Yesterday on ‘Back To The Dugout’ we went over and predicted some notable 2025 free agents’ landing spots. The second article of this two-part series will outline in more depth the pitcher predictions from the show.
Shane Bieber (RHP): Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians seem to be the most interested team in signing Bieber back on a short term deal. If he’s on, it makes that much more of a difference for Cleveland. We know what Bieber is capable of at his best, and that was clearly where Cleveland was lacking this postseason. Having him in the rotation with Bibee would be huge for another potential deep postseason run.
Matthew Boyd (LHP): Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians seemed happy with the type of production they got out of Matthew Boyd especially late in the season, and this is another arm that could be a cheap short term deal to bring back into the back end of this rotation. With Guardians pitching prospects working their way into the everyday rotation, this gives Cleveland a cheaper buffer.
Walker Buehler (RHP): New York Mets
It seems unknown if the Dodgers will re-sign Buehler, but the Mets could benefit from having him in the rotation. While we saw him struggle at times with consistency, he put together great outings in the postseason, and that’s ultimately the most important factor for the Mets right now when it comes to signing players this offseason.
Corbin Burnes (RHP): New York Mets
The biggest pitching name on the market, Corbin Burnes is going to command a very large deal. The Mets are among one of the few teams I can actually see giving this amount out, especially if they miss on even bigger names.
The Mets rotation next year if they don’t sign Burnes looks pretty bad as well, given they don’t re-sign any arms from their 2024 roster. Adding a starter who recorded a 2.92 ERA in 2024, the Mets would have a genuine ace to take the pressure off of Kodai Senga. This would be a great fit for both parties involved.
Carlos Estevez (RHP): Detroit Tigers
Unless the Tigers want to roll out Jason Foley again, they should pursue a closer in this offseason. Estevez is a great option as the Tigers know now that they can make a postseason run, and a shutdown closer could make their staff elite. Estevez recorded a 2.45 ERA in 2024 with 26 saves, and would be incredibly valuable to Detroit in 2025.
Jack Flaherty (RHP): Los Angeles Dodgers
The Burbank, California native has seemed to make it known that he wants to be in Los Angeles, and there’s absolutely nobody blaming him. After being traded from Detroit at the deadline, Flaherty recorded a 3.58 ERA en route to a World Series title. While it wasn’t as good as his time with Detroit in 2024, Flaherty was an anchor of this rotation late in the season.
The one issue is his consistency. We saw him struggle in starts and then shine in others during the postseason, but three of the five starters in the Dodgers projected opening day rotation didn’t pitch in 2024, making a deal with Flaherty possibly more likely here.
Max Fried (LHP): New York Mets
The Mets need to not only spend to think about beating teams like the Dodgers, but they need to rather look at what it will cost to win the division. Getting an arm like Fried takes a great starter away from a division rival, and is undoubtedly an upgrade on the left handed side of the mound.
A six year deal seems solid enough for both sides, especially if we’re factoring in here that the Mets also sign Corbin Burnes to a long term deal. A 30-year old with a career 3.07 ERA would be a great arm to pair with Corbin Burnes, and give the Mets the best rotation in the division.
Jeff Hoffman (RHP): Kansas City Royals
The Royals had some very solid bullpen pieces this season especially with arms like Lucas Erceg. Hoffman is a pricier arm than they probably would like but it would give them a great reliever to pair with Erceg.
Just looking at the bullpen, Hoffman would make a noticeable difference and Kansas City should go after at least one bullpen arm this offseason. Hoffman had a 2.17 ERA in 2024, with incredible swing-and-miss numbers. He ranked in the 96th percentile for whiff, strikeout, and chase rate per Baseball Savant.
Clay Holmes (RHP): New York Yankees
While many Yankee fans may not like it, it’s hard to see the two parties split despite all the blown saves. It seemed like Holmes was a solid and reliable relief pitcher when taken out of the closer role, and the Yankees could very well sign him back on a short term deal for that same purpose.
Holmes recorded a 3.14 ERA in 2024, and could be a cheaper option for New York. His incredible sinker has been a staple piece for the Yankee bullpen and I don’t know if they’re willing to part ways.
Yusei Kikuchi (LHP): San Francisco Giants
This move would just make sense as the market for Japanese baseball is much more prevalent west. San Francisco could use a solid left hander like Kikuchi as well. In the second half of the 2024 season, Kikuchi recorded a 3.49 ERA. He could look to carry this success to San Francisco to bolster a rotation that wants to be more competitive in a hyper competitive NL West.
Sean Manaea (LHP): Los Angeles Dodgers
If the Dodgers rotation pans out the way it is projected to right now then there will be no left handed starters. Adding Sean Manaea would be a huge get for them. Manaea had a big turnaround season in 2024, recording a 3.47 ERA and a 9.1 K/9 rate. After recording 181.2 innings pitched in 2024, Manaea would be a very reliable arm to throw into the Dodgers rotation that has had injury concerns.
Nick Pivetta (RHP): Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles starting rotation is looking weak if they don’t re-sign Corbin Burnes. Adding Nick Pivetta would boost the rotation, and allow them to move on from arms like Trevor Rogers if they please. Pivetta is a slightly above league average arm for Baltimore to throw into the middle of the rotation, totalling a 4.14 ERA in 2024.
Jose Quintana (LHP): Baltimore Orioles
Given the Orioles signed Pivetta here and don’t want Rogers in this rotation, signing Jose Quintana could be a great left handed arm to throw in the back end of the rotation. Quintana was great this season posting a 3.75 ERA in 170.1 innings pitched, and could help strengthen this Baltimore rotation greatly.
Max Scherzer (RHP): Atlanta Braves
It’s tough to say at this point who would really want Max Scherzer at age 40. However, adding him into a pitching staff that seems to always get the best out of its arms could be the most ideal situation for both sides. Pairing Scherzer with Chris Sale could be one of the cooler combinations of arms among any rotation in the league.
Luis Severino (RHP): Houston Astros
After a massive bounce back year in 2024, there could be many potential suitors looking to bolster their rotation with an addition like Severino. After pitching 182 innings and recording a 3.91 ERA, a move to a potential contender like the Astros is possible. Severino could be the back end of the rotation right hander instead of Luis Garcia, pairing well with other right handers like Ronel Blando, Hunter Brown, and Spencer Arrighetti.
Blake Snell (LHP): San Diego Padres
This relationship seemed to work out pretty well last time, with Snell winning the NL Cy Young in 2023. The Padres in this free agency predictions to this point won’t have made a big splash yet, and they need to with no lefties in the projected rotation. Snell’s one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy, and with San Diego can help be an arm they need to have an edge over the other NL West rotations.
Tanner Scott: San Francisco Giants
The Giants are in need of a very solid relief arm and Tanner Scott provides exactly that. He got his first taste of playing in the NL West with San Diego, and could very well stay out there if the Giants are willing to pay. In 2024, Scott recorded a 2.73 ERA with a 10.6 K/9 rate. One of the best relief arms in baseball, this would be a huge signing for the Giants bullpen.
Blake Treinen (RHP): Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies bullpen will most likely be retooled going into next season in some ways. Treinen could be a great addition. At 36-years old he’s been one of the best relief arms in baseball, recording a 1.93 ERA in 2024. For a Phillies team looking to make a better result of their 2025 season than this year, Treinen would be a very valuable piece.
Justin Verlander (RHP): Detroit Tigers
This would be a great reunion and benefit a growing and developing Tigers team greatly. While certainly regressing, Verlander’s influence and knowledge around arms like Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson, and Jackson Jobe would benefit the future of this team far after his retirement. A cheap short term deal between the two could be worth way more than his play on the field.
Kirby Yates (RHP): New York Mets
The Mets need to strengthen their bullpen with an elite arm like Yates. For 10 seasons he’s been one of the league’s strongest relievers and in 2024 recorded a 1.17 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched. Yates has great swing-and-miss numbers as well and would be a great addition to the Mets bullpen.