From future HOF pitchers to a veteran catcher: Best fits for under-the-radar MLB free agents

"The MLB offseason reached its inevitable Christmas pause -- and has yet to pick back up again, with the only recent major signings the three Japanese players who each signed just before their 45-day negotiating windows closed. Two of those players -- third baseman Munetaka Murakami with the Chicago White Sox and pitcher Tatsuya Imai with the Houston Astros -- signed shorter-term deals far below the initial projections. Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays."

"One thing to consider during this slow-moving free agent market is Tarik Skubal's impending free agency after the 2026 season. Only so many teams can afford the nine-figure deals that Tucker, Valdez, Bellinger, Bregman and Bichette are seeking -- and all five come with some concerns. Would you rather overpay for one of those players ... or save your money to make a run at Skubal next winter?"

"In the end, they'll all end up getting paid -- though maybe, especially in Tucker's case, not quite as much as what some of the original predictions projected. For now, let's examine some of the interesting under-the-radar free agents -- the players ranked outside the top 20 -- and where they might best fit. Possible fits: Texas Rangers, Athletics, Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates"

The offseason has largely stalled after a brief flurry of signings from three Japanese players, with Murakami and Imai taking shorter-term, lower-value deals while Okamoto secured a four-year, $60 million contract. Several top-ranked free agents, including Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Cody Bellinger, Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette, remain unsigned alongside Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen and Eugenio Suarez. Teams face a choice between spending now on high-profile players who carry risks or conserving payroll to pursue pitchers such as Tarik Skubal in the 2026 free-agent class. Attention is shifting to under-the-radar players outside the top 20 and potential team fits.

Read at ESPN.com