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The free-agent market in Major League Baseball has thinned dramatically with Spring Training underway, but a surprising number of recognizable players remain unsigned. With teams still weighing options — and a reminder that lockout talk hasn’t vanished — those holdouts raise practical questions for clubs and players alike: how do veterans stay ready, and could a makeshift spring roster be more than a novelty?
Unclaimed veterans still drawing interest
Several established names are floating in baseball’s late offseason. Among outfield options, Starling Marte stands out: he produced a .270/.335/.410 slash line with nine homers across 98 games in 2025 and still profiles as a competent top-of-the-order option. Rumors link him to Kansas City, but as March approaches he’s not yet under contract.
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Other outfield and DH candidates include younger and older players who offer a mix of contact, power and clubhouse value. Andrew McCutchen, a fan favorite and former All-Star, posted modest numbers in 2025 and appears close to considering retirement — the kind of veteran who could use a short spring showcase to land a final roster spot.
In the infield market you’ll find utility and experience: names like Justin Turner, Rowdy Tellez, José Iglesias, Luis Urías and Jon Berti are still available, offering teams depth and versatility should injuries or late-season needs arise.
A makeshift Spring Training rotation
One exercise in imagination: assemble a short-term “Barnstormers” staff from the remaining free agents. It wouldn’t be elite, but it would be serviceable for exhibition duty.
- Zack Littell (R) — showed durability with about 130 strikeouts and a sub-4.00 ERA while starting in 2025.
- Lucas Giolito (R) — delivered a mid-3.00s ERA across 26 starts last year; a strong tune-up could make him attractive again.
- Marcus Stroman (R) — veteran presence, known for ground-ball and strikeout mixes.
- Jon Gray (R) — innings-eater with heavy stuff when healthy.
- Wade Miley (L) — veteran lefty who can eat innings and stabilize a staff spot.
That group would be provocative enough to win a few spring games and provide value as depth pieces for clubs reluctant to commit long-term. For fans, the matchup intrigue and the chemistry among personalities would be part of the draw.
Relief corps and clubhouse dynamics
The relief market is thinner than usual, and that creates both scarcity and opportunity. Lefties like Danny Coulombe and Jalen Beeks look likely to find employment; on the right side, arms such as José Leclerc, Michael Kopech, Kendall Graveman and Tommy Kahnle remain unsigned but could still form a workable bullpen if they agreed to short-term deals.
There’s another practical hurdle: many pitchers are waiting for injuries or roster churn to create openings, so asking them to burn live innings in an exhibition barnstorm may not appeal. Still, a week or two of simulated games could keep hitters and pitchers sharp while offering MLB a storyline running counter to the usual monotony of late winter transactions.
Beyond the boxscore, the clubhouse would be a headline in itself. Pairings of outspoken or philosophically divergent players in the same dugout would attract attention from national outlets, and that kind of narrative — veteran names chasing one last chance — is exactly the sort of spring content that draws eyeballs.
What this matters to teams and fans
For clubs, these unsigned veterans represent low-risk options for depth, timing buys while evaluating younger talent, and insurance against early-season injuries. For players, short-term spring showings can turn a slow market into a contract or at least a training-camp invite.
- Teams: Acquire experienced depth without long-term commitment.
- Players: Stay game-ready and reintroduce value to front offices.
- Fans: Gain an entertaining subplot to Spring Training and a chance to see familiar faces together.
Agents have floated creative fixes in past offseasons — including the idea of an organized barnstorming slate — and with spring exhibition calendars still flexible, such a concept could resurface. Whether MLB or team front offices greenlight informal squads, the practical reality remains: many of these players will likely sign before Opening Day, but a short exhibition circuit could be a useful bridge for both sides.
At a minimum, the late free-agent pool offers an extra storyline as clubs finalize rosters and fans begin to plan for the season ahead. The coming weeks will tell whether those remaining veterans catch on with big-league clubs, land spring roles, or stage a short-lived but memorable tour of Grapefruit and Cactus League diamonds.
