15 big name MLB free agents still available as spring training opens (including Anthony Rizzo!)

Spring training is officially open for all Major League Baseball teams and just as notable as who is in camp are those still looking for an invite.

As is the case every year now, a handful of popular names remain unsigned as rosters report to Arizona and Florida — and this spring’s crop of free agents features quite a few veterans who were on playoff teams just a few months ago.

Yet spring training is long, and injuries are inevitable, so some of these names should be getting phone calls in the near future. Here are some of the more notable players still waiting for a job offer.

Ranked by Fangraphs‘ 2024 Wins Above Replacement

1. Jose Iglesias, INF

2024 WAR: 2.5

OMG! Some one come sign this man for the clubhouse vibes alone. The 35-year-old utilityman/latin pop star slashed .337/.381/.448 for the Mets last year and could be a great veteran addition to any roster.

2. Andrew Heaney, SP

2024 WAR: 2.2

The 33-year-old lefty posted a 4.28 ERA over 160 innings with 159 strikeouts and 41 walks for the Texas Rangers last season.

3. Kyle Gibson, SP

2024 WAR: 1.5

Gibson has bounced around a few teams lately, going from Minnesota to Texas to Philadelphia to Baltimore to St. Louis since 2019. Last year with the Cardinals he strung together 169.2 innings pitched with a 4.24 ERA and 13 quality starts in 30 games.

4. Yasmani Grandal, C

2024 WAR: 1.4

Grandal is certainly slowing down at this point in his career, but he still drove in 27 RBI in 72 games last season for a rebuilding Pirates club.

5. Lance Lynn, SP

2024 WAR: 1.3

There’s probably not too much left in Lynn’s right arm at this point, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see some team try to find out. In 23 outings for the Cardinals last year, Lynn had just quality starts with a 3.84 ERA.

6. Jose Quintana, SP

2024 WAR: 1.0

At 36 years old, Quintana was still a reliable starter for the Mets in 2024, eating up 170 innings with a 3.75 ERA and a career-best 47.4 ground ball rate.

7. Spencer Turnbull, SP

2024 WAR: 0.7

Turnbull is just 32, but has thrown more than 60 innings in a season only once back in 2019. He started seven games for Philadelphia in 2024 with a 2.65 ERA in 54.1 innings.

8.  J.D. Martinez, DH

2024 WAR: 0.6

Martinez hit 28 home runs in 2021, then just 16 in 2022. He belted another 33 in 2023 before again posting just 16 with the Mets last season. Will any team pay to find out if there’s another power surge looming from the 37-year-old?

9. Alex Verdugo, OF

2024 WAR: 0.6

Blame it on the Yankees’ clean shaven rule? Verdugo went from slashing .264/.324/.421 in 2023 with Boston to slashing .233/.291/.356 with New York last season.

10. Kevin Pillar, OF

2024 WAR: 0.5

Pillar has always been more of a defensive star than a hitting machine and splitting the 2024 season between the woeful White Sox and Angels was never going to give him an opportunity to prove his worth.

11. Whit Merrifield, OF/INF

2024 WAR: 0.4

Merrifield bounced around the NL East last season with the Phillies and Braves while his batting average took a nosedive. After hitting .272 in his last full year with the Blue Jays in 2023, the 36-year-old batted .199 in 95 games with Philadelphia, then improved to .248 over 42 games in Atlanta.

12. Craig Kimbrel, RP

2024 WAR: 0.1

A 37-year-old DFA’d closer coming off a 5.33 ERA season with 23 saves in 29 tries probably isn’t expecting a ton of phone calls in free agency, but someone may still kick the tires on the veteran yet.

13. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

2024 WAR: -0.2

A negative WAR aside, it’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t enjoyed being Rizzo’s teammate. But the former Cubs star is now 35 years old and hasn’t batted above .250 since 2019. We’ll find out if being a clubhouse leader is enough to earn him a contract.

14. Robbie Grossman, OF

2024 WAR: -0.6

Grossman spent time on the White Sox, Rangers and Royals — batting just .125 over 16 games in Kansas City by the end of the season. Three teams wanted the outfielder last year. He’s not getting any nibbles this time around.

15. Jose Abreu, 1B

2024 WAR: -1.5

We’ve come a long way from Abreu’s MVP season in 2020. His stint with the Astros was disastrous, ending after 176 with 20 home runs, a .217 batting average and 158 strikeouts. At 38 years old, that may be MLB’s lasting image of the one-time White Sox All-Star.