[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

While we're delaying what feels like the inevitable: You get to add 60 million AAV this off-season to fix the Royals for 2025 and beyond. How are you approaching it?

Spoiler!

Here's how future free-agent classes look
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Here's how future free-agent classes look
September 4th, 2024
MLB.com

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Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman and Jordan Montgomery were among the top stars who reached free agency after the 2023 World Series.

But what about upcoming free-agent classes? Here's a look at the notable players who are set to become free agents in 2024-25 and beyond.

Notable free agents for 2024-25
Catcher: Elias Díaz, Gary Sánchez (mutual option), Yasmani Grandal, Danny Jansen, Travis d'Arnaud, Yan Gomes, Francisco Mejía, Austin Barnes (club option), Omar Narváez, Carson Kelly, James McCann, Martín Maldonado (club option), Tomás Nido, Austin Nola, Austin Hedges, Jacob Stallings, Max Stassi (club option), Andrew Knizner

First base: Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso, Rhys Hoskins (opt-out), Anthony Rizzo (club option), Josh Bell, Rowdy Tellez, Christian Walker, Ryan O'Hearn, Carlos Santana

Second base: Gleyber Torres, Brandon Lowe (club option), Ha-Seong Kim (mutual option), Whit Merrifield (club option), Wilmer Flores (player option/club option), Jorge Polanco (club option), Brandon Crawford, Brandon Drury, Adam Frazier (mutual option)

Third base: Alex Bregman, Justin Turner, Eugenio Suárez (club option), Gio Urshela, J.D. Davis, Yoán Moncada (club option)

Shortstop: Willy Adames, Tim Anderson, Miguel Rojas (club option), Amed Rosario, Paul DeJong, Garrett Hampson, Joey Wendle

Outfield: Juan Soto, Cody Bellinger (opt-out), Alex Verdugo, Michael Conforto, Joey Gallo, Tyler O’Neill, Joc Pederson (mutual option), Anthony Santander, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (opt-out), Teoscar Hernández, Aaron Hicks, Andrew McCutchen, Kevin Kiermaier, Max Kepler, Harrison Bader, Mark Canha, Mitch Haniger (opt-out), Hunter Renfroe (player option), Manuel Margot (mutual option), Michael A. Taylor, Charlie Blackmon, Adam Duvall, Randal Grichuk (mutual option), Jason Heyward, Jurickson Profar

Designated hitter: J.D. Martinez, Eloy Jiménez (club option), Marcell Ozuna (club option), Daniel Vogelbach, Matt Carpenter

Starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole (opt-out), Blake Snell (opt-out), Justin Verlander (vesting option), Max Scherzer, Corbin Burnes, Clayton Kershaw (player option), Max Fried, Shane Bieber, Jordan Montgomery (vesting option), Walker Buehler, Nathan Eovaldi (vesting option), Robbie Ray (opt-out), Alex Cobb, Kyle Hendricks, Charlie Morton, Freddy Peralta (club option), Merrill Kelly (club option), Lucas Giolito (player option), Sean Manaea (opt-out), Michael Wacha (player option), Wade Miley (mutual option), Michael Lorenzen, Lance Lynn (club option), Kyle Gibson (club option), Luis Severino, Frankie Montas (mutual option), James Paxton, Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, Patrick Corbin, Anthony DeSclafani, Nick Pivetta, Martín Pérez, Domingo Germán, Marco Gonzales (club option), Andrew Heaney, Eric Lauer, John Means, Zach Plesac, José Quintana, Michael Soroka, Ross Stripling, Spencer Turnbull, Luke Weaver, Alex Wood


Relief pitcher: Kenley Jansen, Giovanny Gallegos (club option), Ryan Pressly (mutual option), Craig Kimbrel (club option), Hector Neris (club option), Adam Ottavino, Aroldis Chapman, Daniel Bard, Kendall Graveman, David Robertson (mutual option), Paul Sewald, Jonathan Loáisiga, Blake Treinen, Scott Barlow, John Brebbia, Diego Castillo, Andrew Chafin (club option), Adam Cimber, Jake Diekman, Seranthony Domínguez (club option), Carlos Estévez, Dylan Floro, Josh Fleming, Shintaro Fujinami, Luis García, Yimi García, Jakob Junis (mutual option), Phil Maton (club option), Matt Moore, Brent Suter, Luke Jackson (club option), Tommy Kahnle, Joe Kelly, Andrew Kittredge, José Leclerc, Jorge López, Chris Martin, Nick Martinez (opt-out), Keynan Middleton (club option), Shelby Miller (club option), A.J. Minter, Emilio Pagán (opt-out), Wandy Peralta (opt-out), Tanner Scott, Lucas Sims, Will Smith, Ryne Stanek, Josh Staumont, Chris Stratton (player option), Lou Trivino (club option), Kirby Yates

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The marquee name in the 2024-25 class is Soto, who will be coming off his age-25 season when he is eligible to test the open market for the first time. The Yankees will presumably attempt to sign him to an extension before that point, considering what they gave up to acquire him from the Padres this offseason.

Additionally, this is a solid free-agent class on the starting-pitcher front, with Burnes, Fried, Scherzer, Bieber and Buehler among the notable names eligible for free agency. The crop could get even deeper if Cole opts out of his contract, though the Yankees can supersede his opt-out by adding one year and $36 million to his deal.

Buying a ****ing bullpen