Matchmaking Free Agents and Teams

Spring training is exactly one month away.

The Chicago Cubs pitchers and catchers will report to Mesa, Ariz, on February 9th in advance of their two-game against the Los Angeles on March 18-19 in Tokyo that will begin the MLB season. By February 14, all teams will be in camp.

So, time is running short on the offseason. Yet many good players remain on the free agent market and many teams who feel they will be contenders this year still have holes to fill.

With that in mind, let’s look at five matches that make sense:

PADRES AND ROKI SASAKI

The San Diego Padres need to add a starting pitcher as Joe Musgrove will miss the season while recovering from Tommy John reconstructive surgery. They will need a second starter if they trade Dylan Cease before he enters his final season before reaching free agency.

However, the Padres’ problem is they have little money. They drastically reduced payroll last year and there is now a family squabble over who should have control of the franchise.

Free agent Roki Sasaki would be the answer to a lot of the Padres’ problems. The Japanese right-hander has the makings of a top-of-the-rotation starter and is affordable because he can be paid the minimum salary of $760,000 this year as an international amateur free agent younger than 26.

BLUE JAYS AND ALEX BREGMAN

The Toronto Blue Jays are becoming perennial bridesmaids in free agency. They were spurned by Shohei Ohtani last offseason and Juan Soto this winter despite making offers of at least $700 million to each player.

There is a sense of urgency for the Blue Jays to make a big move. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette both can become free agents after the season and are more likely to stay if management shows a commitment to winning.

The Blue Jays need an offensive boost after finishing 23rd in MLB in runs scored last season. Alex Bregman would provide a big lift to a potentially dangerous lineup and be a significant upgrade at third base over Ernie Clement.

MARINERS AND PETE ALONSO

Seattle Mariners starting pitchers led the big leagues in ERA and WHIP last season. Yet the Mariners missed the postseason because of an anemic hitting attack.

The Mariners were 21st in MLB in runs scored, 22nd in OPS and 29th in batting average. They wasted a lot of good pitching.

Pete Alonso might not help the Mariners’ batting average, but his power bat would help solve the run-production problems. Alonso would provide a big boost to a team that currently projects to begin the season with a first base platoon of Luke Raley and Tyler Locklear.

GIANTS AND ANTHONY SANTANDER

New San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey has been given the resources from ownership to upgrade the roster this winter. The former All-Star catcher has responded by signing three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander and shortstop Willy Adames in free agency.

How much Verlander has left in his 41-year-old tank is debatable, but Adames should upgrade the offense. However, the Giants’ lineup needs more help after being 17th among the 30 MLB teams in runs scored last year.

Anthony Santander would be a good fit in right field following a 44-home run season with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. Santander might not hit 40 homers at Oracle Park, but he would provide more power at the position than Mike Yastrzemski.

ORIOLES AND JACK FLAHERTY

The Orioles were unable to retain ace right-hander Corbin Burnes, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for six years and $210 million. Unless the Orioles can trade from their deep farm system to acquire Cease, it will be difficult for them to add a No. 1 starter.

It seems like an odd pairing on the surface but a reunion between the Orioles and right-hander Jack Flaherty makes a lot of sense. Flaherty underperformed after the Orioles acquired him from the St. Louis Cardinals at the 2023 trade deadline but also wasn’t completely healthy.

Flaherty had a big bounce-back season with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers last year. He would look good fronting a rotation that includes Zack Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano.