With lower than a month to go earlier than spring coaching begins in Arizona and Florida, the ultimate flurry of free-agent exercise is underway.
The hitting market has begun to take form, with star outfielder Kyle Tucker reaching a deal with the Dodgers, Bo Bichette becoming a member of the Mets, Alex Bregman touchdown with the Cubs, Cody Bellinger returning to the Yankees, and Pete Alonso (Orioles) and Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) additionally discovering the massive paydays they have been searching for.
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Earlier within the winter, the reliever market heated up first, with Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams and different top arms touchdown large contracts with new groups. Dylan Cease signed a megadeal with the Blue Jays earlier than Thanksgiving, however the beginning pitcher market has been comparatively quiet moreover Tatsuya Imai touchdown with the Astros and Ranger Suarez becoming a member of the Red Sox. Four gamers accepted qualifying offers: Trent Grisham (Yankees), Shota Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers) and Brandon Woodruff (Brewers). And the NPB posting home windows reached their finish, with Munetaka Murakami, Imai and Kazuma Okamoto discovering their MLB properties.
There’s nonetheless some offseason enterprise but to be performed. Here’s our rating of the 2025-26 free-agent class.
Note: An asterisk signifies a participant obtained a qualifying supply. Ages listed are for the 2026 season (age on June 30, 2026). You can discover a full checklist of free agents here.
The finest participant
1. *Kyle Tucker, OF, 29 years outdated
UPDATE: Tucker and the Dodgers agreed on a 4-year, $240 million deal.
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Tucker was the consensus No. 1 participant on this free-agent class and commanded an enormous contract to again it up. That’s a product of his age — he doesn’t flip 29 till January — and lengthy monitor file of offensive impression. Since 2020, Tucker’s first full MLB season, he’s one among simply six hitters to publish an OPS above .800 yearly. The others are all well-paid superstars: Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, José Ramírez and Juan Soto. Based solely on the bat, Tucker undoubtedly belongs in that group. Hitters like this don’t hit the open market usually, and after they do, they make a killing.
That stated, the low-talking Floridian reached free agency after an oddly paced stroll 12 months with the Cubs. Tucker was dealt from Houston, the place he’d spent his whole profession, to Chicago in a blockbuster deal final offseason. He received off to a scorching begin with the Cubs, was named an All-Star starter and regarded like a legit MVP candidate. As late as June 28, he sported a .933 OPS.
Then issues received bizarre. Tucker’s energy manufacturing cratered in July and August, as he managed simply 4 homers throughout 211 plate appearances. It turned out he was taking part in by means of a hairline fracture in his hand for a lot of the summer season. Just as he appeared to be shifting again into gear, he suffered a calf pressure that saved him sidelined till the ultimate week of the common season.
It marked the second straight 12 months that Tucker was considerably restricted by accidents, however that didn’t forestall him from touchdown an enormous payday with L.A. Tucker additionally tends to make use of a extra laid-back pregame routine that prioritizes preserving power. That less-is-more strategy has helped him ascend to All-Star standing, nevertheless it raises a couple of issues across the league about how he may age and how he’ll adapt if his physique begins to want extra upkeep. Signs of that bodily decline have popped up in Tucker’s dash velocity and defensive metrics, areas through which his expertise have dwindled precipitously over the previous few seasons.
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Then once more, that’s in all probability a lot too nitpicky. The Dodgers will be happy to have Tucker rake in the middle of their already loaded lineup. His sauceless persona, harm issues and defensive limitations made his sweepstakes much less of a frenzy than Soto’s have been final winter. But don’t get it twisted: This dude is a giant prize.
Great hitters with flaws
2. Alex Bregman, 3B, 32
UPDATE: Bregman and the Cubs agreed on a 5-year, $175 million deal.
A free agent final winter, Bregman ended up in Boston on a three-year, $120 million deal with opt-outs after every season. And after a productive season at Fenway, he reentered the market. A quad challenge robbed him of two months over the summer season and intensified issues about Bregman’s steadily deteriorating decrease half, however the offensive profile stays extremely sturdy. From a swing-decision standpoint, he’s about pretty much as good as anyone within the sport. And whereas the contact high quality has dropped off since his MVP contender days, it’s greater than adequate to make this model of Bregman an All-Star-level participant. Plus, Bregman was heralded for his affect on Boston’s bevy of younger gamers. The Cubs finally spent like a big-market team to add his bat to their lineup and his impression of their clubhouse.
3. *Kyle Schwarber, DH, 33
UPDATE: Schwarber and the Phillies agreed on a 5-year, $150 million deal.
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What a season it was for the most effective true energy bats of his technology: 56 house runs, 132 RBI and a .928 OPS. Sure, Schwarber is a flawed participant — he’s restricted to DH, strikes out a ton, doesn’t supply a lot on the bases and turns 33 in March — nevertheless it’s not price overthinking this. The man went deep 56 instances. People don’t try this too usually. For what it’s price, Schwarber can also be considered one of many few game-changing locker room presences within the sport. The Phils have been front-runners to retain Schwarber’s providers and in the end received it performed.
4. *Bo Bichette, SS, 28
UPDATE: Bichette and the Mets agreed on a 3-year, $126 million deal.
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A knee sprain saved Bichette on the shelf from early September to the World Series, for which he got here again and batted .348. Late-season harm woes apart, 2025 was a particularly profitable marketing campaign for the sweet-swinging shortstop. Bichette rebounded from a disastrous 2024 to publish numbers extra in line with his profession norms, swatting 18 homers to go with a .311 batting common that ranked second in baseball.
Let’s get the elephant out of the way in which: Bichette is a foul shortstop. Last season, he ranked as the sport’s worst every-day glove on the infield’s most necessary spot. A prudent workforce would in all probability transfer him to second or third, however Bichette in all probability needs to stick at quick. His defensive inadequacies don’t overwhelm the worth of his bat — this dude rakes — nevertheless it provides a wart to the profile.
Still, Bichette’s monitor file of efficiency and his age made him nicely price it for the Mets at $126 million. That he managed to return to Toronto’s lineup for the World Series regardless of not being one hundred pc and contributed a number of significant hits, together with his jaw-dropping blast off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7, lent additional credence to his toughness and expertise. Optimistically, he ought to have a minimum of a half-decade of prime left; he’ll spend the primary three years of that in Queens.
5. Pete Alonso, 1B, 31
UPDATE: Alonso and the Orioles agreed on a 5-year, $155 million deal.
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Last winter, the Polar Bear and the one membership he’d ever recognized engaged in a protracted stare-down that included a public besmirching from Mets proprietor Steve Cohen. In the top, Alonso’s market by no means materialized, and he returned to Queens on a profitable, two-year deal with an opt-out that everybody anticipated him to train.
Unsurprisingly, that’s what occurred after Alonso posted an OPS almost 100 factors larger than his 2024 whole. The underlying numbers additionally rebounded, significantly his common exit velocities and his optimum launch angle percentages. Was that sufficient to reorient his worth as a free agent and earn him the longer-term pact he was searching for a 12 months in the past? The Orioles answered with a powerful sure.
Alonso stays a horrid defender at first and an actual legal responsibility on the bases. Still, he’s typically underrated, the kind of needle-moving bat that might make each roster — together with Baltimore’s — considerably higher.
6. Munetaka Murakami, 1B/3B, 26
UPDATE: Murakami and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a 2-year, $34 million deal.
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An unbridled force-of-nature on the plate since he grew to become an every-day participant in NPB at age 19, Murakami entered the posting system after seven seasons of legendary slugging in Japan. In 2022, Murakami made historical past by smashing 56 house runs in 141 video games, an NPB file that stands as essentially the most in a single season by a Japanese-born participant. Having set an unthinkable commonplace of Barry Bonds-esque dominance in that 2022 season, with a mind-blowing 225 wRC+, Murakami’s merely excellent encores in 2023 (31 HR, 150 wRC+) and 2024 (33 HR, 155 wRC+) have been seen as minor disappointments, regardless of nonetheless rating as a few of the finest offensive seasons within the league.
The highlight grew brighter in 2025, as a possible transfer to MLB got here into focus, however an indirect harm price Murakami a number of months, shrinking the alternatives to scout him. Yet even in an abbreviated pattern, Murakami placed on a present, almost returning to his 2022 energy peak with a ridiculous .663 SLG% and a whopping 22 house runs in 56 video games.
So what’s the catch? Why isn’t this left-handed slugger with prodigious energy ranked nearer to Tucker on this checklist? It’s easy: Murakami strikes out a lot. His 29% Okay price over the previous three seasons is exceptionally excessive relative to his NPB friends, and whereas that quantity won’t stand out in MLB proper now, it’s tough for groups to be optimistic that he’s going to make extra contact in opposition to superior arms stateside. If something, the priority is that the alternative may happen, with the whiffs piling up to the purpose that Murakami’s energy manufacturing is undermined, and he turns into a flawed slugger with unstable ups and downs, a la Joey Gallo.
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It’s additionally completely sensible to counsel that Murakami is younger and proficient sufficient to make the mandatory changes to turn into a traditional, power-and-patience famous person within the mildew of Matt Olson or Max Muncy, with the excessive quantity of walks and homers compensating for the sky-high strikeout totals. That Murakami shouldn’t be thought-about particularly probably to stick at third base provides much more stress on his bat to dwell up to the hype in Chicago. His points making contact probably spooked some groups in free agency, negating the upside of his youth and almost unequalled NPB résumé. As it turned out, there wasn’t a big bidding struggle for his providers, giving the White Sox an opportunity at a bargain in their rebuild.
7. Cody Bellinger, OF, 30
UPDATE: Bellinger and the Yankees reportedly agreed on a 5-year, $162.5 million deal.
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No matter the way you slice it, glassy-eyed Cody was the second-best place participant on the 2025 Yankees behind Aaron Judge. After the Cubs basically contract-dumped him for nothing final winter, Bellinger responded with his finest all-around season since his 2019 MVP marketing campaign. His offensive profile has modified fairly a bit since then, however this model of Bellinger — allergic to strikeouts, hitting the ball within the air to the pull aspect simply sufficient — is a very invaluable participant.
Add his very good protection in an outfield nook and his relative youth, and you’ve received a reputable second or third choice on a World Series workforce. Bellinger loved his 12 months in pinstripes, and the Yankees beloved what he introduced to the desk. A reunion all the time made a variety of sense, and the 2 sides received it performed, however this new deal with the Yanks does put stress on Bellinger’s potential to play middle area, the place he’s extra common than nice at this level.
The Big Three arms
8. *Framber Valdez, SP, 32
You may make a powerful argument that Valdez belongs in a class all his personal, above this different group of arms. The dreadlocked lefty completed top-10 in Cy Young voting in 2022, ‘23 and ‘24. He’s additionally extremely sturdy, as one among simply two pitchers to toss a minimum of 175 innings in every of the previous 4 seasons (Logan Webb is the opposite). Then there’s the October expertise: Valdez has 16 profession postseason outings. The level is Valdez has been one of many extra invaluable beginning pitchers of this decade. And whereas his numbers took a half-step again in 2025, he nonetheless boasted an elite groundball price and saved hitters from squaring up the ball.
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Valdez’s weird interplay with catcher Cesar Salazar in early September, through which Valdez appeared to purposefully cross-up Salazar with a fastball, amplified some beforehand held issues about Valdez’s conduct as a teammate. That incident received’t tank his free agency, removed from it, nevertheless it’s a knowledge level price noting.
9. *Ranger Suárez, SP, 30
UPDATE: Suárez and the Red Sox agreed on a 5-year, $130 million deal.
Ranger’s sinker — his most used providing — averages a frosty 90.1 mph, firmly within the backside 10% league-wide in velocity. Yet Suárez will get outs. A variety of ‘em. After missing the start of the year due to a back issue, the Venezuelan southpaw posted the best numbers of his career, finishing with a 3.20 ERA and just below a strikeout per inning. His postseason track record is notably robust, with a 1.48 ERA across 42 2/3 career innings. Do you feel excited about him starting Game 1 of a playoff series? Probably not. But Game 2 or 3? Definitely. There are some concerns about how he’ll age, significantly if the fastball velocity dips below 90 mph, as there merely aren’t many guys throwing this mushy who get outs. But Suárez has been doing this schtick for a couple of years now, and the Red Sox felt good enough about it to add him on a nine-figure deal.
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10. *Dylan Cease, SP, 30
UPDATE: Cease and the Blue Jays agreed on a 7-year, $210 million deal.
Unlike the southpaw groundball specialists equivalent to Valdez or Suárez fronting their rotations, Cease represents an interesting various on the top of the beginning pitching market. And a Toronto team fresh off a World Series appearance liked what it saw. While his run-prevention expertise have fluctuated extra in latest seasons than the 2 lefties on this tier, Cease has been one of many recreation’s premier strikeout artists for his whole profession, thanks to an amazing fastball-slider combo. His bouts of ineffectiveness are the product of too many walks and way more laborious contact surrendered than you’d anticipate for somebody with Cease’s swing-and-miss stuff, however Cease has been price a minimum of 3.0 fWAR for 5 consecutive seasons.
That consistency is rooted in almost unequalled sturdiness: Cease leads all MLB pitchers in starts over the past five years and has by no means been on the injured checklist due to an arm harm. Pitcher well being is fickle, after all, so there’s no assure Cease will stay unhurt at some point of his Blue Jays contract; it’s additionally doable some groups seen the mileage on his arm as problematic. But Toronto noticed that longstanding reliability as worthy of committing closely to him in free agency, and Cease’s demonstrated peaks — together with top-four Cy Young finishes in 2022 and ‘24 — likely helped his cause.
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)
The closer
11. *Edwin Díaz, RP, 32
UPDATE: Díaz and the Dodgers agreed on a 3-year, $69 million deal.
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The Mets’ embarrassing collapse doesn’t fall on Díaz’s shoulders, because the lanky Puerto Rican was sensible as soon as once more this 12 months. Now that Emmanuel Clase has effectively been banished for his gambling-related malfeasance, there’s a powerful argument that Díaz is the undisputed finest reliever within the recreation. After a catastrophic leg harm through the World Baseball Classic robbed him of his whole 2023 season, Díaz is, amazingly, all the way in which again to his rip-roaring finest.
That’s why, regardless of having two years and $37 million left on his deal, Díaz opted out to turn into a free agent. A reunion with the Mets remained probably, however there was no motive for Eddie-D not to attempt to squeeze out each final greenback that he has earned over the previous few years, and the Dodgers have been keen to pay Díaz just like the elite nearer he’s.
Tier 2 starter
12. *Zac Gallen, SP, 30
It has been a troubling and confounding decline for Gallen since his third-place NL Cy Young end in 2023. His first-half struggles within the last 12 months of his Snakes contract have been dangerous sufficient that no workforce was keen to meet the value to commerce for him in July, regardless of the right-hander’s extensively reported availability, and contemplating his 5.60 ERA on the deadline, it was robust to blame them.
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Funnily sufficient, as soon as the commerce rumors have been behind him and Gallen knew he was going to stay a D-back for the remainder of the season, he began to pitch a lot better, posting a 3.32 ERA in 65 innings over his last 11 outings and restoring some optimism that he may warrant a large payday in free agency. It’s not like Gallen’s stuff and velocity are markedly totally different than throughout his peak, however regression with his command has prompted all 5 of his pitches to carry out worse, a pattern that can want to be corrected if he’s to reestablish himself as a top quality starter whom groups are excited to have on the mound in necessary video games.
NPB stars, half 2
13. Kazuma Okamoto, 3B, 30
UPDATE: Okamoto and the Blue Jays agreed on a 4-year, $60 million deal.
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A franchise staple for one of the distinguished organizations in NPB, the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants, Okamoto’s prospects of coming to MLB had lengthy been clouded by Yomiuri’s longstanding reluctance to publish its gamers. But Yomiuri will honor Okamoto’s need to make the bounce to the massive leagues now, enabling the workforce to obtain some monetary compensation for his departure, moderately than probably watching him depart for nothing after the 2026 season, when he’d attain the requisite 9 years of NPB service to turn into an unrestricted worldwide free agent.
Okamoto has been the most effective hitters in Japan for some time — he homered against Team USA within the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship — however he leveled up in a significant method in 2025. Although he missed two-plus months in the midst of the season due to a left elbow harm, Okamoto was tremendously productive on the plate when wholesome.
He hit .327/.416/.598 with 15 HR in 293 plate appearances throughout 69 video games, good for an astonishing 214 wRC+ that ranked first amongst NPB hitters with a minimum of 200 plate appearances — sure, even forward of Murakami (208 wRC+). Okamoto’s 11.3% strikeout price and 90% in-zone contact price have been each career-best marks, and he’s exceptionally adept at pulling the ball within the air, enabling his energy to manifest repeatedly in video games.
He’s additionally a greater wager to stick at third base long-term than Murakami, and he has expertise at first base and in left area, providing a number of paths for him to match on the Blue Jays’ roster. He’s 4 years older, right-handed and doesn’t possess fairly the eye-popping uncooked energy of Murakami, nevertheless it’s completely affordable to counsel that Okamoto is extra probably to achieve MLB immediately and probably in the long run as nicely.
14. Tatsuya Imai, SP, 28
UPDATE: Imai and the Astros agreed on a 3-year, $54 million deal.
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Joining Murakami and Okamoto on this winter’s class of Japanese stars making the bounce to MLB is Imai, who was posted by the Seibu Lions following a monster season through which he led all NPB starters in WHIP (0.89) and strikeout price (27.8%) whereas posting a 1.92 ERA in 163 ⅔ innings. Relative to almost each different NPB pitcher who has come to MLB in recent times, Imai’s pitch combine is notably extra shallow — for now, anyway. His 95-mph four-seam fastball (48%) and 86-mph slider (33%) accounted for greater than three-quarters of his pitches thrown in 2025, with the changeup (9%), splitter (5%) and sinker (4%) utilization lagging behind.
That’s not to say there aren’t profitable MLB starters deploying a heavy dose of heaters and sliders — Cease, Hunter Greene, and Spencer Strider say hey — nevertheless it stays to be seen if Imai’s stuff is nice sufficient at current for him to observe go well with or if his arsenal will want adjusting as soon as he arrives stateside. Age is on Imai’s aspect — he doesn’t flip 28 till May — however there are sufficient questions that the monetary outlay is nearer to what Kodai Senga received than Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Also of be aware: While Murakami is represented by Casey Close of Excel Sports Management (the identical agency that represents Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber), Imai and Okamoto are Scott Boras shoppers.
Rock-solid place gamers
15. Josh Naylor, 1B, 29
UPDATE: Naylor and the Mariners agreed on a 5-year, $92.5 million deal.
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Traded by Cleveland final winter after his first All-Star look, Naylor raked for the D-backs earlier than being dealt to Seattle on the deadline and changing into a key contributor through the Mariners’ postseason run. Don’t be fooled by his burly construct and high-effort hacks into considering that Naylor is a one-dimensional slugger; there’s much more finesse to his recreation than meets the attention.
That was most evident in his surprising success stealing bases in 2025, regardless of his third percentile dash velocity, nevertheless it’s additionally related within the batter’s field, the place Naylor’s glorious contact potential retains his strikeout totals low whereas enabling his energy to play to all fields and in opposition to varied pitch sorts. He has additionally turned himself right into a rock-solid defender at first base. It seems Naylor’s relative youth and constructive latest trajectory helped land him a deal longer than the three-year, $60 million contract Christian Walker secured final offseason as one among free agency’s top accessible first basemen. By getting Naylor into that fifth 12 months, the Mariners received a manageable $18.5 million AAV.
16. *Trent Grisham, OF, 29
UPDATE: Grisham accepted the one-year qualifying supply from the Yankees at $22.025 million.
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Arguably no participant climbed these rankings extra dramatically over the course of the season than Grisham, who exploded into relevance as a key member of the Yankees’ position-player group after being a digital afterthought in his first season within the Bronx. To wit: Despite being on the roster for the whole season and each spherical of the postseason throughout New York’s run to the World Series in 2024, Grisham appeared in simply 76 regular-season video games and zero in October.
This 12 months, Grisham’s 581 plate appearances marked a profession excessive and ranked fourth on the workforce. Center fielders with Grisham’s energy (34 HR) and persistence (14.1% stroll price) are uncommon, and that he’s nonetheless simply 29. It’s doable some groups seen him in a reasonably skeptical gentle, contemplating his well timed profession 12 months follows a for much longer major-league monitor file of mediocrity, however there are actual expertise to be enthusiastic about right here for the Yankees.
17. *Gleyber Torres, 2B, 29
UPDATE: Torres accepted the one-year qualifying supply from the Tigers at $22.025 million.
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Torres hit free agency final winter as one of many youngest place gamers accessible however in the end settled for a one-year deal with Detroit, with hopes of bolstering his worth with a stronger 2025 displaying than in his final hurrah as a Yankee. He typically succeeded, exhibiting elite plate self-discipline whereas bettering each his hard-hit and barrel charges. He was particularly terrific early on for the Tigers (.284/.386/.437 in 72 video games by means of the top of June) however notably pale because the season went on, a decline maybe defined by a hernia Torres revealed he was playing through after Detroit’s season resulted in October.
He underwent surgery to address the issue, and that rehab shouldn’t be projected to impression his availability to begin 2026. Although his protection continues to price as comfortably below-average, Torres provides an offensive increase on the keystone for Detroit.
18. Jorge Polanco, 2B, 32
UPDATE: Polanco and the Mets agreed on a 2-year, $40 million deal.
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Polanco entered free agency a 12 months in the past on a decidedly dour be aware, having simply endured the worst marketing campaign of his profession in his first 12 months as a Mariner earlier than present process knee surgical procedure on the outset of the offseason. Even nonetheless, Polanco’s longstanding monitor file of manufacturing earlier than his injury-marred 2024 earned him a spot towards the end of our free-agent rankings, with the concept that a bounce-back might be in retailer if he may get wholesome.
After staying in Seattle on a one-year deal, Polanco did precisely that, delivering a wonderful common season on the plate (26 HR, 132 wRC+) and delivering several of Seattle’s biggest swings during its run to Game 7 of the ALCS. That sturdy displaying was sufficient to garner a multiyear deal from the Mets for Polanco in his second journey to the open market. Still, he’s a poor defender with a troubling harm historical past, an indicator of why the deal was comparatively quick.
Starting pitchers with questions
19. *Michael King, SP, 31
UPDATE: King and the San Diego Padres agreed on a 3-year, $75 million deal.
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A breakout 2024 had King primed for an enormous platform 12 months in 2025, and his first 10 begins of the season (2.59 ERA in 55 ⅔ innings) steered he was firmly on monitor to pitch his method into the top tier of free-agent starters. Then a shoulder harm put him on the shelf for all of June and July, and a left knee harm derailed him shortly after he returned to the mound in August. King was wholesome sufficient to make 4 September begins and a one-inning reduction look within the wild-card collection, however with only one absolutely wholesome season as a major-league beginning pitcher on his résumé (2024), his sturdiness stays a substantial pink flag for the Padres, who nonetheless determined to hold him round.
20. *Shota Imanaga, SP, 32
UPDATE: Imanaga accepted the one-year qualifying supply from the Cubs at $22.025 million.
The complicated, four-year contract Imanaga signed with the Cubs two years in the past featured a vital determination level following the 2025 season, when Chicago may decide to assure Imanaga three extra seasons at $57 million or decline to achieve this, as an alternative affording Imanaga the chance to train a $15 million participant choice for 2026. On Nov. 4, Chicago declined to extend Imanaga for three more years, and Imanaga then declined his personal one-year choice, briefly including him to the intriguing pool of free-agent beginning pitchers earlier than he accepted his QO.
Brilliant as a 30-year-old rookie in 2024, Imanaga regressed in his second major-league season by way of each sturdiness and effectiveness, lacking a number of begins due to a hamstring pressure midsummer and seeing his ERA rise from 2.91 to 3.73. While Imanaga stays an elite strike-thrower who doesn’t enable a boatload of baserunners — his WHIP truly improved in his second season — he’s troublingly prone to opponents’ slugging, with a 1.93 HR/9 that ranked second-highest among pitchers with a minimum of 100 innings thrown in 2025. That bugaboo proved pricey within the postseason, when he surrendered two key lengthy balls in opposition to Milwaukee in NLDS Game 2.
It’s an imperfect profile, however there may be nonetheless loads to like about what Imanaga brings on and off the sphere for the Cubs.
21. Lucas Giolito, SP, 31
Giolito was one among baseball’s most sturdy beginning pitchers till elbow surgical procedure worn out everything of his first 12 months with the Red Sox in 2024. He bounced back with a 3.41 ERA in 145 innings in 2025 however completed the 12 months on a bitter be aware when he reported elbow discomfort that made him unavailable for Boston’s wild-card collection in opposition to the Yankees. The Red Sox didn’t rule Giolito out for future postseason rounds, however their early elimination left his standing unsure on the outset of the offseason.
By reaching 140 innings within the common season, Giolito transformed his $19 million workforce choice for 2026 right into a participant choice, which he declined. If he’s absolutely wholesome, Giolito stays an alluring choice for groups looking for stability within the rotation, although with out sizable upside.
22. *Brandon Woodruff, SP, 33
UPDATE: Woodruff accepted the one-year qualifying supply from the Brewers at $22.025 million.
Before shoulder surgical procedure put him on the shelf for a 12 months and a half, Woodruff was the most effective starers in MLB: His 2.93 ERA in 595 innings from 2019 to 2023 was fourth-lowest among qualified starters. But returns from main shoulder accidents have a tendency to be extra tenuous than returns from elbow surgical procedure, and the outcomes of Woodruff’s reacclimation to the Brewers’ rotation have been extraordinary and uncommon. Despite his fastball velocity averaging nearer to 93 mph than the 96 he sat at pre-surgery, Woodruff was as dominant as ever, registering a career-high strikeout price (32.3%) and career-low stroll price (5.4%) whereas posting a 3.20 ERA in 64 ⅔ innings. He ditched his slider in favor of a cutter, each his two-seam and four-seam fastballs continued to carry out nicely even with diminished velocity, and his changeup remained a wonderful swing-and-miss providing.
The catcher
23. J.T. Realmuto, C, 35
UPDATE: Realmuto and the Phillies agreed on a 3-year, $45 million deal.
Thirty-one catchers compiled a minimum of 1.0 FanGraphs WAR in 2025. Only two of them, Realmuto and Danny Jansen, hit free agency. Despite Realmuto’s superior age, he was far and away the perfect backstop accessible this winter. The muscled Oklahoman isn’t what he as soon as was — the perfect catcher on the planet — however he’s nonetheless a invaluable participant. He was basically a league-average hitter final season and remained impressively sturdy, main the league in video games began behind the dish. A reunion with the Phillies all the time felt just like the most definitely end result; he’s too invaluable a cog of their pitching operation to let stroll. And he received the three-year deal he sought.
Hitters with tough markets to undertaking
24. Eugenio Suárez, 3B, 34
Suárez hit 49 house runs in 2025 for the second time in his profession and returned to the Mariners via midseason trade after a year-and-a-half as a D-back, enabling him to participate in Seattle’s memorable October run, which included one of many greatest swings in franchise historical past: his go-ahead grand slam in ALCS Game 5. For as feel-good of a narrative because the Suárez-to-Seattle reunion was, it’s tough to ignore his sharp decline in manufacturing post-trade, and that sours a few of the optimism for his market as he enters free agency for the primary time.
Suárez’s points making constant contact probably aren’t going to magically enhance as he enters his mid-30s, which places immense stress on his prodigious slugging to proceed if he’s to stay a viable every-day participant, particularly if his protection at third base continues to pattern within the unsuitable course. That stated, Suárez’s overwhelmingly constructive clubhouse popularity ought to earn him some extra curiosity from golf equipment searching for a top quality veteran presence as well as to the high-end slugging he gives.
25. Ha-Seong Kim, SS, 30
UPDATE: Kim and the Braves agreed on a 1-year, $20 million deal.
Kim performed solely 48 video games this 12 months — 24 every for Tampa Bay and Atlanta — after signing a two-year free-agent deal with the Rays final winter. Tampa left him on waivers, and the Braves pounced, regardless of being light-years out of rivalry, hoping Kim wouldn’t activate his opt-out and they might scoop up an every-day shortstop for 2026 on a budget. The South Korean infielder declined his $16 million choice to reenter the market. He ended up again with the Braves, however for a bit extra money. Kim is the one true shortstop on this class, despite the fact that he tasks to be a well-below-average hitter.
26. Luis Arraez, INF, 29
Arraez guarantees to encourage a big selection of opinions as one among baseball’s most original gamers. Traditionalists may have a look at his a number of batting titles and microscopic strikeout charges as excellent and interesting outliers in an period outlined by swing-and-miss, however the fashionable recreation prioritizes gamers who’re way more multidimensional than what Arraez at present gives. It’s not simply that Arraez hardly ever produces extra-base hits; it’s that he barely reaches. His stroll charges have plummeted lately, and his protection doesn’t appear to be getting any higher.
While there nonetheless will (and ought to) be an urge for food for a participant with one really elite talent, it’d be deceptive to counsel that Arraez’s hitting alone is price an enormous long-term contract. He’s an exceptionally enjoyable and singular participant but additionally a restricted one. How his free agency unfolds will likely be one of many extra intriguing storylines of the winter.
Tier 2 relievers
27. Devin Williams, RP, 31
UPDATE: Williams and the Mets agreed on a 3-year, $51 million deal.
It was a tumultuous 12 months for Williams, who was dealt to the Bronx final winter after spending everything of his profession in Milwaukee. Handed the nearer function out of spring coaching, Williams and his airbender changeup had a cataclysmic April, through which he was booed a number of instances by the Yankees devoted and booted from the ninth inning by skipper Aaron Boone.
Things steadily received higher over the summer season, as Williams regained his supervisor’s belief and slotted again right into a high-leverage function by the playoffs. In reality, he didn’t enable a run in 22 of his last 23 outings, postseason included. With Edwin Diaz leaving Queens, the Mets are probably paying Williams to shut, and the airbender remains to be a particular pitch, however Williams’ inventory has fallen considerably since this time final 12 months.
28. Robert Suarez, RP, 35
UPDATE: Suarez and the Braves agreed on a 3-year, $45 million deal.
The flame-throwing Venezuelan had two years and $16 million left on his deal with the Padres, a pleasant haul for a reliever his age, however opted out. He received a better AAV from the Braves after posting one other dominant season for the Padres. That 2.97 ERA appears to be like nice, not spectacular, however if you happen to overlook two catastrophe outings through which Suarez recorded one out and surrendered 5 runs, that determine drops to 1.70.
There are actually issues about whether or not Suarez’s elite fastball velocity (98.5 mph) will maintain as he creeps nearer to 40, particularly due to how a lot he leans on that pitch (60% utilization), however this is without doubt one of the really elite relievers within the recreation.
Deadline bats who performed nicely
29. Ryan O’Hearn, 1B/OF, 32
UPDATE: O’Hearn and the Pirates agreed on a 2-year, $29 million deal.
The first-time All-Star tailed off barely after a deadline deal despatched him from Baltimore to San Diego, however the general numbers have been unavoidably spectacular for a man who was left to rot on the waiver-wire scrap heap just some years in the past. O’Hearn’s peripheral numbers have been sturdy for a 3rd straight season and secured him a two-year deal with a Pirates workforce making an attempt to improve this winter. After lacking out on the higher crust of Alonso, Schwarber and Naylor, O’Hearn is a superbly competent comfort prize for Pittsburgh. He additionally earns rave critiques for his clubhouse presence.
30. Harrison Bader, OF, 32
When Bader went from Minnesota to Philadelphia on the deadline, it wasn’t even the biggest Twins-Phillies deal of the week. But the luscious-locked middle fielder energized the Phillies’ lineup, providing a much-needed contact-oriented profile. His groin harm in Game 1 of the NLDS turned out to have an unlimited impression on that collection, because the Phillies sorely missed his presence within the lineup. Given the chance that the workforce strikes on from proper fielder Nick Castellanos, Bader may make some sense as a flexible fourth outfielder. But a two-year deal is perhaps to ensure that the 32-year-old, who simply posted the perfect offensive season of his profession. Bader will discover a sturdy marketplace for his providers.
31. Mike Yastrzemski, OF, 35
UPDATE: Yastrzemski and the Braves agreed on 2-year, $23 million deal.
Having not debuted within the large leagues till age 28 with the Giants, Yastrzemski lastly entered free agency at age 35 coming off a sneaky stellar post-trade run with Kansas City, throughout which he slugged .500 with extra walks (25) than strikeouts (22) throughout 50 video games. His uncooked energy is modest, however Yastrzemski has a knack for pulling the ball within the air and simply had a profession 12 months from a plate-discipline standpoint, making extra contact than ever and drawing walks at a 12.9% clip. He stays subpar in opposition to left-handers, however Yastrzemski must be fairly productive if deployed correctly by the Braves.
Tier 3 relievers
32. Luke Weaver, RP, 32
UPDATE: Weaver and the Mets agreed on a 2-year, $22 million deal.
Weaver was handed the ninth inning after his teammate Williams hit the schneid in April. He was magnificent by means of the season’s first two months, with simply two earned runs to his identify on May 26. Then he hit the shelf due to a hamstring harm that derailed his 12 months. Weaver returned in late June however wasn’t the identical, posting a 5.31 ERA the remainder of the way in which earlier than tough outings in AL wild-card Game 1 and ALDS Game 1 pushed him out of Boone’s bullpen belief circle. Just a 12 months in the past, this man was essentially the most trusted arm on a World Series workforce, so the Mets will likely be hoping that he bounces again and that his late-season struggles have been injury-based, moderately than a extra regarding harbinger.
33. Ryan Helsley, RP, 31
UPDATE: Helsley and the Orioles agreed on a 2-year, $28 million deal.
The hard-throwing nearer had an ERA of three.00 when he was traded from St. Louis to Queens on deadline day. Helsley had a multiyear monitor file of high-leverage success, constructed on one of many hardest heaters within the sport. But his Mets tenure will go down as one of many all-time reliever disasters, as Helsley posted an abhorrent 7.20 ERA in 22 outings in blue and orange. His late-summer implosion was essential in the Mets’ shocking tumble down the standings.
Helsley compiled the second-most fWAR amongst relievers between 2022 and ‘24 — 5.7, with a 1.83 ERA in 167 2/3 innings — but his 2025 was so weird, bad and ugly that it might’ve scared some groups off. In the top, although, he received a two-year contract as projected, with a reported opt-out after the primary 12 months.
Deadline bats who performed poorly
34. Cedric Mullins, OF, 31
UPDATE: Mullins and the Rays agreed on a 1-year, $7 million deal.
Mullins spent a decade within the Orioles group earlier than being dealt to the Mets on the deadline. His manufacturing had been nearer to league common within the years since his star-level 2021 marketing campaign, through which he hit 30 homers, stole 30 bases and completed ninth in AL MVP voting. His significantly poor displaying with New York (.565 OPS together with a brutal 6-for-55 skid to end the season) pushed Mullins a lot additional down these rankings than we anticipated him to be a couple of months in the past.
35. Willi Castro, UTL, 29
UPDATE: Castro and the Rockies reportedly agreed on a 2-year deal.
An All-Star in 2024 recognized for his unequalled defensive versatility, Castro was having one other stellar season earlier than he was shipped to Chicago as a part of Minnesota’s epic fireplace sale on the commerce deadline. And whereas he continued to present worth as a reliable defender at a number of positions, Castro’s bat utterly disappeared as a Cub, posting a paltry .485 OPS and not registering a single plate look throughout Chicago’s eight postseason video games. His relative youth and flexibility with the glove nonetheless made him a reasonably alluring free agent, and the Rockies picked him up on a two-year deal.
A bunch extra beginning pitchers
36. Merrill Kelly, SP, 37
UPDATE: Kelly and the Diamondbacks agreed on a 2-year, $40 million deal.
That the Rangers were willing to send three solid prospects to Arizona for two months of Kelly suggests that he’s nonetheless well-regarded throughout the trade, however free agency is a distinct equation, particularly for a pitcher this outdated. Without plus velocity, Kelly will get by on nice command of a six-pitch repertoire, headlined by a wonderful changeup. Like a lot of the pitchers on this tier, he’s extra probably to present worth within the common season than as a no-doubt postseason starter, however that’s not one thing to sneeze at. Clearly, the Diamondbacks had sufficient religion in Kelly, primarily based on his earlier stint with the workforce, to deliver him again on a two-year pact.
37. Tyler Mahle, SP, 31
UPDATE: Mahle and the Giants agreed on a 1-year, $10 million deal.
Mahle was completely sensible by means of the top of May (1.64 ERA in 66 innings throughout 12 begins) earlier than fading in June and touchdown on the injured checklist due to shoulder fatigue, which saved him out till mid-September. It was encouraging to see him end the season wholesome, however Mahle hasn’t thrown greater than 100 innings since 2022.
38. Zach Eflin, SP, 32
UPDATE: Eflin and the Orioles agreed on a 1-year, $10 million deal.
Recurring again accidents restricted Eflin to 14 ineffective begins (5.93 ERA) for Baltimore in 2025, however he was a mid-rotation workhorse the earlier two seasons (3.54 ERA in 343 innings) and may show to be a pleasant buy-low choice for an Orioles workforce that wanted rotation reinforcements. We’re solely two years faraway from Eflin ending sixth in AL Cy Young voting — let’s not overlook about this man.
39. Zack Littell, SP, 30
The good: Littell’s 3.73 ERA ranks 17th out of 37 qualified starters over the previous two seasons, his 1.65 BB/9 is bested solely by Tarik Skubal over that very same timeframe, and amongst free-agent pitchers, solely Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen threw extra innings in 2025 than Littell’s 186 2/3 frames.
The dangerous: Whiffs are laborious to come by for Littell (17.1% strikeout price ranked forty seventh out of 52 certified starters in 2025), and he’s significantly prone to the lengthy ball, making his subsequent house ballpark a vital variable when projecting his effectiveness shifting ahead.
40. Griffin Canning, SP, 30
After permitting essentially the most earned runs within the American League with the Angels in 2024, Canning was having fun with a pleasant bounce-back season in his first 12 months with the Mets, leaning closely on his slider and changeup to hold hitters off-balance. But his season ended abruptly when he ruptured his left Achilles on a non-contact play in June, beginning a rehab course of that might stretch into 2026. A workforce that believes in Canning’s revamped type with New York and his potential to rebound from critical harm may goal the right-hander as a low-cost rotation choice.
Hitters who confuse us
41. Max Kepler, OF, 33
Kepler struggled badly out the gate in his first 12 months as a Phillie however settled into being a helpful contributor and completed the common season sturdy, hitting .262/.322/.505 with seven house runs over his last 30 video games. Kepler nonetheless displays first rate energy and plate self-discipline, however his incomes potential will depend upon whether or not groups view him as a viable every-day participant or extra in a predominantly platoon function, like Philadelphia did. Not serving to Kepler’s free-agent case is an 80-game suspension for testing constructive for PEDs, which the league announced Jan. 9.
42. Miguel Andujar, OF/DH, 31
Albeit in a smaller pattern, Andujar quietly posted one of many higher offensive seasons of any free-agent bat accessible. Among hitters with a minimum of 300 plate appearances in 2025, Andujar’s .318 common ranked second in MLB behind solely Aaron Judge, and he was one of the productive trade-deadline acquisitions within the league after being dealt by the A’s to the Reds. He stays a poor defender who doesn’t draw walks, however he crushes lefties and makes a ton of contact. He’s a sneaky goal for groups on a decent funds searching for offense.
43. Rob Refsnyder, OF, 35
UPDATE: Refsnyder and the Mariners agreed on a 1-year, $6.25 million deal.
This isn’t simply any platoon bat. The diploma to which Refsnyder demolishes left-handed pitching places him in some really outrageous firm. Among hitters with a minimum of 250 plate appearances in opposition to southpaws over the previous two seasons, Refsnyder’s .949 OPS ranks fifth behind Aaron Judge, Ketel Marte, José Ramírez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. That’s ridiculous. He’s basically unplayable in opposition to right-handers and a below-average corner-outfield defender, however his particular talent nonetheless makes Refsnyder an interesting pickup for the Mariners.
Tier 4 relievers
44. Brad Keller, RP, 30
UPDATE: Keller and the Phillies agreed on a 2-year, $22 million deal.
An unremarkable beginning pitcher for the primary six years of his profession, Keller broke out in a giant method within the Cubs’ bullpen in 2025, throwing tougher than ever and posting a sterling 2.07 ERA in 69 2/3 innings with underlying data that strongly helps his efficiency as reputable. Keller price significantly lower than the top relievers who have already got a boatload of saves on their résumés, however he may supply related and even larger upside for the Phillies if he can maintain the good points he made in Chicago.
45. Raisel Iglesias, RP, 36
UPDATE: Iglesias and the Braves agreed on a 1-year, $16 million deal.
Iglesias had a catastrophic begin to his season, permitting seven house runs throughout his first 25 appearances after permitting 4 whole in 66 video games pitched in 2024. That left him with an ugly 6.75 ERA in early June, however after that, Iglesias received again on monitor and was typically the elite game-ender we’ve lengthy recognized him to be, posting a 1.25 ERA over his last 43 1/3 innings, a dominant stretch that went considerably unnoticed amid a misplaced Braves season.
Iglesias and Keller are our picks to squeeze into the top of our Top 50 amongst a deep free-agent class of achieved righty relievers that additionally contains Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan, Emilio Pagán, Phil Maton and Tyler Rogers.
Veteran starters
46. Chris Bassitt, SP, 37
After one other 12 months of sturdy work within the rotation — Bassitt is one simply seven pitchers to make a minimum of 30 begins in every of the previous 4 seasons — the 36-year-old right-hander made a profitable transition to the bullpen for Toronto’s World Series run. He allowed only one run throughout his eight reduction outings in October, demonstrating versatility that might show invaluable as groups undertaking his function as he enters the latter levels of his profession.
It’s additionally price a point out that the Blue Jays’ clubhouse completely adores this man, and Bassitt has not been shy in expressing his desire to stay put. Sentimentality and postseason bullpen cameos apart, Bassitt’s sturdiness would appear to be his most interesting trait as a free agent for groups trying to solidify their rotations. Whether that leads him again to Toronto stays to be seen..
47. Jose Quintana, SP, 37
Quintana has delivered a better-than-league-average park-adjusted ERA in 12 of his 14 major-league seasons, together with 2025, when he helped stabilize an injury-ravaged Brewers rotation. The stuff unsurprisingly isn’t getting any higher — he simply posted a career-low 16% strikeout price — however he nonetheless appears to have the guile to get outs in a bulk function and thus deserves a nod towards the top of this checklist.
48. Justin Verlander, SP, 43
It took till mid-July for Verlander to file his first win as a Giant, however he managed to discover his groove down the stretch, posting a 2.60 ERA in 72 ⅔ innings over his last 13 begins. Even at age 42 (his birthday is in February), Verlander remains to be innovating, including an 80-mph sweeper to complement his conventional slider and curveball, a pitch that carried out as his most effective by run value. While his goal of reaching 300 wins feels farfetched at this level (he’s at 266), he pitched nicely sufficient in 2025 to earn the possibility to proceed that chase.
A in all probability washed man who used to rake
49. Marcell Ozuna, DH, 35
For the primary two months of the season (.883 OPS), Ozuna resembled the impactful slugger he was the earlier two years in Atlanta. But in early June, the burly Dominican revealed that he’d been battling a tear in his proper hip. He by no means ended up on the injured checklist, however his efficiency plummeted because the season went on, with a .673 OPS after June 1.
While Ozuna’s general offensive résumé ought to garner some curiosity, there are ample causes for groups to discover manufacturing elsewhere: He’s a full-time DH in his mid-30s with lingering accidents points, and he has a historical past of multiple off-field incidents.
Overseas stars in search of MLB comeback
50. LHP Anthony Kay, SP, 31
UPDATE: Kay and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a 2-year, $12 million deal.
A primary-round draft decide by the Mets in 2016, Kay was dealt to Toronto within the Marcus Stroman commerce in 2019 and appeared with the Blue Jays in components of 4 seasons. After transient cameos with the Cubs and then again with the Mets in 2023, Kay took his abilities abroad, the place he grew to become an impression starter for the Yokohama Bay Stars in NPB.
Kay was strong in his first 12 months in Japan however actually leveled up in 2025, including an equally efficient two-seamer to complement his 94-mph four-seam fastball and three strong secondary choices (slider, cutter, changeup). Among certified NPB starters, Kay ranked fifth in ERA (1.74), fifth in WHIP (0.98), and first in ground-ball price (55.8%), a stellar résumé of dominance within the second-best league on the planet that might earn him a way more important alternative stateside than he received earlier in his major-league profession.
Kay is one among a number of pitchers with MLB expertise who’ve blossomed abroad lately forward of creating a return to the majors. Right-hander Cody Ponce (1.89 ERA in 180 ⅔ innings with 252 strikeouts for the Hanwha Eagles within the Korean Baseball Organization) landed a three-year, $30 million deal with Toronto. And left-hander Foster Griffin (2.57 ERA in 315 ⅔ innings for the Yomiuri Giants the previous three seasons) signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Nationals.