The 2024-25 MLB offseason has been dominated by the big names: Juan Soto, Max Fried, Corbin Burnes, etc. However, other — dare we say “underrated — moves made by certain teams could prove to be incredibly impactful come 2025. So, here’s a look at ten underrated pickups made thus far in the offseason.
Jake Burger
We’ll start with the Rangers, who’ve looked to change their core up after a disappointing 2024. Injuries played a role in their issues but so did their offense. The Rangers saw regression from Adolis Garcia and Marcus Semien, both of whom posted OPS figures below .700. Texas added significant pop in December with Jake Burger.
Burger, acquired in exchange for three players, including Echedry Vargas and Max Acosta, hit 63 combined home runs between 2023-24. It’s his third team in three years but that’s not a knock on the 28-year-old, who will likely slot in as the team’s regular first baseman. Burger has plus pop and should benefit from better protection around him in Texas.
Matthew Boyd
The 2024 campaign was one of change for Matthew Boyd. With Cleveland, Boyd leveraged his changeup more, making him more dangerous and unpredictable. The 33-year-old did well for himself with the Guardians, as he struck out 46 over 39.2 IP in the regular season. He turned his performance into a two-year deal for the Cubs.
For Boyd, the change of scenary should be welcome. The 33-year-old is a fly-ball pitcher, and Wrigley Field is known for being one of the safest parks for pitchers of the same mold thanks to its deep dimensions and climate. The Cubs, meanwhile, get a well-known commodity with hit-and-miss stuff.
Nathan Eovaldi
Getting back to the Rangers, Nathan Eovaldi re-signed with Texas on a three-year deal worth $75MM. Eovaldi returns to the team where he won his second World Series title in 2023 and a place where’s he had significant success. He posted sub-4.00 ERA figures in 2023-24 and logged over 35 postseason innings, with five wins, in the 2023 Postseason.
The right-hander’s velocity has gone down over the years, as it’s dropped around two MPH over the last four seasons. However, that’s not really an issue; it’s still a good pitch and one that plays nearly perfectly off of his splitter. Both pitches run virtually the same amount (13.8” for four-seam, 13.5” for splitter), and his split still has above-average drop.
Spencer Horwitz
Pirates first basemen finished 2024 with a cumulative wOBA of .296, 24th in the Majors. Connor Joe was Pittsburgh’s regular first baseman last season and while Joe was adept at getting on base, the 32-year-old hit just nine home runs and a .688 OPS in 2024. The Pirates found their replacement for Joe, non-tendered in November, in December, with Spencer Horwitz.
Horwitz was traded almost immediately to Pittsburgh after the Guardians got him in the Andres Gimenez deal. Last season, Horwitz would have ranked fifth in OPS (.790) last season among first basemen had he played enough games. Sure, it’s a smaller sample size. However, the new Pirate displayed a simple, short swing and has some pop, offering more of an impactful replacement to Joe.
Hye-seong Kim
The Dodgers have a nearly perfect team, and Los Angeles has spared no expense to improve it this winter. The reigning World Series champs re-signed Teoscar Hernandez, added Michael Conforto to solidify their outfield, and picked up another ace in Blake Snell. But most recently, the Dodgers signed Korean import Hye-seong Kim to a three-year deal after an outstanding KBO career.
Kim isn’t a sexy name, by any means. As I noted when the Dodgers made the move, Kim is a contact-orientated, slappy hitter with below-average pop. However, the 25-year-old is noted for being a strong defender, important given the Dodgers have made defense a priority. Kim gives the Dodgers more range to cover the middle infield, important for run prevention.
Tyler O’Neill
Last season, I wrote a similar list, highlighting five under-the-radar pickups in the 2023-24 offseason that could be steals. The one player on that list who worked out the best was Tyler O’Neill, who came off a down 2023 with St. Louis but was traded to the Red Sox, heading to a friendly hitting environment. That move helped O’Neill land a three-year deal with Baltimore, replacing Anthony Santander.
While O’Neill didn’t receive as much buzz compared to other free agent bats — and for good reason, as he’s only played 120+ games once in his MLB career — the 29-year-old is a terrific power hitter. O’Neill should also likely benefit from the changing dimensions in Camden Yards.
Luis L. Ortiz
Perhaps lost in the Spencer Horwitz deal was that the Guardians received three players from the Pirates. Arguably the most notable name Cleveland received was Josh Hartle, the former Wake Forest pitcher who entered 2024 as a potential first-round pick. However, Hartle fell to the third round after posting a 5.79 ERA in his junior season. Luis L. Ortiz, though, might be the more interesting arm.
Ortiz was solid in the Pirates rotation last season. The 25-year-old struck out 107 over 135.2 IP, has above-average extension, and an eclectic arsenal. The new Guardian has a hard, sinking two-seamer, coupled with a four-seamer and slider that profiles as a good out pitch.
Jordan Romano
The Phillies lost arguably their two best relievers last season, closer Carlos Estevez and setup man Jeff Hoffman, to free agency. So, how did Philadelphia replace Estevez? Jordan Romano, who was non-tendered by Toronto. The former All-Star signed a one-year deal with the Phillies, giving him the chance to close for a World Series contender.
Romano has an electric fastball, a hard, high-90s offering that plays up with extension. He’s also got a power slider. If Romano can replicate the results he produced when healthy with Toronto, this move could be a steal.
Patrick Sandoval
It’s been an auspicious past two years for Patrick Sandoval, who signed a two-year deal with Boston in December. The 28-year-old had problems getting hitters to chase in 2024. However, the lefty still did an impressive job at limiting pieced-up contact (5.1% Barrel%), and has a deep arsenal that includes a carrying four-seamer, sinker, slider, and above-average changeup.
The Red Sox likely won’t get much from Sandoval in 2025, who’s recovering from Tommy John surgery. Nonetheless, the pickup gives Boston potential help later on in 2025, and more importantly, 2026.
Michael Soroka
Our last “under-the-radar” pickup nomination goes to Michael Soroka, who went to Washington on a one-year deal. Soroka burst onto the scene as a budding ace in 2019 with the Braves. But since then, injuries derailed his career. Soroka attempted to make it back as a starter in 2023 and 2024. However, the 27-year-old found significant success as a reliever with the White Sox last season.
Heading into 2025, Soroka will hope that the third time is the charm. It’ll be interesting to see whether Soroka will take lessons learned as a reliever back into the rotation. The new National leveraged his slider and four-seamer significantly more as a reliever, compared to when he used his sinker liberally as a starter.
Soroka was a first-round pick by the Braves in the 2025 MLB Draft. Make sure to check out our review of the 2015 draft, 10 years later.