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The biggest bargain on every MLB team
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/IMAGN

The biggest bargain on every MLB team

Developing players on the cheap and finding bargains on the market can be key to winning consistently in MLB. These players are the biggest bargains for their respective teams heading into the 2025 season.

 
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Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll, OF

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

Carroll signed an eight-year, $111M contract with the Diamondbacks that began in 2023, but the team still has him at a relatively low cost of $5.625 million in 2025. The versatile outfielder won NL Rookie of the Year in 2023, and overcame a slow start to hit 22 home runs and swipe 35 bases last season.

 
2 of 30

Atlanta Braves: Spencer Schwellenbach, SP

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

Schwellenbach emerged as a potential ace for the Braves in his rookie season, posting a 3.35 ERA and more than one strikeout per inning in 21 starts. He still makes the league minimum near $800,000 entering his second MLB campaign.

 
3 of 30

Baltimore Orioles: Colton Cowser, OF

Baltimore Orioles: Colton Cowser, OF
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

The fifth pick in the 2021 draft, Cowser showed what all the fuss was about with his outstanding rookie season. He finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year vote after hitting .242-24-69 in 561 plate appearances. His salary will be the league minimum in 2025.

 
4 of 30

Boston Red Sox: Garrett Crochet, SP

Boston Red Sox: Garrett Crochet, SP
Paul Rutherford / USA Today Sports Images

Returning from elbow surgery, Crochet was a clear ace in the White Sox rotation last season with a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts over 146 innings. He was traded to Boston this offseason, and will earn only $3.8 million.

 
5 of 30

Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF

Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sports Images

The athletic Crow-Armstrong was a sparkplug for the Cubs last season, swiping 27 bases in 123 games while playing elite defense in center field. He will earn the league minimum in 2025.

 
6 of 30

Chicago White Sox: Miguel Vargas, OF

Chicago White Sox: Miguel Vargas, OF
Stan Szeto / USA Today Sports Images

The centerpiece of the White Sox deadline deal that sent Michael Kopech and Erick Fedde elsewhere, Vargas is considered a foundational player despite his offensive struggles to this point. The former Dodgers top prospect will earn the league minimum this season.

 
7 of 30

Cincinnati Reds: Elly De La Cruz, SS

Cincinnati Reds: Elly De La Cruz, SS
Sam Greene / USA Today Sports Images

The check will eventually come due for the Reds on De La Cruz, but he's a bargain for now. He was an All-Star last season, hitting .259-25-76 with a league-high 67 stolen bases. He still earns the league minimum.

 
8 of 30

Cleveland Guardians: Tanner Bibee, SP

Cleveland Guardians: Tanner Bibee, SP
Scott Galvin / USA Today Sports Images

Bibee has emerged as an ace for the Guardians over the last two seasons. After finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, he was 12-8 with a 3.47 ERA over 31 starts last season. He will earn the league minimum salary in 2025.

 
9 of 30

Colorado Rockies: Ezequiel Tovar, SS

Colorado Rockies: Ezequiel Tovar, SS
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

Tovar is a player the Rox are planning around, with elite defense and 26 home runs last season. He signed a contract extension prior to last season, but will only earn about $4.2 million this year.

 
10 of 30

Detroit Tigers: Tarik Skubal, SP

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

Skubal avoided arbitration by signing for $10.15 million this season, but that's a bargain for the Tigers given his elite ability. The reigning AL Cy Young winner went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 192 innings last season.

 
11 of 30

Houston Astros: Hunter Brown, SP

Houston Astros: Hunter Brown, SP
Thomas Shea / USA Today Sports Images

Brown is shaping into an ace for the Astros, posting a 3.49 ERA over 170 innings last year. His salary remains at the league minimum heading into his age 26 season.

 
12 of 30

Kansas City Royals: Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B

Kansas City Royals: Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B
Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images

The "Pasquatch" has been somewhat plagued by injuries early in his MLB career, but he's a key cog in the Royals lineup. He hit .262-19-97 in 131 games last season and is still drawing the league minimum salary.

 
13 of 30

Los Angeles Angels: Zach Neto, SS

Los Angeles Angels: Zach Neto, SS
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Rushed to the majors in 2022 after being drafted the same year out of Campbell, Neto has shown why the Angels were so excited. He was a 20/20 man last season with excellent defense at shortstop. He is still drawing the league minimum salary.

 
14 of 30

Los Angeles Dodgers: Roki Sasaki, SP

Los Angeles Dodgers: Roki Sasaki, SP
Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today Sports Images

The Dodgers recently won the Sasaki sweepstakes on top of their already monumental offseason. The Japanese star is proven overseas with a career 2.10 ERA in the NPB, but he will make the MLB league minimum this season.

 
15 of 30

Miami Marlins: Xavier Edwards, SS

Miami Marlins: Xavier Edwards, SS
Dan Hamilton / USA Today Sports Images

Edwards emerged as Miami's leadoff man at shortstop last season. He hit .328/.397/.423 with 31 steals in only 70 games but is earning the minimum MLB salary.

 
16 of 30

Milwaukee Brewers: Jackson Chourio, OF

Milwaukee Brewers: Jackson Chourio, OF
Benny Sieu / USA Today Sports Images

Chourio was an incredibly hyped prospect before last season, and managed to fulfill the hype finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He hit .275-21-79 with 22 stolen bases in 148 games. Entering the second season of an eight-year deal, Chourio will make $4.25 million this season.

 
17 of 30

Minnesota Twins: Royce Lewis, 3B

Minnesota Twins: Royce Lewis, 3B
Bruce Kluckhohn / USA Today Sports Images

The first overall draft choice in the 2017 draft, Lewis' career has been repeatedly sidetracked by injuries. However, he's hit .268/.327/.497 over three MLB seasons as a developing star for the Twins. Lewis will earn $1.625 million in 2025.

 
18 of 30

New York Mets: Francisco Alvarez, C

New York Mets: Francisco Alvarez, C
Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today Sports Images

The Mets young catcher had a frustrating second season due to injuries, but remains a key franchise player with 37 home runs in 228 games and strong defense. He will earn the league minimum in 2025.

 
19 of 30

New York Yankees: Luis Gil, SP

New York Yankees: Luis Gil, SP
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Gil returned from elbow surgery to be the surprise AL Rookie of the Year last season. He went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts, and will earn the minimum salary in 2025.

 
20 of 30

Athletics: Mason Miller, RP

Athletics: Mason Miller, RP
Darren Yamashita / USA Today Sports Images

The hard-throwing Miller has become an elite closer for the A's. He was an All-Star last season with a 2.49 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 65 innings. Miller is set to earn the league minimum this season.

 
21 of 30

Philadelphia Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez, SP

Philadelphia Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez, SP
Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports Images

Sanchez has been a surprise and key member of the Phils rotation over the last two seasons. The groundball pitcher posted a 3.32 ERA in 31 starts last season, making the All-Star team. He's set to make $2 million this season after signing an extension.

 
22 of 30

Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Skenes, SP

Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Skenes, SP
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

The Pirates have a star on their hands with Skenes, who has gone from first overall pick in 2023 to Rookie of the Year already. He posted a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts last season, and isn't eligible for arbitration until 2027.

 
23 of 30

San Diego Padres: Jackson Merrill, CF

San Diego Padres: Jackson Merrill, CF
Denis Poroy / USA Today Sports Images

Merrill made significant noise last season, moving from shortstop to center field. He proved elite defensively at his new position while also hitting .292-24-90 with 16 steals in 156 games. Merrill will make the league minimum this season.

 
24 of 30

San Francisco Giants: Patrick Bailey, C

San Francisco Giants: Patrick Bailey, C
Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images

Bailey has become the premier defensive catcher in baseball over the last two seasons. He proved that out by winning a Gold Glove last year, helping the Giants pitching staff thrive. The former first-round pick makes the league minimum.

 
25 of 30

Seattle Mariners: Bryce Miller, SP

Seattle Mariners: Bryce Miller, SP
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Working off his excellent fastball and splitter, Miller was terrific last season with a 2.94 ERA in 31 starts for the Mariners. He will earn the league minimum this year before arbitration eligibility next offseason.

 
26 of 30

St. Louis Cardinals: Masyn Winn, SS

St. Louis Cardinals: Masyn Winn, SS
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

Winn was promoted to leadoff duty for the Cardinals last season and hit .267-15-57 in 150 games while playing strong defense. He will make the league minimum next season.

 
27 of 30

Tampa Bay Rays: Josh Lowe, OF

Tampa Bay Rays: Josh Lowe, OF
Reggie Hildred / USA Today Sports Images

Lowe had a breakout year in 2023, becoming a 20/20 man for the Rays. Injuries limited him to 106 games and only 10 home runs last season, but the Rays still expect big things going forward. He will make the league minimum salary this season.

 
28 of 30

Texas Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF

Texas Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

Langford was worthy of the hype in his rookie season for Texas, hitting .253-16-74 with 19 steals despite a slow start. He will draw the league minimum salary this season.

 
29 of 30

Toronto Blue Jays: Andres Gimenez, 2B

Toronto Blue Jays: Andres Gimenez, 2B
David Richard / USA Today Sports Images

Gimenez's offensive development has been disappointing, but he's now won the Gold Glove at second base in three consecutive seasons. Also a threat on the basepaths, Gimenez has a sizable salary near $10.6 million this season but is worth it given his all-around game.

 
30 of 30

Washington Nationals: James Wood, OF

Washington Nationals: James Wood, OF
James A. Pittman / USA Today Sports Images

The Nats youth movement is starting to emerge, with the arrival of Wood and other key prospects last season. Wood shined by hitting .264-9-41 with 14 steals over 79 games during his debut, and makes the league minimum salary.

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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Titans waive former first-round pick after latest injury
NFL

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NFL

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