Juan Soto and 10 other impending MLB free agents with the most at stake in the playoffs

Happy MLB Playoffs! It's an exciting time of year. All 12 playoff teams have a legitimate shot at a World Series title. The goal of every team and every player is to win it all, but there is even more at stake for future free agents as their value can increase, stay the same or decrease depending on how they perform and whether they are available in the coming weeks Avoid injuries.

Every impending free agent wants to perform well in the postseason, but these 11 players arguably have the most at stake this October. I can't wait to see them.

1. Juan Soto, OF, Yankees

Juan Soto lived up to expectations in his first year in the Bronx – just look at the numbers: 41 home runs, 128 runs scored, 129 walks, 108 RBIs, 178 OPS+, 7.9 WAR (Baseball-Reference). Most industry projections have his free agent value somewhere between $500 million and $700 million, but how he performs in October could determine whether his overall contract value starts at a 5 or a 6. He turns 26 at the end of October and is part of a generation of talent that will reach free agency in its prime. And if he can win the second World Series of his career, I think his next contract will start with a 6, not a 5.

2. Corbin Burnes, RHP, Orioles

Corbin Burnes gave the Orioles exactly what they wanted this season as he went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts and made the All-Star team for the fourth straight year. He will enter free agency as the best starting pitcher on the market. However, how he performs in the biggest moments, in the biggest games and on the biggest stage will have an impact on how much competing teams are willing to offer him. Burnes, who turns 30 later this month, is under more pressure than any other Oriole as his starts will be key to their chances of promotion.

3. Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets

Pete Alonso had his lowest output in four years with 34 home runs, and for the first time since 2021 he didn't hit at least 40. The four-time All-Star needs a strong offseason to get the contract he's looking for this winter. He wants to stay in New York, and fans want Polar Bear back, too, but getting the Mets' front office to commit and pay him could come down to playoff performance.

4. Anthony Santander, OF, Orioles

Anthony Santander is still underrated outside of Baltimore, but that could change after Tony Taters' great year in which he hit 44 home runs with 102 RBIs and a 134 OPS+. The Nationals, Mariners and Blue Jays are among the teams looking for cornerback-outfield power this offseason. Santander, who has averaged 35 home runs per season over the past three years, will be closely watched by evaluators before he enters free agency ahead of his age-30 season.

5. Alex Bregman, 3B, Astros

Alex Bregman certainly noticed that the Giants extended their third baseman, Matt Chapman, to a six-year, $151 million extension, and he will want to undercut that deal in free agency. His first choice is to re-sign with the Astros, who haven't even come close to extending him. Several teams could use an upgrade at third base, including the Yankees (who could move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base), the Tigers (remember, Bregman played for their manager AJ Hinch), the Royals and the Mariners. After a slow start, the 30-year-old finished the season with 26 home runs and an OPS+ of 118. Bregman has had a stellar postseason career, and if he can do it again under the bright lights, it will only increase his value.

6. Willy Adames, SS, Brewers

Willy Adames will enter free agency as the top shortstop in the 2024-25 class. The hard-hitting shortstop had 32 home runs, 33 doubles and 112 RBIs, all career highs. He hit a respectable .251/.331/.462 (118 OPS+). However, in 32 career postseason games, he hit .220 with just two home runs. Teams looking for a shortstop this winter will want to see how the 29-year-old performs in the playoffs this time around.

7. Michael Wacha, RHP, Royals

Michael Wacha has been signed to short-term contracts for the last three years, despite posting ERAs under 3.40 with 23 or more starts in the last three seasons. This year he went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 29 starts (166 2/3 innings). He signed a one-year, $16 million contract with Kansas City last offseason that included a player option that he is expected to exercise. If he can perform well for the Royals in the postseason and help them win a series, the 33-year-old could finally get a longer-term deal this winter.

8. Jack Flaherty, RHP, Dodgers

The Tigers had agreed to trade Jack Flaherty to the Yankees at the trade deadline, but the deal fell through because New York was concerned about his back and medical records, even though he was only a rental player. Flaherty was eventually traded to the Dodgers and performed well with a 3.58 ERA over 10 starts, finishing the year with a 3.17 ERA, 194 strikeouts and only 38 walks. However, since the Yankees are known to have health concerns regarding Flaherty, teams will be watching closely to see how his back performs in the postseason. He will be 29 years old in October.

9. Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Dodgers

Teoscar Hernández made his second All-Star team this year and hit .272/.339/.501 (137 OPS+) with 33 homers and 99 RBIs while playing subpar defense in the outfield. Due to the lack of cornerbacks outside of Soto and Santander, there will be multiple teams pursuing Hernández, who turns 32 this month.

10. Yusei Kikuchi, LHP, Astros

When the Astros dealt Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner to the Blue Jays for Yusei Kikuchi at the trade deadline, I wrote that they overpaid to acquire the rental starter. But the Astros won all but one of his ten starts for them, so maybe they didn't pay enough to get him! After posting a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts with Toronto, Kikuchi made adjustments to his repertoire with Houston that resulted in a 2.70 ERA in 10 appearances with 70 strikeouts in 60 innings. Interested teams in free agency will have to decide whether to believe the results of his years in Seattle (4.97 ERA in 70 starts) and Toronto (4.48 ERA in 80 appearances) or the small sample size with Houston. How he performs in the playoffs could be a big factor in what teams are willing to offer the 33-year-old left-hander.

11. Gleyber Torres, 2B, Yankees

It appears that Gleyber Torres is playing his final season with the Yankees as all signs point to them moving on from him this offseason when he becomes a free agent. Torres has slashed .257/.330/.378 with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs this year. He had his lowest OPS (.709) and home run total since 2021. He played below-average defense at second base. The 27-year-old Torres is under a lot of pressure to increase his value this postseason, and he will need to produce results with his bat and glove.

(Top photo by Juan Soto: Emma Corona / MLB Photos via Getty Images)