Yankees, Giants among big-market teams still active in free agency

Many excellent players are still searching for a landing spot — 19 of MLBtraderumors.com’s top 50 free agents, in fact — so it stands to reason many teams remain incomplete. Exactly half the teams have spent $40 million or less, with slightly more than half of those (eight of 15) spending less than $20 million.

Of the clubs in the $20M-$40M category, all but the Pirates are in medium-sized markets or bigger. They include the Red Sox, Mariners, Padres and Yankees* (Juan Soto isn’t counted since he came via trade, but fairly, he’ll cost $31M).

Here are some big-market teams still active.

1. Cubs: They were seeking offense even before the rival Brewers agreed to a $34M, two-year deal with Rhys Hoskins, who’d been linked most to the Cubs. Talks have been ongoing with incumbent center fielder Cody Bellinger since early November, and he remains the most logical fit. Matt Chapman also makes sense for the team whose biggest pickups so far are Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga and manager Craig Counsell. Since they were looking at Hoskins, Brandon Belt or Justin Turner could be of interest, too.

2. Giants: They made a late play for Hoskins, so we’ll assume they still seek a hitter. Chapman has made sense from the start as an Oakland A’s player back when new Giants manager Bob Melvin skippered that team. They’ve been linked to Bellinger, but the signing of Jung Hoo Lee for $113M might make him less necessary. Though the rotation isn’t as big a need, they checked in on top starters Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery.

3. Yankees: They are one team known to have bid on Snell, but with the sides apart, they say they’re focusing on the bullpen now. They also looked into old friend Montgomery before becoming convinced he’d prefer to be elsewhere. As for the pen, they’ve talked to Hector Neris, Phil Maton, Ryan Brasier, Wandy Peralta and Keynan Middleton, among others.

4. Red Sox: They initially said they were going “full throttle,” but after coming up short on numerous guys, they recently said their payroll may actually dip from 2023, when they finished last for the third time in four years. Their higher-ups received a frosty reception at a recent fan event, but they also know Boston fans are extremely loyal. They do appear to be looking. They like Montgomery, whose wife is a medical student in Boston.

5. Rangers: The world champions have been slowed by their local TV issue, which remains somewhat unresolved. They’d like to bring back Montgomery, and the belief is he’d like to return to the team he helped win its first World Series. They seek a reliever (David Robertson is a target) and could use a DH. J.D. Martinez could fit if they get the funds.

6. Blue Jays: Since the abject disappointment of falling short on Shohei Ohtani, they’ve made incremental moves that don’t make up for the losses of Chapman and Belt. Those two could be options. Jorge Soler has been linked here more than anyone. Martinez could fit if Soler doesn’t.

7. Angels: They could do nothing, or they could go big fly — that’s the way they roll. They like Snell and Bellinger (and Soler and Martinez), potentially nice combos to replace the loss of their best hitter and best pitcher. But they are perhaps less predictable than Boston.