Spring Training is underway, and players are settling into new apartments and clubhouses. The smell of freshly cut outfield grass and popcorn wafts across Florida and Arizona ballparks.
However, some players, primarily veterans, are yet to find a new home this off-season. That doesn’t mean they won’t, but they’d prefer that it happens sooner than later.
These are the international-born Major League Baseball free agents remaining.
Catchers
Cuban-American Yasmani Grandal and Brazilian-American Yan Gomes are the two internationally-born free-agent catchers.
Grandal, 36, spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 13-year veteran remains serviceable at the plate, posting a 95 OPS+ in 72 games last year.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with the New York Yankees
The Chicago Cubs released Gomes in June 2024, and he’ll turn 38 in July. Gomes is a well-respected presence in the clubhouse, but his defense behind the plate has taken a step back.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox
First Baseman
South Korean-born first baseman Ji-man Choi is the only international MLB free agent on the board.
Choi hit a career-high 19 home runs in 2019 but struggled to stay on the field the last five years due to injuries. He will unlikely receive an MLB contract after hitting .191 in 26 games last year with Triple-A Syracuse. Recent reports suggest Choi may consider playing for a club in the Korea Baseball Organization.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Shortstops
No international free-agent second baseman remains, so let’s jump to the two players available at shortstop.
Jose Iglesias, born in Cuba, is a surprising name on the free-agent list. He posted a 3.1 WAR in 85 games for the New York Mets last year and hit .337. The veteran can play any position in the infield besides first base, making him a prime candidate for a utility role on any team needing an infielder.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers
Aledmys Díaz, also born in Cuba, played 14 games at the MLB level in 2024—twelve with the A’s and two with the Houston Astros. He no longer provides much with the bat but is a steady defender.
Team Prediction: Díaz signs a Nippon Professional Baseball contract
Outfielder
No international free-agent third baseman remains, so let’s jump to the only player available in the outfield.
Left fielder David Peralta, a native of Venezuela, was a valuable bench piece for the San Diego Padres in 2024. The 11-year veteran still has some pop left in his bat, evident by his eight home runs in 91 games last season, but will turn 38 in August. A minor league contract is the most likely outcome.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays
Starting Pitchers
The international free agent starting pitchers still available are José Quintana from Colombia, Domingo Germán from the Dominican Republic, Julio Teheran from Colombia, and José Urquidy from Mexico.
Quintana was preparing to play for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. Still, recent injuries plaguing the Mets’ starting rotation give him a better chance to return to his old team, so he backed out of the tournament.
Team Prediction: MLB contract with the New York Mets
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Germán made it into seven games for the Pirates in 2024 and did not impress with 25 hits allowed in 20.2 innings.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with Boston Red Sox
Teheran threw 2.2 innings at the MLB level for the New York Mets in 2024 and has bounced around the league the last few years. If he can’t land a minor league contract in affiliated ball, he may prefer a return to the LMB after starting three games for the Sultanes de Monterrey last season.
Team Prediction: Teheran signs a Liga Mexicana de Béisbol contract
Urquidy, still just 29, missed the entire 2024 season due to right elbow surgery. He’s proven he can pitch in big moments, helping the Houston Astros win the World Series in 2022.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with Los Angeles Angels
Relief Pitchers
The international free agent relief pitchers still available are Héctor Neris, Joely Rodriguez, and José Cisnero from the Dominican Republic.
Neris is the most accomplished of the three, approaching 800 strikeouts in his 11-year MLB career. As his fastball velocity fades away, so does interest in his services.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with Houston Astros
Rodriguez, a lefty, has played for five teams in his seven-year career. He threw 13.2 innings at the MLB level for the Boston Red Sox in 2024 and should fill a mop-up role for another club this season.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with Colorado Rockies
Cisnero, 35, struggled with command in 2024. He walked eight in 15.2 innings for the Angels in 2024. However, he’s just three seasons removed from posting a 1.08 ERA in 25 innings for the Detroit Tigers.
Team Prediction: Minor league contract with Washington Nationals
