Best MLB free agents 2025-26: Ranking the top 27 players available, from Kyle Tucker to Pete Alonso

The MLB calendar offers no break between the end of the postseason and the start of the offseason, but baseball fans know free agency can be a long process.

Players on expiring contracts officially become free agents the morning after the World Series ends and can sign with any team after a five-day period in which they can exclusively negotiate with their former teams. While some deals tend to trickle in as Thanksgiving nears, December is almost always the busiest month on the offseason calendar — also known as hot stove season.

This year's class does not feature a blockbuster free agent like Juan Soto in 2024 or Shohei Ohtani in 2023. Even Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took himself off the market when he agreed to a mega deal to stay with the Toronto Blue Jays in April. It is, however, considerably deeper than last year's crop of free agents outside of the top seven or so, with plenty of All-Stars, reliable contributors and even a potential Japanese phenom hitting the open market.

Here's a look at the top 27 free agents ahead of the MLB offseason.

MORE: MLB pitchers in the 3,000 strikeout club

27. Jorge Polanco, 2B/DH, Mariners

• Age on Opening Day: 29
• 2025 stats: 138 G, .265 AVG, 26 HR, 78 RBI, .821 OPS, 2.6 fWAR

Jorge Polanco was an afterthought on the open market last season, ultimately landing back with the Mariners after undergoing patellar tendon surgery in his knee, but a resurgent season should set him up for a better foray into free agency this winter. Polanco was primarily a designated hitter after surgery, which might limit his value, but he hit .265 with 26 home runs and an .821 OPS while putting up the best OPS+ of his career.

MORE: Have the Mariners ever won a World Series?

26. Robert Suarez, CL, Padres

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

• Age on Opening Day: 35
• 2025 stats: 69.2 IP, 2.97 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 75 Ks, 40 SV, 1.9 fWAR

The San Diego Padres reportedly considered trading Robert Suarez at the deadline after acquiring Mason Miller, but Miller's arrival should allow the organization to let Suarez walk once he opts out of his deal. Suarez was a late-bloomer in 2022 and helped San Diego reach the NLCS before struggling in limited action in 2023. He's been much more steady over the last two years, leading the NL with 40 saves in 2025 and carrying an impressive 2.88 FIP to go along with his 2.97 ERA over a full season in the closer's role.

MORE: History of the Padres in the postseason

25. Merrill Kelly, SP, Rangers

• Age on Opening Day: 37
• 2025 stats: 184.0 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 167 Ks, 3.1 fWAR

An injury-derailed 2024 aside, Merrill Kelly has been one of baseball's steadiest veteran starters over the last four seasons, consistently carrying an ERA in the mid-to-low 3s and helping push the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series with a terrific postseason in 2023. Kelly landed with the Texas Rangers at the deadline this past season and finished the year with a 3.52 ERA over a full 32 starts. Kelly's age will limit him to a short-term deal, but a two-year pact from a team looking for a solid mid-rotation arm would make plenty of sense.

MORE: The most recent no-hitter for every MLB team

24. Luis Arraez, 1B/2B, Padres

• Age on Opening Day: 28
• 2025 stats: 154 G, .292 AVG, 8 HR, 61 RBI, .719 OPS, 0.9 fWAR

Some are going to be surprised when they see what kind of contract Luis Arraez receives in free agency. The three-time batting champion is not a favorite of analytics proponents, but it's not just underlying numbers that tell you he has holes in his game. Arraez rarely strikes out and has some of baseball's best bat-to-ball skills, but he hits for very little power, doesn't walk often and doesn't provide much defensive value. If Arraez hit .354 in 2025 like he did in 2023 this would be a different conversation, but after a couple of unspectacular seasons in San Diego, Arraez might have to bet on himself with a short-term deal for 2026. 

MORE: Is sign stealing illegal in baseball?

23. Devin Williams, RP, Yankees

• Age on Opening Day: 31
• 2025 stats: 62.0 IP, 4.79 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 18 SV, 1.4 fWAR

Devin Williams likely knows a return to the New York Yankees isn't a good idea for either side, but he should still command a decent market this offseason. An elite late-inning arm with the Milwaukee Brewers, Williams posted a 4.69 ERA in 2025 after pitching to a 1.70 ERA from 2020-24. Williams seemed to lose confidence, as some players tend to do in pinstripes, but the underlying numbers were more promising: he had a 2.68 FIP, not far off from his career mark, and still struck out 13.1 batters per nine innings. It wouldn't be surprising to see Williams still land a lucrative deal this winter, whether that's a one-year, prove-it deal or a multi-year pact.

MORE: What to know about Yankees facial hair policy

22. Shota Imanaga, SP, Cubs

• Age on Opening Day: 32
• 2025 stats: 144.2 IP, 3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 117 Ks, 0.9 fWAR

Shota Imanaga earned a top-five finish NL Cy Young voting as a rookie in 2024, but he struggled a bit more across the board in 2025, posting a decent 3.73 ERA and terrific 0.99 WHIP but seeing his strikeout rate dip considerably and his home run rate rise to concerning levels. Still, it looked like the Cubs would pick up his option and extend his contract. Instead, the 32-year-old left-hander is headed to the open market. Imanaga's excellent control will appeal to teams and should earn him a multi-year deal, though his age and home run propensity could limit the kind of contract front offices are willing to hand out. 

MORE: What happened to infamous Cubs fan Steve Bartman?

21. Shane Bieber, SP, Blue Jays

• Age on Opening Day: 30
• 2025 stats: 40.1 IP, 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 37 Ks, 0.3 fWAR

Bieber opted-into his $16 million option for 2026 and will return to the Blue Jays.

Shane Bieber has a $16 million player option for 2026, but his solid finish to the season with the Toronto Blue Jays and promising postseason will likely lead him to opt out and pursue a multi-year deal. Tommy John Surgery wiped out almost all of 2024 and most of 2025 for Bieber, with a separate injury delaying his return this season, but he pitched well in seven regular season starts with Toronto and should only get stronger as he settles back into a normal routine. A multi-year deal should be available for Bieber this winter.

MORE: Most strikeouts in an MLB playoff game

20. Ryan O'Hearn, DH, Padres

David Frerker-Imagn Images

• Age on Opening Day: 32
• 2025 stats: 144 G, .281 AVG, 17 HR, 63 RBI, .803 OPS, 3.0 fWAR

Ryan O'Hearn enjoyed a nice contract year between Baltimore and San Diego, emerging as an everyday player after starting out in a platoon role. While he's primarily a designated hitter with outfield experience, O'Hearn should attract a multi-year deal after posting the best on-base percentage of his career at .366, a career-best 17 home runs and an .803 OPS. 

MORE: What is the World Series trophy called?

19. J.T. Realmuto, C, Phillies

• Age on Opening Day: 35
• 2025 stats: 134 G, .257 AVG, 12 HR, 52 RBI, .700 OPS, 2.1 fWAR

J.T. Realmuto will be an interesting case after seven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. On one hand, he was a below-average bat in 2025, displaying a decline in power and posting the worst offensive season of his career in terms of OPS+. On the other hand, Realmuto is still a valuable defensive catcher at a position that isn't defined by offense, and his work with Phillies starter speaks for itself. That should set him up for one more decent payday, even if it's on a short-term contract.

MORE: How many World Series have the Phillies won?

18. Trent Grisham, OF, Yankees

• Age on Opening Day: 29
• 2025 stats: 143 G, .235 AVG, 34 HR, 74 RBI, .811 OPS, 3.2 fWAR

Talk about great timing. After hitting like a replacement-level player in his first season with the Yankees, Trent Grisham doubled his career-high with 34 home runs and posted an .811 OPS as one of the biggest bats in New York's lineup. It still wouldn't be surprising to see some teams hesitant at the idea of giving Grisham an inflated deal, considering he has regressed defensively and just wasn't any good offensively from 2022-24, but the power will get him paid.

MORE: When was the last time the Yankees won the World Series?

17. Gleyber Torres, 2B, Tigers

• Age on Opening Day: 29
• 2025 stats: 145 G, .256 AVG, 16 HR, 74 RBI, .745 OPS, 2.6 fWAR

Gleyber Torres took a one-year, prove-it deal with the Detroit Tigers to try to rebuild his value in 2025. While he didn't have a monster season by any means, he did enough to set himself up for a multi-year contract. Torres hit .256 with 16 home runs and a .745 OPS, elevating his game by working a career-high 85 walks. The power might never be what it once was for Torres, but the second base position is so void of plus hitters that he should do well on the open market. 

MORE: Why did the Astros fire manager A.J. Hinch?

16. Harrison Bader, OF, Phillies

• Age on Opening Day: 29
• 2025 stats: 146 G, .277 AVG, 17 HR, 54 RBI, .796 OPS, 3.2 fWAR

After becoming a journeyman for a few seasons, Harrison Bader turned in perhaps the best year of his career between Minnesota and Philadelphia, batting .277 with 17 home runs and an OPS just under .800 to go along with his defense in the outfield. What might give teams some pause is the fact Bader had a similar season with the Cardinals in 2021 and just couldn't sustain that kind of offense in the three years that followed, but the Bader that showed up in 2025 is the type of player every team would want in their lineup. 

MORE: Why Brandon Marsh's hair looks greasy during Phillies games

15. Michael King, SP, Padres

• Age on Opening Day: 30
• 2025 stats: 73.1 IP, 3.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 76 Ks, 0.8 fWAR

2025 wasn't far off from a lost season for Michael King, who could have really cashed in with another strong year. He should still do well in free agency thanks to his swing-and-miss stuff and a terrific track record. Originally a hybrid relief arm with the Yankees, King moved to the rotation full-time with the Padres in 2024 and posted a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts in 173.2 innings. That was an ace-like season, and it will have teams interested in King despite him coming off an injury-riddled year. 

MORE: What is a perfect game in baseball?

14. Zac Gallen, SP, Diamondbacks

• Age on Opening Day: 30
• 2025 stats: 192.0 IP, 4.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 175 Ks, 1.1 fWAR

A top-five Cy Young finisher in both 2022 and 2023, Zac Gallen would like to put 2025 behind him as soon as possible. Like King, he missed a chance to truly break the bank, but he can't blame injuries. Gallen made a full 33 starts, only to post a 4.83 ERA and give up 31 home runs for the Diamondbacks. His health should be an asset, though, and his 3.20 ERA from 2022-24 will matter to teams, given he just turned 30 and shouldn't be entering a decline. It will be worth watching whether Gallen would accept the qualifying offer from Arizona and try to set himself up for a larger payday next winter.

MORE: What is a triple play in baseball?

13. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Mariners

• Age on Opening Day: 34
• 2025 stats: 159 G, .228 AVG, 49 HR, 118 RBI, .824 OPS, 3.8 fWAR

Eugenio Suarez certainly didn't finish 2025 as hot as he started it, batting only .189 with a .682 OPS after being traded back to the Seattle Mariners, but his power is hard to ignore. Suarez tied a career-high with 49 home runs in 2025, and he has hit at least 30 home runs in six of his last seven seasons, excluding the shortened 2020 season. Any team that signs Suarez will have to live with the high strikeout rate and extreme streakiness, but the power alone will get him paid. 

MORE: Where Cal Raleigh's 2025 season ranks among most home runs ever by a catcher

12. Josh Naylor, 1B, Mariners

• Age on Opening Day: 28
• 2025 stats: 147 G, .295 AVG, 20 HR, 92 RBI, .816 OPS, 3.1 fWAR

Josh Naylor really evolved as a player in 2025, hitting for more contact at the cost of some power while somehow becoming a serious stolen base threat despite being one of the slowest everyday players in baseball. Now a well-rounded hitter who can play solid defense at first base, Naylor is hitting free agency at the right time and should land a three or four-year deal this winter.

MORE: How Josh Naylor became a serious stolen base threat

11. Framber Valdez, SP, Astros

• Age on Opening Day: 32
• 2025 stats: 192.0 IP, 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 187 Ks, 4.0 fWAR

Framber Valdez had a whirlwind of a contract year, at one point positioning himself as a Cy Young contender before his rocky second half helped push the Astros out of the AL West lead, but he is still in line to make good money this winter. Valdez has plenty of postseason experience, has thrown more than 175 innings in each of the last four seasons and has a 3.23 ERA since 2020. That's going to be enough to get Valdez paid somewhere, even if it's not Houston. 

MORE: Revisiting Astros 2017 cheating scandal

10. Ranger Suarez, SP, Phillies

• Age on Opening Day: 30
• 2025 stats: 157.1 IP, 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 151 Ks, 4.0 fWAR

Ranger Suarez isn't the type of pitcher who is going to blow hitters away, but for five seasons now, he has simply gotten outs. Suarez posted a 3.20 ERA in 2025, his best mark as a full-time starter, and he kept his walk and strikeout rates almost exactly where they were in 2024. Whether it's with the Phillies or elsewhere, Suarez has proven enough to cash in this winter.

MORE: What is Ranger Suarez projected to get in free agency?

9. Dylan Cease, SP, Padres

• Age on Opening Day: 30
• 2025 stats: 168.0 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 215 Ks, 3.4 fWAR

Dylan Cease is another interesting test case on the free agent market. Will he get paid like the pitcher who was a top-four Cy Young finisher in 2022 and 2024, or will he get paid like the pitcher who posted an ERA in the mid-4s in 2023 and 2025? While he is prone to blowups, the answer is likely going to be closer to the former than the latter. Cease actually led all qualified starters with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 2025 even as he struggled, and his FIP has stayed in the mid-3s even when his ERA is in the mid-4s. Durability is also a major plus, as Cease has made at least 32 starts in each of the last five seasons. A season more like 2024 could have set Cease up for a huge payday, but he's still a frontline option this winter.

MORE: Most MLB All-Stars from one team

8. Alex Bregman, 3B, Red Sox

• Age on Opening Day: 31
• 2025 stats: 114 G, .273 AVG, 18 HR, 62 RBI, .821 OPS, 3.5 WAR

Alex Bregman didn't land the deal he wanted last offseason, but he landed one that allowed him to test the open market again if he proved himself in Boston. Despite an injury that halted a red-hot start to the season, Bregman posted his highest OPS since 2019 and positioned himself to opt out. Bregman's age and inconsistent offensive season in 2025 could prevent him from breaking the bank, but his bat continues to land in the above-average range, and his defense is valuable. 

MORE: What to know about Red Sox's green jerseys

7. Munetaka Murakami, 1B/3B, NPB

• Age on Opening Day: 26
• 2025 stats: 69 G, .286 AVG, 24 HR, 52 RBI, 1.051 OPS (Yakult Swallows)

Long hailed as the next great hitter to come over from Japan after a string of great pitchers, Munetaka Murakami will be posted this offseason with no limitations on the kind of contract he can sign because he's no longer considered an amateur free agent. Murakami's power is tantalizing, as he hit 56 home runs in 2022 and was on a similar pace with 24 home runs in only 69 games this past season if not for an injury. Murakami's strikeout rate is high, and he may end up as a designated hitter, but hitting for that kind of power in an offense-starved league will have MLB teams fascinated with what he can do stateside. 

MORE: Is Shoehei Ohtani the GOAT for MLB?

6.  Edwin Diaz, CL, Mets

• Age on Opening Day: 32
• 2025 stats: 66.1 IP, 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 98 Ks, 28 SV, 2.0 fWAR

If not for Aroldis Chapman's season in Boston, Edwin Diaz would have been the gold standard among relievers. Diaz bounced back from an up-and-down 2024 to post a 1.63 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, allowing only five hits per nine innings and just four home runs all season. The New York Mets' season went south quickly in the second half, but Diaz was dominant enough to opt out and cash in this winter.

MORE: Most memorable Subway Series moments in history

5. Cody Bellinger, OF, Yankees

• Age on Opening Day: 30
• 2025 stats: 152 G, .272 AVG, 29 HR, 98 RBI, .813 OPS, 4.9 fWAR

Cody Bellinger exceeded expectations after landing with the Yankees via salary dump from the Chicago Cubs, batting .272 with 29 home runs and an .813 OPS along with strong defensive metrics. The former MVP has been an All-Star caliber player in two of the last three seasons after his career spiraled with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he has set himself up for a nice payday this winter with a return to the Yankees very much on the table. 

MORE: Complete history of Yankees vs. Red Sox playoff series

4. Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays

• Age on Opening Day: 28
• 2025 stats: 139 G, .311 AVG, 18 HR, 94 RBI, .840 OPS, 3.8 fWAR

Bo Bichette bounced back from an abysmal 2024 in a big way this season, and his track record indicates 2024 was nothing more than a fluke. One of baseball's best contact hitters in 2025, Bichette hit .311 with 18 home runs and an .840 OPS, putting himself on track for a 200-hit season before a knee injury ended his regular season in early September. Bichette has become a poor defensive shortstop, which likely means a position change is coming soon, but his age, solid power and excellent bat-to-ball skills will make him a sought-after player on the open market. 

MORE: How many Canadian teams are in MLB?

3. Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies

• Age on Opening Day: 33
• 2025 stats: .240 AVG, 56 HR, 132 RBI, .928 OPS, 4.9 fWAR

It feels like Kyle Schwarber has been around forever, but he's still only set to turn 33 in the weeks leading up to Opening Day. Given he already doesn't play the field, there isn't any reason to believe Schwarber's power is going to start to fade in the next three or four years. Schwarber should be an MVP finalist after hitting a career-high 56 home runs and matching his career-best with a .928 OPS. His lack of value outside of that power could leave some teams hesitant to make a huge commitment, but as is the case with Eugenio Suarez, it's hard to pass up on such raw power. 

MORE: Most home runs in one game, from Lou Gehrig to Kyle Schwarber

2. Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets

• Age on Opening Day: 31
• 2025 stats: 162 G, .272 AVG, 38 HR, 126 RBI, .871 OPS, 3.6 fWAR

Pete Alonso didn't receive the type of market he expected last winter, but at some point, teams are going to have to stop ignoring one of the game's best pure power hitters. Alonso rebounded this season from a tough 2024, batting .272 with 38 home runs, 80 extra-base hits and an .871 OPS, his highest mark since his rookie season. Alonso has posted an OPS+ north of 120 in each of his seven seasons, and he has never missed more than 10 games in a season since debuting in 2019. After missing out on a six or seven-year deal last winter, Alonso would be justified to aim for that again.

MORE: Inside Mets' second-half collapse that allowed Reds to make 2025 playoffs

1. Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs

• Age on Opening Day: 29
• 2025 stats: 136 G, .266 AVG, 22 HR, 73 RBI, .841 OPS, 4.5 fWAR

Kyle Tucker's injury history and disappearing act in the second half this season are going to pop up as talking points around his free agency, but when healthy, he is the most valuable player available, given his age and track record at the plate. Tucker averaged 30 home runs per season from 2021-23, posting an OPS+ north of 140 twice in that span, and he hit at an MVP-caliber level over 78 games in 2024. While his power was zapped late in 2025, perhaps by a hand injury, Tucker still projects as one of the game's best all-around bats in the years ahead. 

MORE: Why do the Cubs fly the W?