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20. SP Nick Pivetta (Age: 31)
Pivetta rejected a qualifying offer at the start of the offseason, and the draft pick compensation now tied to signing him could limit his market. A return to the Red Sox is not out of the question, though his strikeout stuff should drive wider interest. He logged a 4.14 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 172 strikeouts in 145.2 innings in 2024, and has at least 170 strikeouts in each of the last four seasons.
19. SP Walker Buehler (Age: 30)
Buehler had a 5.38 ERA over 75.1 innings in his return from Tommy John surgery, but he ended the season on a high note by tossing five shutout innings in Game 3 of the World Series before recording the final three outs in the decisive Game 5 victory. In his last fully healthy season in 2021, he went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 212 strikeouts in 207.2 innings, and that upside makes him the most intriguing buy-low arm on the market.
18. DH Joc Pederson (Age: 32)
Pederson is best utilized as a platoon player who does not face left-handed pitching and does not play defense, but he thrived in that role with the D-backs in 2024. The two-time All-Star hit .275/.393/.515 with 23 home runs and 64 RBI in 449 plate appearances, and he ranked among the MLB leaders in average exit velocity (93rd percentile) and expected slugging (90th percentile).
17. RP Kirby Yates (Age: 37)
Yates was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball during the 2024 season, posting a 1.17 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 12.4 K/9 while nailing down 33 of 34 save opportunities. He earned his first All-Star selection since 2019 and finished eighth in AL Cy Young voting, and he should be able to land a short-term, high-AAV deal this winter as one of the top closers on the market.
16. 1B Paul Goldschmidt (Age: 37)