth of innings since 2019, when he had 185 1/3 for the Tigers. The 33-year-old returned from Tommy John surgery in August and pitched very well for the Guardians, posting a 2.72 ERA in eight starts.

Royals: OF

Pham didn’t post great numbers after being selected off waivers by the Royals, hitting two homers with a .587 OPS in 23 games. But Kansas City has loved his work ethic and influence in the clubhouse, so a return as an outfielder/DH wouldn’t be a surprise.

Tigers: RHP

The Tigers have no free agents from their 2024 roster other than Miller, whose $4.25 million club option was declined after the season. Miller was a valuable veteran presence in Detroit’s bullpen and could return on a new deal.

Twins: 1B

Payroll restraints may hinder the Twins’ ability to sign many free agents, but Santana remained productive in his age-38 season and could be a good fit to return. He hit 23 home runs with 71 RBIs and a .748 OPS in 150 games.

White Sox: RHP

The White Sox will understandably look to move on from most of their free agents following a 121-loss season, but Flexen could come back as back-end rotation depth. The 30-year-old went 3-15 with a 4.95 ERA while leading Chicago with 160 innings pitched.

American League West

Angels: RHP

The Angels’ other free agents include Matt Moore, Brandon Drury, Kevin Pillar and Adam Cimber, none of whom figures to return. Strickland had the best season of the group (3.31 ERA in 72 appearances) and could come back as part of the bullpen.

Astros: 3B

Bregman has spent his entire nine-year career with the Astros, who selected him with the second overall pick in the 2015 Draft. The third baseman started off slowly in 2024 but bashed 14 home runs with an .834 OPS in 53 games after the All-Star break, giving Houston plenty of incentive to assure that he finishes his career in the only Major League uniform he’s ever worn.

Athletics: RHP

The Athletics re-signed lefty reliever T.J. McFarland last week, leaving only Gott and Ross Stripling as the club’s free agents. Gott signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal for 2024, then underwent Tommy John surgery in early April and missed the entire season. He could re-sign with the A's to build his value back up.

Mariners: 2B

Polanco had a dreadful first half for the Mariners, hitting five home runs with a .567 OPS in 61 games. After the All-Star break, the 31-year-old hit 11 homers with a .740 OPS in 57 games, so although Seattle declined his $12 million club option and he recently underwent knee surgery, it’s possible the two sides can work out a new deal for him to return.

Rangers: RHP

Eovaldi earned a vesting $20 million option after surpassing the 300-inning mark in 2023-24 but declined it to test free agency following another strong season. The Texas native could choose to stay with the Rangers on a new deal, and given his importance both on and off the field, it wouldn’t be a shock for the Rangers to give the 34-year-old a multiyear contract.

National League East

Braves: RHP

Max Fried seems likely to move on from Atlanta, but the 41-year-old Morton doesn’t seem ready to retire, setting up a return to the Braves. Atlanta has Chris Sale, Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach atop the rotation, but Spencer Strider won’t be ready to start the season following last year’s Tommy John surgery. Newly acquired Griffin Canning will also factor into the rotation.

Marlins: None

The Marlins have no free agents from their 2024 roster.

Mets: 1B

Alonso is the biggest name of the Mets’ free agents, and while there has been plenty of chatter about New York making a push for Soto, a reunion with Alonso is definitely in play. Alonso has been the face of the franchise for several years, and his big October moments didn’t hurt his cause, either.

Nationals: RHP

The veteran went 6-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 13 starts for the Nationals, so he could return to solidify the back end of the rotation or even as a swingman.

Phillies: RHP

Philadelphia gave up two solid pitching prospects to acquire Estévez before the Trade Deadline, so the idea of re-signing him to keep him in the bullpen seems like a natural one. Estévez pitched well for the Phillies after the trade, posting a 2.57 ERA in 20 appearances.

National League Central

Brewers: RHP

Milwaukee is unlikely to spend enough to bring back Willy Adames or Frankie Montas, but Ross pitched well out of the bullpen over the final two months of the season, posting a 1.67 ERA in 15 appearances (27 innings).

Cardinals: RHP

Paul Goldschmidt is the bigger name, but it’s unclear whether the Cardinals will pay what it would take to bring the slugger back to St. Louis. Kittredge had a 2.80 ERA in 74 appearances in 2024 and is a steady, veteran presence in the bullpen, making a reunion quite possible.

Cubs: RHP

López signed with the Cubs in mid-June after being released by the Mets and pitched well for Chicago, posting a 2.03 ERA in 24 appearances. He has pitched for five clubs since the start of 2023 but could return to Chicago on a new deal.

Pirates: OF

It feels like a foregone conclusion that McCutchen will finish out his career in Pittsburgh, making a return a likely outcome this winter. He’s no longer playing at league-MVP level, but the 38-year-old hit 20 home runs with a .739 OPS in 120 games in 2024.

Reds: RHP

Amed Rosario and Justin Wilson are likely gone, but Farmer – who posted a 3.04 ERA in 61 appearances – could return as part of the bullpen bridge to closer Alexis Díaz.

National League West

D-backs: OF

Pederson declined his half of a $14 million mutual option, but the 32-year-old had a solid season in Arizona and could return on a multiyear deal. He hit 23 home runs with a .908 OPS in 132 games in 2024.

Dodgers: RHP

After missing all of 2023 following shoulder surgery, Treinen posted a 1.93 ERA in 50 appearances in 2024, holding opposing teams scoreless over his final 15 outings from Aug. 24 through the end of the regular season. The 36-year-old also had a stellar postseason, helping the Dodgers to the World Series.

Giants: LHP

Snell opted out of the final year of his contract, testing free agency for a second straight winter. It remains to be seen how new president of baseball operations Buster Posey approaches free agency, but bringing back their ace could be a priority for the Giants.

Padres: OF

Profar finally found a home at age 31, making his first All-Star team in 2024 after signing a one-year, $1 million deal with the Padres. He’s going to cost a lot more to retain, but he is a perfect fit in the lineup and the clubhouse, making him a strong candidate to return.

Rockies: C

Stallings declined his mutual option for 2025 but could work out a new deal to return. The 34-year-old hit nine home runs with an .810 OPS in 82 games for the Rockies in 2024, ranking in the 94th percentile of the league with 11 blocks above average behind the plate.