Juan Soto still tops roster heading into the World Series (Video)

as we Prepare for a star-studded World Series Let’s not overlook the still-shaping free agency landscape in the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. You’re bound to hear a lot about it every time Yankees superstar Juan Soto or Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernández approaches the field during the World Series. There are also plenty of Dodgers and Yankees who will hit the open market once the series ends.

Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz covered the field throughout the regular season with top 25 list. Here’s a look at the top free agents entering the Fall Classic. This list will evolve and expand as we get closer to hot stove season.

Juan Soto, Yankees OF, 26 years old

He’s already proven himself to the Yankees’ lore. AL pennant secures victory over Guardians. The deal is expected to break a record.

Mint: Soto is the best player on the market and he’s not even close. Free agent signings will start with five; Remember, he turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Nats in 2022.

Willy Adames, Brewers SS, 29 years old

Mint: Dansby Swanson entered free agency with a poor performance in the winter of 2022 and received a seven-year, $177 million contract. It feels like Adames’ floor. People around the game also see the Dominican-born defender as an elite clubhouse presence.

Corbin Burnes, Orioles SP, 30 years old

Burnes gave the Orioles A gem in the AL wild card round this was squandered by Baltimore’s short-lived playoff run. He will enter free agency with the upper arm available.

Mint: Burnes’ contract number probably starts with two.

Max Fried, Braves SP, 31 years old

Mint: There’s an argument to be made that Fried is in the same group as Blake Snell in the top 10, but I think the southpaw’s long history of success is a separator.

Alex Bregman, Astros 3B, age 31

Mint: Bregman is no longer the MVP candidate he was a few years ago, but he’s also not the listless ghost we saw in the first six weeks of 2024. All this points to a figure around $200. Bregman will be much sought after.

Blake Snell (disabled), Giants SP, age 32

Mint: The reigning NL Cy Young’s only need was time. Snell has rediscovered peak form after a stop-and-start first few months while recovering from a series of nagging injuries. We expect him to opt out of the contract he signed with San Francisco last winter.

Pete Alonso, Mets 1B, 30 years old

If this is Alonso’s final outing with the Mets, he deserves a hat tip from fans. A legendary hitter who knocked off the Brewers in the wild-card round And Another that helped expand the NLCS.

Mint: The fact that he is still a right-handed first baseman scares teams. He’s a great hitter, but he’s not an elite player. There is a gap between what Alonso once hoped to receive ($200 million) and what he is likely to receive (closer to $125). Still, he ranks above the following group of strikers due to his many years of history.

Anthony Santander, OF Orioles, 30 years old

The microscopic sample size of Baltimore’s short-lived postseason appearance — 1-for-8 with 2 Ks — shouldn’t be a hindrance in free agency.

Mint: The hitting outfielder has a few inevitable warts: He’s a mediocre defender and walks less than you’d expect for a middle-order bat. Still, Santander has carried Oriole long watering through the summer and 40 homer slugs don’t grow on trees.

Teoscar Hernández, OF Dodgers, 32 years old

He’s about to get a hefty raise from his one-year, $23.5 million deal with the Dodgers. The shine of a potential World Series title doesn’t hurt either.

Mint: He is ranked behind Santander because he is older and not a hitter, but Hernández Jurickson is ranked ahead of Profar because he has a much longer track record.

Jurickson Profar, Padres OF, 32 years old

Profar was made One of the most memorable catches of this postseason.but he batted just .200 in the Padres’ seven games.

Mint: This year marked a later exit than ever for the previous top candidate. Whether it’s enough for a team to commit major years and dollars to a completely mediocre player for a decade remains to be seen.

Jack Flaherty, Dodgers SP, 29 years old

Here’s another World Series participant whose free-agent profile could jump even higher with a big performance in the Fall Classics.

Mint: He is no longer a candidate burdened with a qualifying offer that could disrupt his market (players traded midseason are not eligible).

Cody Bellinger (disabled), Cubs OF/1B, age 29

Mint: He has two years and $53 million left on the deal he signed with the Cubs last winter, and while his offensive numbers are a step down from a resurgent 2023, he’s still an above-average hitter who can play center field.

Christian Walker, Diamondbacks 1B, age 34

Mint: He remains a fascinating free agent proposition as a relatively older cornerback with a long history of hitting baseballs.

Ha-Seong Kim (disabled), Padres IF, age 29

Mint: There’s a concerning stagnation in his power output, especially for a player who doesn’t hit for a high average and is a more solid shortstop defender than Gold Glover. On the other hand, there aren’t many players who can hack him defensively at his toughest field position, which should make Kim a hot commodity despite his offensive issues.

Yusei Kikuchi, Astros SP, 34 years old

Mint: Houston was criticized for overpaying for the Japanese left-hander at the trade deadline, but Kikuchi did well for the Astros with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts. With a revamped approach — he throws his slider more and uses his curveball less — a rejuvenated Kikuchi could land another multi-year deal this winter.

Tyler O’Neill, Red Sox outfielder, 30 years old

Injuries aside, O’Neill had scored 31 goals in 113 appearances in 2024.

Joc Pederson, D-backs DH, age 33

Mint: Swinging to left, Pederson is a pure platoon bat at this point. He still gets commission, but is that enough to secure a multi-year deal?

Michael Wacha (deactivated), Royals SP, 34 years old

Mint: Wacha has one year and $16 million remaining on his deal with the Royals. The veteran right-hander is a good bet to opt out; He’s ranked in the top 20 in MLB in ERA and has made at least 23 starts in nine of the last 10 seasons.

Gleyber Torres, Yankees 2B, 28 years old

Will his solid postseason performance help him shed his “low energy player” reputation? The move to the lead spot in mid-August certainly helped.

Tanner Scott, Padres RP, 30 years old

Mint: He is still the most exciting reliever on the market.

Clay Holmes, Yankees RP, 32 years old

Mint: His trademark sinker will never be a top-notch swing-and-miss proposition, but he has garnered more whiffs than his disastrous mid-season slump.

Carlos Estévez, Phillies RP, age 32

Mint: He feels like he’s locked into improving on the $2/13.5 million deal he received from the Angels in 2022.

Justin Verlander, Astros SP, 42 years old

If he hits the 130 IP mark, the player option would be valid. He fell just short of that due to injuries that kept him off the Astros’ playoff roster. Mint: Verlander has been open about his desire to pitch by age 45, and while his skill set and command have looked poor in his two starts since coming off the IL, he’s still getting enough starts to warrant another deal even if he returns to Houston. . Win number 300 lurks in the distance.

Shane Bieber, Guardians SP, age 30

I made two starts this season before Tommy John surgery. Mint: He won’t be ready to pitch again until next April at the earliest. Considering its performance, it is sure to still attract a lot of attention. Bieber was a top-10 pitcher from 2020 to 2022 and is young enough to imagine him rising to those heights again.

Alex Verdugo, Yankees OF, 29 years old

Mint: Frankly, Verdugo is not a very dynamic hitter. A league average player.