Walker Buehler: Free Agency ‘A Waiting Game’ Until After Holidays

MLB free agency got off to a fast start this offseason, with Juan Soto, Blake Snell, Willy Adames and Max Fried among the top players to sign contracts either before or during the Winter Meetings.

There has been a flurry of smaller moves over the past week, with the New York Mets bringing back Sean Manaea, the New York Yankees signing Paul Goldschmidt and the Boston Red Sox adding Walker Buehler.

Even with the recent activity, there are several top free agents still without homes for the 2025 season. The group includes Corbin Burnes, Pete Alonso, Jack Flaherty, Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández, among others.

While Buehler has already signed, he believes that free agency will pick up again after the holiday season, via the “Just Baseball Show”:

“We had kind of a flurry of stuff once Soto went, and as per usual, I think a lot of stuff will start happening after Christmas. I wouldn’t say it’s a waiting game, but it’s a waiting game.”

MLB free agency typically comes to a standstill during the holiday season and that is no different this year. There should be another flurry of signings after the new year, which could see most of the aforementioned names come off the board quickly.

Additionally, Roki Sasaki should sign with a team shortly after the new international signing period begins on Jan. 15, 2025.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are among the favorites to sign the right-hander, even after already adding Snell to their rotation.

The Dodgers also remain in the mix to re-sign Hernández and are believed to want to add a high-leverage reliever such as Tanner Scott to their bullpen.

Dodgers among record number of teams paying MLB luxury tax penalty for 2024

The Dodgers exceeded the luxury tax threshold for the fourth consecutive year with a $353 million payroll and are among a record number of teams paying a penalty.

The Mets, Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs also exceeded the luxury tax threshold in 2024.