As the MLB season is in full swing, both fans and clubs are eagerly looking ahead to the top MLB free agents of 2024. MLB free agency is a thrilling aspect of baseball, and the upcoming crop of free agents has generated considerable excitement for the winter.
Unsurprisingly, Shohei Ohtani stands out as the premier player in the 2023-2024 MLB free agency class. He has become the face of baseball, gaining popularity with each passing year.
Ohtani's immense marketability has the potential to bring in substantial revenue for any team, and his consistent performance as an MVP candidate adds to his allure, making him a potential key player in leading his team to a World Series victory.
However, after Ohtani, the pool of top MLB free agents for 2024 shows a slight decline. Notable everyday players such as Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, and Xander Bogaerts are not headlining the list.
The 2024 MLB free agent class offers teams a chance to make significant acquisitions, reshaping the landscape of the league. The competition to sign these star players will undoubtedly generate excitement and anticipation among fans and teams alike as the offseason unfolds.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned list includes players such as Max Scherzer, Marcus Stroman, Javier Baez, Josh Donaldson, Joey Votto, Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
The cost of a qualifying offer for the 2023/24 MLB free agency period will be announced during this offseason. The price of the qualifying offer has fluctuated in recent years, dropping to $17.8 million in 2019, then climbing in 2020, and subsequently dipping in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on MLB revenue. With player salaries on the rise, the 2024 qualifying offer is expected to exceed $20 million.
A qualifying offer is a one-year contract offer that MLB teams extend to impending free agents. However, certain players may not be eligible for the qualifying offer.
For instance, if a player has received the qualifying offer in the past or if they were traded mid-season before becoming a free agent, they are not eligible to receive the qualifying offer. In the event a player rejects the qualifying offer, the team can receive a compensatory draft pick as compensation for the loss of the player during MLB free agency.