Back in August, we took an early look at this yearâ€s free-agent class, identifying 10 players who will likely draw plenty of attention this winter.
With the postseason in full swing and the field down to two teams, it seemed like a good time to dig a little deeper, as 28 clubs are already formulating a plan to make 2026 an even more successful season.
MLB.com takes a look at the Top 30 potential free agents for the 2025-26 class, a group that includes a little bit of everything. Some of these players have opt-out clauses they are expected to trigger, so while theyâ€re not officially impending free agents at the moment, we believe they will hit the open market once November arrives.
(Ages listed represent the playerâ€s 2026 baseball age)
Tucker started his first season with the Cubs on a tear, hitting 17 home runs with 52 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and a .931 OPS through June. A right hand fracture might have contributed to Tuckerâ€s step back offensively in July and August, but he remains the best and most well-rounded player on the free-agent market this winter, having been worth at least 4.0 fWAR in every year since 2021.
Potential fits: Cubs, Dodgers, Giants
After waiting out the winter for the right deal, Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million pact with the Red Sox that included $60 million in deferrals and opt-outs after 2025 and ’26. Injuries limited Bregman to only 114 games this season, but he performed well when he was available, posting an .822 OPS with 18 homers. Bregman plans to opt out of his contract, giving free agency a try for the second consecutive season.
Potential fits: Phillies, Red Sox, Tigers
Players entering their age-33 season donâ€t tend to find themselves this high on the list, but Schwarber is an exception. His plus power helped him lead the National League with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs while playing in all 162 games, setting a career-high in bWAR (4.7) and fWAR (4.9). Schwarber can play left field on occasion, but heâ€s essentially a full-time DH who will make any lineup better immediately upon arrival.
Potential fits: Phillies, Rangers, Reds
After leading the AL in hits in 2021 and ’22 and making his second career All-Star team in ’23, Bichette had a nightmarish ’24, playing in only 81 games — and unproductive ones, at that. This season, Bichette looked like his old self, leading the league with 181 hits before a left knee sprain ended his regular season. Bichette finished the year with 18 homers, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games, and with a thin shortstop market, heâ€ll be in position to score big in his first foray into free agency.
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Braves, Tigers
After signing a one-year deal with the Cubs in 2023 and a three-year deal with Chicago in 2024, Bellinger — who was traded to the Yankees last winter — plans to opt out of the final year and $25 million to test free agency once again this winter. After an uneven 2024 campaign, Bellinger thrived in the Bronx in ’25, belting 29 home runs with 98 RBIs and an .814 OPS in 152 games, and posting his highest bWAR (5.0) since 2019 (8.7), when he won NL MVP honors. The versatile slugger has been a perfect fit for the Yankees, but other teams could try to pry him away from New York with the long-term deal that has evaded him to this point.
Potential fits: Mets, Tigers, Yankees
Like Bregman, it took Alonso until mid-February to land a deal, re-signing with the Mets for two years and $54 million. Alonso has said he plans to opt out of the final year and $24 million of the deal to give free agency another try, and with 38 home runs, 126 RBIs and an .871 OPS in 162 games this season — not to mention the absence of a qualifying offer — he should draw more interest than he did a year ago.
Potential fits: Giants, Mets, Red Sox
Murakami has what one scout called “legit power,†belting 246 home runs over eight seasons, including a 56-homer campaign in 2022 that broke Sadaharu Ohâ€s 58-year-old record for homers by a Japanese-born player. Murakami is expected to be posted by the Yakult Swallows this winter, becoming the first pure power hitter since Hideki Matsui to make the jump from NPB to the Majors.
Potential fits: Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees
King has quietly emerged as one of the gameâ€s top starters since making the move from the bullpen, posting a 3.10 ERA in his two seasons in the Padres†rotation. The right-hander was limited to 15 starts this season due to a nerve impingement near his shoulder and a knee injury, but King — who is expected to decline his $15 million mutual option to become a free agent — should still be one of the most sought-after arms during the offseason.
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Padres, Yankees
Valdez was on track to be the top starting pitcher in this yearâ€s free-agent class, going 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA through his first 21 starts and striking out 141 batters over 134 innings. A lackluster finish to his season — he was 2-7 with a 6.05 ERA over his final 10 starts — and a highly publicized cross-up incident in which he (intentionally?) hit his catcher in the chest with a fastball following a home run have raised some questions, but his track record as a workhorse should put him in good position to land a healthy deal.
Potential fits: Astros, Blue Jays, Cardinals
Cease struggled with consistency this season, posting an 8-12 record with a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts. His velocity, whiff percentage and strikeout percentage all remain near the top of the league rankings, though walks and a lack of ground balls came back to hurt him at times. Cease remains one of the most durable starters in the game — he posted his fifth consecutive season with at least 32 starts — and he will surely draw interest from several pitching-needy clubs after striking out more than 200 batters for a fifth consecutive season.
Potential fits: Angels, Mets, Orioles
An All-Star in 2024, Suárez opened this season in spectacular fashion, going 7-3 with a 2.15 ERA in 13 first-half starts. He struggled after the break (5-5, 4.40 ERA), but Suárez has posted a 3.59 ERA in four full seasons as a starting pitcher, providing solid work over that stretch. He might not be coveted by contenders as a No. 1, but Suárez should score a nice deal as a No. 2 or 3 starter.
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Giants, Phillies
The jewel of this summerâ€s Trade Deadline, Suárez had a monster four months with Arizona (36 home runs, .897 OPS in 106 games) before coming back to Earth after being traded to Seattle (13 homers, .683 OPS in 53 games). There are higher-profile power hitters on the market, such as Schwarber and Alonso, but the 34-year-old Suárez — who ranked near the bottom of the league in strikeout percentage — will require fewer years and/or less money than those two.
Potential fits: Angels, Mariners, Pirates
Essentially an afterthought in the trade that sent Juan Soto from the Padres to the Yankees before the 2024 season, Grisham wound up being a key bat in replacing Sotoâ€s production in New Yorkâ€s 2025 lineup. Grisham belted 34 home runs — double his previous high — while setting career bests in RBIs (74), OPS (.811) and OPS+ (125). Grisham also ranked near the top of the league in walk percentage (96th percentile) and chase percentage (99th) and posting a career-best 3.5 bWAR. The Yankees could extend a qualifying offer to Grisham, though New Yorkâ€s plans for re-signing Bellinger — not to mention how they view youngsters Jasson DomÃnguez and Spencer Jones — might impact which direction it goes with Grisham.
Potential fits: Mets, Rangers, Royals
Unlike his teammate Alonso, DÃaz hasnâ€t yet declared his intention to opt out of the final two years and $37 million of the five-year, $102 million deal he signed with the Mets in November 2022. The right-hander had a stellar season in 2025, posting a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves in 31 opportunities, striking out 98 batters in 66 1/3 innings. DÃaz ranked near the top of the league in whiff percentage, strikeout percentage and barrel percentage, looking like his vintage self in his second season back from a torn patellar tendon.
Potential fits: Mets, Orioles, Yankees
Naylor had a solid season for the Diamondbacks and Mariners, hitting 20 home runs with 92 RBIs and 30 stolen bases and an .815 OPS. The 2024 All-Star is solid defensively at first base and has strong bat-to-ball skills, ranking in the 91st percentile in strikeout percentage (13.7%) this season, though he has a tendency to swing at pitches out of the zone, evidenced by his 37.1% chase percentage, which ranked in the bottom 10 percent of the league.
Potential fits: Mariners, Nationals, Rockies
Arraez won three consecutive batting titles and made three All-Star teams with three clubs between 2022-24, hitting .328 with a .797 OPS during that three-year span. His numbers dipped a little in 2025, as he hit .292 with a .719 OPS, but he still led the NL with 181 hits and ranked at the top of the league in whiff, strikeout and Squared-Up percentage, remaining one of the elite contact hitters in the game. Arraezâ€s below-average defense (-9 OAA) could cause some teams to look at him in a DH role, but heâ€ll be a solid presence in whatever lineup he winds up with.
Potential fits: Angels, Giants, Rangers
Suarez is expected to decline his $8 million player options for 2026 and ’27, looking to convert his back-to-back All-Star seasons into a bigger contract as he enters his age-35 season. Suarez has posted consecutive seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA, saving 76 games, including an NL-high 40 this season. Suarezâ€s 98.6 mph fastball ranked in the 97th percentile this season, while he placed in the top 20 percent in both strikeout and walk percentage.
Potential fits: Braves, Dodgers, Orioles
From 2020-24, Gallen was one of the most consistent starters in the league, going 50-31 with a 3.34 ERA over 128 starts. He posted a pair of stellar seasons in ’22 and ’23, averaging 197 innings and 206 strikeouts while posting a 3.04 ERA, but a right hamstring strain cost him a month in 2024, limiting him to 148 innings. His platform season was a disappointment, as he went 13-15 with a career-high 4.83 ERA in 192 innings, as hitters seemed to be on his knuckle curve more than in past seasons, slugging .438 against the pitch after posting a .230 mark against it in ’24. Gallen remains a durable innings-eater and should be a popular target despite his down year.
Potential fits: Astros, Diamondbacks, Mets
Realmuto just completed a five-year, $115.5 million contract extension with the Phillies, potentially ending a strong seven-year run in Philadelphia. His offense has been in decline over the past few seasons, bottoming out with a .700 OPS in 134 games in 2025, so while his days as an everyday All-Star catcher might be behind him, Realmuto should be the best option on a thin market at the position. Realmutoâ€s blocking and framing numbers are poor, but he remains one of the best behind the plate at controlling the running game (95th percentile in caught-stealing above average and 99th percentile in pop time).
Potential fits: Phillies, Rangers, Twins
Bieber pitched well in his return from Tommy John surgery, posting a 3.57 ERA in seven regular-season starts for Toronto. The veteran showed solid command in his return, posting a 4.4% walk rate, and his 49.1% ground-ball rate was better than the MLB average. Bieber will be two full years removed from surgery when the season opens in ’26, giving him — and potential suitors — reason to believe he can look like his old self.
Potential fits: Brewers, Cubs, Rangers
The Yankees acquired Williams last season with the expectation that they were getting one of the best relievers in the game after he posted a 1.66 ERA between 2022-24. Instead, Williams struggled in New York, his inconsistent performances resulting in a demotion from the closerâ€s role, which he eventually regained before losing it again. A year ago, Williams was on track to challenge DÃazâ€s record for a relief-pitching contract, but his uneven ’25 could force him to sign a shorter-term deal to re-establish his value moving forward. He recently said that having a chance to close games will likely factor into his decision this winter.
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Braves, Tigers
Itâ€s unclear whether Flaherty will opt out of the final year and $20 million of his contract with the Tigers, which would send him back to the free-agent market for the third consecutive offseason. Flahertyâ€s 2025 season (8-15, 4.64 ERA in 161 innings) wasnâ€t as strong as his ’24 campaign (13-7, 3.17 ERA in 162 innings), but he would not have a qualifying offer attached to him this time around, which could open his market to some extent.
Potential fits: Braves, Mets, Orioles
Polancoâ€s regular season already categorized 2025 as a success, as he rebounded with 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, an .821 OPS and 134 OPS+ in 138 games. But the veteran took his game to another level in October, producing game-winning hits in three consecutive contests while helping the Mariners reach the ALCS. Polanco is expected to decline his $6 million player option to test free agency for a second consecutive offseason.
Potential fits: Angels, Rockies, Twins
The oldest player on our list, Kelly continues to be a sturdy mid-rotation starter as he enters his late-30s, posting a 3.47 ERA in 108 starts since the start of 2022. The right-hander went 12-9 with a 3.52 ERA for the Diamondbacks and Rangers in ’25, ranking 14th in the Majors with 184 innings pitched. Kelly has lowered his walk rate over the past two seasons, ranking in the top 25 percent in each season, and while he struck out fewer than one batter per inning, his elite chase rate (32.8%, 91st percentile) often keeps hitters off balance.
Potential fits: Diamondbacks, Padres, Pirates
Torres had to settle on a one-year, $15 million deal in his first foray into free agency, but heâ€ll give it another go after making his third career All-Star team and first since 2019. Torres slashed .284/.386/.437 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs in 72 games through the end of June, but his production fell off in the second half, as he posted a .229/.331/.339 slash line with seven homers and 31 RBIs in 73 games from July 1 through the end of the season. Torres†plate discipline was strong — he ranked in the 100th percentile in chase rate and 95th percentile in walk rate and placed in the top 20 percent in both whiff and strikeout percentage — but his defense was shaky, ranking in the 12th percentile with -5 OAA.
Potential fits: Cardinals, Guardians, Twins
Helsley was one of the most sought-after relievers at the Trade Deadline, but his two-month stint with the Mets was nothing short of a disaster. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 7.20 ERA in 22 appearances, allowing 25 hits and 11 walks in only 20 innings pitched, putting a dent in his free-agent résumé in the process. Still, the two-time All-Star had established himself as one of the top closers in the game during the three previous seasons, pitching to a 1.83 ERA while converting 82 saves in 95 opportunities, so his two-month hiccup in New York shouldnâ€t define his market this offseason.
Potential fits: Cubs, Giants, Rangers
Weaver was the Yankees†most reliable reliever during the first half, pitching to a 1.05 ERA in his first 24 outings over the first two months. A left hamstring strain sent him to the injured list, and when he returned three weeks later, Weaver was inconsistent the rest of the way, posting a 5.31 ERA over his final 40 appearances. Some late-season pitch-tipping concerns might have been a part of Weaverâ€s second-half struggles, which extended into a rough postseason, but his overall performance the past two seasons should have clubs interested. Weaver, who was a starter for much of the first eight seasons of his career, has said heâ€s open to a return to that role in the right situation.
Potential fits: Athletics, Diamondbacks, Yankees
Bassitt remains a durable innings-eater in his late 30s, topping the 170-inning mark for the fourth consecutive season in 2025. Heâ€s not overpowering hitters — his strikeout percentage (22.6) ranked in the middle of the AL — but he induces weak contact with his sinker-cutter-curveball mix, ranking in the top 20 percent in average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage. Bassitt also ranked in the top third of MLB in ground-ball percentage and walk rate, and he should be able to fill a mid-rotation spot on a one- or two-year deal.
Potential fits: Brewers, Nationals, Orioles
After missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery, Giolito had a solid return this past season, going 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts for the Red Sox — his best season since ’21. Giolito missed the Wild Card Series with right elbow discomfort, so potential suitors will study his medicals very closely, but after throwing 145 innings in ’25, he should have a market for his services.
Potential fits: Angels, Astros, Diamondbacks
A decorated slugger in Japan, Okamoto will be posted by the Yomiuri Giants this winter, making him available to big league clubs. Okamoto, who became a full-time player with the Giants in 2018, is a six-time NPB All-Star who has won three home run titles, though there will be questions about his ability to hit higher-velocity pitchers in the Majors. The 29-year-old has 248 career home runs in 1,074 games with Yomiuri, including six consecutive 30-homer campaigns between 2018-23. Okamoto has played more third base than first in Japan, though itâ€s unclear how Major League teams will view him at the hot corner.
Potential fits: Cubs, Mets, Yankees
Honorable mentions: Cedric Mullins, Harrison Bader, Walker Buehler, Zach Eflin, Paul Goldschmidt, Rhys Hoskins, Dustin May, Ryan Oâ€Hearn, Marcell Ozuna, Justin Verlander, Brandon Woodruff
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