Following our ranking of the top five internationally-born Major League Baseball free agent starting pitchers, World Baseball Network ranks the top five free agent outfielders born outside the United States with Juan Soto leading.
A few players on this list could be in line to make big money on their next contract, and one player might become one of the highest-paid players in MLB history.
These five international free-agent outfielders are up for grabs during the 2025 MLB offseason.
O’Neill is a righty-power bat who has dealt with several injuries throughout his seven-year career, including three stints on the injured list in 2024 that limited him to 113 games.
Despite the injuries, O’Neill smashed 31 home runs this past season and accumulated a 2.7 WAR (per Baseball Reference). The Canadian fared much better against lefty pitchers in 2024, posting a 1.179 OPS compared to a .693 OPS against righties. The 29-year-old is slightly above average regarding sprint speed, but his defense leaves much to be desired in the corner outfield. Teams needing a designated hitter in the heart of their lineup should have their eyes on O’Neill this winter.
Once a highly touted prospect for the Texas Rangers, Profar picked the perfect time to enjoy the best year of his career heading into free agency. On an absolute steal of a 2024 contract (1-year, $1 million), Profar accumulated a 3.7 WAR and surpassed career highs across the board with 24 home runs and a .839 OPS for the San Diego Padres.
Profar loves to play in San Diego, and San Diego loves him, so the best bet is a return to the Friars on a multi-year contract, which includes much more than the figure he was paid in 2024. However, if Profar decides to take his talent elsewhere, any team would be lucky to have a versatile veteran who plays 150-plus games and is improving with age.
Hernández became a World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time in his nine-year MLB career, and there is no reason to believe he wouldn’t want to continue being a mainstay in their lineup for the rest of his playing days.
But there are a lot of teams who may be interested in a strong-throwing arm outfielder who hit 33 bombs a season ago. Most of Hernández’s home runs were pulled over the left-field wall, and he hit 17 of his home runs off breaking pitches in 2024. There is a case to be made that he deserves the number two spot on this list, but his former AL East division rival is two years younger and in the prime of his career. Both of their contracts may be similar.
Not only is Santander the second-best outfielder available on the free agent market, but he could be a top-five position player free agent during the 2025 offseason.
He became a first-time All-Star in 2024 and should be selected more in the future, perhaps not as a representative of the Baltimore Orioles. The switch-hitter smashed a career-high 44 home runs and immediately slots in the middle of the order for any team needing power. Over the last three seasons, Santander averaged 35 home runs per year and has five games of postseason experience despite the Orioles losing in their first playoff series back-to-back years.
Once in a blue moon, a player of great talent reaches free agency, and he is all anyone can talk about. Which team will he play the rest of his career with? How much money will he receive? How much more can he accomplish? This year’s player is Juan Soto, a 26-year-old who already seems like a bonafide Hall of Fame inductee when it’s all said and done.
Soto had the best year of his career with the New York Yankees in 2024 and continues to prove he is a top-five hitter in the sport. Soto’s combination of power and ability to draw walks makes him one of the most feared hitters in MLB for opposing pitchers, and he should be one of the highest-paid baseball players in MLB history when he signs pen to paper this winter. Will he stay in New York and play for the Yankees or Mets, or will another team swoop in and offer a contract he cannot refuse?
Honorable Mentions
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