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The biggest bargain on every MLB team
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll. Allan Henry/USA Today Images

The biggest bargain on every MLB team

High-priced stars usually get most of the attention, but great teams need a few bargains to enable big contracts. These players are the biggest bargains on their respective teams heading into the 2024 season.

 
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Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll, OF

Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll, OF
Joe Camporeale / USA Today Sports Images

Carroll established himself as one of the top players in baseball last season, winning NL Rookie of the year after hitting .285-25-76 with 54 stolen bases. The speedster is entering the second season of an eight-year, $111 million contract but set to make only $3.625 million in 2024.

 
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Atlanta Braves: Spencer Strider, SP

Atlanta Braves: Spencer Strider, SP
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Strider is arguably the game's most dominant pitcher, leading the league with 281 strikeouts last season. He signed a six-year, $75 million contract that began last season but will be paid only $1 million this year.

 
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Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman, C

Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman, C
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Rutschman has looked the part since joining the O's in 2022. He was an All-Star last season after hitting .277/.374/.435 with 20 home runs and is set to earn the league minimum in 2024.

 
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Boston Red Sox: Triston Casas, 1B

Boston Red Sox: Triston Casas, 1B
Brian Fluharty / USA Today Sports Images

Casas showed why he was one of Boston's top prospects with his performance last season, hitting .263-24-65 in 502 plate appearances. He will earn the league minimum again in 2024.

 
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Chicago Cubs: Justin Steele, SP

Chicago Cubs: Justin Steele, SP
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Steele has been a surprising ace for the Cubs over the last two seasons, finishing fifth in the NL Cy Young vote in 2023. He will earn only $4 million this season.

 
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Chicago White Sox: Andrew Vaughn, 1B

Chicago White Sox: Andrew Vaughn, 1B
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

The White Sox don't have much talent left after their rebuild over the last year, but Vaughn remains a reliable bat. He hit .258-21-80 last season and will draw only $3.25 million in 2024.

 
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Cincinnati Reds: Elly De La Cruz, SS

Cincinnati Reds: Elly De La Cruz, SS
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

De La Cruz set the baseball world abuzz in his rookie debut last season, showing elite tools across the board. There are still some weaknesses to fix, particularly his poor plate discipline, but De La Cruz is a clear bargain, making the league minimum salary.

 
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Cleveland Guardians: Tanner Bibee, SP

Cleveland Guardians: Tanner Bibee, SP
Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports Images

Bibee emerged as an ace for Cleveland last season when they desperately needed him, finishing second in the AL Cy Young race after posting a 2.98 ERA in 25 starts. He will make the league minimum salary in 2024.

 
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Colorado Rockies: Nolan Jones, RF

Colorado Rockies: Nolan Jones, RF
Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sports Images

Jones appears to be the next face of the Rockies after an outstanding rookie season, going 20/20 and playing strong defense in right field. He will draw the league minimum in 2024.

 
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Detroit Tigers: Tarik Skubal, SP

Detroit Tigers: Tarik Skubal, SP
Junfu Han / USA Today Sports Images

Returning from elbow surgery, Skubal was one of the top pitchers in baseball down the stretch last season with a 2.80 ERA in 80.1 innings. He will earn $2.65 million in 2024.

 
11 of 30

Houston Astros: Chas McCormick, CF

Houston Astros: Chas McCormick, CF
Thomas Shea / USA Today Sports Images

McCormick became a major piece of the Astros offense last season, hitting .273-22-70 with 19 steals in 115 games. He will earn $2.85 million in his first year of arbitration.

 
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Kansas City Royals: Cole Ragans, SP

Kansas City Royals: Cole Ragans, SP
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

With starting shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. agreeing to an 11-year contract that included a giant signing bonus, Ragans became the Royals' biggest bargain heading into 2024. The lefty was an ace after being acquired from Texas for Aroldis Chapman last season and still draws the league minimum salary.

 
13 of 30

Los Angeles Angels: Reid Detmers, SP

Los Angeles Angels: Reid Detmers, SP
Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today Sports Images

Detmers is one of Anaheim's most exciting young players, with a great fastball-slider combo that could eventually make him an ace. He took his knocks last season but also had 168 strikeouts in 148.2 innings. Detmers continues to earn the league minimum salary.

 
14 of 30

Los Angeles Dodgers: James Outman, CF

Los Angeles Dodgers: James Outman, CF
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

There aren't many bargains on the deep-pocketed Dodgers roster, but Outman is an exception. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting last season after hitting .248-23-70 with 16 stolen bases and makes the league minimum salary of less than $800,000.

 
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Miami Marlins: Braxton Garrett, SP

Miami Marlins: Braxton Garrett, SP
Vincent Carchietta / USA Today Sports Images

The strength of Miami's team is their pitching, and Garrett is their most established bargain pitcher. He posted a 3.66 ERA in 159.2 innings last season while drawing the league minimum. Top prospect Eury Perez isn't far behind.

 
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Milwaukee Brewers: William Contreras, C

Milwaukee Brewers: William Contreras, C
Rich Storry / USA Today Sports Images

Contreras was better than the Brewers could have hoped in his first season with the team after coming over from Atlanta. He won the Silver Slugger after hitting .289-17-78 and also improved his defense tremendously. Contreras earns the league minimum, with arbitration eligibility coming next year.

 
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Minnesota Twins: Edouard Julien, 2B

Minnesota Twins: Edouard Julien, 2B
Jesse Johnson / USA Today Sports Images

Julien received Rookie of the Year attention after hitting .263/.381/.459 as Minnesota's primary leadoff man in the second half of the season. He has second base all to himself after the Twins traded Jorge Polanco this offseason but still earns the league minimum.

 
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New York Mets: Francisco Alvarez, C

New York Mets: Francisco Alvarez, C
Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports Images

Alvarez went from top prospect to budding star last season, hitting 25 home runs in only 423 plate appearances. He gives the Mets a cheap starter, earning the league minimum while owner Steve Cohen builds around him with big contracts.

 
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New York Yankees: Anthony Volpe, SS

New York Yankees: Anthony Volpe, SS
Wendell Cruz / USA Today Sports Images

Volpe's rookie season wasn't smooth sailing, hitting only .209. However, he was excellent defensively while also going 20/20. New York's long-term shortstop will earn the league minimum salary in his second MLB season.

 
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Oakland Athletics: Zack Gelof, 2B

Oakland Athletics: Zack Gelof, 2B
Kelley L. Cox / USA Today Sports Images

With Oakland's refusal to spend big money, the roster has plenty of bargains led by Gelof. The former second-round pick out of Virginia was impressive in his rookie campaign, hitting .267-14-32 with 14 stolen bases in 69 games while earning the league minimum.

 
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Philadelphia Phillies: Bryson Stott, 2B

Philadelphia Phillies: Bryson Stott, 2B
Kyle Ross / USA Today Sports Images

Stott made way for the high-priced Trea Turner by shifting from shortstop to second base last season, but his offense picked up considerably at his new position. He hit .280-15-62 with 31 stolen bases while earning the league minimum salary.

 
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Pittsburgh Pirates: Jack Suwinski, OF

Pittsburgh Pirates: Jack Suwinski, OF
Matt Marton / USA Today Sports Images

Pittsburgh has found a formidable power bat in Suwinski, who has 45 home runs over his first two seasons in the majors. The outfielder will earn the league minimum salary in his third season.

 
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San Diego Padres: Luis Campusano, C

San Diego Padres: Luis Campusano, C
Ray Acevedo / USA Today Sports Images

The Padres have become known for spending big on free agents in recent seasons, but their ability to develop homegrown talent is also strong. Campusano appears to be their next farm system star, showing flashes between injuries last season by hitting .319-7-30 in only 174 plate appearances.

 
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San Francisco Giants: Patrick Bailey, C

San Francisco Giants: Patrick Bailey, C
Darren Yamashita / USA Today Sports Images

A former first-round pick, Bailey was still a surprise contributor on the roster last season. His defense was terrific, and Bailey hit .233-7-48 in 97 games. He will earn the league minimum salary in 2024.

 
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Seattle Mariners: George Kirby, SP

Seattle Mariners: George Kirby, SP
Kelley L. Cox / USA Today Sports Images

Kirby has been an ace in two MLB seasons, with a cumulative 3.37 ERA over 56 starts. He was an All-Star last season and will make the league minimum this season.

 
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St. Louis Cardinals: Lars Nootbaar, OF

St. Louis Cardinals: Lars Nootbaar, OF
Jeff Curry / USA Today Sports Images

Nootbaar has earned the support of both Cardinals fans and Japanese fans at the WBC for his raw ability. He battled injuries last season but hit .261-14-46 with a .784 OPS when he was healthy. Nootbaar will earn the league minimum salary in 2024.

 
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Tampa Bay Rays: Josh Lowe, RF

Tampa Bay Rays: Josh Lowe, RF
Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today Sports Images

The Rays have been synonymous with building their own talent in recent years, and Lowe appears to be their next star. He finished with 20 home runs and 32 stolen bases as a part-time player last season and draws the league minimum salary.

 
28 of 30

Texas Rangers: Josh Jung, 3B

Texas Rangers: Josh Jung, 3B
Steven Bisig / USA Today Sports Images

Rangers ownership has attracted several high-profile players over the last two offseasons, but the farm system has also delivered. Jung played the part of a former first-round pick last season, hitting .266-23-70 in 122 games at the hot corner. He earns the league minimum salary.

 
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Toronto Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho, OF

Toronto Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho, OF
John Jones / USA Today Sports Images

Acquired from Arizona last offseason, Varsho is an elite athlete who has looked excellent defensively at catcher and the outfield. He has at least 20 home runs and 16 stolen bases in back-to-back seasons and will earn $5.65 million via arbitration this year.

 
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Washington Nationals: CJ Abrams, SS

Washington Nationals: CJ Abrams, SS
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Abrams is arguably the best player Washington received in their Juan Soto trade with San Diego and is coming off a breakout season with 18 home runs and 47 stolen bases. He will earn the league minimum salary in 2024.

Seth Trachtman

Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications

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Top moments from 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame inductions
MLB

Top moments from 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame inductions

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WNBA

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NHL

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NBA

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