The 2025-26 MLB free agent class is fascinating regardless of missing Aaron Choose, Shohei Ohtani or Juan Soto, the three celebrity MLB free brokers of the previous three winters. It is deep in sluggers and late-game relievers, with a serving to of beginning pitchers and third basemen.
It feels laborious to foretell the place gamers will land, and that ought to make this a enjoyable offseason. The domino impact of 1 or two shock signings — similar to Kyle Schwarber not returning to the Philadelphia Phillies or Pete Alonso not returning to the New York Mets — will create chaos.
As all the time, some huge cash can be spent — not all of it properly. Final 12 months’s top-10 home free brokers did fairly effectively, traditionally talking, going from a mixed 34.2 WAR in 2024 to twenty-eight.2 in 2025 to retain 82% of their worth. In 2023-24, that determine was simply 57% and in 2022-23, simply 54%.
Let’s dig into the 2025-26 offseason with our annual free agent superlatives.
Participant who would possibly signal with a shock crew: Kyle Tucker
Tucker is the consensus prime free agent, with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel rating Tucker No. 1 and projecting an 11-year, $418 million contract. Regardless of that lofty wage prediction, Tucker comes with some danger and is not on the extent of a few of the marquee free brokers of current seasons. Contemplate:
He is getting into his age-29 season. Of the 17 earlier contracts of $300 million-plus (together with Manny Machado, twice), solely three gamers have been older than Tucker: Choose (who was getting into his age-31 season), Trea Turner (30) and Machado’s second deal after he opted out (30). Solely two others have been getting into their age-29 seasons: Gerrit Cole and Ohtani.
Tucker has by no means had a 6-WAR season. Of these 16 earlier gamers, solely 4 had by no means had a 6-WAR season once they signed and two of these have been Fernando Tatis Jr. (who had put up 6.8 complete WAR in 143 profession video games on the time he signed) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (coming over from Japan). The opposite two have been Corey Seager and Rafael Devers, and the Boston Purple Sox traded Devers lower than two seasons right into a 10-year extension.
Tucker has had main accidents two seasons in a row. He had a proper shin fracture that restricted him to 78 video games in 2024 after which a fracture in his proper hand and a calf pressure in 2025.
The excessive worth level suggests a restricted variety of groups can afford Tucker. However not one of the golf equipment with the 5 highest payrolls in 2025 are locks to be all-in on him. Right here they’re, with their present payroll scenario in contrast with 2025 (through FanGraphs estimates):
Los Angeles Dodgers ($58 million below): With Clayton Kershaw, Michael Conforto, Chris Taylor and Kirby Yates off the payroll, the Dodgers have cash to spend and a necessity within the outfield, however in some unspecified time in the future, they are going to want the lineup to get youthful. The strongest place of their farm system is outfield: Eduardo Quintero, Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota and Zyhir Hope are arguably their prime 4 prospects.
New York Mets ($87 million below): Just like the Dodgers, the Mets have cash, however a big chunk will get chewed up in the event that they re-sign Alonso and Edwin Diaz. Plus, they have already got two nook outfielders in Soto and Brandon Nimmo and want so as to add to the rotation and rebuild the bullpen.
New York Yankees ($33 million below): Tucker would look nice in Yankee Stadium, however with Choose, Trent Grisham, Jasson Dominguez and incoming prospect Spencer Jones, the outfield is already crowded. And do not rule out New York re-signing Cody Bellinger.
Philadelphia Phillies ($51 million below): There’s a want for a productive outfield bat, however the Phillies’ prime precedence can be re-signing Schwarber — plus, Philadelphia has holes at catcher and within the rotation with J.T. Realmuto and left-hander Ranger Suarez additionally in free company.
Toronto Blue Jays ($25 million below): My colleague Jeff Passan wrote that the Blue Jays are seen because the favorites to land Tucker, contemplating they’re in win-now mode, would possibly improve payroll and have a number of big-salaried gamers hitting free company after 2026 (Kevin Gausman, George Springer, Shane Bieber, Daulton Varsho). However including a $400 million contract alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million deal is loads for 2 gamers. Toronto bringing again Bo Bichette would possibly make extra sense.
So, if a kind of groups would not signal Tucker, the place will he land? The Baltimore Orioles seemingly have cash to spend however simply acquired Taylor Ward and want pitching. The San Francisco Giants have had just one outfielder hit 25 dwelling runs in a season since 2014 and will pair Tucker with Devers. The Texas Rangers will trim about $18 million in wage in the event that they non-tender Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim, and so they want offense. The Cincinnati Reds are reportedly looking for a middle-of-the-order bat, though Joey Votto’s $225 million contract is the most important — by far — in franchise historical past. The Chicago White Sox aren’t able to win but however possibly they’ll promote Tucker on their imaginative and prescient for the longer term (type of like when the San Diego Padres signed Machado coming off a 96-loss season in 2018).
Participant most probably to assist the Dodgers to a three-peat: Bo Bichette
Bichette checks off all the Dodgers’ wants:
An improve at second base: Dodgers second basemen hit .239 and ranked twenty fourth within the majors in OPS.
A high-average hitter (.294 profession common): The offense hit simply .233 within the postseason — and .213 after the wild-card spherical. The Dodgers hit sufficient dwelling runs, particularly in key moments, to win the World Sequence, nevertheless it was the beginning rotation that carried them to the title.
A hitter in his prime (age-28 season): The offense is getting older, with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman now within the post-peak stage of their careers.
And the cash? With a projected five-year, $130 million contract, Bichette simply matches into the Dodgers’ payroll and nonetheless leaves them cash to signal a more in-depth.
Participant the Reds must roll out the crimson carpet for: Kyle Schwarber
The Reds made the playoffs in 2025 for the primary time in a full season since 2013, in order that was enjoyable, even when they squeaked in with simply 83 wins. They have not gained a playoff sport since 2012. They performed within the second-easiest dwelling run park through Statcast — but completed simply twenty first within the majors in dwelling runs. Reds DHs (they began 11 gamers there) ranked twenty second within the majors in OPS. Their prime dwelling run hitter, Elly De La Cruz, hit one over a 74-game stretch in the course of the summer season. They usually’re sitting at about $21 million below their 2025 payroll.
Schwarber is the right match for Cincinnati. However a participant who simply hit 56 dwelling runs and completed second within the Nationwide League MVP voting is the right match for many groups, significantly the one which employed him the previous 4 seasons: the Phillies. Schwarber’s projected contract — 4 years, $128 million — is extra reasonably priced for the Reds than Tucker’s, and Schwarber is from Ohio. Although the geographic tie-in is normally overrated, possibly the Reds can use that to promote Schwarber — together with their stellar younger rotation that would maintain them in playoff competition for the lifetime of that four-year contract (whereas the getting older Phillies are possibly exiting their window to win).
Participant who might hit 40 dwelling runs … or be the most important bust: Munetaka Murakami
Murakami has prodigious energy, setting the single-season dwelling run file in Japan for a Japanese-born participant at 22 years outdated when he hit 56 in 2022 for the Yakult Swallows. However after hitting .318 that season, he hit simply .256 over the following three. The numbers climbed again up in 2025 — .286/.392/.659 with 24 dwelling runs in 220 at-bats — however he comes with a number of swing-and-miss in his sport. A complete lot. Assume Joey Gallo loads.
In a league with a mean strikeout fee of just below 20%, Murakami’s strikeout fee approached 30% over the previous three seasons. Much more regarding have been his struggles in opposition to fastballs of 93-plus mph, as he hit .095 in opposition to these in 2025 and has whiffed 37% of the time in opposition to these pitches since 2021 (the MLB common is 21%). He’ll be seeing much more velocity in MLB than he confronted in Japan, so the priority is that he’ll wrestle to make sufficient contact to get to his energy.
On the intense aspect, groups are intrigued as a result of Murakami is getting into his age-26 season, making him the youngest free agent accessible. And the upside is legit if he could make the changes. He principally performed third base in Japan, however some scouts view him as a primary baseman, so whereas he would possibly examine to Gallo on the plate, he lacks Gallo’s defensive worth. Contract estimates are in every single place, from eight years, $180 million (MLB Commerce Rumors) to seven years, $154 million (FanGraphs) to 5 years, $80 million (ESPN).
The right Swiss Military knife-type participant: Cody Bellinger
Just about each crew might use an improve at certainly one of its nook outfield positions. Some groups want a middle fielder. Some want a primary baseman. Bellinger is type of Kyle Tucker Lite, besides with extra positional versatility — he performed video games in any respect of these positions in 2025 — and a a lot decrease projected contract at six years, $165 million. Contemplate the previous three seasons, together with 2025 percentiles rankings for vary and pace, respectively (through Statcast):
Tucker: .278/.380/.511, 14.8 WAR, 26%, 26%
Bellinger: .281/.338/.477, 12.0 WAR, 93%, 72%
Tucker is the higher hitter, little question. Bellinger is a unique hitter than when he gained the NL MVP in 2019 after which damage his shoulder — now specializing in extra contact on the expense of exit velocity — however he has made it work. He had sufficient pull-side energy to hit 29 dwelling runs with the Yankees this season, though he hit 18 of these at dwelling. However it’s these latter two metrics that stand out: Bellinger is the superior fielder and the higher runner. He is a 12 months older than Tucker, however I like his probabilities to carry his worth — and at maybe half the value it’ll take to signal Tucker.
That versatility means Bellinger matches a number of groups — I would need him as a nook outfielder, the place he is a particular plus defender. (How a couple of return to the Dodgers?) He is a pleasant addition for the Detroit Tigers, both in heart subject (Parker Meadows did not hit a lot) or proper subject (turning Kerry Carpenter right into a full-time DH). The Rangers might use him within the outfield or first base, and if the Mets do not re-sign Alonso, Bellinger is the right match as a hybrid first baseman/heart fielder.
Participant wanted to get the Phillies excessive: Alex Bregman
The Phillies have principally run the identical crew on the market the previous three seasons, and it has labored! Solely the Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers have extra wins since 2023. However Philadelphia additionally hasn’t reached a World Sequence in that point, and the offense hit .199 over the previous two postseasons. With that in thoughts, it is time for the Phillies to vary issues and get some new blood within the clubhouse — and Bregman brings not solely a historical past of profitable, however the perspective to reenergize issues a bit.
Signing him additionally is smart for the Phillies on the sphere. Alec Bohm hasn’t been a superb postseason hitter, with simply two dwelling runs and 14 RBIs in 38 profession playoff video games. He was the cleanup hitter within the NLDS in opposition to the Dodgers, regardless of hitting simply 11 dwelling runs within the common season. Bregman would substitute Bohm at third base and provides the Phillies a extra impactful hitter on the prime of the lineup. In the event that they re-sign Schwarber, Bregman might both hit third between Schwarber and Bryce Harper or transfer into the cleanup spot.
Groups on the lookout for a more in-depth may have loads of choices: Diaz, Robert Suarez, Ryan Helsley, Luke Weaver or Brad Keller. The Atlanta Braves already re-signed Raisel Iglesias. Yates is coming off a tough season with the Dodgers however had among the best aid seasons in 2024. Essentially the most intriguing title, nonetheless, is Williams. There is no sugarcoating his 2025 season with the Yankees: His ERA was excessive, he was horrible within the clutch and he allowed runs in bunches — six video games permitting not less than three runs, yet one more than in his profession earlier than 2025.
However … right here comes the sugar:
Amongst relievers with not less than 50 innings, he was eighth in strikeout fee.
He was sixth in swing-and-miss fee.
His hard-hit fee allowed ranked within the eighty fifth percentile.
His anticipated batting common was .195, which ranked within the ninety fifth percentile.
Although he appeared like he gave up a ton of dwelling runs, the ultimate tally was solely 5.
Williams nonetheless seems like a premium reliever, possibly simply not in New York. And for a crew seeking to go a few steps additional, possibly one which was a reliever quick in 2025 — we’re considering of you, Seattle Mariners — Williams could possibly be the steal of the winter.
Finest free agent timing award: Tatsuya Imai
We nominated Tyler O’Neill for this award final 12 months, and he signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Orioles — after which hit .199 in 2025 whereas getting injured once more. Imai was among the best pitchers in Japan in 2025, with a 1.92 ERA, however getting posted instantly after Yamamoto’s postseason heroics will improve Imai’s contract gives — his projection is six years, $135 million (plus a posting payment of round $22 million primarily based on a $135 million deal).
All of it feels just a little dangerous at that worth. Imai is gifted, however earlier than 2025, his management was spotty (3.6 walks per 9 in 2024, 4.1 in 2023). He relied loads on his four-seam fastball in Japan, despite the fact that it did not have an elite swing-and-miss fee. Regardless that his fastball sits at 93-97 mph and touches 99, he should use his slider and splitter extra usually within the majors. It’d all work out — and Imai is seemingly not missing in confidence — however the expectation can be a barely lesser model of Yamamoto, and that feels optimistic.
The Pirates have been reportedly very in on Josh Naylor, so the logical transition will not be Alonso or Bellinger, however the subsequent tier down, which is O’Hearn. The Orioles seen O’Hearn as a platoon hitter, however he performed extra usually in opposition to lefties final season and hit .278/.358/.474 in opposition to them in 109 plate appearances. It is a small pattern dimension, however he confirmed sufficient that he deserves the chance to play on daily basis. And the Pirates are the crew to present him that chance.
The 40-something beginning pitcher to guess on: Justin Verlander
Max Scherzer did simply sufficient within the postseason to assist the Blue Jays attain Recreation 7 of the World Sequence, however Verlander quietly had the higher season. It seemed ugly early on, when he did not win certainly one of his first 16 begins — he was 0-8 with a 4.99 ERA — however he had a 2.60 ERA over his last 13 begins to complete with a 3.85 ERA in 2025. His peripheral stats have been higher than Scherzer’s, and Verlander made it by the season with out well being points. Given his flyball tendencies, he is finest fitted to a crew in a pitcher’s park — like a return to the Giants. Verlander, who turns 43 in February, is value a flyer on a one-year deal.