Top 3 Free Agents 2023-24 — NL East

We continue our look at free agents for the 2023 offseason, having checked out the NL West and NL Central thus far. The list in the NL East is an interesting one, including two players with opt-outs, and another who's actually sitting out the entire year. 

Max Scherzer, New York Mets

This one seems like a longshot at the moment. Scherzer would have to opt out of a record $43M salary for next season to enter free agency. Is it possible that, at the age of 39, some team will top that number, coming off what so far has been a down year for the 3-time Cy Young Award winner? 

The odds, at this point, would have Scherzer picking up his option, and not entering the free agent fray. But don't put anything past Mad Max.

Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia Phillies

A horrible break for the Phillies free agent-to-be, when he tore his ACL in spring training this year. He'll miss the entire 2023 season, but he's holding out hope of returning in October, if the Phils were to make it that far. As long as he's healthy this coming winter, his 30-HR power will still play on the free agent market. 

Jorge Soler, Miami Marlins

The Marlins slugger is having one of the best seasons of his career (by OPS+ of 130), and had 17 home runs at the one-third pole. That translates to a 50-HR pace, and if anything close to that keeps up, he will undoubtedly decline his $9M player option for next season to put himself on the open market. Power talks, and Soler will be listening this winter. 

Photo: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports