2025 Offseason Position Player Free Agent Target Tier List

After the warm response to my Position Player Trade Tier list, I went ahead and made a FA Position Player Tier List. You will not find Juan Soto or Pete Alonso on this list as they both seem destined to return to their respective New York homes and well are way out of the Mariners price range. In all reality the realistic FA targets for the Mariners don’t start until tier 2 and even more realistically probably not until tier 3 but, a boy can dream that a big Free Agent Signing will happen again. What you also will not find on this list are a group of 1B/DH that I will classify as probably more likely to take a market rate deal to stay way they are or be closer to their respective homes those names include JD Martinez, Anthony Rizzo, and Paul Goldschmidt if I thought they’d be attainable for the Mariners I think they would be firmly in tier 3B. I would love to hear feedback and if you are interested in similar write ups but focused on Pitchers let me know and I can get working on it (or don’t and I’ll probably do it anyways)

Tier 1- Free Agent Bangers Who Bang and well-rounded players that are probably too expensive for the Seattle Mariners

Anthony Santander, SH RF/DH, Baltimore Orioles

2025 Opening Day age: 30

2024 Stats: 3.3 fWAR, 129 wRC+, 155G

Statcast Stat to Know: 76 percentile whiff %, 66th Percentile K rate. For a guy that hits tanks (44 Last season) he has been consistent on his career running near average to above average K and Whiff rates year in year out for a guy with a ton of power.

AJPDX’s Contract estimate: 5/100MM, 20 AAV

The Last time the Mariners signed a "Right Fielder" coming of a career year out of Baltimore it turned out to be one of, if not the best, Free Agent Contracts the Seattle Mariners ever gave out, maybe they can strike gold twice. Santander still has an okay arm in RF that it won’t be any worse than what the Mariners have thrown out in the corner OF at times the last few years so they may be able to get a few years of him in the OF before he transitions fully to DH/Maybe 1st base as he has played some games there. As a switch hitter Santander was good on both sides of the plate ( 132 wRC+ as a LHH and 123 wRC+ as a RHH). A top 4 of Julio, Randy, Santander and Cal would offer a ton of power and run producing opportunities.

Christian Walker, RHH 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 Opening Day Age: 34

2024 Stats: 3.0 fWAR, 119 wRC+, 130G

Statcast Stat to Know: 89th percentile Bat speed, 97th percentile range (OAA). Age is obviously going to be a concern/will likely drive down his cost but the bad speed and defense are still there so I am not too worried that the cliff is near.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 3/60MM, 20 AAV

With the RSN bubble bursting a lot of owners are going to be crying poor and in arguably worse positions than the Mariners it could open up the door to get a good deal on an older player coming off an injury. Walker gives you elite defense at first base and a bat that fits nicely in the middle of the lineup. With Walker filling in first base it strengthens the OF depth by pushing Raley to a more primary OF role while giving the team the ability to rotate guys through the DH spot. It also makes it easier to move on from a prospect like Tyler Locklear to get you something that is more likely to help the MLB roster this season.

Willy Adames, RHH SS, Milwaukee Brewers

2025 Opening Day Age: 29

2024 Stats: 4.8 fWAR, 119 wRC+, 161G

Statcast Stat to Know: 84 percentile xSLG, well above average slug at a prime defensive position is always great to have.

AJPDX’s Contract estimate: 7/189MM, 27 AAV

Willy Adames might be the best non-Juan Soto Free Agent position player on the market this offseason, he is on the right side of 30, still can be a plus defender at SS, a positive valued baserunner and has shown he is a solidly above average hitter. All said that is a safe 3.5-5-win player year in year out for the next handful of seasons. This is the player I have as the least likely of free agents on this list, though I will grant most of these players aren’t very likely to begin with. Adames could fill a hole at either 3B or 2B, or SS if they choose to move JP over to 2B add another well-rounded bat to the top of the lineup and a level of certainty they haven’t had in the infield in some time.

Alex Bregman, RHH 3B, Houston Astros

2025 Opening Day Age: 31

2024 Stats: 4.1 fWAR, 118 wRC+, 145G

Statcast Stat to Know: 94th percentile K %, 98th percentile Whiff %. Bregman has been making contact at an elite rate for nearly a decade.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 6/152 million, 25.33 AAV

I have a feeling that at the very least, Bregman is going to get the contract that Chapman recently signed with the Giants (6/151) and Boras is of course going to try to one up it. I’d be a huge amount of swallowing my personal fan pride to root for Bregman, but the fact of the matter is, Bregman is the best 3B on the market and the Mariners have hole there and would get the bonus of weaking a division rival. It’s a shame that Bregman is probably the best fit of any free agent in Seattle and the Mariners aren’t even going to send an email that will end up in Boras’ spam folder.

Tier 2A- Youngish Middle Infielders that may end up being a good bargain that the Mariners are still probably somehow out priced on

Gleyber Torres, RHH 2B, New York Yankees

2025 Opening Day Age: 28

2024 Stats: 1.7 fWAR, 104 wRC+, 154G

Statcast Stat to Know: 92nd percentile chase rate, he has historically controlled the zone and makes enough contact to keep above average K % and BB% on a yearly basis.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 3/36MM, 12 AAV with a player opt out after year 1

Gleyber has age on his side this FA period. As one of the younger FA position players available it wouldn’t shock me if a team gave out a longer term deal for Torres than one would expect. The downside to Torres is he is not a good defender or baserunner, so you run into black hole territory if he doesn’t hit. Could a year at the Perry Hill School of Defense get Torres to a passable defender at 2nd base? Could his 141 wRC+ this postseason and 124 wRC+ in the 2nd half be a sign that the hitter he was in 2018,2019 and 2023 is back and here to say? If the answer to those questions are anywhere near a yes Torres may be the best bang for their buck the Mariners could acquire in FA.

Ha-Seong Kim, RHH SS, San Diego Padres

2025 Opening Day Age: 29

2024 Stats: 2.6 fWAR, 101 wRC+, 121G

Statcast Stat to Know: 92nd percentile whiff %, dude makes contact.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 4/48MM, 12 AAV with a player opt out after year 1 and year 2

Kim has a 7MM mutual option that he could pick up due to the Labrum surgery he had recently, but I think he will be able to exceed that money in the open market even though he is likely to miss the first month of the 2025 season. Kim has hired the Boras corporation to represent him this FA period so a contract with a couple of opt outs seems highly likely for Boras to pursue. Kim is a plus defender at SS,2B and 3B so he can provide a lot of flexibility for the hopeful infield retooling the Mariners should be doing this offseason. While never anything more than a league average hitter on his career he makes a lot of contact and with his plus baserunning and defense should offer a tantalizing floor to a Mariners FO that has yet to find the floor at 2nd base since trading Cano. The injury concerns me, but the Mariners could get what could prove to be the steal of the offseason.

Tier 2B- Joc Pederson

Joc Pederson, LHH DH, Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 Opening Day Age: 32 (But turns 33 in late April)

2024 Stats: 3.0 fWAR, 151 wRC+, 117 G

Statcast Stat to Know: 93rth percentile Average Exit Velocity, he hits the ball hard so that’s always nice to have.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 2/28 MM, 14 AAV

Pederson has a mutual option 14MM (with a 3 MM buyout) with Arizona that seems right on the edge for both sides to take. I think Pederson probably could get an extra year in FA that would make him want to opt out and he may just be too expensive for Arizona to bring back, especially if they want to retain Walker and pick up Geno’s option. I think its more likely they pick up Geno’s option than they pick up Pederson’s option so that is why Pederson makes this list and Geno does not. And if Pederson hits the open market, I think he may be the best hitter the Mariners could sign for the money.

Tier 3A- Can play a defensive position other than 1B/DH well enough that they are maybe slightly more valuable players than the 1B/DH options that are probably better hitters on the Market

Jurickson Profar, SH LF, San Diego Padres

2025 Opening Day Age: 32

2024 Stats: 4.3 fWAR, 139 wRC+, 158 G

Statcast Stat to Know: 90th percentile Whiff %, historically Profar has made a lot of contact but this is the first year he has made consistent hard contact. Is this a new normal or a 1-year anomaly?

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 3/45 MM, 15 AAV

Boras always gets his guy paid and I don’t see Profar being any different. His market it tough to peg but it wouldn’t surprise me if some team bought into it and gave him a long-term deal worth a lot more money than I expect. Would I pay Profar this offseason if I was in charge? Probably not, but I wouldn’t be mad if the Mariners did.

Michael Conforto, LHH LF/DH, San Fransico Giants

2025 Opening Day Age: 32

2024 Stats: 1.3 fWAR, 112 wRC+,130 G

Statcast Stat to Know: 82nd percentile bat speed, while we still don’t have the needed data to know how good of a tool bat speed is, its good to see he has near elite bad speed on the wrong side of 30.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate 2/18 MM, 9 AAV

I bet you didn’t know that Conforto is from Redmond so its obvious a homecoming is in order (sarcasm). He has shown that he can be an above-average hitter in a tough stadium to hit in already, he still has a good enough Arm that he can still play some OF even though I like his fit better as a DH for the Mariners. It’s not often a hometown kid is on the market and still good enough to help the Mariners at a price that shouldn’t be prohibitive. As a Boras guy its likely that Conforto will go to the highest bidder, and he has stated he would like to re-sign in San Francisco so it’s probably not as simple as him wanting to come home but I think it’s a player they should look into to strengthen their OF depth.

Max Kepler, LHH RF, Minnesota Twins

2025 Opening Day Age: 32

2024 Stats: 1.0 fWAR, 94 wRC+, 105 G

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 1/10 MM

Statcast Stat to Know: 85th percentile Range, imagine a defensive OF with Robles, Julio and Kepler, that would be one of the top defensives OF in the league going into the season.

Kepler has been a favorite trade target of mine for the past few seasons. He is coming of a season hampered by Knee and Hip and has only been an above average hitter by wRC+ in 3 seasons in his career (one being 2020) could limit his market a bit, but I’ve also seen Mitch Haniger get 3/45 so maybe Kepler can get a longer-term deal. If the Mariners are going to roll with Raley at 1B, having another LHH OF on the roster would be high up on my preference list and I think Kepler would be a good fit that if he hits well (coupled with Robles still being an every day OF) could open up a lot of DH days vs RHP for Randy.

Tier 3B- 1B/DH hitting/vibes coach emeritus

Carlos Santana, SH 1B, Minnesota Twins

2025 Opening Day Age: 38 (Turns 39 in early April)

2024 Stats:3.0 fWAR, 114 wRC+, 150 G

Statcast Stat to Know: 79th percentile K %, Do you like professional ABs? Well Carlos will give you that. Plus, elite 1B Defense (93rd percentile FRV)

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate:1/ 5MM

I love Carlos Santana and while I thought they were right to let him walk after 2022 he’s been exactly what the Mariners have needed ever since he left and Justin Turner arrived. If the Mariners are going to sign a 1B/DH hitting/vibes coach emeritus, Carlos should be at the top of the list.

Justin Turner. RHH 1B/DH, Seattle Mariners

2025 Opening Day Age: 40

2024 Stats: 1.2 fWAR, 117 wRC+, 139 G

Statcast Stat to Know: 89th Percentile Whiff %, even approaching 40 JT can still make contact.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 1/5 MM

While I’d prefer Carlos Santana in the 1B/DH hitting/vibes coach emeritus position, I could live with bringing back Turner. It’s not a sexy move by any means but one, much like at the trade deadline when coupled with a bigger name-brand star younger player it could be just enough to get the Mariners over the top.

Tier 4- Stop-Gap Infielders

Jose Iglesias, RHH 2B/SS/3B, New York Mets

2025 Opening Day Age: 35

2024 Stats: 2.5 fWAR, 137 wRC+, 85 G

Statcast Stat to Know: 83rd percentile sprint speed (28.6 ft/s) which is faster than his sprint speed in 2015.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 1/ 4MM

Do you like Victor Robles but wished he had a chart-topping song and could play a plus defensive 2nd base? Then you’ll love Jose Iglesias. 2024 is likely going to be the best year of his big league career after signing minor league deals in 2023 and 2024, Iglesias certainly earned himself a Major League deal this offseason. At the very least he is a plus defender and baserunner that makes a lot of contact that would fit in well on a lot of Major League Benches in 2025. Maybe the lighting is still in the bottle and Iglesias can provide value at 2nd base until Cole Young is ready.

Amed Rosario, RHH "INF", Cincinnati Reds

2025 Opening Day Age: 29

2024 Stats: 0.3 fWAR, 96 wRC+, 103G

Statcast Stat to Know: 91st percentile sprint speed, he is fast so that’s something.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 1 /3MM

Rosario is a good baserunner and generally makes a good amount of contact that leads to a high batting average. I suppose he is a versatile defender in that he has played SS, 2B, 3B and RF but he isn’t very good at any of those positions. I much rather roll out Ryan Bliss at 2nd base but maybe the Mariners think they can get Tampa Bay Amed Rosario who was pretty good for half of 2024

Paul DeJong, RHH INF, Kansas City Royals

2025 Opening Day Age: 31

2024 Stats: 1.7 fWAR, 95 wRC+, 139 G

Statcast Stat to Know: 84th percentile Range, he can still play an above average defensive infield so there’s that.

AJPDX’s Contract Estimate: 1 /2MM

At this rate just run it back with what they have in house in the infield.

Tier 5- Tommy La Stella Memorial Tier

Yoan Moncada, SH 3B, Chicago White Sox

2025 Opening Day Age: 29

2024 Stats: 0.3 fWAR, 117 wRC+, 12 G

Statcast Stat to know: 98th percentile LA Sweet-Spot % in 2023, who knows what it means but could a healthy Moncada be primed for a bounce back year?

Brandon Drury, RHH 2B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Disneyland, USA

2025 Opening Day Age: 32

2024 Stats: -2.1 fWAR, 34 wRC+, 97G

Statcast Stat to Know: 62 percentile Chase %, there isn’t a lot good in Drury’s 2024 Statcast page but he was good in 2022 and 2023.

Eloy Jimenez, RHH DH, Baltimore Orioles

2025 Opening Day Age: 28

2024 Stats: -0.9 fWAR, 78 wRC+, 98G

Statcast Stat to know: 90th percentile Average Exit Velocity, he still hits the ball hard so that’s something.

I’ll group these 3 together as they don’t deserve full individual write ups, and I assume all could be had for minor league deals or deals that guarantee a million or two if they make the opening day roster. I think each are a worthwhile flyer to take that could provide a good amount of upside for the cost if the Mariners can unlock something in them or if being healthy leads them being a lot better than they were in 2024.