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MLB Free Agent Rankings: Top 10 Starting Pitchers originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
This offseason has a familiar feel for Boston Red Sox fans. After missing the playoffs for the fifth time in six years, the club needs to prioritize starting pitching.
Last year, with Craig Breslow replacing Chaim Bloom as president of baseball operations, the Red Sox addressed the rotation by signing Lucas Giolito and little-known forward Cooper Criswell. Giolito did not throw a pitch for Boston in 2024 due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.
More MLB free agent rankings for 2025
Even if Giolito is expected to return in 2025, more needs to be done to improve the pitching staff. To do so, Breslow and Co. will have to make a blockbuster trade or spend a lot of money in free agency. Boston has been reluctant to make any of those moves. in recent low seasons.
However, there will be options for them in the 2025 free agent class. It’s not the strongest group of starting pitchers, but there are some attractive options for the Red Sox if John Henry finally wants to break the bank.
Here’s a look at the top 10 starting pitchers hitting the open market.
1. Corbin Burnes, RHP
Age: 30
2024 statistics: 15-8, 2.95 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 172 SO, 47 BB, 189.1 IP (31 starts)
Corbin Burnes lived up to the hype as a true ace after being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Baltimore Orioles. The 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner anchored the O’s staff and was selected to the All-Star Game for the fourth consecutive year, this time as a starter for the American League.
Burnes will cost a pretty penny as the most coveted pitcher on the market, but he will almost certainly be worth the high price. He has proven to be one of the most durable starters in the game (three straight years with 30+ starts) and is a virtual lock to post an ERA around 3.00, roughly 200 innings and 200 strikeouts in a season.
2. Blake Snell, P.I.
Age: 32
2024 statistics: 5-3, 3.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 145 SO, 44 BB, 104 IP (20 starts)
Note: Snell has a $38.5 million player option with the San Francisco Giants for 2025.
Despite winning the 2023 National League Cy Young Award, Snell did not sign his free agent contract until March 27, the eve of Opening Day. This time it shouldn’t take teams as long to throw money at him.
Snell posted career-best K/9 (12.5) and FIP (2.43) to prove his second Cy Young season was no fluke. If he opts out as expected, he will be among the most sought-after weapons on the market.
3. Max Fried, P.I.
TOGe: 31
2024 statistics: 10-10, 3.42 ERA, 1.195 WHIP, 157 SO, 55 BB, 165.2 IP (28 starts)
Fried has been among the game’s most consistent starters since 2020. The veteran left-hander has posted a 3.25 ERA or lower in every season since, earning two All-Star nods, an NL Cy Young runner-up finish and three. Golden Gloves in the process. He was instrumental in the Braves’ 2021 World Series title.
As arguably the best lefty available, Fried will be expensive. But after him, Burnes and Snell, there aren’t many true aces in this year’s free agent class.
4. Jack Flaherty, RHP
Age: 29
2024 statistics: 13-7, 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 194 SO, 55 BB, 162 IP (28 starts)
Flaherty bet on himself when he signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers in free agency. That decision paid off as he enjoyed a stellar bounce-back campaign in 2024.
He made 18 starts with Detroit, compiling a 2.85 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 133 strikeouts before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline. With Los Angeles he posted a 3.58 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 61 strikeouts in 10 starts.
There’s a pretty steep drop from the Burnes/Snell/Fried trio to the Flaherty level. Still, the 29-year-old right-hander should gain plenty of attention in free agency after showing his undeniable upside.
5. Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
Age: 35
2024 statistics: 11-8, 3.96 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 161 SO, 41 BB, 163.2 IP (28 starts)
Note: Eovaldi has a $20 million player option with the Texas Rangers for 2025.
Eovaldi followed up his solid debut season in Texas with arguably an even better 2024 campaign. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two-time World Series champion opt out of his $20 million contract and stay with his hometown team, but he would almost certainly make more than that on the open market as a proven veteran with a postseason run. . genealogy.
6. Sean Manea
Age: 33
2024 statistics: 12-5, 3.29 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 183 SO, 61 BB, 178 IP (31 starts)
Note: Manaea has a $13.5 million player option with the New York Mets for 2025.
Manaea led the Mets to the postseason as the ace of the pitching staff in 2024. The veteran left-hander posted the best ERA of his nine-year career and pitched a career-high 181.2 innings. While some regression should be expected, he will be an excellent addition for teams looking for a reliable middle-of-the-rotation starter.
7. Michael Wacha, RHP
Age: 33
2024 statistics: 13-8, 3.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 143 SO, 44 BB, 161.2 IP (28 starts)
Note: Wacha has a $16 million player option with the Kansas City Royals for 2025.
Perhaps the Royals’ surprisingly successful season will be enough to convince Wacha to exercise his player option. However, the veteran right-hander continued to prove himself worthy of a multi-year deal with another breakout campaign. It’s only getting better with age.
8. Luis Severino, RHP
Age: 31
2024 stats: 11-7, 3.97 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 161 SO, 60 BB, 182 IP (31 starts)
Severino was one of the players with the greatest recovery of the season. After a terrible end to his career with the Yankees, the veteran right-hander moved to Queens and reminded the league of what he is capable of when healthy. He likely earned himself a sizable deal in free agency.
9. Yusei Kikuchi, LHP
Age: 33
2024 statistics: 9-10, 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 206 SO, 44 BB, 175.2 IP (32 starts)
Kikuchi struggled with the Toronto Blue Jays this season, but found something after being traded to the Houston Astros at the deadline. The Japanese left-hander was one of the league’s best pitchers during the second half, posting a 2.70 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 10 starts (60 innings) with Houston. It would be foolish to expect those numbers to continue throughout 2025, but Kikuchi at least put himself on the map as a solid mid-rotation target this offseason.
10. Shane Bieber, RHP
Age: 29
2024 statistics: 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 20 SO, 1 BB, 12 IP (two starts)
Bieber completes the list as a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. The 2020 American League Cy Young is expected to return from Tommy John surgery in May or June and even if he’s not his Cy Young self, he should be a valuable piece for teams in need of starting pitchers. The main concern is that his speed decreased significantly in 2023, which could scare some clubs.
Honorable mentions: Matthew Boyd, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Walker Buehler, Charlie Morton, Clayton Kershaw, Alex Cobb, José Quintana, Nick Pivetta, Andrew Heaney, Michael Lorenzen, Nick Martínez, Martín Pérez.