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One perfect free-agent signing for every NL East team
Jack Flaherty. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

One perfect free-agent signing for every NL East team

By Lauren Amour  |  Last updated Jan 2, 2025 8:19 PM ET

Major League Baseball saw a surge of free-agent signings in December once Juan Soto inked a 15-year, $765M contract with the New York Mets. The biggest free agent coming off the board allowed the market to move forward. 

One of baseball's most competitive divisions is the National League East. Each team could benefit from signing some of the remaining prominent names. Here are the best fits for each club.

Atlanta Braves: Jack Flaherty

Despite having the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner in Chris Sale, the Braves' rotation could improve. Sale is entering his age-36 season in 2025, Spencer Strider will be returning from Tommy John surgery, Max Fried joined the New York Yankees and Reynaldo Lopez's ability to repeat his breakout season remains to be seen. Spencer Schwellenbach enjoyed a solid rookie campaign but is still young.

Jack Flaherty, who rediscovered his form in 2024 between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers, would be a perfect fit for Atlanta. The 29-year-old had a 3.17 ERA and 194 strikeouts across 162 innings, which would help fortify the Braves’ starting staff, particularly as a middle-of-the-rotation arm. 

New York Mets: Tanner Scott

If the Mets wish to compete for an NL pennant in 2025, they must shore up their bullpen. As it stands, Edwin Diaz, Reed Garrett, Sean Reid-Foley and Jose Butto headline New York's relief corps. 

Tanner Scott, the 2024 trade deadline’s most-prized reliever, would significantly upgrade the Mets’ bullpen. Scott, 30, began the season with the Marlins, posting a 1.18 ERA in 44 games, saving 18. Across 28 appearances with the San Diego Padres, he had a 2.73 ERA. Overall, he struck out 84 batters in 72 innings, with an above-average groundball rate of 47.4, earning him his first All-Star appearance. 

Miami Marlins: Elias Diaz

The Marlins are the least competitive team in the East, so they’re not likely to make any big free-agent splashes, especially at this point in the offseason. Miami could afford to add a catcher to its roster, preferably a veteran willing to accept a team-friendly short-term deal.

Elias Diaz turned 34 in November, and after being released by the Rockies in August, he joined the Padres but became a free agent at the end of the season. He was the All-Star Game MVP two seasons ago, so he has some gas left in the tank. Plus, the Marlins have young backstops Jhonny Pereda and MLB Pipeline’s No. 96 overall prospect Agustin Ramirez waiting to debut in the minors, which would make Diaz an excellent bridge option and veteran presence for fellow catcher Nick Fortes, who’s warming to being the primary catcher.

Washington Nationals: J.D. Martinez

The Nationals are an up-and-coming team in the NL. They have plenty of young talent, such as James Wood, Dylan Crews and MacKenzie Gore. Adding a veteran presence to their lineup may make sense. 37-year-old J.D. Martinez could be the ideal fit. He is a six-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger and a World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. 

The best seasons of Martinez’s career came with Boston, but his most recent All-Star appearance came in 2023 with the Dodgers when he had 33 home runs and 103 RBI across 113 games. This was sandwiched between two down years in 2022 and 2024, when he had 32 homers and 131 RBI combined. With their primary designated hitter, Joey Gallo, unsigned in free agency, the club has a need that Martinez could fill.

Philadelphia Phillies: Jeff Hoffman

The Phillies have filled all their most significant needs this offseason, signing closer Jordan Romano and outfielder Max Kepler to one-year deals and trading for starter Jesus Luzardo. Therefore, the perfect free-agent addition Philadelphia can make is retaining reliever Jeff Hoffman.

Hoffman has enjoyed the best seasons of his career with the Phillies. In 118.2 innings, he has a 2.28 ERA and 158 strikeouts, and his 2024 performance earned him his first All-Star appearance. 

Hoffman is reportedly seeking a deal similar to the three-year, $38M Clay Holmes received from the Mets. This should be a no-brainer for the Phillies, as he's accrued a 3.9 WAR during his tenure and is a key piece of their bullpen.

Lauren Amour
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Lauren Amour is a writer and editor based in the Greater Philadelphia area. She works as an editor and writer at Yardbarker, covering MLB and the Philadelphia Phillies.

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