Many pitchers are set to become free agents in 2025. Some are more important than others, and where they land could make- or break many teams’ seasons in 2025. Money and winning will affect where many of these aces will land.
Where the Top Pitching Free Agents Will Sign For Next Season
7. Yusei Kikuchi (Re-sign)
Yusei Kikuchi is to become a free agent after the 2024 season. Although aged 33, the Houston Astros will see Kikuchi as a valuable pitcher. After a bad beginning to the season with the Toronto Blue Jays, Kikuchi turned things around with Houston; in 10 starts, Kikuchi manned a 2.75 ERA with 76 strikeouts and just 14 walks. Kikuchi achieved his first 200-strikeout season, and in all likeliness, he will be resigned by the Astros, who drastically improved their rotation thanks to him.
6. Jack Flaherty (New York Mets)
Jack Flaherty lost all of his velocity and is no longer the Cy Young contender he used to be. However, beginning with the Detroit Tigers, Flaherty achieved “Ace” status again before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and continuing his remarkable 2024 campaign. Signing Flaherty is a gamble for any team, as 2024 was his first good year since 2019, but it is a risk the New York Mets will be willing to take; the Mets would need pitchers like Blake Snell or Gerritt Cole to improve their rotation.
5. Max Fried (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Max Fried is best known for his ability to go deep into games and provide the Atlanta Braves with an excellent ERA. But the last few seasons have seen Fried struggle to stay healthy. Fried is not a strikeout pitcher and provided a worrying season for Atlanta thanks to injury. The Braves will not care very much as Fried will head near home to the Dodgers. The Dodgers need healthy pitchers, and although Fried is not a prime example, for the Dodgers, Fried would be just fine.
4. Sean Manea (Re-sign)
Sean Manea became an absolute stud for New York in 2024. Thankfully, New York can afford him easily and more. Manea gave New York a career year, as he manned a 3.47 ERA and 184 strikeouts. He also gave the Mets 32 starts, the most innings pitched in his career, and longevity. The Mets will not hesitate to re-sign Manea.
3. Blake Snell (San Diego Padres)
Despite being 32 next season, Snell is no doubt a stud still. After a bad start to 2024, injury, and more, Snell still acquired a 3.12 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 20 starts. Snell will have more Cy Youngs in the future. And the San Diego Padres will come back to get Snell. The San Francisco Giants can afford Snell, but thanks to a Juan Soto sweepstakes, a Snell deal might be complicated in all likeliness. The Padres need a crucial free agent to continue to manage their surprising team; Snell fits the bill.
2. Gerrit Cole (Houston Astros)
Cole is 34 and seems to be wearing out a little. Cole seemed to struggle to stay healthy this season, and in 17 starts, Cole managed a 3.41 ERA with just 99 strikeouts. Watch out for Steve Cohen and the Mets, who signed Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer to big deals. But the New York Yankees will want to re-sign Juan Soto and focus on other pitchers. Cole will sign with the old Astros. Houston will want to sign at least one good free agent and will be willing to take a risk for Cole, who still hasn’t any velocity and could still be great.
1. Corbin Burnes (San Francisco Giants)
Not many have discussed the possibility that Corbin Burnes could very well end up with the Giants. The Giants do not need to go after Snell and Soto, and they could chase after Burnes, who has won Cy Young and notched several 200-strikeout seasons. And even though he struck out 181 this year (lowest since 2020), he still managed a 2.92 ERA. Burnes will sign with the Giants once Soto and Snell don’t sign with San Francisco.
Several pitchers will define 2025. Where they land will affect the World Series for years to come.
Main Image: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
