10 potential free agents who could boost stock in postseason

Pete Alonso’s dramatic home run on Thursday night allowed the New York Mets to advance in the MLB postseason.

Ther first baseman’s three-run shot in the top of the ninth inning wiped out a 2-0 deficit and lifted the Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the winner-take-all Game 3 of a National League Wild Card Series.

Alonso’s blast couldn’t have come at a better time for the Mets – and himself. Alonzo is eligible for free agency five days after the World Series ends and launching a dramatic home run in October should only help bolster his already robust stock on the open market.

Here is a look at 10 potential free agents remaining in the postseason who have one more chance to impress potential suitors.

Juan Soto, Yankees

Soto had a monster first year with the New York Yankees after being acquired from the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster trade in the offseason. He hit .288/.419/.569 in 157 games with 41 home runs and an American League-leading 128 runs scored.

Two years ago, Soto turned down a 15-year, $440-million contract offer from the Washington Nationals, who then traded him to the Padres. Considering he is still just 25 years old; Soto could wind up with a $500-million deal.

Gleyber Torres, Yankees

The second baseman was an All-Star for the Yankees in his first two seasons in 2018-19 but hasn’t been the same player since then. Torres had a so-so regular season this year, hitting .257/.330/.378 with 15 homers, though his fielding was terrible with minus-11 defensive runs saved.

Still just 27, Torres appears to be a player who plateaued early in his career. He has fallen out of favor with the Yankees but could make an impression on other teams with a good postseason showing.

Jurickson Profar, Padres

Profar has been the best bargain in the majors this season after signing a one-year, $1-million contract with the Padres early in spring training. The 31-year-old left fielder was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his 11-year career and finished the regular season with a .280/.380/.459 slash line, 24 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 158 games.

Profar was considered the top prospect in baseball when he broke into the major leagues in 2012 as a shortstop with the Texas Rangers. It has taken a dozen injury-filled years, but Profar has finally lived up to the billing.

Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers

The outfielder opted to sign a one-year, $23.5-million deal with the Dodgers in hopes of landing a larger deal this upcoming offseason. The 31-year-old has positioned himself well after playing a big role in the Dodgers having the best regular-season record in the major leagues.

Hernandez belted 33 home runs and stole 12 bases while slashing .272/.339/.501 in 154 games. The homers and 295 total bases were career-highs for the nine-year veteran.

Jack Flaherty, Dodgers

Injuries and ineffectiveness in recent years made teams wary of signing the right-hander on the free agent market last winter. The Detroit Tigers took a shot on Flaherty with a one-year, $14-million contract and flipped him to the Dodgers at the trade deadline

Flaherty went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 starts to help stabilize the Dodgers’ injury-depleted rotation. Perhaps no potential free agent can improve his stock this October more than the 28-year-old.

Pete Alonso, Mets

Alonso finished the regular season in a slump and his big home run on Thursday night was his first extra-base hit since Sept. 19. However, the 29-year-old has 226 homers during his six seasons with the Mets, including 53 as a rookie in 2019.

In the regular season, Alonso batted .240/.329/.459 with 34 homers while playing in all 162 games. Alonso was one of four major-leaguers to play in every game in 2024 along with Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies’ Nick Castellanos.

Jose Iglesias, Mets

Iglesias has been one of the best comeback stories of the year. The 34-year-old spent all last season in the minor leagues and was playing at Triple-A Syracuse this year before the Mets called him up on May 31.

With second baseman Jeff McNeil lost for the season with a fractured wrist, Iglesias has filled the void. He hit .337/.381/.448 with four home runs in 85 regular-season games and shouldn’t have trouble finding a job this upcoming offseason.

Luis Severino, Mets

Like Flaherty, Severino has been hurt by injuries and ineffectiveness in recent years. However, the Mets took a flier on the 30-year-old right-hander during the winter by signing him to a one-year, $13-million contract.

Severino hasn’t quite regained his 19-win form of 2018 with the Yankees. However, he has likely positioned himself for a multi-year deal in the upcoming offseason by going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 31 starts.

Jeff Hoffman, Phillies

Once a highly touted starting pitching prospect with the Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies, Hoffman has found success as a reliever with the Phillies. The 31-year-old was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his nine-year career this season when he had a 3-3 record, 10 saves and a 2.17 ERA in 68 games.

Hoffman will be pitching in high-leverage situations in the postseason. He is likely to draw interest from teams looking for a closer.

Paul DeJong, Royals

The veteran infielder must feel like he was walking down the street and found a winning lottery ticket lying on the ground. DeJong spent the first four months of the season with the Chicago White Sox, who wound up losing a modern MLB-record 121 games, before being traded to the Kansas City Royals.

The 31-year-old isn’t an everyday shortstop anymore. However, there should be a market for DeJong after hitting 24 home runs in 139 games in the regular season.