As MLB flips into offseason mode, Spotrac offers a snapshot look at projected Opening Day 40-Man Tax Payrolls, arbitration salary totals, notable upcoming option decisions, & pending free agents for each team.

Chicago Cubs

Projected 40-Man CBT: $190.3M (8th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 6 ($104.5M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 15 ($35.7M)
The Cubs finished 2nd in the NL Central, led by a starting rotation (Imanaga, Taillon, Assad, Steele) that remained effective for most of 2024. Chicago’s letdown came at the plate, where Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, & Nico Hoerner all had setback seasons. Bellinger has a chance to opt-out of his 2 year, $52.5M remaining, but that’s looking less and less likely now. Look for Chicago to add a shot-in-the-arm bat, then focus heavily on bullpen depth this winter.

Notable Options
Cody Bellinger (CF, 2 yrs, $52.5M Opt-Out), Drew Smyly (P, $10M Mutual)

Notable Free Agents
Jorge López (RP), Kyle Hendricks (SP)

Cincinnati Reds

Projected 40-Man CBT: $92.5M (27th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 3 ($28.2M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 11 ($28.9M)
The Reds have already made significant changes to their front office and coaching staff, a likely prerequisite for what should be an active winter. The focus almost certainly will key in on a starting rotation that hasn’t developed enough to keep up with a flourishing set of young bats. The Reds could use a Royals-like winter, bringing in more mid-range-priced arms than seemingly needed, offering both regular season depth, and a trade chip or two down the stretch. Seeing a young position player or two traded this winter wouldn’t be much of a surprise either.

Notable Options
Nick Martinez (SP, $12M Player), Emilio Pagan (RP, $8M Player), Jake Junis (RP, $8M Mutual)

Notable Free Agents
Buck Farmer (RP), Amed Rosario (UTIL), Justin Wilson (RP)

Milwaukee Brewers

Projected 40-Man CBT: $132.4M (19th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 5 ($47M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 10 ($28.6M)
The Brewers ran away with the NL Central division this year, but were bounced by the Mets in the Wild Card round. Milwaukee had a little bit of everything this season: A veteran resurgence from Christian Yelich, an out-of-nowhere burst from William Contreras, & a youth breakout from Jackson Chourio. Milwaukee has bullpen depth, at least 4 rotation arms, and about 85% of their position players in place. But shortstop Willy Adames will be hitting the open market coming off of a career year. The Brewers generally don’t get involved with “max” contracts, so this will be replacement priority number one most likely.

Notable Options
Frankie Montas (SP, $20M Mutual), Rhys Hoskins (1B, $18M Player), Freddy Peralta (SP, $8M Club), Colin Rea (SP, $5.5M Club)

Notable Free Agents
Willy Adames (SS), Joe Ross (RP)

Pittsburgh Pirates

Projected 40-Man CBT: $99.1M (26th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 4 ($43.7M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($22.8M)
The Pirates finished last in the NL Central, & ten games under .500, but there has to be a sense of excitement heading toward the offseason knowing that the combination of Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, & to a lesser extent Mitch Keller gives them a bonafide, legitimate starting rotation. There’s more help coming from the farm system at this regard, putting the onus on this annually thrifty front office to build up the bullpen and batting line in the coming months. Recent extensions for Keller, Bryan Reynolds, & Ke'Bryan Hayes are a sign that things could be ramping up, but the foot needs to remain on the gas pedal this winter.

Notable Options
Marco Gonzales (SP, $15M Club)

Notable Free Agents
Andrew McCutchen (DH), Yasmani Grandal (C), Aroldis Chapman (RP), Jalen Beeks (RP)

St. Louis Cardinals

Projected 40-Man CBT: $157.1M (16th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 6 ($105.1M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 6 ($20.7M)
The Cardinals tied the Cubs for 2nd in the NL Central, despite being relatively average in most metrics. Masyn Winn & Ryan Helsley had major arrow-up campaigns, but much of the group (Arenado, Gorman, Nootbar, etc..) had stepback seasons. Replacing Paul Goldschmidt at 1B, adding at least 2 reliable starters, and finding the right player to bridge the gap to Helsley at the end of games seem priorities.

Notable Options
Kyle Gibson (SP, $12M Club), Lance Lynn (SP, $11M Club), Keynan Middleton (RP, $6M Club)

Notable Free Agents
Paul Goldschmidt (1B), Andrew Kittredge (RP), Matt Carpenter (DH)

As MLB flips into offseason mode, Spotrac offers a snapshot look at projected Opening Day 40-Man Tax Payrolls, arbitration salary totals, notable upcoming option decisions, & pending free agents for each team.

Chicago White Sox

Projected 40-Man CBT: $75.3M (29th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 2 ($23.3M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($19.95M)
The 41-121 White Sox have nowhere to go but up - unless they don’t. SP Garrett Crochet will remain one of the hottest trade names all winter, while outfielders Andrew Benintendi & Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago’s only guaranteed salary), could very well hear their names in trade talks as well. There’s talent in the farm system, but the White Sox need to give that process time to properly develop before they try to build around it at the major league level.

Notable Options
Yoan Moncada (3B, $25M Club), Max Stassi (C, $7.5M Club)

Notable Free Agents
Chris Flexen (SP), Michael Soroka (SP), Mike Clevinger (SP)

Cleveland Guardians

Projected 40-Man CBT: $114.2M (21st)
Guaranteed Contracts: 4 ($41.8M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($38.7M)
Despite one of the youngest rosters in MLB, the Guardians found themselves in a slugfest with the Yankees this past ALCS. Cleveland prefers to operate somewhere in the middle 20 payroll rank range, so an early projection near the Top 20 likely means something stands to give. That something may be 1B Josh Naylor, who projects to carry a $14M+ arbitration salary in 2025, and could bring back a nice trade return for Cleveland this winter. With that said, this is a team that needs to aggressively find starting pitching this offseason.

Notable Free Agents
Shane Bieber (SP), Matt Boyd (SP), Alex Cobb (SP)

Detroit Tigers

Projected 40-Man CBT: $99.4M (25th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 3 ($40M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($25.6M)
One of the bigger surprises of 2024 now turn the page knowing that SP Tarik Skubal (obviously), & OF Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter represent a legitimate young core going forward. Will the Tigers aggressively reshape their infield this winter? Will top prospect Jackson Jobe join the rotation out of camp? This is easily one of the more fun teams to watch over the course of the next few months.

Notable Options
Casey Mize (SP, $3.1M Club)

Kansas City Royals

Projected 40-Man CBT: $126.1M (20th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 3 ($61.7M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($24.1M)
KC added roster pieces in volume last winter, then locked in their cornerstone piece Bobby Witt Jr. to an 11 year, $288M extension. He and 1B Vinnie Pasquantino represent the young core, but it’s a bit of a checkers board elsewhere. Will this front office be as aggressive in added veteran depth, or will this be a team that looks to its youth to develop into a winning group sooner rather than later? Outfield and Starting Pitching top the offseason needs list.

Notable Options
Michael Wacha (SP, $16M Player), Adam Frazier (INF, $8.5M Mutual), Hunter Renfroe (OF, $7.5M Player), Chris Stratton (RP, $4.5M Player)

Notable Free Agents
Michael Lorenzen (SP), Garrett Hampson (SS), Paul DeJong (SS), Tommy Pham (OF), Yulieski Gurriel (1B)

Minnesota Twins

Projected 40-Man CBT: $144.9M (18th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 6 ($82M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 13 ($35.4M)
The pieces are all there, but health issues plus a brutal stretch of baseball to finish off 2024 kept this franchise out of the postseason. Baseball’s #2 farm system (MLB Pipeline) could help fill in some of the holes, but a splashy signing at first base plus a veteran rotation piece or two seem the most likely paths forward this winter.

Notable Options
Manuel Margot (OF, $12M Mutual), Kyle Farmer (SS, $6.25M Mutual)

Notable Free Agents
Carlos Santana (1B), Max Kepler (OF)

As MLB flips into offseason mode, Spotrac offers a snapshot look at projected Opening Day 40-Man Tax Payrolls, arbitration salary totals, notable upcoming option decisions, & pending free agents for each team.

Atlanta Braves

Projected 40-Man CBT: $225.1M (6th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 14 ($151.2M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 5 ($16.7M)
The Braves spent another large portion of a season without Ronald Acuña Jr., battled through injuries for Ozzie Albies, Sean Murphy for much of the year, and of course lost ace Spencer Strider for its entirety. And still, they found a way into the postseason at the final hour before relinquishing their spot to San Diego. The starting pitching (Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach especially) was excellent. Marcell Ozuna remains one of baseball’s top power threats, and most notably - this roster remains largely intact for 2025 (and beyond).

Notable Options
Marcell Ozuna (DH, $16M Club), Travis d'Arnaud (C, $8M Club), Aaron Bummer (RP, $7.25M Club), Luke Jackson (RP, $7M Club)

Notable Free Agents
Max Fried (SP), Charlie Morton (SP), A.J. Minter (RP), Whit Merrifield (INF)

Miami Marlins

Projected 40-Man CBT: $85.7M (28th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 2 ($13.2M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 7 ($24M)
The Marlins went from bad to worse in 2024, selling off key parts at the deadline to boot (Tanner Scott, Jazz Chisholm, Bryan De La Cruz, Josh Bell). The result? A roster comprised of Sandy Alcantara’s pre-arb extension, 7 relatively inexpensive arbitration salaries, and 30+ pre-arbitration players. With that said, when all healthy, there’s a 4-5 man starting rotation already in place, Xavier Edwards & Jake Burger are reliable bats, and the farm system boasts a few prospects that could be ready to go in 2025.

New York Mets

Projected 40-Man CBT: $179.4M (10th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 6 ($119.6M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 8 ($22.3M)
2024 was a tale of two seasons for the Mets, who began the year as one of the worst teams in MLB, then took the Dodgers to 6 games in the NLCS. Having now survived a year with $92M of retained salary, the Mets being 2025 as barely a Top 10 financial team. However, their pending free agent list includes 3 starting pitchers, 3 notable relievers, and the face of the franchise in Pete Alonso. Name a top free agent this winter: The Mets are in on him.

Notable Options
Sean Manaea (SP, $13.5M Player), Phil Maton (RP, $7.8M Club)

Notable Free Agents
Pete Alonso (1B), Jose Quintana (SP), Luis Severino (SP), Jose Iglesias (INF), Harrison Bader (CF), J.D. Martinez (DH)

Philadelphia Phillies

Projected 40-Man CBT: $286.4M (1st)
Guaranteed Contracts: 11 ($220.5M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($39.3M)
The Phillies rolled through the NL East this year, but clipped by the magical Mets in the NLDS. Outside of a few bullpen arms set to hit free agency, this talented roster is set to be run back in 2025, barring forecable change. Philly boasts the highest projected payroll in baseball at the moment, but are still considered a contender for Juan Soto this winter.

Notable Free Agents
Jeff Hoffman (RP), Carlos Estevez (RP), Spencer Turnbull (SP/RP)

Washington Nationals

Projected 40-Man CBT: $105.6M (22nd)
Guaranteed Contracts: 2 ($41.25M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 11 ($32.3M)
The Nats outkicked their coverage a bit in 2024, as their rebuilding team showed plenty of development & future potential in most areas. Are they ready to spend around the young core and make a push up the NL East? The best play might be to buy a veteran starter, rent a bat or two, and try to be the 2024 Orioles. James Wood, Dylan Crews, Jacob Young, Jake Irvin, & Mitchell Parker may all become household names in 2025.

Notable Free Agents
Patrick Corbin (SP), Trevor Williams (SP/RP), Joey Gallo (DH/1B)

The November 5th trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the list of names hitting the hypothetical trade block is growing by the hour. We’ve attempted to pull together a candidate list that makes sense both from a football & contract standpoint, including the financial ramifications for each player going forward.

Jarrett Stidham / Zach Wilson (QB, Broncos)

Stidham: $2.485M
Wilson: $527,500

It stands to reason that one of the QBs could be shopped in the next week, especially if an unfortunate injury pops up in Week 8 or 9 action. Both players are on expiring contracts and are late round draft pick targets at best.

Miles Sanders (RB, Panthers)

2024: $2.01M (guaranteed)
2025: $6.7M (non-guaranteed)
2026: $5.5M (non-guaranteed)

Sanders has already been usurped by Chuba Hubbard, and Jonathon Brooks’ return to health will only further push Sanders out of favor in this offense. Carolina can pay down this salary to the minimum ($1.44M retained) to make Sanders a more attractive rental piece.

Mike Williams (WR, Jets)

2024: $697,222 (guaranteed)

The addition of Davante Adams and the continued to development of Garrett Wilson have reduced Williams' role immeasurably. He's a cheap acquisition this week for a contending team looking to add depth - or replace an injured player.

Treylon Burks (WR, Titans)

2024: $783k (guaranteed)
2025: $2.6M (guaranteed)
2026: 5th-Year Option (unlikely)

Burks could become the latest “Kadarius Toney” type acquisition, where a team takes a chance on a former high draft pick with 1 ½ years of guaranteed salary remaining. His time in Tennessee appears all but over, and Will Levis’ lack of improvement could mean another full-slate rebuild for the Titans as it stands.

Diontae Johnson (WR, Panthers)

2024: $3.5M (guaranteed)
2025: UFA

The Panthers swapped a player (Donte Jackson) and late round draft picks to take on Johnson’s expiring contract this year. He’s been one of the better offensive players on an overall dreadful team, and a little retained salary ($2.1M would lower him to a minimum) might bring them back a decent pick this week.

Daniel Bellinger (TE, Giants)

2024: $492,500 (non-guaranteed)
2025: $1.1M (non-guaranteed)

Despite signs of relevance in 2022-2023, Bellinger has become nearly invisible in a disjointed Giants’ offense. He’s a low cost, low risk, late round draft pick swap acquisition for a team looking to bolster their TE room this fall. 

D.J. Jones (DT, Broncos)

2024: $4.9M ($4.75M of salary, $240k of per-game active bonus)
2025: UFA

As far as deadline moves go, Jones’ is a bit expensive, and the 2nd-place Broncos certainly don’t need to rush into seller-mode, but Denver is purging, rebuilding, and attempting to contend all at the same time in 2024.

Khalil Mack (OLB, Chargers)

2024: $627,500
2025: UFA

The 33-year-old refuses to slow down (#3 among PFF Edge Defenders). Mack renegotiated a pay cut to remain in LA this season, a move that lowered his base salary down to near minimum. This makes him an extremely attractive rental piece at the deadline - if the Chargers are willing to cut bait with arguably their most important defensive player.

Josh Uche (OLB, Patriots)

2024: $890k ($650k in salary, $240k in per-game active bonus)
2025: UFA

Uche surprisingly took a suppressed 1-year deal to remain in New England this past March, despite more lucrative offers from elsewhere. The move now makes him a bonafide trade target this week, setting up an opportunity for the Patriots to pull back a much needed draft asset.

Calais Campbell (DE, Dolphins)

2024: $605,000
2025: UFA

The 38-year-old has been a factor for Miami through much of the season. If the Dolphins fall out of line in the AFC, a swap to a contender makes sense for everyone.

Greg Newsome (CB, Browns)

2024: $1.2M (guaranteed)
2025: $13.377M (guaranteed)

It’s been a bit of a stepback year for Newsome (and most of the Browns, all things considered), and the time to consider a multi-year extension for the former 1st round pick is right around the corner. If Cleveland doesn’t have Newsome in their long-term plans, pulling back a Top 100 draft pick for the 24-year-old makes sense.

Budda Baker (S, Cardinals)

2024: $7.1M (guaranteed)
2025: UFA

The 28-year-old, 6-time Pro Bowler is likely on his last leg in Arizona, who find themselves in the thick of a messy NFC West as the deadline approaches. Baker is an expensive rental at cost, but player for player trades have become commonplace for the Cardinals of late, which would help lessen the financial burden of a receiving team here.

As MLB flips into offseason mode, Spotrac offers a snapshot look at projected Opening Day 40-Man Tax Payrolls, arbitration salary totals, notable upcoming option decisions, & pending free agents for each team.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Projected 40-Man CBT: $167.6M (13th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 4 ($63M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($29.45M)
Christian Walker’s looming free agency is an area of concern, but the rest of this Arizona roster is surprisingly intact. Righting the ship with Jordan Montgomery (who will almost certainly exercise his $22.5M player option) will be a priority, though it’s possible that a trade could be on the table as well. Club options for Eugenio Suarez ($15M) & Merrill Kelly ($7M) are no-brainers.

Notable Options:
Eugenio Suarez (3B, $15M Club), Joc Pederson (DH, $14M Mutual), Merrill Kelly (SP, $7M Club)

Notable Free Agents:
Christian Walker (1B), Kevin Newman (INF), Paul Sewald (RP)

Colorado Rockies

Projected 40-Man CBT: $145M (17th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 7 ($81.8M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 7 ($27.7M)
The Rockies have already made-public their intent to shed payroll in 2025. How they go about doing that remains to be seen. Pitching remains an issue (last in ERA), but the Coors Field-based franchise will never attract high-end offseason arms. Look for this front office to aggressively shop higher-priced arbitration players in favor of younger callups from their farm system. It could be an ugly few more years in Colorado.

Notable Options:
Jacob Stallings (C, $2M Mutual)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Projected 40-Man CBT: $281.5M (2nd)
Guaranteed Contracts: 10 ($209.8M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($28.2M)
With the exception of Teoscar Hernandez, the starting-core of this Dodgers’ roster remains intact for 2025. None of the arbitration eligible players are entering their final year of control, and it’s conceivable that the complement of Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May, Shohei Ohtani, & Bobby Miller all fully healthy next spring could automatically bolster this pitching rotation to one of the league’s best. With that said, this has never been a front office that has sat on their hands and rolled over the same old roster for another go. Look for everything to be on the table here - including - but not limited to - a serious run at Juan Soto.

Notable Options:
Miguel Rojas (INF, $5M Club), Austin Barnes (C, $3.5M Club), Clayton Kershaw (SP, $10M player)

Notable Free Agents:
Teoscar Hernandez (OF), Jack Flaherty (SP), Blake Treinen (RP), Enrique Hernandez (UTIL),  Walker Buehler (SP)

San Diego Padres

Projected 40-Man CBT: $243.8M (3rd)
Guaranteed Contracts: 8 ($145.7M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 8 ($47.7M)
The Padres were a team that shook things up early, battled through injuries mid-season, then came together perfectly down the stretch just in time for a run into the postseason. This is a turn-key roster for 2025, with hopes that Yu Darvish & Xander Bogaerts can return to full health/usage. Replacing SP Joe Musgrove (UCL) and one of the 2024 Best Values Jurickson Profar (UFA) will be a top priority. But GM A.J. Preller - one of MLB’s most aggressive execs, likely already has a laundry list of ideas in mind.

Notable Options:
Ha-seong Kim (SS, $7M Mutual), Wandy Peralta (RP, $4.3M Player)

Notable Free Agents:
Jurickson Profar (OF), Tanner Scott (RP), Kyle Higashioka (C), Elias Diaz (C) 

San Francisco Giants

Projected 40-Man CBT: $170.3M (12th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 6 ($88.125M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 4 ($22.4M)

A disappointing season led to a complete turn over of the front office this Fall. Buster Posey is now tasked with a roster that has a few key players (Logan Webb, Matt Chapman, Ryan Walker, Patrick Bailey), but there’s a very real world where multiple shakeups happen elsewhere around the roster. Blake Snell’s looming opt-out, and Robbie Ray’s $50M option decision could leave SF with more than few rotation spots to replace.

Notable Options:
Blake Snell (SP, $30M Player), Robbie Ray (SP, 2 yr $50M Player Option)

Notable Free Agents:
Michael Conforto (OF), Mark Canha (OF), Curt Casali (C)

As MLB flips into offseason mode, Spotrac offers a snapshot look at projected Opening Day 40-Man Tax Payrolls, arbitration salary totals, notable upcoming option decisions, & pending free agents for each team.

Athletics

Projected 40-Man CBT: $50.6M (30th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 0
Arbitration-Eligible: 5  ($12.25M)

The city-less A’s enter the offseason with $50M projected toward their 40-man roster - by far the lowest in MLB, an unfortunate par for the course for this franchise. The Athletics have 5 players eligible for arbitration, led by DH Brent Rooker, who enters for the first time. There are no guaranteed salaries or options on this roster right now.

Notable Free Agents:
Scott Alexander (RP), Ross Stripling (RP/SP), T.J. McFarland (RP), Alex Wood (SP)

Houston Astros

Projected 40-Man CBT: $233.7M (5th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 8 ($126.9M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 9 ($63.5M)
Final arbitration years for SP Framber Valdez & OF Kyle Tucker have the Astros carrying 8 tax salaries north of $12.5M right now, with Jose Altuve’s $25M per year extension beginning in 2025 as well. It’s reasonable to expect a little bit of change to the current outlook, but with their window of contention seemingly closing sooner rather than later, one last big push this offseason isn’t out of the question either.

Notable Free Agents:
Alex Bregman (3B), Jason Heyward (OF), Hector Neris (RP), Yusei Kikuchi (SP), Justin Verlander (SP)

Los Angeles Angels

Projected 40-Man CBT: $171.9M (11th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 4 ($94.5M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 11 ($41M)
Anthony Rendon & Mike Trout represent 38% of the Angels’ projected total right now. Rendon has 2 years remaining on his deal, while Trout remains under contract through the 2030 season. Notable SPs Patrick Sandoval & Griffin Canning are nearing the end of team control, but it seems more likely that LAA will be buying heavy instead of selling big this winter.

Notable Free Agents:
Hunter Strickland (RP), Kevin Pillar (OF), Willie Calhoun (OF)

Seattle Mariners

Projected 40-Man CBT: $162.4M (14th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 7 ($70.7M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 13 ($52M)
The Mariners roster is loaded with arbitration level talent that should keep this payroll tempered - even with a few splashy signings or acquisitions this offseason.Mitch Haniger holds a $15.5M player option that he’s expected to opt-in to, while Seattle has a $12M decision on Jorge Polanco ($750,000 buyout) this winter. This is a roster with very little dropoff from 2024, so the Mariners will need to be aggressive to improve (not a problem for this front office).

Notable Options:
Mitch Haniger (OF, $17.5M Player), Jorge Polanco (INF, $10.5M Club)

Notable Free Agents:
Yimi Garcia (RP), Justin Turner (DH/3B)

Texas Rangers

Projected 40-Man CBT: $187.2M (9th)
Guaranteed Contracts: 6 ($126.5M)
Arbitration-Eligible: 6 ($30.2M)
The lack of certaity surrounding the Rangers’ television broadcast future has to be a factor in how the team utilizes resources in the immediacy. A clean bill of health from Jacob deGrom would certainly be a good start for a team looking to re-find it’s 2023 magic, while Nathan Eovaldi ($20M player option) & David Robertson ($7M mutual option) are both expected to hit the open market. If 2025 becomes a scale back season, look for the Rangers to field offers for 1B Nate Lowe, who enters Year 3 of a 4 year arbitration path this winter.

Notable Options:
Nathan Eovaldi (SP, $20M Player), David Robertson (RP, $7M Mutual), Andrew Chafin (RP, $6.5M Club)

Notable Free Agents:
Kirby Yates (RP), Andrew Heaney (SP), Max Scherzer (SP)

The 2nd & 3rd highest luxury tax payrolls in MLB will take the biggest stage this weekend for a chance to secure the 2024 World Series title. The Dodgers (who yes, benefited greatly from Shohei Ohtani’s $68M cash savings, & $24M tax savings) pumped over $1.2B of guaranteed contracts into their organization last winter, but had to piecemeal together a starting rotation for the better part of the last few months to keep themselves on the train tracks. The Yankees, who acquired their big fish Juan Soto via trade, put together a postseason run that went about as according to plan as possible: timely pitching and a bevy of home runs.

We dive into 7 players of note set to play out the final series of the year, including two of baseball’s highest-paid, a player vying to be next in line for that label, and a few pending free agents who can further their financials over the next two weeks.

Shohei Ohtani (DH, Dodgers)

Obviously. The most exciting player in the game finally earns a trip to its biggest stage, though only as a hitter (maybe?). Ohtani posted a 9.22 WAR in the regular season (3rd overall), and is coming off of an NLCS where he went 8-22 with 9 walks at the top of the Dodgers lineup. His 10 year $700M contract runs through the 2033 season (though the deferred payments cover 2034-2043 respectively), giving the Dodgers a decade-long reason to keep their foot on the gas pedal.

Juan Soto (RF, Yankees)

Also obviously. Soto already has a World Series ring (as a 19-year-old in Washington), and now has a chance to snag another on the cusp of free agency. With that said, the Yankees can get mercy-rule swept with Soto posting an 0-The Series at the plate, and a dozen teams will still have a $500M+ offer sheet ready to hit the fax machine. He’s about to turn 26-years-old. He holds a 36.4 combined WAR in just 7 seasons (Trea Turner has the same WAR across 10 years). He’s both disciplined and a killer at the plate altogether, and when put in seemingly the most perfect of settings for 2024 (in front of Aaron Judge, at Yankee Stadium), he somehow exceeded expectations. The bidding war will be one for the ages, and the Yankees would be fools to lose it.

Aaron Judge (CF, Yankees)

Almost everything about Aaron Judge’s 2024 season comes with a “career-best” next to it, including his first trip to the World Series this week. The 32-year-old presumptive AL MVP led the league in HR, RBI, BB, OBP, SLG, OPS, OPS+, TB, & WAR. He just completed Year 2 of his 9 year, $360M deal with NY that contains no opt-outs,options, or deferred payments.

Gleyber Torres (2B, Yankees)

The ultimate example of “smelling free agency”, Torres was a player that at more than a few points over his 6 years in NY was being booed out of Yankee Stadium for one reason or another. But his production & effort both at the plate and in the infield has been a spark plug for the Yankees down the stretch in 2024. The pending free agent has bolstered his overall value, especially now that he’s a proven leadoff hitter in big moments. His arbitration compensation suggests a contract in the $16M-$18M range, though at just shy of 28-years-old, don’t be surprised to see a team or two push higher here.

Teoscar Hernandez (OF,  Dodgers)

Hernandez turned $30M over 3 years of arbitration into a 1 year, $23.5M free agent contract to join the Dodgers. 32 doubles, 33 homers, 99 RBIs, and a career-high 4.29 WAR later, Hernandez will hit the open market this winter as one of the best available power hitters. The 32-year-old will be limited from a length standpoint, but it’s not inconceivable that a 4 year, $100M guarantee comes his way soon.

Jack Flaherty (SP, Dodgers)

Arguably the biggest pitcher to move at the deadline (via Detroit), Flaherty posted consistently good numbers down the stretch for the Dodgers. In the postseason, 2 out of his 3 starts were sloppy (to say the least), but his NLCS Game 1 start against NY was the stuff of legends. The pending UFA entered 2024 with a $23.3M valuation (4 years, $95M), and can really hit the market on a high note with another memorable moment on the mound this week.

Luke Weaver (RP, Yankees)

Weaver signed a 1 year, $2M contract with the Yankees last winter after posting a 6.40 ERA across 25 starts with the Reds, Mariners & Yankees in 2023. It was an afterthought signing for the Yankees who were simply hoping to find a role for him (likely not as a starter). But an offseason of change (new delivery, new mindset as a reliever, increased velocity) completely transformed the 31-year-old’s career path. The catch? NY added a $2.5M club option to his deal, locking him in for 2025 as a veritable steal if he can remain his good standing as their 9th-inning man.

As the 2024 WNBA season comes to a close, Spotrac is flipping the switch to the 2025 offseason, highlighting current roster details and pending free agents for each team heading toward the winter months.

RELATED: 2025 WNBA Cap Tracker

Roster & Financials Notables

• The league salary cap for the upcoming 2025 season is $1,507,100, a $44,000 increase from last year. Teams must also spend to a minimum $1,261,400 floor for next season.
• Rosters must be constructed of at least 11, but no more than 12 players during the season.
• “Training Camp” contracts & first year rookie contract salaries do not count against the salary cap until the first day of the regular season.
• Per the CBA these are the minimum salaries for the upcoming season:
  0-2 Years of Service: $66,079
  3+ Years of Service: $78,831
  Maximum Salary: $214,466
  Super-Maximum Salary: $249,244
  
  RELATED: WNBA CBA Notables

Free Agents Notables

• Reserved/Exclusive Rights free agents have been tendered a qualifying offer and can only negotiate with their current team.
• Restricted free agents may negotiate an offer sheet with other WNBA teams, but the current team has the right to match.
• Unrestricted free agents may negotiate with any WNBA team.
• Teams may re-sign their free agents to a maximum of 4 years, while the maximum contract for a player joining a new team is 3 years in length.
  
  RELATED: 2025 WNBA Free Agents

The Golden State Valkyries

The newest member of the WNBA family joins in 2025, with an expansion draft set for December 6th. Each WNBA team can protect a maximum of 6 players who were on their roster on the final day of the regular season. Golden State may select a player under contract, or a pending free agent from each of the 12 teams, and may also flip selected players to other franchises to acquire other assets.

Still TBD: When are protection lists due? Which spot will Golden State draft next April?

New York Liberty

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 3rd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Breanna Stewart (F, 30), Courtney Vandersloot (G, 35), Kennedy Burke (G, 27), Ivana Dojkic (G, 26, Exclusive Rights), Jaylyn Sherrod (G, 22, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 7/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $586,923

The 2025 offseason conversation begins and ends with Breanna Stewart, who heads back to the open market this winter. Stewart took a slightly less than maximum $205,000 salary last season to help the team remain competitive. Will she be willing to do it again? A super-max-salary for Stewart in 2025 ($249,244) would nearly cut the LIberty’s available cap space in half, making it difficult to fill out the remaining 4-5 roster spots with any kind of substance. Regardless, it’s tough to imagine the most balanced, well-coached teams in the league doing too much to damage this roster going forward - especially with a few other contending teams potentially sliding backwards.

Minnesota Lynx

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd, 2nd (from CHI), 3rd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Myisha Hines-Allen (F, 28), Natisha Hiedeman (G, 27), Cecilia Zandalasini (F, 28, Exclusive Rights), Olivia Epoupa (G, 30, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 8/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $401,278

Arguably the best overall roster in the league on paper, the Lynx have a large majority of their team under contract for the 2025 season. With 1st & two 2nd Rd Picks under their belt, don’t be surprised if Minnesota makes one, aggressive, splashy move this offseason to try to separate themselves from the likes of NY, CON, LV next season.

Connecticut Sun

2025 Draft Picks: 2nd (from NYL)
Option Players: None
Notable Free Agents: Alyssa Thomas (F, 32), Brionna Jones (C, 28), DeWanna Bonner (F, 37), Tiffany Mitchell (G, 30), Astou Ndour (C, 30), DiJonai Carrington (G, 26, Restricted), Veronica Burton (G, 24, Exclusive Rights), Caitlin Bickle (F, 24, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 3/12
Protected Veterans: 1/6
Offseason Cap Space: $1,116,264

The Sun mortgaged quite a bit of capital to acquire Marina Mabrey this July, and had moments where they were the most complete team in the league this past season. A nosedive down the stretch led to a semifinal exit in the postseason, but now the fun begins. This is a roster with 3 contracts on it at the time of this piece (only Mabrey protected), setting up a flourish of offseason decisions. It’s rational to assume that a “mini-rebuild” is in order here, especially as it pertains to getting younger, but that won’t be coming via the draft this April. The Sun only possess NY’s 2nd round pick, putting the onus on the front office to work their magic in free agency in order to keep this franchise contending in 2025.

Las Vegas Aces

2025 Draft Picks: 2nd, 2nd (from WSH), 3rd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Kelsey Plum (G, 30), Alysha Clark (F, 37), Tiffany Hayes (G, 35), Sydney Colson (G, 35), Queen Egbo (C, 24, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 7/12
Protected Veterans: 4/6
Offseason Cap Space: $587,925

The Aces fell short in their bid for a 3-peat, but remained one of the most dangerous teams in the league despite a bit of inconsistency this past season. League A'ja Wilson & 27-year-old G Jackie Young are locked up through 2025, but the biggest question (possibly in the entire league) this offseason comes with Kelsey Plum. Las Vegas has the core contract available, locking her in for one season, but any type of (worthy) max extension for the 30-year-old will immediately drain the financial resources for the Aces this winter. 

Indiana Fever

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Option Players: None
Notable Free Agents: Kelsey Mitchell (G, 28), Erica Wheeler (G, 33), Temi Fagbenle (C, 32, Restricted)
Players Under Contract: 9/12
Protected Veterans: 2/6
Offseason Cap Space: $657,639

Well that went well. The young core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, & Lexie Hull quickly developed into one of the better offensive units in the league. But Clark’s immediate success goes hand in hand with the continued development of Kelsey Mitchell, who figures to be one of the top free agents this offseason. Indiana may need to drop a salary to afford Mitchell’s return, and it might take a core contract to keep her in the mix.

Phoenix Mercury

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Diana Taurasi (G, 42), Brittney Griner (C, 34), Monique Billings (F, 28), Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (F, 26, Exclusive Rights), Natasha Mack (F, 26, Exclusive Rights), Charisma Osborne (G, 23, Exclusive Rights), Amy Atwell (F, 26, Exclusive Rights).
Players Under Contract: 4/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $798,966

The Mercury hung tough for much of 2024 but didn’t have the offensive firepower to stay with the top teams in the league last season. Now they’re faced with the task of needing to potentially replace Taurasi & Griner - while also adding size and depth to a roster that requires at least 7 more players right now. It’s a big draft for Phoenix, and the notion of trading a player for additional picks could very much be on the table here.

Seattle Storm

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd (from WSH)
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Nneka Ogwumike (F, 34), Gabby Williams (F, 28), Mercedes Russell (C, 29), Sami Whitcomb (G, 36), Victoria Vivians (G, 29), Joyner Holmes (F, 26)
Players Under Contract: 5/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $712,377

Seattle pieced together a much improved roster in 2024, including the late addition of Gabby Williams post-Olympics, but her status, along with Nneka Ogwumike, is very much up in the air. The Storm have at least 6 roster spots to fill this offseason, so offering max salaries may prove difficult in the overall landscape of building out a deep enough team to contend.

Atlanta Dream

2025 Draft Picks: 2nd, 3rd
Option Players: None
Notable Free Agents: Cheyenne Parker (F, 32), Aerial Powers (F, 30), Tina Charles (C, 35), Maya Caldwell (G, 25, Exclusive Rights), Lorela Cubaj (F, 25, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 8/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $644,298

The Dream finished off 2024 strong, sliding into the postseason after a rough start. Alongside Jordin Canada & Allisha Gray, youngster Rhyne Howard appears to be a core player to build around, and the Dream will be looking to do just that as they flip over a few older pieces this offseason. Though replacing Tina Charles (if she decides not to return) will be much easier said than done.

Washington Mystics

2025 Draft Picks: Two 1sts (1 from Atlanta), 2nd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (G, 29), Emily Engstler (F, 24, Exclusive Rights), Sug Sutton (G, 25, Exclusive Rights), Julie Vanloo (G, 31, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 8/12
Protected Veterans: 4/6
Offseason Cap Space: $523,340

Washington got off to a spectacular 0-12 start last season, putting them in a hole they never crawled out of. If the core is healthy, they’re a contending team, but health has been an issue over the past few seasons. The Mystics lack a true playmaking point guard, their biggest priority this offseason.

Chicago Sky

2025 Draft Picks: Their own 1st could be swapped with Dallas. Also own the rights to Connecticut’s 1st.
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Isabelle Harrison (F, 31), Brianna Turner (F, 28), Diamond DeShields (G, 29), Chennedy Carter (G, 25, Restricted), Michaela Onyenwere (F, 25, Restricted), Dana Evans (G, 26, Restricted), Nina Milic (F, 30, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 6/12
Protected Veterans: 2/6
Offseason Cap Space: $923,625

Despite a blossoming young core, the Sky hold 7 free agents (3 restricted) that could very much change the outlook of this team going forward. Dallas has the ability to swap lottery picks with Chicago, virtually ensuring they won’t be drafting #1 overall this April. The Sky need to aggressively seek 3-Point shooting this winter. 

Dallas Wings

2025 Draft Picks: 1st (potential swap), 2nd, 3rd
Option Players: None
Notable Free Agents: Natasha Howard (F, 33), Satou Sabally (F, 26), Jaelyn Brown (G, 26, reserved), Sevgi Uzun (G, 26, reserved)
Players Under Contract: 7/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $611,573

The Wings have a league-high 45.4% chance of winning the lottery thanks to a pick-swap they acquired from the Chicago Sky in last year’s Marina Mabrey trade. Injuries held back this team in 2024, but that might not stop Dallas from aggressively overhauling a large portion of this roster over the next few months.

Los Angeles Sparks

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd (potential CHI 3rd based on lottery results)
Option Players: Li Yueru ($74,019, reserved free agent)
Notable Free Agents: Kia Nurse (G, 28), Aari McDonald (G, 26)
Players Under Contract: 10/12
Protected Veterans: 4/6
Offseason Cap Space: $345,930

The Sparks have a 44.2% chance of winning the #1 overall pick, which likely means the addition of Paige Bueckers for the foreseeable future, and a legitimate young core when including Cameron Brink & Rickea Jackson to move forward with.

The Buffalo Bills bolstered their WR room Tuesday, acquiring Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. The 30-year-old is in the final year of his 5 year, $100M contract, joining his 4th team since entering the league in 2015 with the Raiders. Cooper now joins Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, & youngster Keon Coleman as Buffalo’s wide receiver set going forward.

The Trade Compensation

The Browns acquired a 2025 3rd round pick (originally Detroit’s), and a 2026 7th round pick from Buffalo, who picked up a 2025 6th round pick along with the right’s to Cooper.

Contractually, Cleveland set themselves up nicely to purchase a Top 100 draft pick this Fall. The Browns converted Cooper’s $20M base salary down to a minimum $1.21M, paying him the remainder in signing bonus. This means that the Bills now acquire Cooper at just:

2024: $806,667 (guaranteed)

In return, the Browns now take on dead cap hits of:

2024: $7,937,333 ($806,667 saved)
2025: $22,584,000 ($0 savings)

Before you gripe about the 2025 dead cap, the $22.5M was already baked into the cake long before the trade processed. The Browns processed two full salary cap conversions on Cooper’s contract (2022, 2024), adding voidable years in 2025-2028 to spread out the salary cap as much as possible. Outside of a multi-year contract extension, the $22.5M of dead cap would have hit Cleveland’s books next March regardless of him being traded or not.

The Browns Outlook

Cooper became somewhat expendable when the Browns acquired Jerry Jeudy from the Broncos this past Spring, and subsequently signed him to a 3 year, $52.5 million contract extension through 2027.

Cooper’s $22.5M dead cap hit for 2025 isn’t ideal, but neither is the $73M cap figure currently associated with QB Deshaun Watson. The Browns currently possess 9 cap hits north of $19M in 2025, factoring into -$40M of projected cap space for next season.

With the Watson contract being the albatross that it is, the time to start wondering if the Browns can continue to aggressively build (or even hold firm) a contending team even makes sense. They’re on a path to be drafting rather high in 2025 (currently #1 overall in fact), with 4 Top 100 picks under their belt right now, so a financial reset in some regard is in their near future.

But it shouldn’t be wrong to start questioning the futures of Denzel Ward, Myles Garrett, & certainly Deshaun Watson for the foreseeable future, as new contract requirements (or current full guarantees) come into focus. The most likely outcome for 2025? A dozen or so salary conversions to free up cap space, a few free agent additions & potential immediate starter draft picks (notably at running back and wide receiver), and another attempt at finding the right ingredients to get the most out of Deshaun Watson. Buckle up Cleveland.

The Bills Outlook

It can be argued that Cooper’s best stretch with the Browns came with Joe Flacco at QB, as he and Deshaun Watson never really found their stride. With all of that said, Amari Cooper caught 174 passes in 38 games for Cleveland, including 16 TDs over that span. Despite cresting the 30-years-old mark, he still possesses separation ability, and a yards after the catch threat.

It can now also be argued that Cooper is about to line up next to the best quarterback that he’s ever suited up with in Josh Allen. There’s a very real world where these two become instant favorites on the field, somewhat reviving the 1-2 punch that was Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs for the better part of 3 seasons.

From a positional standpoint going forward, Buffalo has Curtis Samuel mostly guaranteed through 2025, and Keon Coleman mostly guaranteed on his rookie deal through 2027. Khalil Shakir will be entering a contract year in 2025, and becomes extension eligible for the first time this winter as well, while Mack Hollins & Amari Cooper are slated for free agency next March.

Cooper is a tough player to evaluate from a contract projection standpoint, as the numbers are certainly there - but without much substance behind them. Furthermore, the track record for 30+ WRs cashing in sizable deals is small, though both Mike Evans and DeAndre Hopkins have done well in recent offseasons. Mathematically speaking, Cooper is a $15M player in our system, projecting toward a 2 year, $30M extension at the time of this article.

The Bills have a few mouths to feed next Spring (Greg Rousseau, Rasul Douglas most likely), but will be coming off of a 2024 offseason where “purge” and “reset” were the major themes. Signing a player like Cooper to a mid-level extension should very much be in the cards if the fit is right. Buffalo projects to just over $10M of 2025 cap space with 40 contracts on the books.

Davante Adams’ tenure as a Raider came to a close Tuesday afternoon when Las Vegas shipped the All-Pro WR to the New York Jets. The move, while somewhat expected, could bolster a stagnant Jets’ offense as they look to keep pace with the Buffalo Bills (who acquired a WR of their own Tuesday) in the AFC East.

The Trade Compensation

The Raiders received a 2025 3rd round pick from New York (currently projected as pick #75), but the pick can become a 2025 2nd rounder if Davante Adams is named an All-Pro in 2024 OR Davante Adams is on the active roster for an AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl in 2024.

The Jets pick up the remainder of the Adams contract, which by default comes over as:

2024: $11,590,000
2025: $36,250,000
2026: $36,250,000

For cap purposes, the Jets processed a simple base salary conversion on the remainder of Adams’ 2024 salary, adding two void years to the contract, which now reflects as:

2024: $3,227,333
2025: $38,340,666
2026: $38,340,666
2027: $2,090,666 (voidable)
2028: $2,090,666 (voidable)

The Raiders Outlook

With this trade, Las Vegas gets out from under the remaining $11.6M of cap/cash in 2024, while also freeing up $28.4M of 2025 cap space in the process.

The Raiders now boast around $108M of projected cap space next year, 4th most in the NFL, plus 10 draft picks for 2025 currently. Exactly which direction the organization will take going forward remains to be seen, especially as it pertains to the QB position. Left Tackle Kolton Miller will be entering a contract year in 2025, DE Maxx Crosby will be entering the non-guaranteed portion of his contract, and much of the WR room will be on the roster bubble heading toward next March.

For all intents and purposes, the only impactful contract on the books in terms of future guarantees belongs to DL Christian Wilkins, who will see nearly $55M of his salary over the next two seasons become fully guaranteed on March 13th.

The Jets Outlook

It’s no secret that Adams & QB Aaron Rodgers have a long history of A+ chemistry. But how that will fit into the cast of current characters remains to be seen. Rodgers & Garrett Wilson have begun to make strides in their connectivity of late, and the idea of New York possessing that two-headed monster in the passing game has to have opposing defenses raising eyebrows.

Here’s one thing we do know for sure: Regardless of the output on the field over the next 12 weeks, Adams won’t remain in this current contract next season. The salary cap conversion processed yesterday only added $8.3M of dead cap to the contract for the 2025 season. So in the worst case scenario, the Jets cut ties and take on that hit to move forward.

But if all goes well, and Rodgers decides to continue his career past the 2024 season, what might a renegotiated contract for Davante Adams look like? Mike Evans seems to be the best place to start with this conversation.

Evans locked in a 2 year, $41M contract to return to Tampa Bay last March, a deal that included $29M fully guaranteed at signing. His $20.5M APY represents 8% of the 2024 salary cap. If we project that forward into 2025, we’re talking about an APY at or around the $22M mark. So a 2 year, $44M extension, $32M guaranteed, is a pretty strong starting point for where Adams and the Jets may be headed in the coming months. Assuming all goes well.

Oh and by the way: Garrett Wilson becomes extension-eligible for the first time after 2024, currently projecting toward a 3 year, $70M deal in our system.

Trade Grades & Who Won?

No.